ALIVE!!
Two years ago today at about this time, I awoke in the recovery room at Middlesex Hospital in Middletown, Connecticut. I clearly remember my first coherent thought.......I'M ALIVE!!!!!!! Little did I realize at the time that those two simple words meant so much more than the fact that I avoided death on the operating table!! "I'm Alive" has multiple layers of meaning for me now, 2 years later. I have discovered life in ways which I had forgotten and ways which I had never known. I won't waste endless pages of babble on the benefits of this surgery, because I would be "Preaching to the Choir".....You are all fully aware of how our lives have improved as a result of WLS!! I would like to bring up a couple of points which I have spent a lot of time pondering lately.
First of all, I'm really alive because I have finally learned to deal with WLS as a "TOOL". We all give this term lots of "Lip Service", but for me, I've only recently learned to accept it as a tool and not a "miracle cure" for all that ails me. I still have to live my life and deal with it's ups and downs. I still must live with my addiction, and yes, it damn well is an addiction every bit as nasty as drugs, alcohol, and gambling. I have accepted the fact that I will always be an addict, but WLS gave me a fighting chance to live with my addiction and thrive!!
Second of all, I'm really alive because I now know that I have improved the lives of others around me by improving myself. When I started on this journey, I decided to do this for ME!! What I didn't expect was what WLS has meant for those that care about me. My relationship with my wife has improved both physically and emotionally. We do things together....simple things like taking a walk or going for a paddle in the kayaks that were impossible 2 years ago. She constantly tells me how even though she always loved me, she never knew life could be this good......wow! My kids have told me how nice it is not to worry about Dad's health all of the time. I've had many friends and family members (many of whom don't even know about the surgery) come up and tell me how glad they are that I've lost so much weight and how happy they are that they won't lose me the way that they lost others who were Morbidly Obese. And of course, my dog is delighted because she gets lots and lots of long walks now that I am capable of walking with her!!
Finally, I'm really alive because I have found all of you "Marchers" and had you here to keep me going when the going got tough!! Bless you all and here's to a great year #3 for all of us. Lots o' Love commin at Ya!!
Mike
Mike -
Isn't it wonderful how we can really appreciate life these days?!?
Happy Anniversary to you. You continue to be an inspiration to me. You are always so positive and upbeat in your posts. It's always nice to have a man's perspective through all this.
Best wishes to you. Enjoy life every day, sweetie!!
Hugs and love coming right back at ya!
-Wendy
Hi Mikie
I no you have been extremely busy of late, so taking time to do this
story was a good thing indeed. Yes, you are alive & have been a great
part of this March board. Happy B-day & yes lets all stick together &
hopefully always remain friends (maybe even meet in person one of these
days) Maybe a March reunion somewhere in the middle of the Country.
Love right back at you!!!
Marilyn, the Bearlady 
Great post, Mike. You've done so well, I'm very proud of you. The memories for me about meeting you two years ago are still so fresh in my mind. I remember our spouses walking that corridor with us, the 4 of us, taking those first scary steps together, not having a clue really of what was in store. You, me, Abby and Jim making small-talk, getting to know you words, through the pain and discomfort of our fresh surgeries. And those damned IV poles, I was clinging to mine as if to let go would push me over the edge of some unknown territory. Remember how we used to say on this Board, "Welcome to the other side" -- the other side. Pre-surgery was one side, post-surgery was the "other" side. I met you on the other side and have been so, so grateful for your friendship, your support, your wisdom, even when you were busy kicking my butt in gear...I could not have gotten to this place today without you having been in my corner all these yesterdays. Here's to the next 365 days together, my friend. You are simply the best. Love, Maureen
Mike your posting for your anniversary touched me so much becasue every point was mine.
Isn't it funny that our surgery anniversary dates bring us so many thoughts. Reflections? All I know is I've thought more in the past month about this anniversary that I've thought about other anniversarys. Wedding, divorce, even my birthdays. Each was life changing events but for some reason this was the end all of big life events. Maybe becasue it has placed the biggest end all of life event (death) on a back burner for a few years!
I'm not on the message boards that much right now due to the untimely death of my computer. sob i'm dealing with the loss by grabbing time on others every chance that i get. which isn't nearly often enough.
I'm wish that I could sum all my feelings up as well as everyone else on this board does so very very well.
good luck and god bless on a continued extemely successful anniversary Pam
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