Guest guest Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 Hi Gemello, You write the most wonderful letters!!! It is a joy to read them and I can’t wait to experience some of the wonderful things that you have. Isn’t the Fog City Diner a great restaurant? When we are in the city we love to go there and sit at the counter. It’s very entertaining and the staff there is great. May you continue to find happiness. -----Original Message----- From: Gemello DiGiovanni Sent: Monday, July 05, 2004 10:53 AM To: gastric-bypass-support-kaiser-patients Subject: my birthday Hello everyone: Yesterday, July 4th, was my 41st birthday. What a day it was, and my how things have changed. Zach and I went on quite an outing; Alcatraz, Angel Island, then to Fog City Diner for dinner and a bay cruise for the fireworks. When we got to Alcatraz, they made an announcement that in order to get to the cellblock, we would need to walk up a series of ramps that are the equivalent of climbing a 13 story building. It was a breeze! Before I would have been sweating and huffing and puffing. I didn't even break a sweat or get out of breath. Angel Island was a beautiful surprise. So much open space and untamed nature. We ate lunch at the café near the dock. There were green and white plastic patio chairs under green canvass umbrellas. I haven't sat in one of those chairs in AGES. I used to be afraid of breaking them, and sitting in them was so uncomfortable. Once, I'd seen a morbidly obese woman sit in one; the legs bent over and she ended up on her back. Poor woman! Talk about a nightmare! Well I sat in one, and I fit! It wasn't even tight around my hips. Later we went to Pier 39, and then to Fog City Diner for dinner. Wow, the booths there are really tiny! Yet again, another one of my past nightmares conquered! Not only did I fit in, but I had lots of room to spare. After dinner, Zach and I shared my birthday cak--a dark chocolate soufflé cake (think dark molten chocolate inside a moist chocolate cake) with French vanilla ice cream a la mode. I only had 3 spoonfuls, but it was really delicious. Two birthdays ago I could have eaten a whole cake by myself, which I had done on more than a few occasions. We strolled around the Pier 39 area after dinner, and I was just people watching. I'm still amazed at how many obese people there are. It's just everywhere. We got on the ship for the bay fireworks cruise. We sat down outside (brrrr…!) on the second deck. After a while, a really huge man came up the stairs. He probably weighed about 400 lbs. It was freezing cold (fog starting to come in with a moderate breeze), and he was sweating because climbing the stairs was such a struggle. During the whole cruise, his shirt was partly open and his sleeves rolled up. I was bundled in a baseball cap, a hooded sweatshirt, sweat shorts and thick sweat pants. I remember that, like him, I used to always be hot even in the coldest weather. Now I actually get cold like a normal person. I couldn't help but observe the situation. There were no seats, and so while standing with his morbidly obese girlfriend/wife (?) they blocked a pathway. He was so overwhelmingly nice in getting out of the way for people to pass, and offered several groups to take a picture so that everyone in the group would be in the picture. I remember being him. I know I'm just projecting, but I remember feeling so crappy about myself that I tried to be so friendly to others. I thought that people would judge me because of my weight, so I would over compensate by being the nicest, friendliest, most caring, gracious person. Some people appreciated it. Others used me like a doormat. And luckily, I was blessed with some people who truly loved me regardless of my weight (family, a few friends, and Zach). But being that way is so destructive. Don't get me wrong. Being nice and gracious is a good thing. I certainly appreciate that! But so many times, I was there for others only to find that when push came to shove, few were there for me. Now my needs come first sometimes. It's OK for me to take care of me when the need arises. And those who have always been there for me are still here, and we support each other like always. But I no longer have to please EVERYONE. It's perfectly OK if someone doesn't like me. And if someone, particularly a coworker, oversteps my boundaries, I politely let them know. After the cruise, we walked from Pier 41 to Embarcadero BART (quite a walk), but no problem for me! Even after a long day that included a lot of standing and walking, I was able to walk about 1.5 miles with no pain! So there was my 41st birthday. I got just what I wanted: a normal life, more energy than I've had in years and freedom from morbid obesity. Thanks for reading. Hope you all had a great 4th of July! Gemello Open rny 06/03/03 Reconstruction 05/25/04 -138 lbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 Happy Birthday Gemello !! Your birthday sounds wonderful !! I too am experiencing amazing changes like you described !! It is a wonderful experience...living life normally again. I am very impatient for my reconstructive surgery which will be the end of August or into September..Dr Yokoo and Dr Fisher have to coordinate their schedules. I meet with Dr