Question:
Does anyone know of any patients who have had surgery that are paraplegic?

I am looking into surgery and I am paraplegic and I am wondering if anyone else who is a para has had the surgery and how it went for them.    — shawna S. (posted on October 16, 2003)

October 17, 2003
Actor's Real Battle With Obesity Becomes Fodder for NBC's 'Ed' BY LYNN ELBER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES -- NBC's "Ed," a frothy will-they-or-won't-they tango between lovelorn Ed and his would-be flame, gained depth this season with the addition of Daryl "Chill" Mitchell. He plays Eli, a bowling alley manager who is a paraplegic. The actor ("Galaxy Quest," "Veronica's Closet") was left paralyzed and in a wheelchair after a 2001 motorcycle accident. His character combines a breezy confidence with unavoidable vulnerability, all the more touching because we know Mitchell understands him. Now, a twist in another actor's life has brought "Ed" (7 p.m. Wednesday) another chance to feature an unusual and unusually well-realized character. Michael Genadry knew he was facing a crisis -- at 5-foot-9, he was pushing 500 pounds. Recognizing that his health was at risk, the 24-year-old actor chose to undergo gastric bypass surgery. What's happened in life is being reflected in drama. A supporting player on "Ed" since its 2000 debut, Genadry -- and his battle with obesity -- were pushed center stage when producers decided to put his character through surgery as well. Mark, the smart-aleck high school student played by Genadry, was confronted by friends in a Dec. 11 episode about his weight. In one brave scene, he pulled off his shirt for an unflinching look in the mirror. Subsequent episodes are tracking Mark's preparation for the surgery and its aftermath. Genadry himself had the operation Sept. 18. "The situation kind of forced itself," said "Ed" executive producer Jon Beckerman. "An actor tells you he's going to have a procedure that causes a dramatic change in his appearance, you're going to have to deal with it in some way." The series' producers, including Rob Burnett and David Letterman, were careful to depict the procedure's pros and cons. There are surgical risks and potential side effects, and life after the stomach is reduced in size requires a careful and disciplined approach to eating. Doctors are divided over the procedure, Beckerman said. Genadry armed himself with information before making a decision. His father, also obese, shared his own research into the surgery, while the producers of "Ed" put the actor in touch with physicians. "The more I looked at it, the more I realized this is probably the last chance I have left," Genadry said. "I wasn't having major health problems but I have a history of diabetes and heart disease on both sides of my family." (Both Genadry's father and the actor who plays his dad in "Ed" have since undergone the procedure, in which the stomach is reduced to a small pouch and attached to the small intestine.) Genadry's operation went smoothly and the few problems he's had involve adapting to his new regimen -- four to five small meals per day. From his high of 473 pounds, he was down to 374 by the end of December. His target weight, which he expects to reach in a year or so, is 240 pounds. Genadry realized that becoming thinner would increase the competition for acting jobs. "You have a worry or two, but eventually you have to realize it's not about your career or anything like that. It's about you." He's gained resolve from working with Mitchell, who displays what Genadry calls "true bravery . . . He handles everything he's been through in such a positive light. He can't help but be an inspiration."
   — Kim A.