OK.. EVERYONE HAS TO RESPOND!

Please list your name is so inclined or at least your first name Area of Missouri in which you live or city if you don't mind sharing Age if you don't mind and any other personal data... like married/kids/?? Main reason you had the surgery.. What is the one UBER goal you want to achieve or HAVE achieved. and get creative ... lets share so we can get to know one another... I'LL GO FIRST.... Elizabeth~

My first name is Elizabeth I live in the I-44 corridor between Rolla/St. Robert I am the youngest of 6 kids... both parents deceased and have been gone for years... and I miss them terribly. Not close to any of my siblings for various reasons sadly enough but it is for the better. Used to be INCREDIBLY athletic (as in competitive in college even)... will get back to that level yet again..... I am 44 and will be 45 in June/married with kids but only one is at home now. The rest have flown the nest! I work in a business setting that is NOT WLS friendly in the least little bit. I have a wonderful wonderful supportive DH and the kids are just as supportive. Along with them and my most blessed WLS friend (Ms. Betty Boopster a.k.a. Elizabeth Myers) I wouldn't of gotten where I'm at today. I give them ALL the credit as they wouldn't let me stop fighting my denials! GOD BLESS YOU! My family history is fraught with diabetes. Diabetes claimed the life of my paternal grandmother before I was even born. It is rampant in my dad's family and I am a carbon copy clone of my P. Grandmother. It is spooky. Dx'ed with PCOS I was thiiiiiiis close to becoming a diabetic. Along with crippling Osteoarthritis from a long ago knee injury I was an accident in the happening. So I had this surgery in order to live. I have lost so much time being obese... time that can never be reclaimed but by GOD I'm going to try! This sounds silly but I wanted my DH to be able to pick me up and carry me... and he can.. quite easily. I fit in bathtubs (with room to spare) I fit in chairs, I ride rollercoaster with abandon. I go up stairs, I go down stairs.. I am MOBILE.. watch me! I even ran! OHMYGOSH yes I ran.. something that I haven't done forever.. and I can cross my legs without an ACT OF CONGRESS taking place.... I'll post more when I think of more.... who is next???

I am Betty Myers...The boopster.....Miss Betty....or a few other chosen names that I should probably not post here... St. Louis Born and Raised.....However, I have lived in Taiwan for 1 year teaching English as a second language, Yuma Arizona....teaching 2nd grade, Springdale, Arkansas, Principal and 1st - 4th Grade Teacher, Peru, Indiana Principal and 4th Grade Teacher, Mount Prospect Illinois Principal and 4th Grade Teacher, Jefferson City, Missouri...as preschool administrator and lead teacher. WHEW.....Not to mention I went to Junior College, in Concordia Missouri, Senior College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and obtained my Master's degree at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville....WHEW AGAIN... My age is 52, one of 5 children...(only girl with 4 brothers)....one brother killed in Vietnam in 1968; one brother in Florida (no communication with him....a long ....long...long story) and 2 brother who live in St. Louis around my area....both parents are deceased....my mom from lung cancer at the age of 59 and my father at the age of 72 for coronary disease. oh...and not married and it seems never will be.... Main reason you had the surgery..to save my life....at 414 pounds....I could hardly breath some days with out getting exhausted..... What is the one UBER goal you want to achieve or HAVE achieved. - the one upper goal I wanted to achieve first was to get under 300 pounds (which I accomplished ) the next is to get under 200 pounds and I'm on the way. Betty Myers OPEN RNY 5/25/04 -135 pounds St. Louis, Missouri