Yokoo the plastic surgeon on July 26th and then just wait for a date that works for her and Dr Fisher. Lets hope they have one July 27th !! Im glad your recovery is going so well for you and that if you do wind up needing the additional one things go as well. -145 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 Happy belated Birthday Gemello, I sat and pictured everything as you wrote. I would be in heaven. I cannot wait until it is my turn. I want to do all that too. Thanks for the tip about alcatraz. I think that one is out of my reach for now. Yes I can eat that cake you mentioned...alone. I am not proud of it but I can easily do it. The chair thing almost happened to me this weekend too. Anne and I bought some folding chairs and I went to sit in one and I could feel the legs give so I had to move. I have broken maybe 15 chairs in my time and I look forward to being able to sit in a booth (sigh). > Hello everyone: > > Yesterday, July 4th, was my 41st birthday. What a day it was, and my > how things have changed. > > Zach and I went on quite an outing; Alcatraz, Angel Island, then to > Fog City Diner for dinner and a bay cruise for the fireworks. > > When we got to Alcatraz, they made an announcement that in order to > get to the cellblock, we would need to walk up a series of ramps that > are the equivalent of climbing a 13 story building. It was a > breeze! Before I would have been sweating and huffing and puffing. > I didn't even break a sweat or get out of breath. > > Angel Island was a beautiful surprise. So much open space and > untamed nature. We ate lunch at the café near the dock. There were > green and white plastic patio chairs under green canvass umbrellas. > I haven't sat in one of those chairs in AGES. I used to be afraid of > breaking them, and sitting in them was so uncomfortable. Once, I'd > seen a morbidly obese woman sit in one; the legs bent over and she > ended up on her back. Poor woman! Talk about a nightmare! Well I > sat in one, and I fit! It wasn't even tight around my hips. > > Later we went to Pier 39, and then to Fog City Diner for dinner. > Wow, the booths there are really tiny! Yet again, another one of my > past nightmares conquered! Not only did I fit in, but I had lots of > room to spare. After dinner, Zach and I shared my birthday cak--a > dark chocolate soufflé cake (think dark molten chocolate inside a > moist chocolate cake) with French vanilla ice cream a la mode. I > only had 3 spoonfuls, but it was really delicious. Two birthdays ago > I could have eaten a whole cake by myself, which I had done on more > than a few occasions. > > We strolled around the Pier 39 area after dinner, and I was just > people watching. I'm still amazed at how many obese people there > are. It's just everywhere. We got on the ship for the bay fireworks > cruise. We sat down outside (brrrr…!) on the second deck. After a > while, a really huge man came up the stairs. He probably weighed > about 400 lbs. It was freezing cold (fog starting to come in with a > moderate breeze), and he was sweating because climbing the stairs was > such a struggle. During the whole cruise, his shirt was partly open > and his sleeves rolled up. I was bundled in a baseball cap, a hooded > sweatshirt, sweat shorts and thick sweat pants. I remember that, > like him, I used to always be hot even in the coldest weather. Now I > actually get cold like a normal person. > > I couldn't help but observe the situation. There were no seats, and > so while standing with his morbidly obese girlfriend/wife (?) they > blocked a pathway. He was so overwhelmingly nice in getting out of > the way for people to pass, and offered several groups to take a > picture so that everyone in the group would be in the picture. I > remember being him. I know I'm just projecting, but I remember > feeling so crappy about myself that I tried to be so friendly to > others. I thought that people would judge me because of my weight, > so I would over compensate by being the nicest, friendliest, most > caring, gracious person. Some people appreciated it. Others used me > like a doormat. And luckily, I was blessed with some people who > truly loved me regardless of my weight (family, a few friends, and > Zach). > > But being that way is so destructive. Don't get me wrong. Being > nice and gracious is a good thing. I certainly appreciate that! But > so many times, I was there for others only to find that when push > came to shove, few were there for me. Now my needs come first > sometimes. It's OK for me to take care of me when the need arises. > And those who have always been there for me are still here, and we > support each other like always. But I no longer have to please > EVERYONE. It's perfectly OK if someone doesn't like me. And if > someone, particularly a coworker, oversteps my boundaries, I politely > let them know. > > After the cruise, we walked from Pier 41 to Embarcadero BART (quite a > walk), but no problem for me! Even after a long day that included a > lot of standing and walking, I was able to walk about 1.5 miles with > no pain! > > So there was my 41st birthday. I got just what I wanted: a normal > life, more energy than I've had in years and freedom from morbid > obesity. > > Thanks for