My 6th Re-Birthday :)

[Guest guest]

Good day all.

June 24, 2004 is my Re-birthday. Today I am 6 years old. Ahh, to be young again.

I do my best to follow this board still, after 6 years. I believe in paying it

forward. Flo has even dropped a note - as there aren't a lot of us this far out,

not a part of the organization often checking in. This is so deep into my soul

of gratefulness, I can not think of not checking in! I'm part of a Philadelphia

area dinner get together, for about two years now. There are a few old timers

and 'litter mates' (as we were called) that still touch base.

As much as I tried denying it, I had come to a point where I could not help but

acknowledge I was alive, but not living. I did some research and decided on the

MGB as a tool with a support system to (prayfully) change my existing to truly

living.

I'm one of the few who didn't tell family or coworkers. Only two friends - the

one who took my pics and the one who was my support person, travelin to NC with

me for a week.

My surgery was long (92 minutes), but uneventful. I am grateful for every person

that was involved in the foreground and background. Every support email, post,

phone call, moment, connection, etc. My embarassing high was 246 (I'm 5'3 " ) and

I now hover about 139.

It was such a right choice for me and may have saved me in many ways. One, being

the heart condition discovered by chance a year into MGB in a routine stress

test, that might have otherwise lead me to some failure and certain surgery.

Now, I still have it, but I'm now amoug the 15% of people with the condition

being followed who's lifestyle is leading to the condition improving thus far,

and not worsening. I work out regularly, am nuts about indoor cycling and eat

almost anything (but generally much better than I ever did before).

I've done a solo skydive, hiked the fjords in Norway and traveled to Argentina

for plastic surgery that didn't happen while there.

This year, I turned 50 on the calendar. But my " Real Age " (Realage.com) is much

lower - 6 years, 44 at that! People say I look younger than that. Go figure.

Even when it's tough, I must say, life is good. Much better that it was for

years. I have hope and faith and know I can affect and change things. After

three attempts, I'm now Post-Op once again. On June 11, I had an abdominoplasty.

So far so good. No regrets, just ready to get past the 'drain stage'.

I was trying to not run on - but looks like I did anyway, lol.

Just wanted to share my 6th R-birthday out loud. Yes, I'm happier about this

that I could imagine. I at time still do not believe I wear a medium.. regular

medium, an 8 petite and shop of the rack. It's weird when people call me tiny.

or small, or thin. Oh please. I'm not those things. But I'm not obese, huge,

fat, or simply a pretty face either!!

Thank you for the opportunity to share. Best of the best to all of you!!!

Marley

06-24-04

246 / 139 +/-

2x/20W / Med/6-8 petite

" when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance. " ( I do...)