Can you share with me?????

ronascott
on 6/22/04 2:40 am - San Antonio, TX
Hi Friends, first let me thank you all for being so helpful to me in my journey. It's hard to imagine that it's been almost 4 years since my surgery! I have been developing a lecture regarding the insensitivity of the public towards the obese. I am doing this for several reasons.....to educate healthcare workers, to lobby for obesity discrimination to be prohibited by the ADA, to educate the public at large to the plight of this last socially acceptable bastion of open and rampant discrimination, etc. Right now all I have to go on is my own experience and I was wondering if you could help me to help others by sharing your experiences with me. I know it might be painful but maybe with all of us putting forth an effort it will be worth it in the end. I'll go first and share one of my most hurtful experiences. When I weighed 263 I interviewed for a job as a receptionist at a popular radio station. Because it was for a receptionist position, the interviews were all done over the phone. You mailed or faxed in your resume and then everything was done over the phone so they could evaluate your phone skills and dealing with the public. I made it all the way down to the final two applicants and was invited in for a meeting with the president. Even at 263 pounds I took great pains with my appearance and fixed my hair and makeup and wore nice, professional clothing. I arrived at the office and saw that the other applicant was a tiny lady who was very pretty. When the president came out he literally looked at me first and then looked at her. He walked up to me, shook my hand, told me he didn't think they had anything for me and hoped I hadn't been inconvenienced by coming in. He then took the other lady by the hand and ushered her into his office. I almost felt sorry for her. He was practically drooling over her. I left the office in a conflicted mess. I was happy that I didn't have to work for an ignorant man like that. But, I was devastated because he had totally discounted my intelligence and my abilities because I was morbidly obese. I felt worthless. I was too ashamed to tell my family what happened and I lied to them and said I'd had a great interview but he must've like the other lady better. It wasn't until I'd had WLS that I shared this experience with them. The really terrible thing about this is that this scenario and worse is played out over and over each day with morbidly obese individuals. Can you share your experiences with me? I know I'm only one person and I don't expect to change the world but I figure even the mighty oak started out as one little nut. So, this little nut is seeking your help. Thanks again for being a wonderful, supportive WLS family! Hugs, Rona
dcookwrites
on 6/22/04 11:12 pm - Dover, DE
Rona, I am a professional writer/speaker/dramatist-performer/minister. Lots of hats, looking for greater energy. While I'm not four years on the other side of WLS (I'm actually six days pre-op), I've found that your best anecdotes and experiences are your own. You don't need others' testimonies to start your lecture circuit. Tell your own stories with all the passion and pain that you have within you. Then back up your stories with statistics. For instance, reference the following document reviewing results of studies on obesity discriminiation at www.lectlaw.com/files/con28.htm The American Obesity Association lists some interesting statistics about weight discrimination at www.obesity.org/discrimination/employment.shtml There is also a physician in the greater Philadelphia area who developed a "fat suit" and challenged doctors to wear them for a week to gain greater sympathy for what obese patients contend with. I may have his information filed somewhere. As you speak on this topic, others will come to you with their stories. Then one by one, your files will become full . . . If you've already taken these things into account, please forgive me for these suggestions. If not, then I hope this is helpful. Diane C www.cookworkshop.com
Mamasita
on 6/23/04 5:33 am - New Castle, DE
Diane I was impressed with your website. You have so many accomplishments. Dianne
gail B.
on 6/23/04 8:34 pm - wilmington, DE
Good morning Rona!!!!! I have not had the surgery yet.....but it's great that you doing what you are doing for the public needs to be informed...some think that this surgery is a quick fix for us but only those who are in our predicament can truly understand...how we feel and why we chose the steps that we did....it's not merely just pushing ourselves from the table...but so much more is involved...again I say thank you for what you are doing....we need someone to do this for us...who knows maybe it might be me..when it's all over....have a great day..peace always..Gail Burke
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