reading. Hope you all had a great 4th of July! > > Gemello > Open rny 06/03/03 > Reconstruction 05/25/04 > -138 lbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 5, 2004 Report Share Posted July 5, 2004 , You will DEFINITELY be in that booth! And you will come to a place where you won't even THINK about whether a chair will hold you, because you know it will. That's one of the joys of this surgery. You and Anne have many worry free "sitting scenarios" ahead! Laurie W. Re: my birthday Happy belated Birthday Gemello, I sat and pictured everything as you wrote. I would be in heaven. I cannot wait until it is my turn. I want to do all that too. Thanks for the tip about alcatraz. I think that one is out of my reach for now. Yes I can eat that cake you mentioned...alone. I am not proud of it but I can easily do it. The chair thing almost happened to me this weekend too. Anne and I bought some folding chairs and I went to sit in one and I could feel the legs give so I had to move. I have broken maybe 15 chairs in my time and I look forward to being able to sit in a booth (sigh). > Hello everyone:> > Yesterday, July 4th, was my 41st birthday. What a day it was, and my > how things have changed.> > Zach and I went on quite an outing; Alcatraz, Angel Island, then to > Fog City Diner for dinner and a bay cruise for the fireworks.> > When we got to Alcatraz, they made an announcement that in order to > get to the cellblock, we would need to walk up a series of ramps that > are the equivalent of climbing a 13 story building. It was a > breeze! Before I would have been sweating and huffing and puffing. > I didn't even break a sweat or get out of breath.> > Angel Island was a beautiful surprise. So much open space and > untamed nature. We ate lunch at the café near the dock. There were > green and white plastic patio chairs under green canvass umbrellas. > I haven't sat in one of those chairs in AGES. I used to be afraid of > breaking them, and sitting in them was so uncomfortable. Once, I'd > seen a morbidly obese woman sit in one; the legs bent over and she > ended up on her back. Poor woman! Talk about a nightmare! Well I > sat in one, and I fit! It wasn't even tight around my hips.> > Later we went to Pier 39, and then to Fog City Diner for dinner. > Wow, the booths there are really tiny! Yet again, another one of my > past nightmares conquered! Not only did I fit in, but I had lots of > room to spare. After dinner, Zach and I shared my birthday cak--a > dark chocolate soufflé cake (think dark molten chocolate inside a > moist chocolate cake) with French vanilla ice cream a la mode. I > only had 3 spoonfuls, but it was really delicious. Two birthdays ago > I could have eaten a whole cake by myself, which I had done on more > than a few occasions.> > We strolled around the Pier 39 area after dinner, and I was just > people watching. I'm still amazed at how many obese people there > are. It's just everywhere. We got on the ship for the bay fireworks > cruise. We sat down outside (brrrr…!) on the second deck. After a > while, a really huge man came up the stairs. He probably weighed > about 400 lbs. It was freezing cold (fog starting to come in with a > moderate breeze), and he was sweating because climbing the stairs was > such a struggle. During the whole cruise, his shirt was partly open > and his sleeves rolled up. I was bundled in a baseball cap, a hooded > sweatshirt, sweat shorts and thick sweat pants. I remember that, > like him, I used to always be hot even in the coldest weather. Now I > actually get cold like a normal person.> > I couldn't help but observe the situation. There were no seats, and > so while standing with his morbidly obese girlfriend/wife (?) they > blocked a pathway. He was so overwhelmingly nice in getting out of > the way for people to pass, and offered several groups to take a > picture so that everyone in the group would be in the picture. I > remember being him. I know I'm just projecting, but I remember > feeling so crappy about myself that I tried to be so friendly to > others. I thought that people would judge me because of my weight, > so I would over compensate by being the nicest, friendliest, most > caring, gracious person. Some people appreciated it. Others used me > like a doormat. And luckily, I was blessed with some people who > truly loved me regardless of my weight (family, a few friends, and > Zach).> > But being that way is so destructive. Don't get me wrong. Being > nice and gracious is a good thing. I certainly appreciate that! But > so many times, I was there for others only to find that when push > came to shove, few were there for me. Now my needs come first > sometimes. It's OK for me to take care of me when the need arises. > And those who have always been there for me are still here, and we > support each other like always. But I no longer have to please > EVERYONE. It's perfectly OK if someone doesn't like me. And if > someone, particularly a coworker, oversteps my boundaries, I politely > let them know.> > After the cruise, we walked from Pier 41 to Embarcadero BART (quite a > walk), but no problem for me! Even after a long day that included a > lot of standing and walking, I was able to walk about 1.5 miles with > no pain!