Katie G.
My name is Katie G. I'm a working mom of two and have been married for almost 11 years now. My story goes way back to my days in Kindergarten when I was diagnosed with Neuphrotic's Syndrome (kidney disorder). The medicines that were used to treat me helped my little five year old frame pack on close to 40 lbs over night. I carried the fat girl stigma with me and before I was even six, I was enrolled at Weight Watchers. I was humiliated and hurt deep down when I was a little girl. I never fit in. My parents got me involved in Competitive Swimming and I managed to do really well with that and even managed to lose a bit of my extra "sick" weight.
By the time I entered seventh grade though, all of the swimming in the world and chicken breasts could not save me from weighing in during a mandatory seventh grade gym class in front of everyone else at a whopping 172 lbs! I was once again humiliated. I started playing softball and tried to get involved in everything I could find and managed to make it to high school graduation as a trim 175. I think this was the lightest I have ever been as an adult, and was very proud of myself.
Junior College came along and then I fell in love and the weight seemed to sneak back on. I wanted to make my new husband glad to come home and eat one of my meals. Before I knew it I had packed on fifty pounds and was pregnant. With my first preganancy I ballooned up to 283 on the day of delivery and walked out weighing 30 lbs less. It was a great feeling, except it came right back. I became an emotional eater and couldn't tell myself no.
After Pregnancy number 2, I managed to let another 40 lbs come on and before I knew it I topped out at a staggering 309 one year ago. I attempted to do the HCG diet, but didn't make it past the 500 calories per day or giving myself a pregnancy hormone shot. So I QUIT! I knew then what I wanted to do and what I had to do to make it happen. I discovered Dr. Rutledge and his MINI-Gastric Bypass procedure on Youtube, and that was what I wanted done. I could have had it too, except, with the way the market had affected my husband and myself through our credit, that was never going to happen for $17,000! Disappointed with the turn of events, I almost gave up.
Surprisingly enough when the new school year benefits came out, for the first time ever my school district was offering a plan that would cover the surgery. Before enrollment had even started I began the process towards surgery and making sure that this dream of mine would become a reality. On March 24th, I succeeded and finally I am on a path towards a much healthier me! To say I am excited is but an understatement. To say that I will live to see my children grow up is a blessing. I am grateful for this second chance and will not screw this up!
God Bless!
