About Marilyn A's health before wls...

Everyone had or has been asking about Marilyn's health before wls. She knew she had several health issues and knew that having wls was a big risk for her! She felt she was up against a wall like most of us and had to make THAT decision on whether to go through life like this or take a chance at freedom through wls. At times, she feared the Dr's would reject her due to her health. She made her decision to have wls and she made it through just fine! In the end tho, her health failed her! Her heart, that was already bad, gave out. I knew Marilyn had talked about her health on here, I just couldn't remember when. I started going through her posts to see if I could find it and I did. I will copy and post it, so it will be in her own words... ************************************************************** RE: RE: Response from Marilyn A at 12:35 PM CST on 08/12/2006 Mtn. Home, AR - RNY (11/20/2006) - Phillip Hornbostel, M.D. Thanks Jan, David, Marcia, & Barb, I will try to answer all-in-one. First I am diabetic, have copd, arthritus & heart issues (received 3 stents 10 yrs. ago) I take 3 different meds for high blood pressure & angina not to mention others to numerous to mention. I had both knees replaced 3 yrs. ago and had a pulmonary embolisim at that time. In 1986 I lost a kidney due to abcess and on top of all that I am 64 yrs.old. I know for the Center of Excellence both the doctor and hospital have to have done so many WLS and had a good outcome. In order to protect that CoE designation they aren't apt to accept someone who is in bad health and might mess up their record. At least that is what I've been thinking. I hope I'm wrong. Also since Medicare is my only insurance (my supplemental excludes wls) I have to go to a CoE which rules out Little Rock, Batesville, Mtn. Home, Springfield, etc. It also rules out St. Louis which would have been my first choice since I lived there for 45 yrs. That should give you all a pretty good picture of where I'm coming from, so what do you think? Marilyn ************************************************************** I cry because because I miss Marilyn but I don't feel sorry for her! She is with God in Heaven! She's young again, she has a new body, no more pain and suffering and her new best friend is Jesus!! What else could you ask for? I do feel sorry for those that were left behind! Tom, her children, grandchildren, family and friends. I pray God's Blessing on each and every one of them. I pray that He gives them strength to get through this and for each of them to be able to carry on with their lives, knowing that they did get the chance to know Marilyn for however long and what a special angel she was and is! Deb M.

Deb, thanks for researching this and finding this info for those of us who weren't aware of all her health concerns. Obviously she did know what she was doing, and was trying to make great improvments in her health through WLS. I second your wishes for her loved ones left behind. Tami

Thanks Debbie this will help a lot of people that have been being scared now that they are about to have wls. Marilyn made a good informed decision and knew the risks she was taking . Im like you i grieve for her and miss her but i dont feel sorry for her she is in the place that we all want to be one day..... thanks again for the research you did on this. God bless you Jan

tks Debbie. I wanted to know this, I still miss seeing her on here, but she would tell us she has a much better body and she would not exchange for one she would get here,this is something we all have to face sometime, we want to make sure we are ready to go....God Bless and tks again Debbie

Thanks, Debbie, I didn't know Marilyn's history. She was such a sweetie to me. Always an uplifting message about how we were going to get through this together. She'll always be on my mind for her bravery in trying to get her life back. She wanted to live life to the utmost and now she is living it with our Lord, Jesus Christ. Of course, I wish she were still here for us and for Tom but obviously that wasn't Gods plan for her. Sleep well, dear friend. We love and miss you. Lana

Deb, Thanks so much for posting this. I loved the fact that like you said, it is "Marilyn's own words". Even though I only met her the once at the meeting last month, I know she will be deeply missed. I pray God will comfort her loved ones. Glenna