My Best After WLS Story!

This is a two part story -- be sure you continue to the second part- it's a hoot. Part I. Precious Moments Lost My Aunt died last week. I went to the funeral in Miami and saw relatives I have not seen in 15 years. I finally felt comfortable enough to see them. I would have never gone if I hadn't lost 90 lbs. I have a cousin one year older and one year younger. We grew up together and all three of us were always tiny and looked like sisters (petite and longe blonde hair). I was always jealous of them. They are beautiful and never been bigger than a size 6. The last time I saw them I was so embarrassed that I was a size 12 (on my way up) over the years I continued to grow into size 24. I haven't gone to any family get together because of my weight gain. I did see my aunt several times when I was at me heaviest. The look on their faces when they saw me was priceless. We had a WONDERFUL time and I'm so sad that I've stayed away for so long. The three of us looked like sisters again. Now we all have short blonde hair. I am now smaller than my older cousin and just about one size larger than my younger cousin. (that's what my Mom said- its still hard for me to see myself as thin). My cousins are precious people- I have REALLY missed out by avoiding them all these years! Now all three of us are hitting the "red hat" years. I'm so blessed to have them, and their families in my life again. Part II. The Viewing Room is NOT a place to meet people after WLS. My aunt had a boyfriend that I haven't seen in twenty years. He's almost 80 so I assumed he might not remember me. Picture this: I enter the viewing room and join 5 other people (my mother, another aunt, my father, another relative and my Aunt's boyfriend) in a semi-circle next to the open coffin. Everyone is very tearful. My aunt's boyfriend is very shaken and breaks down so I go to comfort him. I'm holding both his hands giving words of comfort and he looks up and quite loudly says, "Who are you?" I explain I'm Robin Aunt Grace's niece. And he says extremely loud, "But Grace always said you were really FAT!" Everyone in the room froze except my Dad who starts giggling. He's hold back the laughter so bad he has to turn around. I looked down to hide my face. I was holing in laughing with all my might ... the rest of the family is right outside the viewing room! Have you ever had one of these "If I laugh it will be a disaster moments"? I thought I would die. I exited the room and made it to the near by bathroom. I believe the rest of the family assumed I was crying over my aunt. The moment was hysterical. But down deep I was hurt. All the times I saw my aunt were nice visits. It hurt to know she went back and told everyone how fat I was. Before this outburst I foolishly thought my cousins didn't know I had gotten so big. Denial. I guess its quite normal for family members to spread the word when someone grows from tiny to morbidly obese. Oh well...I'm very happy I'm back in my cousin's lives and regret 15 lost years of friendship. I also have a much better appreciation of ho my weight loss has changed me life- scratch that-- I had no life--I'm now living again. Blessings, Robin 247/157/130

So glad you are doing much better. I was wondering what had happened with you.

Robin, Great story, thank you for sharing, thats too much how older people just blurt out things with no regard to feelings. Heh...it does come out funny at the time but then you do feel the hurt later on...Its like "hey...you know that sucks!" I am so glad that you are reunited with your cousins. Isnt it wonderful to feel that we dont have to "hide" any longer? Or feel the eyes staring at you knowing that they are thinking "man she is getting huge!" The half smiles you get from family members that try to say "glad to see you" but their facial expressions always tell a different story. (ugh thats the worst) But now its all smiles (mostly) and we dont feel that we have to hide. Now we have to deal with WOW you lost so much and all the hoopla over hearing that a thousand times... or "ok so how much have you lost now?" - Getting REAL tired of that...its embarrasing and personal! but they dont understand that and are really just excited for us, so we have to suck it up and answer cheerfully! heh. I wish you all the best! Thanks again for sharing Elizabeth M

Robin, Don't you just LOVE relatives...can pick them and your friends won't help you hide the bodies. I have an aunt that I intentionally did not tell I had WLS - a true NEGATIVE Nelly! Anyway, my cousin, her daughter, let it slip in an EMAIL of all things, that I had had WLS. Does my aunt call me??? NO! She calls my brother and he, not knowing my embargo of her, told her everything...then I get an email from her, couseling me on my LIFE choices!! That was about a month ago and it still burns me up!! I don't know why relatives feel they have the 'right' to say whatever pops into their heads. I just don't get it..... Glad you reconnected with your cousins...I hope those friendships blossom!! Va

Hi VA, You did what I did- cut your hair at the same rate you lost weight. I'm super short now and went super blonde. Have to get some pics too send you. You are looking good! Sorry about your insensitive realitives. I guess we all have some. Your aunt should realise your "LIFE choices" are YOUR choices and they probably saved YOUR LIFE! I'm down 90! Take care, Robin

I don't know whether to laugh or be angry at the response! I think I'm a little of both, actually! Dina

Great story!!! I know how you feel about missing out on so much because of the weight. I myself stayed away from a lot of family members because I was just so embarrased. One of those family members is my real father, I havn't talked to him or seen him in years. I was always so afraid he be ashamed of me because of the weight, well now the weight is off, and guess what? I can't find him. I don't know where he is, I don't even know if he's still alive. I also have a half brother and sister that I've never even met. Its killing me to know that if I had just kept in touch with him I'd have my Daddy. Another family member that I've also not seen in years is my favorite cousin Jimmy. Its sad to say that he's in prison, but just yesterday I found out he's mad at me cause I havn't gone to see him. I explained to my mother, with tears that it was because of my weight. SHe told me that she knew that and she even told him that, that made him even more mad at me. He said "Kelley's always been my favorite cousin, does she really think that I'd care how much she weighed", that crushed me but also made me feel so good. I'm actually gonna visit him on Sunday! Its time for us all to stop hiding. Its not worth it. You just never know what can happen..... Take care! Kelley 265/145@goal!