For everybody.....

Dearest best friends, I want to respond to each and everyone of you guys but have decided that I would just do a massive message to you all. Do you know how much you guys mean to me? You guys and gals are my absolute heart! I love each and everyone of you and when you hurt, I hurt. Those of you who have not had the surgery, please try not to get discouraged. It will happen, but it will happen in God's time - sometimes He needs to make sure we are really ready for it - even tho we think we are ready long ago. His timely is perfect for us, and our timing tends to be a selfish timing and He sees the "big picture" and knows when and why the timing needs to be as it is. I understand the discouragement - I have had plenty! I know how trapped you feel and how you are counting on your docs and when one disappoints us, it is terrible. You may not think you have other choices, but you do! In my case I had only 1 other choice and I tried it. It seems to be working well!! And I am no more deserving of this surgery than the rest of you, so if God has provided me a way to do this, He surely will provide the best possible way for you. I am a special child of God, but I am no more special than you guys are. God might even love you a little more than me - unless you are a nagger like me!!! Those of you that have dates for surgery coming up. Hang on!!! We are down to the scarey part! Just remember, tho, God holds you in his hand and WHATEVER happens, it will be alright. I told my docs yesterday that I have come to them hoping for a new life and I will get one. If all goes well (and I pray it does!!!), I will get a new good life on earth. If things go south, well, I will still get a good new life - just not the one we were hoping for just yet. They did tell me that because of my weight, I will have a higher fatality rate than the national average - about 4%, but that means I will have a 96% survival rate! And if this was open heart surgery, I think we would be estatic that I had such a good survival ratio. I know you guys are scared and I am too. But God will be with us thru whatever happens. If you haven't turned to God, please do. I don't know how someone could go thru this without a belief in God and His miracles called Biartric Doctors.... And for those of you that have completed this surgery and are losers, well you know, YOU ARE MY HEROS!!! I wanna be just like you!!! You give me such hope and encouragement - my struggle is easier because of you! You've really helped me hang on. Now to set you guys straight on some other things!! 1. Please be very wary of the diet pill "that replaces surgery". Google on it and it's side effects. IT IS CONTRA-INDICATED FOR FOLKS WITH DIABETES AND WITH BLOOD PRESSURE PROBLESM.....BE VERY CAREFUL EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE THESE TWO PROBLESM....But don't take my word. Look it up. Check the tests. 2. Hang in there with Voc Rehab. They seem to discourage everybody at first, but in the end, they tend to take care of you. And if you aren't taken care of by them, then there is a financial assistance program thru UMC and I have heard thru CMMC (don't know for a fact - just HEARD it) and also have HEARD that Baptist in Oxford has a financial assistance program - again, check to be sure. 3. Our hearts were all hurt over Dr. Blake, but unfortuantely there is nothing we can do. What we need to do is look around see where we can help each other and if we come across a doc that sounds good and/or will take insurance, no insurance, voc rehab, or whatever, we need to get that info out there. I was thoroughly convinced that Dr. B was the one to do my surgery. For some reason, God had other plans for me and for some of ya'll, we just have to figure out what He wants us to do - He does tend to make it pretty clear!!! And PLEASE don't take it that God does not what you to have this surgery just because Dr. B flew the coop.....Maybe what God wants is you to have a different surgeon or hospital....Maybe He needs you to wait a little longer (GROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNN) for some reason. Yes, maybe it is not in the cards for you to have the surgery, BUT I don't believe I would jump to that conclusion because God does want us to get our temples back in order. And believe you me, HE KNOWS we all need whatever help is available!!! 4. I am here for you guys in any way I can help - just don't ask for $ cause I don't have any!!! If I did, I'd share! Call me if you need me, email me with your phone number and I'll call you. When you are blue and discouraged, call, I'll cry with you or rejoice with you! We just really need to support each other and I will tell you the support I got the last two days while I was wandering around on the coast was phenominal!!! You guys are wonderful!!! My cell phone was not quiet the whole time!!! I got lots of "Where are you?", "What'd you find out?", and "Are you ever coming home and posting?" You guys, I love you dearly and I fully intend to drag each and every one of you thru this surgery - even if I have to get my degree in bariatric surgery!!!!!!!!! Know that no matter what, you are beautiful and well loved. As Tams email sign off says, "To The World~ You May Be Just One Person ~ But To One Person~ You May Just Be The World. " You are my world. I love you! Smoochies & Hugs Arlies

