I WROTE THIS E-MAIL TO THE HALIFAX DAILY NEWS TODAY

It is with great distress that I write this e-mail after reading the article in the August 24th edition of the Daily News. After being super morbidly obese most of my adult life and after moving back to Nova Scotia from Ottawa after 12 years, I decided that I should look into the gastric-bypass. I had a consultation with Dr. E. S. MacDonald in Halifax in1999 and was told that at 555 lbs. I was a prime candidate for the surgery. I had the surgery on June 23, 2005. I was one of Dr. MacDonald's last patients before he retired. In the meantime, I did lots of research online, whi*****luded the website ObesityHelp.com. Every day, I chat with people all over the world who have already had the surgery or are waiting to have it. We help each other deal with weight and eating issues. As a result of my success, I have many new friends who consider me an inspiration. My new American friends cannot believe how long the waiting list is in Canada. Yesterday was the 14 month anniversary of my surgery. I have lost 300 lbs since that day in June 2005 - now weighing 255 lbs. I moved to Fredericton, NB in March/06 as a much smaller man. I have a new life with a great job. I have Dr. MacDonald to thank for my new life because without the surgery, I probably would not be here today. At 555 lbs, I was slowly killing myself. I think that the Nova Scotia government should find the funding to re-establish the gastric-bypass program. There are many people that need this surgery...probably a few politicians should have it as well. The government here in New Brunswick funds the surgery. Obesity is a big problem in Nova Scotia....do these people not deserve to get help? Alcoholics, drug addicts and gamblers get help. Obesity is just as big a problem as those issues. I hope that the government of Nova Scotia wakes up and does the right thing and helps the 24,000 plus obese people in the Province. Someday they might just need their votes. ROBERT CULLEN FORMER ANTIGONISH, NOVA SCOTIA RESIDENT NOW IN FREDERICTON NEW BRUNSWICK

wow Robert that's a powerful letter. I am still at a loss as to why the NS Government cancelled the program..I have heard blips and blurbs but not why. Now I'm in a panic that NB will follow suit, although I'm having the lap-band and not bypass. I'm not sure if they cancelled that in NS as well or just the bypass. I am so close after such a long wait..I don't know what I'd do if they cancelled it here. Just ONE more thing to worry about for a worrier like me. Talk Soon Carol

I agree - excellent letter. I was doing a google search to see why they would cancel the surgery and found one article that quotes a doctor. Japp Bonjer, the authority's chief of surgery, said he won't reinstate the surgery until he can offer a program that will help patients keep the weight off. I think he is trying to take too much into his own hands don't you? We're the only people that can make the change to keep the weight off. Maybe he means support groups? Don't know. I read another place or heard that it was lack of anathesiologists (sp). I agree - it's a sad day when NS is going backwards in health care for the obese instead of forwards.