Tomorrow, I will be going under the knife, not for a life saving procedure, but for what will be life altering, and, yes, possibly life saving. I was vehemently opposed to having weight loss surgery, until I fell out on Court Street, White Plains, on August 6, 2022, after celebrating Jamaica's 60th Independence. I didn't actually fall; family and friends led me down as they noticed that I was passing out. Dehydration and exhaustion was the diagnosis. No one said weight, but for me. I decided then that I had to do something about it. The nurse on duty, in her 20s, small and petite, told me I was choosing the "easy way." She didn't know my sturggles over the thirty-five years of gaining twice my weight. It wasn't without trying through various methods, some of which worked, until the moment something took me off my path. I knew that this time, it called for drastic action - bariatic surgery, specifically laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy.
Tomorrow, my life will change, hopefully for the good. I have severe back pain, I worry about my knees carrying all that weight, I am on low dose blood pressure medication. I pray all those gone and I am so ready for the surgery. I am pumped.
My only sadness is that I will have to drastically change my relationship with Jamaican food - the goat and oxtail swimming in gravy, rice and peas cooked down in coconut cream, the fried dumpling, fried plantain, fried fritters. Can you see and taste them? I can, and lawd, it hurts my heart. But it could hurt my heart.
Here is something I have never shared with anyone, except for medical staff. My current weight is 258, at my largest 265. Now, you know everything about me.
At the Jamaican Festival 2022
White Plains Hospital ER 2022
Good luck to you, Heather! (Sharon T)
ReplyDeleteI’m so happy to read you are pumped about this incredible, life altering, wellness journey you are on! A huge mind shift has taken place, and your life will be altered for the better. Strap on your seatbelt sis! The road is going to be wild with twists, turns, and bruises but you will arrive at your destination renewed by the love of God.🙏🏽
ReplyDeleteLove you sis.😘 Sending best wishes your way.
Heather, hope all goes well for you today and know that you will be successful on this new endeavor. 🙏🏽🙏🏽
ReplyDeleteToday is the beginning of a new DAWNing for you. Praying for you and putting all positive energy out there to help you on this journey.
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Thinking about you today and for your journey ahead. You are making a courageous step and I know you'll be rewarded with better health and more energy. Go Heather! --Libby H.
ReplyDeleteIt takes guts, discipline and desire to get where you are determined to go!!! BRAXO my friend on your new journey to health!!!! 👍😉💕
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