Why Do you insist on making me cry ??? As I sit here typing this tears are streaming down my face, I think of the love and other things and people that matter to me. You are one of the MOST important people in my life. There is nothing that I wouldn't do for you. You are like a sister, like a mother, for sure my best friend, and yes even my hubbys replacement wife for me. If you had any idea of how embedded in my heart that you are, you might would be able to understand my love and admirration that I have for you. Tammy

my screen is blurry from the tears so i hope i got my fingers on the right keys, all i got to say is DITTO!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU TOO!!!! Angie Bea

Arlies. I sit here crying thinking about how special you are. Ever since I talked to you the frist time you have been nothing but an insipration to me. Pray for me. I am having a hard time right now, I am really feeling blue. I can't wait till ur on the losing side. Love ya, Joyce

Sniff Sniff........ I Love You Too Your Majesty!!!!!!!!!! ....................thousands of huggles,.. Sherry

Arlies, WE are truly blessed that you are among us in this small MS group that we have. You truly are our queen and there is not one of us that you havent helped along the way. I know you have definatly helped me more than you realize thru some of your postings that werent even directed to me but helped me. You are an inspiration to all of us and you have waited for this surgery for A LONG time. I remember the first threat I got from you on the main board telling me to get my hiney to the MS board and I have been addicted to yall ever since. I honestly feel like yall are my 2nd family and we all share a bond that even some of our family members cannot understand. That makes us special. I get more support from yall than I do anyone else and I cant wait to help support you as you begin to lose and all the wonderfullness and even the difficult times we all go thru after the surgery. I know your worried as we all were (you know I was a terrible wreck) --I would not trade this for anything. We fought the fight for so long and once you finally stop fighting and it sinks in is when it really hits you and your emotions run wild. YOUR gonna be fine--your gonna be a model patient... You are privaledged to have 3 wonderful surgeons and I think the risks are going to be almost nil. Dont you worry about a thing -- we all have you covered in our prayers...

Arlies, I SO agree with your post about having to sometimes wait because of whatever the big guy upstairs has in mind for you, in the end, he will work it out for you. You all know from my profile I've had a few hurdles myself and when the time was right, things fell into place. I am also offering my help with anything I can do for you who have not had surgery, as I already posted a few days ago, any of you guys who were patients of Dr Blake and would possibly consider travelling to New Orleans, I'd gladly place a call to my surgeon to find out if they would accept their insurance. My surgeon is an absolute pro and I love him dearly, he's my life saver. None of that playing with patients, he won't up and leave, and he's just recently let all of his patients know, to go ahead and refer others to him and his group, as their program is still fairly new and he is happily accepting more patients. When I tried to get Keesler to do surgery, they said back in November of last year that they didn't offer that there. They referred me to Tricare and Tricare gave me my surgeon's number, I called and had an appointment the same week, they took care of everything with the insurance, I just had to do my homework and get info they requested before I saw him. It all worked out wonderfully and I am SOOOOOOO happy for you, Arlies, that it all came together for you. It makes me so happy for everyone who choses to inquire about surgery and goes through with it. The tremendous joy I feel over having been given my life back is comparable only with possibly a few events in my life, such as having my babies or getting married to my sweet, dear hubby. oh.. and if you get that degree in bariatric surgery, think of me.. I'll gladly be your coordinator Love, Hugs 'n' Smooches to everyone on our board! ~~ Andie~~ PS Y'all remember JOSH is having surgery this week !! I'll let you know what's going on, I talked to his dad and I'll be checking up on him in the hospital !!

I want to thank you for this post i guess i needed it more than i knew. After reading it I thought wow she was talking to me. I thank you and I know it is hard to be patient> I got down easy when i hit the wall but here I am trying to get back on my legs and get all the preop sleep apnea garbage out of the way so that i can Join the losers in the state. and i thank you for the letter hun telling us to be patient. We all love you and you are our Queen no doubt. And you will be in my familys prayers from now on.

I'm new to the board but i already love ya!! You are a blessing to alot of folks.....i'm like you; I thank God for the opportunity to have this surgery....i also thank him for sending special people like you to be a part of my life.....God is so good!!!! Now, the patience part.......I"m working on that one!!! lol