my 2 year anniversary reflection

this is what I posted on the Texas board this morning 8/3/06 The morning of 8/3/04 was the beginning to a new life. The last two years have been a roller coaster ride... the ups and downs but for the most part it has been an amazing journey... not the easy way out as some people put it. I have to thank my husband Rudy and my sons - Little Rudy, Mikael and Johnny for always supporting me and being there for me when I dump and know how to take care of me. Rudy my honey especially for supporting me having the meetings and being a support group leader, he really does understand how important it is for us to have each other. Love you guys with all of my heart. What surgery has done for me....hmmmm well I have always been a confident person and I never had any health issues but I have NEVER IN MY LIFE weighed 123 -130 pounds...when I was a senior in high school I weighed 135 and wore a size 13... today I am wearing anywhere from a 2,4,6, or 8 all depends on the clothes.... Some of the things I have done since surgery... well skydived 2 times...climbed one of the mountains in Hawaii walked all over Hawaii ...went to New York and walked and walked and walked which I wasn't able to do when we went right after 9/11/01.... Rode all kinds of roller coaster rides in Orlando...guess you can say I am a thrill seeker.... I never in a million years thought I would be leading a support group. We started out as a small group with Penny Abate who went to Iraq and I volunteered to have the meetings at my house and we have grown to anywhere from 15 - 25 people a month. I have met some of the most wonderful people in the world who go through the same things that I go through... the emotional and mental part of this... To me that has been the hardest part seeing the smaller person. I still see the big girl, probably always will but I never want to forget where I came from because believe me I do not EVER want to go back to weighing 227. I know Erika posted the other day about her 4 year anniversary and she is one person who I followed her profile and posts when I signed up on TMB got to meet Erika at both conferences and have had her come stay with me and skydive with me... She is a true inspiration, love you girl... another one was Yvonne I followed her profile also... and then got to meet her in Nov. 2005 at the Houston conference and again 7/06 at the San Antonio conference... and of course Ramon who took over a year to email me back but we have become the best of friends... got to meet him at both conferences and get to know him and we are only 1 month apart surgery wise... of course I could name so many others... who had surgery after me and are in my support group who I love seeing the changes each month in them... Maggie my daughter I never had...love you girl... Ann who we would not let give up... Diane C, Stacie, Mary, Delia my skydiving buddy... Debbie who is at goal...Mark, Becky, Charlene, there are so many in my support group to mention and all the ones on the board Janice my sexy woman, Dana, Jennifer in SA, Russ, Rickol, Gina's - all of them...and got to meet so many people when I went to the Dallas dinner in Jan. 06...thanks to Charlene for putting those together....hope to make another one soon.. You know to me its amazing that I have met just about most of you in person the ones from Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, even Louisiana people got to meet here in Houston... I know I shouldn't name people but I believe in paying it forward as Ramon says... I know I read so many profiles when I started out with my revision and it was great to see the progress people were making...and the ups and downs they were having...knowing it wouldn't be the easy way out.... Those of you just starting out take pictures I know we hate to do that being overweight but believe me you will be glad you did... and take your measurements... cause when the weight loss slows down the inches keep coming off...and most important get involved in a support group you will not believe how much more successful people are who have the support.... I always say no one understands another weight loss person like another weight loss person. I will end on this note... ALWAYS NO MATTER WHAT WALK AROUND WITH YOUR SHOULDERS BACK, CHEST OUT AND HEAD HELD HIGH... Love you guys and thank you all for the support. Debra 227/205/127 at goal 1st Surgery/Revision/Today 8/98 - 8/04 - today 8/3/06 Pasadena Support Group Leader OH Chapter Leader

Hi Debra, Happy anniversary! You're so encouraging, such an inspiration and encourager to us all. I read you daily on TMB and it's so good that we're "family" over on the Aug 04 board as well! Keep up the good work - you're a star! Kathryn

Good Morning, Debra! We are surgery twins! I celebrated my anniversary yesterday, also! And you are so right about having a rollercoaster ride! But it has been great and a real positive lifestyle change! And I am so thankful for the change in my life and health. Have a great day, and keep up the good work! Bernice.................

AMEN