For Stacey Weiss

Hey there Stacey: I just want to thank you for all the help you gave to me on Monday. I never in a million years would have guess that some one from here could be so supportive as to sit by my side and be there the entire time with me. I am greatful to have called you my sister and from the beginning of our relationship you have shined your light into my life. Thank you so much for being there and every day for me. I will never forget what you have done for my life. This is just a public announcement for you to see how much I care about you. You are worth more then gold to me and the kids. What a way to be a freind in an hour of need. I will never forget our little pre surgery slumber party and the silly photos taken that night. Thank you for making me laugh and cry and share all those silly emotions that I did. Keeping you up was worth it and creating memories is just priceless to me. God Bless you.... Rae Ann

Dear Sunshine Rae, You are most welcome. I recall in my pre WLS days I had someone lined up to care for me, take me to the hospital and then 2 weeks prior, they backed out and left me alone. Just days prior, my father had been diagnosed with cancer, and I was without family support because of that. Had it not been for my best friend Pam, I would not have had WLS. She was there for me the night before, we too stayed up and giggled and had fun. I was brought up in this world believing "What goes around, comes around". And also "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". Both my parents taught me over my lifetime. It is with those two phrases that I felt in my heart to be there for you not only for support, but as your friend and sister. I know how important it was for me to have Pam by my side from beginning to end, and how valuble it was to know that she too cared. Meeting you and your kids was just awesome, and I must state in public as well, that I have never in my life seen children - yours- who cared for me the way they did Sunday night. Waiting on our every need, and making me feel like I belonged there all the time. You are truly blessed with them, Brittany, Samantha and Nathaniel, who made me feel welcome from the minute I pulled down the wrong way of your street. So it was my pleasure, from my heart, and knowing that we are always there for one another in a time of need, no matter the cir****tance. For "That's what friends are for", though cliche', very very true. I wish you well, speedy recovery and think of the times we will have this summer rollerblading, kite flying and swimming showing off our thin thin bodies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I count on it!!! Stacey

http://www.geocities.com/laurelie36/raerae2.jpg There.....now you can see what a beautiful friend I have!!!!!!! WAY TO GO SKINNY GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rae, Thanks you for sharing. I am typing this thru my tears. What a great way to honor a wonderful friend and friendship. This Board is about so much more then WLS, it is about family and new bonds that we build thru these new friendships. Thank you for reminding me about why I love this board so much. Your before and after pics are great. You look beautiful! Congrates on your TT. God Bless and take care---Toni

Toni: How right you are. These boards are so full of love from the right people. Stacey has been just terrific to me through so much more then WLS. She is an angel in disguise and to have her as a true friend is more than any one person could ask for. I have known her just shy of 5 months now and let me tell you the relationships we develope here are just amazing to me. Thank you for replying to this post. IT is nice to know that there are people here who have a sense of appreciation for things like this. Thank you for your positive comments to me. You have been so great to me through all of this too. I am grateful to have you respond to this. Better days are yet to come. Rae

Even if any member of this board didn't make it to surgery and had to choose an alternative making one friend like this is worth joining! Good luck and God bless to both of you. Mary

Mary: Thank you for your response to this post. I know there were days in the beginning of my journey that I was alone and afraid. I would come here and seek help and find it no matter what time of the day or night. 11 short months ago, my life changed for the better. I will never be the same again for what I had gone through and in fact have recently made a decison to change careers to this type of living. I would like to reach out and help those in need of anything. Help is what this board is all about. But sometimes as with me, we need something tangeble. That is what I have found in Stacey. I asked her to go to my surgery with me and she did so with out any type of hesitation. My very own husband refused to go. Saying work was more important to him and he refused to call of for this. I was hurt and disgusted by this, but Stacey was right there the whole time. Took the messages from the Doc, made my phone calls to family and friends, was there to wipe my face after surgery. These are the things I will never forget. She drove down here almost 2 hours then drove another hour to the hosp. She was there when I was freaking out as the time approached. She was there until I closed my eyes to a new light. She took my after pic as I was so anxious to get up from my bed just a few minutes after surgery cause I wanted to see it so badly. That is dedication. that is love, that is true friendship. No one could ask for better. It means so much that you can take time and respond to a post that was made for Stacey. You will find that, that is where a simple hello can make all the difference in someones life. I hope you can feel free to email me anytime...I would love to get to know as many people as I can from this board. We are all in this together. None of us can do it alone. Have a blessed day. Rae Ann 320/220/150 11 months post gastric and abdominoplasty.