This past Wednesday night was our monthy support group meeting. This month, all three groups (Ogden, Orem, and Salt Lake) met together, and the office education team put together a panel of patients to tell about their weight loss journeys and their decision to have surgery, and to relate some of the things they have learned along the way. I was asked six or seven weeks ago to be a member of this panel, and was delighted to do so. Every time I get asked about my surgery and/or my weight loss, I am more passionate about sharing my thoughts and feelings and educating others about the importance of maintaining a healthy weight and of getting help when you are unable to do it on your own. As I mentioned during my presentation, I feel like I have been given a great gift -
I got my life back - and I feel a great obligation and desire to share what I have been given and my gratitude for it.
For our support group meeting, each panel member was also asked to provide several "before and after" photos to be put into a slide show. It was very interesting to go back through the pics that are on my computer. I looked at photos of me taken over the past five years (there were not too many) and wondered "Who was that woman?" One that I sent (that didn't get used) was a wedding photo of me and Jack, and as I looked at that tiny, happy girl I realized that I could see her in the pics of me today. What a great feeling that is! Jack took many pictures of me the night of support group. I'll just share a few....
