A Flicker of Hope
A Flicker of Hope
I believe in paying it forward, giving back or whatever you want to call it with regard to weight loss surgery. Accordingly, for the past several months I have been speaking at WLS information seminars put on by my surgical program for those considering surgery. My particular surgeon takes his turn at those seminars once a month. His January meeting was last night and I wasn’t going to go…..I was tired from a recent trip and I had things to do at home. However, my daughter called and asked if I would pick her up from law school so she could spend a few more days at home before classes resumed. On the way to get her, I decided to go to the seminar and arrived at the last possible second as the other WLS patient-speakers were filing into the room.
As usual, we introduced ourselves, mentioned our respective weight loss totals, and added some brief message about our experiences. My message was about WLS giving me hope. There were probably 50 or 60 people there, a mix of surgical candidates and their support people. Many questions were asked, including one about loose skin. I volunteered to show my stomach, unembarrassed about its current wrinkly appearance. Afterwards a man and his wife came up to me and asked how big my waist used to be and how much I used to weigh. Given how ashamed I used to be of those numbers, it surprised even me when I readily answered their questions…..and that is when it happened…..the man said that he now weighed 5 pounds less than I had and his waist size was just a little smaller than mine was before I had surgery……and there came over him a look of real hope, a look that I helped put there. I was stunned for a moment, unable to speak. I have struggled in recent months to make sense of some things in my own life and I never thought it would be possible for me to give someone else a flicker of hope for themselves. To be honest, that experience last night has shaken me because it revealed what immense power there is in sharing our journeys and a bit of ourselves with those who find themselves now where we once were….searching for hope.
RP
RP,
I know I've mentioned this before, but you were one of the folks who spoke at the WLS info night that I attended. I introduced myself to you because not only had I read your posts on this board, but because you gave ME hope that night and in a small way helped me make my decision to have this life-changing surgery. I weighed nearly 300 pounds that night in August, and here I am at 240 this morning.
I have abundant hope for myself today... hope that began that night. By showing up at those info sessions, even when you don't feel like it, I KNOW that you touch and inspire people perhaps without always realizing it. You have undoubtedly helped dozens of people who may have felt hopeless themselves.
I make very few decisions without researching a great deal. I buy very few things without reading countless reviews from other folks. Your testimony both here and at that info session is a powerful tool from which others draw a heap of encouragement. Your journey is an inspiration and should continue to internally promote your own personal satisaction. You've come a long way, baby!
Shannon
Thank you for your kind words and congratulations on your incredible success so far. You seemed very determined the night of your information seminar and it is no surprise to me that you have done a wonderful job with your new tool. It is a funny thing that in trying to give hope, I found some for myself.
RP
Elena:
Sometimes when I get up there, I get nervous or full of emotion and I wonder if anything intelligible comes out of my mouth. I am glad that it apparently did so last night. I would bet that if we took a vote for the most inspirational person on OH who is 25 or younger, you would win and it wouldn't be a close contest. You rock! Seriously.
RP
Thank you for sharing your stories! You are such an inspiration to me and so many others, Thank you for sharing all your experiences :) I have been working with PNC but I think I am going to check out the informational meeting at Unity and I am not happy with where I am at. I have had 2 friends work with Dr. Baker and highly recommended his office and it seems like you have gotten so much from that program! I would have loved to hear other patients stories at PNC but they didnt do that. Thank you again for sharing!
Bless you,
Atousa
