My great accomplishment!

This may not seem like something to brag about to some people, but to me it really is! My nephew graduated from high school this past Saturday at Reed Green Colisium at USM. I carried my parents and an elderly neighbor that requires oxygen and a motorized cart to the ceremony. We were at the top of the seats - no way to get the cart down any further. I walked down all of those steps to the floor of the colisium to get my nephew to come up and get his picture made. Then I walked all the way back up. I wasn't even winded! When I got back to the top with my nephew, my mother was sitting there with her mouth wide open in awe! She couldn't believe that I had actually made that trip and could still talk! This is truly a Great Accomplishment for me! Seven years ago I had to retire because of severe pain in my hip and leg. Six months ago I broke my ankle and pulled all of the tendons and ligaments in my left foot.. Prior to surgery Feb. 24, I had to shop on one of those electric carts. Even going to graduation was something that I would not have attempted three months ago. After loosing the weight I've already lost, I'm a new person! I don't have to use the carts in stores, I don't have to use my cane. I don't feel like an old, fat, crippled lady any more! Thanks for letting me tell you about my great accomplishment, Susan Hughes 315/305/247/150 55 yrs old 5'6" tall

Susan that is FABULOUS. You brought a tear to my eye of joy for you. I am soooo proud of you and your accomplishments. I know exactly how you feel, I tried to pull a few weeds in the flower bed today around my mailbox and I could barely do it and had to hurry inside to sit down and rest. I know how it feels to feel like an old woman. Many congrats... Sue 270 / ? / 140

susan, you have every right to brag. i was at reed green also for my niece's graduation from oak grove high. i know how far you had to walk down and back up those steps. i am so pleased for you, and by the way, you looked great at the meeting monday night. also, i haven't had a chance to tell you, but one of the nursing students that helped care for me when i had my surgery in april, was related to you. i am not sure if she was a cousin or a niece, but she was very sweet and i appreciated her help. sorry, i can't remember her name. keep up the good work. JANICE

Janice, she is my cousin's daughter. Jessica (Jekka-poo) is her first name, but she has recently gotten married and I don't remember her last name now! She was my nurse also. I was her first WLS patient, and we learned together. She is really a doll - I just love her to death! I thought about sending a letter to the hospital to brag on her, but didn't cause I cannot remember her last name! Susan

It is those little things like that that make the journey so awesome. I know that whenever summer would come and I would have to go to a corporate meeting and carry a bunch of stuff in it was so embarrassing because by the time I got into the meeting I was out of breath and sweating my butt off. No one else in the room would be hot or sweating. I remember the first time after surgery I went to a meeting and practically ran in with my stuff and wasn't winded or sweating. It was great. So congrats to you on your big accomplishment. You deserve to brag and we will all listen and know exactly what you mean. That is what is so great about this site. You can tell us things like that and we get excited with you because we know where you are coming from. Keep up the good work. Melissa Taylor 277/136 -141 pounds

Susan, how wonderful !!! I know exactly how you feel. I used to not even go a few blocks down the street to the convenience store without getting out of breath and my back hurting. Now I walk for hours and tire out the kids at the mall Seems to me that all the extra weight we carried for years has given us the strength to do all these feats so easily now, I'm starting to look at it as years of heavy-weight training in a twisted sort of way I, like you, feel like I am a completely different person, like I moved into a new body, it's wonderful and I would not trade it for anything, just wish I could have done this 15 years ago and not missed half of my life watching others have all the fun!!!! Keep up the great work, you're doing awesome! ~Andie~ 334.201.173 36 y.o./ 5'4"

Susan That is a thrill. I've noticed the same type things and I tell my hubby all the time. I didn't give out of breath or my legs didn't hurt. I am so proud for you Keep up the good work. Becky

Like I tell people ---you don't know what I go through so you don't know how happy I am. I am so glad for you and let me tell you, I look forward to many moments like that. Just yesterday I put a bright green tube thingy over my head and it went to my waist. THat is wild!!!!!!!!I have never been able to use one of those unless it was a 18 wheeler tire!!!haha You go girl! Jane

Susan, I'm so happy for you and your accomplishment! And YES - it IS a big deal! Just think - it's only going to get better! HUGS Kimberly

WOW!!! I am winded JUST hearing about your trip from the top to the bottom of Reed Green and back again....I graduated from USM about a bazillion years ago and I don't think I could do the entire coliesum even then! YOU GO!!! Smoochies Arlies