31 Years of Feeling Invisible…. Then life began…
Krysta Clark
Paris, ON
-88lbs
Being a Canadian, I could have went through the process to have surgery in Canada and have the cost covered by OHIP. I did all of my research and all signs pointed to OCC and Dr. Ortiz was they way to go. OCC gave me the power to take control of my own health. I was able to choose everything from my surgery date to the type of procedure that so felt was best for me. I made the call to OCC and never looked back!
For my entire life I struggled with my weight. Diet after diet. Killing myself doing exercise and still gaining weight. I was miserable. I was sad-heartbroken to be honest. In 2015 I changed my life drastically. At the age of 30 I decided to walk away from a marriage after less than 2 years of being married. I shocked a lot of people, including myself. I remember it like it was yesterday, making the decision to walk away and start living the life so deserved. All of a sudden, it hit me like a ton of bricks just how unhappy I was, and realized life is just too short to waste! Walking away from that marriage was hard, but it was the first step in my transformation. It sounds funny to say but it was one of the best things I have ever done for myself. Shortly after is when I decided to take control of my health and I made the call to OCC to book my surgery. When you are overweight, life is hard. I can’t think of any other way to describe it. I’ve had my challenges in life that led to my weight gain and more importantly my reliance on food as a coping mechanism. The truth is, I suffer from a variety of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress. All 3 of these things stemming from the fact that at the age of 14 and in grade 8 I was a victim of sexual assault that resulted in a lengthy court trial in my later years. I share this because we all have things that contribute to the reason for why we eat. Mine just happens to be mental health which I think is too important not to share because the stigma around these issues are far too great. I’m living proof that despite all of these things you can survive and you can live a fulfilling life…it just took me a little longer to get there. Fast forward to my decision to have surgery at OCC. Not one regret, and for the first time in my life, I am thin! I look in the mirror and I don’t despise the reflection staring back at me. Am I cured? Is my depression gone? Of course not! I still have sad days and I still suffer. Being thin and feeling pretty is not a cure for any of these things and I would be a complete fake if I claimed they did. What I can tell you is everyday gets a little bit better. I am no longer a prisoner to food. My life no longer revolves around what to eat or crying in fitting rooms because nothing fits! The sleeve OCC, and Dr.Ortiz saved my life. They gave me the power to take back control and work on finding my happy. I love the new me on the outside and although the me on the inside is a work in progress, I can honestly say, I never recall a time feeling so content and actually proud of myself for what so have accomplished. This decision saved my life! I only hope that others out there who have also suffered can read my story and relate even just a little.
