2 year anniversary

[Guest guest]

Hello,

January 26, 2001, was the beginning of a new life for me. That is the

day I had my MGB with Doctor Rutledge in Durham at the Durham Regional

Hospital. My beloved was with me every minute, and stayed in my

hospital room all night with me on a recliner. He wanted this for me so

much. It took Doctor Rutledge 38 minutes to do my surgery, with no

complications, thank God. I was so afraid I was going to be the one who died

on the table. The first few hours were very uncomfortable, but not really

painful. I had a pain pump and I really used it which helped so much. As

the hours passed it was much better. That evening we walked a little outside

of my room at the hospital, with my husbands help. And again the next

morning, the walking helps. That day after Doctor Rutledge came to see me,

we went back to the hotel, and I really rested on and off all evening. It

was a little hard to get on and off the bed at the hotel, but each time it

got easier. I was so glad it was over and I was alive, and very thankful

that all was well and going very smooth. The next day we took a walk across

the street from the hotel, just to get moving, there was a little shopping

center there so we went to the drug store and we had gone to get dinner for

my husband, and I had a soup. We walked back to the hotel and I rested. The

next day I went to the beauty parlor, and later we went out for a while. I

was feeling great, each day was better, I had my staples removed on the

seventh day and we were ready to head back to New York. I was 297 lbs before

my surgery, and in the week I had lost 6 lbs. We drove home, I should say my

husband drove home. We were told not to drive for two weeks. I reported in

everyday, and was on the computer all the time, I kept in touch with Doctor

Rutledge daily and would write to the list all the time. I lost at a steady

pace, I think I was much slower than others, but I was 58 years old when I

had my surgery and I was very happy with my progress. Within a year I had

lost 100 lbs.

We went back to Durham for the picnic and I had my follow up visit with

the good Doctor. My was so happy that I was doing so good and

although at the time I had lost 87 lbs and still had a way to go (this was in

September). But seeing everyone was great, Vinnie was so happy to meet

everyone, we went to the Doctor's office, to the Friday night dinner, and

then to the picnic and we were both so happy. We said good bye to everyone

at the picnic, and we left for home the next morning. We drove from New York

and we were on the way home almost had reached home (we had 3 hours more to

reach home) and Vinnie had a massive heart attack behind of the wheel of the

car. He died that Sunday, September 30. Since that time I continue to go

on, and hope that he sees me and the progress I have made since then.

This past December 30th, I had plastic surgery on my arms to get rid of

all the excess skin, there was a lot to cut off. I am still recovering, had

lymph nodes removed at the same time, thank God the report was good. Now if

all goes as planned I am going to have a breast lift in either March or

April. After that, I would like to start an exercise program which I never

did yet. But I am 61 years old now, I will play thing by ear now and as long

as I do not gain any weight, I will be happy. I do take all of my vitamins

and supplements, my protein drinks I get in but not the way I should. I do

not know how to thank Doctor Rutledge for the change in my life through the

surgery, I had tried so many things all of my life and nothing ever worked

for me. I was headed for the wheel chair and not kind of a life at all. It

is too bad my Vinnie cannot be here to see and enjoy the changes and do all

the things we had planned to do. Hope to see everyone again, I feel I have

made so many friends in all of you and keeping in touch is my lifeline. I

treasure each and every one of you. Thank you all for all of your help and

kind words. Love you all.

Rosemary Commisso MGB Jan 26, 2001 291 lbs--195 lbs