Please list your name is so inclined or at least your first name: CASSANDRA OR MY USER NAME: MOMOF3KDS.... Area of Missouri in which you live or city if you don't mind sharing: JUST NORTH OF HWY 70, ON HWY 13 Age if you don't mind and any other personal data... like married/kids/?? I'M 30 YRS OLD. I'M SOOOOO VERY MARRIED TO A VERY SUPPORTIVE SPOUSE OF ALMOST 12 YRS. (WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER ALMOST 13 YRS). WE HAVE A PRECIOUS TRIO (3 KIDS) Main reason you had the surgery.. I HAVEN'T HAD WLS YET. I'M TRYING TO START MY PROCESS AS WE SPEAK. THE REASON I WANT TO HAVE WLS IS TO BEABLE TO LIVE NOT JUST EXIST. MY MOM HAS BEEN RACKED WITH PANGS AND OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS. I DON'T WANT TO TRAVEL THE ROAD THAT SHE HAS. SHE TOO IS CONSIDERING WEIGHTLOSS SURGERY AS WELL. MY REALLY CLOSE AUNT HAS WITHIN THE LAST 4 MONTHS OR SO, DISCOVERED THAT SHE HAS TYPE 2 DIABETES. ANOTHER THING I DON'T WANT TO VISIT IN MY LIFE. FOR YRS SHE HAS BEEN FAIRLY HEALTHY SHE'D ONLY DEALT WITH OBESITY AS A HEALTH PROBLEM UP UNTIL NOW. NOW SHE'S STARTING TO SEE THE "SIDE AFFECTS" OF OBESITY. What is the one UBER goal you want to achieve or HAVE achieved. I WANT TO DO NORMAL THINGS AROUND THE HOUSE WITHOUT BEING IN PAIN TRYING TO PERFORM NORMAL TASKS. I WANT TO SET A POSITIVE EXAMPLE FOR MY CHILDREN AND HAVE THEM LIVE MORE HEALTHY LIVES IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID WHAT I'M DEALING WITH NOW. THEY ARE STILL YOUNG I'M HOPING MY DIET MODIFICATIONS NOW AND POST-OP, WILL RUB OFF ON THEM SO THAT THEY NOT HAVE TO CONSIDER WLS. I KNOW THERE IS NO GUARANTEES BUT I CAN SURE TRY TO THWART OFF ISSUES NOW! Cassandra

Please list your name is so inclined or at least your first name: Name is Melissa Russell. Family and friends all call me Meme. Area of Missouri in which you live or city if you don't mind sharing I have lived in Joplin, MO for the last 8 yrs. But I was born and raised in Des Moines, IA. Age if you don't mind and any other personal data... like married/kids/?? I am 36 yrs young LOL I have 2 older brothers and 1 sister. I am the baby of the family. Both of my parents are alive. My Aunt, her sister my (g-ma) (which is my mother's mother) and my parents all share a home together. My Aunt has real bad Allstimers (SP) Main reason you had the surgery.. Havent had the surgery yet. Still working on it. Main reason is becuase I finally found the man I have been looking for all my life. And I want more then anything to not only grow old and share everything with him. But I also want to give him children. He has 2 other brothers and neither of them have children. I would love to be the first to give my F-I-L Grandchildren and pass on the family name. And I have always wanted to have kids. What is the one UBER goal you want to achieve or HAVE achieved. To get my date for my surgery before March of 2006. So I can finally be on the loser side. Melissa

MORE TIDBITS ABOUT ME AS I THINK OF EM'... I had the luck to be born into a family of athletes with my mom being a tremendous athlete (gymnast and other sports).. How many kids can say that they had a set of still rings (gymnastics) and balance beam, football goal, basketball goal and various crash pads (mats) in their back yard? Not to mention that MY mother was the one teaching me how to do gymnastic stunts before I was even in grade school! I was a competitive gymnast from the word go and I do mean GO... I had a personal coach/trainer in my teen years and worked out regularly at a gym as well as ran track and threw discus, played volleyball (you name it I did it!).... I have a letterjacket that IS FULL of medals and awards and even went to State one year in track and WON!... I was planning on trying out for the prelims for gymnastics that would of put me on the path to the Olympics hopefully one day when I suffered a horrible horrible career ending injury due to a doofus H.S. teacher (not my regular coach) To this day it kinda still tears me up to think of what could of been but I have forgiven her. I have 3 wonderful boys and I girl... wouldn't trade my kids for the world but they sure know how to push your buttons sometimes! Our eldest is 24 and in the Army. Just got back from Iraq this past year (unfortunately he was injured over there and had to have surgery) right now they are holding a second deployment to Iraq over his head but there are no firm orders to leave as of yet (crossing my fingers here) Our 21 year old son JUST relocated to Seattle area (I miss him already). Our daughter 20 is still in the area and hopefully will be attending school shortly to begin on her college education. Our baby boy, 17, is a Jr. in High School. Married to the ultimate BEST DUDE in the whole wide world... that man can melt my heart with just one of his grins... He is the reason that I smile like a big boofus most of the time.... Michael I love you! We have 2 dogs, Bodie (boxer mix) Biscuit (Dobie/terrier mix)... 7 cats (yup I said seven) as we have some of our daughters kitties over here.. Laylee and Zoree (2 Maine coon brothers) Midnight and Mischief (2 black shorthair sisters) Calimau (calico female) Zooey and Kiera ( Mom and daughter calico's) and not to forget.... DRUM ROOLLLLLLLLLLLLL Mr. Finn -- an adorable 4-5 ft. long iguana iguana who absolutely loves his "talking tree" otherwise known as ME. The lizard loves rock music and loves being held and petted. He closes his eyes and pushes his little (ok big) lizard head up into your hand as you pet him!... Thats my baby...*s* This dude is HUGE... his body is bigger around than my upper arm!...egggggaddddds..... big boy big boy... Ok..will put up more as it comes to me! Elizabeth~

