Sharon Z. "I am a different person than I was 20 months ago, inside and out."	Richard C. "My health is great now — no sleep apnea, gout, or diabetes and my blood pressure is perfect."	Sandy C. "This surgery has changed my life and brought me so many blessings, I would do it over again, no question."	Rita E. "My closet is full of clothes of every color of the rainbow. I don’t have to worry about if the color will make me look too big."	Carl J. "I can now make it to the top of the stairs faster than some of the younger police officers, AND breathing normally."
Amy M. "I am proud of my accomplishment and that I addressed the problem before it got even worse."	Rosa F. "When I made the decision to have LAP-BAND surgery, I never expected so many changes to happen."	Amanda S. "It goes without saying what my life was like 120 pounds heavier. I had no life."	Cathy K. "For the first time in my life, I know I will never put my weight back on and I do not feel like I am on a diet."

Sandy C.

I have always been overweight. I was an eleven pound baby and have been heavy ever since. Before surgery, I had gotten so heavy, I couldn’t walk around the grocery store. I had to ride the electric carts.

I have wanted to have surgery since I first heard about it back in the 80's. Back then, though, it was new and there wasn't a lot of information available. I kept researching it, and finally it seemed like it was becoming safer to have it done, so I talked to my doctor about having surgery. Because of my weight—I weighed 384 pounds—and having sleep apnea and high blood pressure, my doctor recommended that I see Dr. St. Laurent.

The hardest part for me was getting the insurance approval. It took me almost a year to get everything together, but I wanted this surgery that bad. Once I got to my consultation with Dr. St. Laurent, it was quick and easy. I started on the 2-week diet and then it was time to have the surgery.  I decided to have bypass because it’s permanent. You can’t undo it. I wanted to have the surgery done and move on, no looking back.

I had my surgery on July 20th, 2006 and since then, I have lost 210 pounds. I am down to 174 pounds and don’t ever want to go back to the way I was.  I have never been this weight before and I don’t ever want to gain it back.

My favorite thing about losing weight is the improvement in my health—the knowledge that I will be here longer and I will be able to enjoy time with my family. My twin 9-year-old grandsons live with me and there is no way I would have been able to keep up with them before the surgery. 

I love being able to spend time with my daughter as well. She is 22 years old, autistic and is involved in Special Olympics. Now, I can go to her Special Olympics events and games at school. I wasn’t able to do that with my older daughters, who were also involved in sports in high school. Looking back, I really feel like I missed out on their childhood. The energy I have now to do all the things I wasn’t able to do before is truly a blessing.

Every time I look in the mirror, I remember how I used to look and feel. I look at myself now, and it always makes me smile. This surgery has changed my life and brought me so many blessings, I would do it over again, no question.