> > So there was my 41st birthday. I got just what I wanted: a normal > life, more energy than I've had in years and freedom from morbid > obesity.> > Thanks for reading. Hope you all had a great 4th of July!> > Gemello> Open rny 06/03/03> Reconstruction 05/25/04> -138 lbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 6, 2004 Report Share Posted July 6, 2004 Thank you for the words of encouragement Laurie. I do so look forward to being functionally self sufficient again. > > Hello everyone: > > > > Yesterday, July 4th, was my 41st birthday. What a day it was, and > my > > how things have changed. > > > > Zach and I went on quite an outing; Alcatraz, Angel Island, then to > > Fog City Diner for dinner and a bay cruise for the fireworks. > > > > When we got to Alcatraz, they made an announcement that in order to > > get to the cellblock, we would need to walk up a series of ramps > that > > are the equivalent of climbing a 13 story building. It was a > > breeze! Before I would have been sweating and huffing and > puffing. > > I didn't even break a sweat or get out of breath. > > > > Angel Island was a beautiful surprise. So much open space and > > untamed nature. We ate lunch at the café near the dock. There > were > > green and white plastic patio chairs under green canvass > umbrellas. > > I haven't sat in one of those chairs in AGES. I used to be afraid > of > > breaking them, and sitting in them was so uncomfortable. Once, I'd > > seen a morbidly obese woman sit in one; the legs bent over and she > > ended up on her back. Poor woman! Talk about a nightmare! Well I > > sat in one, and I fit! It wasn't even tight around my hips. > > > > Later we went to Pier 39, and then to Fog City Diner for dinner. > > Wow, the booths there are really tiny! Yet again, another one of > my > > past nightmares conquered! Not only did I fit in, but I had lots > of > > room to spare. After dinner, Zach and I shared my birthday cak- -a > > dark chocolate soufflé cake (think dark molten chocolate inside a > > moist chocolate cake) with French vanilla ice cream a la mode. I > > only had 3 spoonfuls, but it was really delicious. Two birthdays > ago > > I could have eaten a whole cake by myself, which I had done on more > > than a few occasions. > > > > We strolled around the Pier 39 area after dinner, and I was just > > people watching. I'm still amazed at how many obese people there > > are. It's just everywhere. We got on the ship for the bay > fireworks > > cruise. We sat down outside (brrrr.!) on the second deck. After a > > while, a really huge man came up the stairs. He probably weighed > > about 400 lbs. It was freezing cold (fog starting to come in with > a > > moderate breeze), and he was sweating because climbing the stairs > was > > such a struggle. During the whole cruise, his shirt was partly > open > > and his sleeves rolled up. I was bundled in a baseball cap, a > hooded > > sweatshirt, sweat shorts and thick sweat pants. I remember that, > > like him, I used to always be hot even in the coldest weather. Now > I > > actually get cold like a normal person. > > > > I couldn't help but observe the situation. There were no seats, > and > > so while standing with his morbidly obese girlfriend/wife (?) they > > blocked a pathway. He was so overwhelmingly nice in getting out of > > the way for people to pass, and offered several groups to take a > > picture so that everyone in the group would be in the picture. I > > remember being him. I know I'm just projecting, but I remember > > feeling so crappy about myself that I tried to be so friendly to > > others. I thought that people would judge me because of my weight, > > so I would over compensate by being the nicest, friendliest, most > > caring, gracious person. Some people appreciated it. Others used > me > > like a doormat. And luckily, I was blessed with some people who > > truly loved me regardless of my weight (family, a few friends, and > > Zach). > > > > But being that way is so destructive. Don't get me wrong. Being > > nice and gracious is a good thing. I certainly appreciate that! > But > > so many times, I was there for others only to find that when push > > came to shove, few were there for me. Now my needs come first > > sometimes. It's OK for me to take care of me when the need > arises. > > And those who have always been there for me are still here, and we > > support each other like always. But I no longer have to please > > EVERYONE. It's perfectly OK if someone doesn't like me. And if > > someone, particularly a coworker, oversteps my boundaries, I > politely > > let them know. > > > > After the cruise, we walked from Pier 41 to Embarcadero BART (quite > a > > walk), but no problem for me! Even after a long day that included > a > > lot of standing and walking, I was able to walk about 1.5 miles > with > > no pain! > > > > So there was my 41st birthday. I got just what I wanted: a normal > > life, more energy than I've had in years and freedom from morbid > > obesity. > > > > Thanks for reading. Hope you all had a great 4th of July! > > > > Gemello > > Open rny 06/03/03 > > Reconstruction 05/25/04 > > -138 lbs > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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