My name is David Wilson. I live in beautiful Branson, Missouri with my wife who has also had rny. We dont have any kids of our ow, but we were foster parents several years ago. I have congestive heart failure and only about half of my heart works good. I had surgery so I could qualify for a heart transplant. The only long term hope for me is a transplant if I get any worse. The good news I am better and hopefully will never need a transplant. Losing the weight is the best thing I ever did for my heart. My diabestes went away for good since my heart is not as overworked it is better and I can even climb a flight of stairs. My wife had sleep apnea pretty bad and hated her breathing machine. She also had diabetes. She doesnt need the machine anymore she doesnt even snore. Her diabetes went away too. You all come on down here and we will try to take you to a show. We can usually get 2 free tickets apiece to most shows. I dont make much more but I like going to free shows. I worked for Yakow Smirnoff last season, might go somewhere else this year.

David - I am in exactly the same situation that you are in. I am 49 years old, have congestive heart failure and diabetes, and have been told I will need a transplant if the failure does not improve - and that I have only about half a heart. I am in the process of preparing for surgery and it is wonderful to hear a success story. You have inspired to continue. Thank you,

O.K. My name is Penelope Layne Warner (Penni for short). I live in Windsor Missouri, about 2 hours from Kansas City. I am 34, will be 35 Feburary 27. I have two children Marybeth (five going on 20), and a little boy (almost 2 years in February). My husband and I have been married for 13 years and he still loves me. He has been my greatest support!!! He has put up with so much. I am bipolar disorder, which I am not ashamed of because I am on meds and doing great. I praise God everyday for allowing me to have this surgery as many of you I was not living, my back killed me when I stood up for very long. Yesterday I cleaned the whole house and all the laundry. I was wondering when my back was going to start hurting, it never did---praise God. I am a Catholic christian my church has been so great through all of this. My husband and I converted to Catholisim in 2000 this did not change my beliefs in God in fact it inhansed it. Jesus if the center of our family! I love to sing, read and hang out with friends and family. My daughter takes ballet, tap and acrobats. She has been taking it since she was 2 and a half, I really see her growing in it. She loves it! Of course she is the smartest girl in school (I imagine alot of you have one of thoughs of your own.) My son is very funny, he tries to make laugh. Well, I have gone on and on. Hope you learned something about me thanks for asking! God bless, Penni

Hi, M name is Carol and i live in Forsyth, MO just north of Branson. I am married and have 2 daughters. One lives in Forest City about 30 miles north of St. Joseph. She and her husband have 2 boys and 1 more on the way. My oldest daughter still lives with me she will graduate college in May and plans to move out then. I am originally from New York city. I met my husband in New Jersey and we moved out here i***** My husband is a sales manager and he plays music in a country band. We have been married for 10 years. Before surgery i had diabetes, high cholesterol, and arthritis. They all have gone away! My goal is to live a long and healthy life. My mother and brother died from complications of diabetes. Carol