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Two years ago today my life was given back to me and I have found a new love of life and a new love of myself!
Athene P.
AZ
-98lbs
Looking back at these photos is mind boggling to me. I knew I was overweight, but these pictures say so much more to me. I remember never wanting to leave the house because I wasn’t comfortable in my own skin. I was embarrassed because everything I wore showed how big I was. I was sad and depressed, yet I continued to eat. I don’t have any pictures of me before surgery on my phone, so I asked my husband if he had any. When I found these on his phone I apologized to him for looking that way. He chuckled and said, “Nonsense. You were beautiful then and beautiful now.” I remember when I asked him if we could find a way for me to have bariatric surgery and he told me that he loved the way I look, but if it would make me feel better about myself, we would find a way.
Thank goodness for Dr. Ortiz and the staff at the OCC for making it possible for myself and others to make our dreams come true. Thanks to them, I am now able to run around with my kids on the beach instead of sitting in a chair watching them. I am able to workout and not hurt my knees because of the extra weight I am carrying. I am able to have pictures taken of me and not be mortified by what was captured. We had family pictures done this summer and I didn’t even stress about them and try to find something that would look “slimming”. I cannot believe I carried around over 100 pounds of excess weight for years. I don’t think I could walk up my stairs now carrying an extra 100 pounds. So thank you. Thank you to those that pointed me in the direction of the OCC. Thank you to the woman I spoke to on the phone when I called for making it so easy to set a date for my surgery. Thank you for making it convenient to get answers before and after surgery. Two years ago, today, my life was given back to me and I have found a new love of life and a new love of myself. No regrets whatsoever.
