Everyone, Please help me if you can. My sister, Renia suffers from pulmonary fibrosis. She is 39 years old with 3 daughters. She just emailed me this website for a petition to help with the awareness of this disease. I love my sister so much and I don't want to loose her but this is a battle she wont be able to win. I was wondering if you could help spread the word or even put a link for this petition. Please HELP me do this. I feel so helpless because I can't help her. This way maybe I can just a little. Even if you cant do anything with your website, could you please at least sign the petition for me. Every signature helps. Here are the details. "Slow Suffocation: Increasing Public Awareness of Pulmonary Fibrosis" My sister Renia needs your help, she suffers from this. Please sign the petition Please take a moment to read about this important issue, and join me in signing the petition. It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a difference. We are trying to reach 1,000 signatures - please sign here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/382515892 Once you have signed, you can help even more by asking your friends and family to sign as well. Thank you! Heidi Lepley

The journey is 18 months long since surgery. My life has been about my weight for much, much longer. One topic I really wonder about is "style" and how it comes to everyone. I always dressed well for my "size" and looked nicely presented. I wore lots of prints and colors that made up for shape. I was often complimented on my clothing. I would have called it understated large. As I have begun to shop for new purchases, I am amazed at the overwhelm to make choices. I no longer have to choose between two things because the fit, but a whole world of options! I am wondering, how has your style evolved as your body became so new? Maybe you were normal sized as an adult and you are returning to that size. For me, I have never shopped in anything but a large size store. My body is thickest through the middle, even with my weight loss. I still wear most everything with a shirt tail on the outside. (Not tucked in). Dresses lay better now, but heck, I live in Florida and formal wear is no swim suits! I haven't worn sleeveless unless I was in a swim suit on the beach. My biggest shock is choosing solid colors now. I don't really require the camoflauge of prints. I go for items that do not hug my 'muffin top' above pants or skirts. If I wear waist tight pants it accentuates the muffin, so I avoid those choices. I have resorted to a form fitting camisole under everything to keep the belly jiggles under control. I am five four, size 14, 165 pounds with a wasit still at 38 inches. (down from 52) I am down 90 pounds from my highest. I see another 15-20 pounds coming off.........very very slowly. Up till now, I bought most of my downward slide clothes at consignment stores and was the blessed one with some very nice hand-me-downs. Now, I am beginning to shop for real. And I have no idea what my style is. Experiences desired! Thanks. Vicky

It is eighteen months today since I had WLS. I am down over 80% of my excess weight. (Highest weight was 255, current is 165) I am THRILLED at my current health and weight. When I lose the last 15 pounds, I will be THRILLED also. This weekend, I am attending my 30th high school reunion. I weigh less now than I did in high school. I feel great, look pretty great for an old broad and I get to dance and show it off a bit this weekend! Life is great! Vicky

Not really, things just lay nicer on my belly now. I'm wearing a size 8 these days and hope to stay there for a long time! Maybe you need a second opinion - and I don't blame you on the bat wings - I don't have much there but I do have excess under my arms that likes to pop out so I'm very careful what I wear! Diona

Hey Petty, I have had to have a pelvic hernia repaired - that's really the pelvic floor brought back together. When I had that done (not fun by the way) I had my labia trmmed back because it was hanging down like two inches - yuch. They can fix things down there! I also had a tummy tuck - so nice not to have any roles of skin hanging down there! Hope your GYN can help - mine did all three procedures and did a great job. Diona