please read!

[Guest guest]

Congratulations my friend! You have been a great inspiration to all of us!

Marjie

[Guest guest]

Today is a very special day! I will celebrate with a long walk or a

bike ride. Two years ago I would not have even dreamed of doing that.

Two years ago today I was given a second chance to live. Often people

forget to appreciate that TOOL (weight loss surgery) once they are at

their goal. Every day I wake up I thank God for the medical field who

discovered weight loss surgery and those who work at perfecting it. I

thank God for my surgeon and his hands who helped me with this tool. I

thank God for my family who has helped me through the transformation. I

thank God for the support of the support groups that I belong to. I

thank God for the friends who didn't turn their back on me but helped me

and cheered me on. I even thank God for those people who insulted me

and told me I was weak and taking the easy way out. I thank God that I

had a insurance company who cared about their members and put the

medical needs first. As I thank God for giving me a second chance for a

life. I am deeply troubled for those who need a second chance and can't

get one. The insurance company they have says they are not important

enough to have a change to live. ALL of us know what this surgery can

and does for us. All of us can even do our part in helping someone who

is in desperate need of this surgery. I have and will continue to

speak publicly about my surgery. Ask me and I will proudly tell how I

lost my weight. It is far from a easy way out. Every one of us CAN

educate one another. Everyone of us CAN educate people who don't have a

clue why we were the way we were. Genetics, Medical conditions. YO YO

dieting shuts down our metabolism permanently. We can educate that when

you see a morbidly obese person it is not because they are fat lazy

pigs. But they are suffering from medical conditions that made them the

way they are. We can have compassion for those fighting the battle to

have this surgery. We can offer suggestions to them on what they can do

to get insurance approval. We all can even take just a few minutes and

write a letter to our state and federal legislators and ask that they

submit a bill to make insurance companies pay for this surgery. Make

insurance companies understand that it is NOT for cosmetic reasons. But

to live! As I celebrate my second anniversary I am going to take a hour

today a work on a letter to again submit to Washington DC. I really

urge everyone that reads this to do their part in helping educate. Even

if it is getting information about how this surgery is successful and

send it to your family doctor. Work on having weight loss surgery

friendly PCP's. Write your congressperson and senators in both your state

and in Washington DC. Don't be afraid to speak out when someone insults

a obese person in public. Explain to them why they are the way they are.

Remember YOU were once there being insulted. Seriously people WILL

listen to you now that you are of normal weight. Be there for others

who are still walking in the shoes you once walked in!

Today is my day! Maybe tomorrow will be yours!!

D