| I'm writing Mike's story thru my eyes. He's so shy, he would never write it himself. I first met Mike in November of 1998. He was probably about 350ish, maybe a little less. We were together until the fall/winter of 2000. I moved away, and he went on with his life. When I next saw him, it was June of 2001. Long story short, we got back together and both gained a lot of weight. I knew he was miserable. He could barely walk, he was out of breath after only going up three stairs...it was bad. He told me that while we were apart that he had researched gastric bypass surgery. I thought it was too dangerous to do. But he told me more and more about it, and he was the one who introduced me to Spotlight Health. Fall time of 2001, I began posting and I learned a lot about it. Mike was really gung ho on this. He said he was living the life of a dead man anyway because he couldn't do anything. He had tried starving himself, and cutting back on food and trying to exercise, but like most M.O. people, he failed. He even told me he tried to only eat an ounce of food like the gastric bypass patients, but that didn't work, either. He took me with him to an obesity seminar at Alexian Brothers Hospital. I was intrigued, and even tho we were both wanting the surgery, we decided that Mike would go first. He has high blood pressure, and severe sleep apnea. He was told that if he didn't start using his C-Pap machine, he could just not wake up one day. That scared Mike into using his C-Pap. Well, Mike began the paperwork thru Weight For Life to get approved for this surgery. Motorola's insurance approved him in less than 24 hours. He was good to go. He was, of course, very nervous about the surgery. He had read a lot of success stories, but also of some deaths, which freaked him out, and kept him off the boards. When Mike got laid off from Motorola in July of 2002, he was relieved to know that the insurance coverage would be until the end of the year. He could still get his surgery. Every day got worse. He would just sit on the couch, and barely move. He couldn't walk much, he couldn't breathe, his face would turn scary shades of red because his blood pressure was sky high. I was afraid of losing him. Finally he got his surgery date. October 10th 2002. His surgeon would be Dr. Kane Sr. He has done so many of these. In fact, he taught the other surgeons how to do this surgery. He's been doing gastric bypass for over 25 years! I knew Mike was in good hands. Well, Tuesday of this week, (Oct. 8th) Mike freaked out and cancelled his surgery. He said he couldn't go through with it, and he was scared to die. The nurse at Dr. Kane's office contacted two men who had the surgery, and they called Mike. Tuesday night, we went to dinner with LaurieB from the board. I was her angel for her surgery on July 8th, and I know that meeting with her was the best thing for Mike. He got SO many questions answered between the two men and Laurie. Mike called Dr. Kane's office back the next day, and Dr. Kane called Mike back himself. Mike told Dr. Kane that he was afraid to die on the table, and Dr. Kane said that what he was feeling was what everyone felt before having the surgery. He also told Mike that he wasn't going to break his perfect record. Dr. Kane hasn't lost anyone, and he wasnt' about to start. That also put Mike at ease, and the next day, Wednesday the 9th, Mike started his liquid diet, and drank his Fleet Soda, and spent most of Wed. night in the bathroom. Yesterday morning, I drove him to the hospital, where my parents and his mom were waiting. I was so tense from all the anticipation, that as soon as I saw my mom, I burst into tears. Mike got choked up because I was crying. Then it was time to go to pre-op prep. They took him in and a while later, we were able to see him before surgery. We were joined by a friend of his and my grandparents. We joined hands and prayed for Mike, and then it was time for him to go. His surgery was for 2pm. At 6:15pm, Dr. Kane came out and told us Mike did great! But they had to take his gallbladder out and fix a hiatal hernia. He was in recovery until after 11 last night becuz of a bed shortage. Finally tonight, he got out of CCU and into a real room. He walked for the first time tonight, and did great! I'll post more as he progresses. |