****************HIJACK********** SUe!! It's me again..I sent you an email a while back, but you for never responded.. LOL Maybe you forgot who I was..LOL That's great you made it to goal.. Maybe with the picture you'll remember.. Hope to hear from you soOOooon.. Lisa

Rae, Good luck with your tummy tuck, I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. How long will you be off work? Dianne

Hi everyone. I haven't posted in a long time because I have had lots going on. I needed to write because many of you have touched my life since I had my original subtotal gastrectomy April 27, 2004. I had stomach cancer, and the doctor removed 9/10 of my stomach, my gallbladder, and hooked me up like alot of you with an open RNY. Well, I lost about 60 lbs between the end of April and the middle of September last year. Then I went back in for what I thought would be a "routine" upper endoscopy to check how my pouch was healing. Well, it was starting to produce abnormal cells again, so I started a roller coaster ride of going in every few months for more tests and endoscopies. The ride finally came to an end last month, August 12th, when my surgeon removed the rest of my stomach, my spleen, and a small part of my pancreas. He then fashioned a pouch out of my small intestines and inserted a feeding tube in my gut so that I could get nourishment at night while I sleep. I was hospitalized for 20 days and got to go home August 31st, which was the day after my 56th birthday. I know this may seem like a downer in a lot of ways, but I have a reason for writing. I am feeling better each day, and I am so grateful that I will never have stomach cancer again. The other good news is that I am eating a little bit more each day, so eventually I will no longer need the feeding tube. I will probably lose more weight along the way. I had actually gained about 15 lbs with all the worry before surgery, but have since lost that. I guess the purpose of writing this is to thank all of you for all your pearls of wisdom that I gathered while I was recouping the first time almost a year and a half ago. I didn't have a support group to attend since my condition wasn't "officially" weight related. You were my support group. I learned about the kinds of foods to eat...and those to avoid! You shared your favorite recipes and advice. I also learned about some websites to visit for more help in nutrition. I read your stories and cried when I read some of them because in so many ways, they were my story, except mine had this cancer twist. At 215 lbs, I still have a ways to go until I reach a more normal weight. However, the 60 lbs I lost opened up so many doors for me. I was able to play with my grandchildren and take long walks with my husband. I know I will be able to do this again when I am healthy again. I guess I wanted to thank you and to also give you this advice: Continue to go out and enjoy your lives. Make them as full to overflowing as you can because life, regardless of your size, is very precious. Don't take yourself too seriously! I'll continue to take it one day at a time, and I will make it back to good health, the Lord willing. Thanks again for being there and for letting me ramble on like this. Peg original surgery: 4/27/04 2nd surgery: 8/12/05

I'm at goal....once I have my TT on Monday....will probably lose between 5-7 lbs. I am 5'7, very heavily boned, started at 288, size 22/24, now weigh 167, size 8's...I think I will be in a size 6 pant after my TT....with the weight loss of the TT, I should be down in the low-mid 160's. Basically I am finished losing weight...just wanting to maintain. Congrats to all!! RAE

Lori, congrats! it is so neat now to say that word, THIN Donna