So I'm going to shave my head for a good cause, this is to help raise funds for a Children's Cancer Research Foundation, please try to help and donate even a dollar if that's all you can afford this is the link for my profile, please forward it to your friends and hopefully we can raise a significant amount! https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/shavee_info.html?ShaveeID=12821 Thank you!! Patricia Martinez

Hi Joni! I am new to the board and I just yesterday posted my little bit of a story of my unsuccessful WLS journey...thus far and until this morning I didn't think Tri-care covered Lap-band. Now I am Tri-care Prime...so I don't know the difference from standard and prime. Last August 30, 2006 Tri-care made a revision and now have approved the Lap-band. So I am working my tail off trying to get it approved before March 13th when my Tricare Benifits expire. IF I can can get approved they should pay for the surgery. Sorry I probably kind of rambed...but I am so excited! Here is a link I hope it helps! http://www.va.gov/hac/forbeneficiaries/champva/policymanual/cvapmchap2/1c2s29.15.pdf I had to hand type that addy...so if it doesn't work..hit me back and I will try something else! Good Luck! jamie Dawn

I met Andre at one of the meetings I had to attend - he's done great. After my six month diet and all the hoops I have a surgery date of April 17 - could be sooner, but I'm headed to So Cal with the wife and kids for 8 days and didn't want to worry about the band and figuring out what to eat while on vacation.

I applied for my daughter to have the RNY for the first time when she was 13, again every 6 mo to a yr since. My insurance covered both my husband and I to have the surgery and it has been the best thing in the world for us. My plan was to stay with my company who provided this option in surgery until the insurance finally decided she was old enough. Well I recently had to change jobs that had UHC coverage but the company doesn't allow the RNY. Heather is now 17 and is 5'2 and 260 lbs. Her thyroid is dying and every 2 months she has to have her blood drawn and her meds increased. Her aunt, my sister just died in Dec from morbid obesity. I am determined to find a way to help her and am trying to find information on how to do fundraising and such to earn the 18k it will take for her to have surgery. If anyone has any suggestions or know if any specific laws or ways to go about raising the money so my daughter has a chance at a normal young adult life. Being 17 is hard enough, but to be obese ontop of it is almost unimaginable. I look forward to any suggestions anyone has. Thanks, Jodi

Have you looked into South Valley Surgical? They have a FABULOUS program there, with their program director and several staff members who have actually HAD lap-band surgery, so they totally "get" it. I am 3 years out from surgery and I too, like Andre would do it again and again and again! p.s. Their website is www.svsurgical.com