Hi Friends, first let me thank you all for being so helpful to me in my journey. It's hard to imagine that it's been almost 4 years since my surgery! I have been developing a lecture regarding the insensitivity of the public towards the obese. I am doing this for several reasons.....to educate healthcare workers, to lobby for obesity discrimination to be prohibited by the ADA, to educate the public at large to the plight of this last socially acceptable bastion of open and rampant discrimination, etc. Right now all I have to go on is my own experience and I was wondering if you could help me to help others by sharing your experiences with me. I know it might be painful but maybe with all of us putting forth an effort it will be worth it in the end. I'll go first and share one of my most hurtful experiences. When I weighed 263 I interviewed for a job as a receptionist at a popular radio station. Because it was for a receptionist position, the interviews were all done over the phone. You mailed or faxed in your resume and then everything was done over the phone so they could evaluate your phone skills and dealing with the public. I made it all the way down to the final two applicants and was invited in for a meeting with the president. Even at 263 pounds I took great pains with my appearance and fixed my hair and makeup and wore nice, professional clothing. I arrived at the office and saw that the other applicant was a tiny lady who was very pretty. When the president came out he literally looked at me first and then looked at her. He walked up to me, shook my hand, told me he didn't think they had anything for me and hoped I hadn't been inconvenienced by coming in. He then took the other lady by the hand and ushered her into his office. I almost felt sorry for her. He was practically drooling over her. I left the office in a conflicted mess. I was happy that I didn't have to work for an ignorant man like that. But, I was devastated because he had totally discounted my intelligence and my abilities because I was morbidly obese. I felt worthless. I was too ashamed to tell my family what happened and I lied to them and said I'd had a great interview but he must've like the other lady better. It wasn't until I'd had WLS that I shared this experience with them. The really terrible thing about this is that this scenario and worse is played out over and over each day with morbidly obese individuals. Can you share your experiences with me? I know I'm only one person and I don't expect to change the world but I figure even the mighty oak started out as one little nut. So, this little nut is seeking your help. Thanks again for being a wonderful, supportive WLS family!

MY DOCTOR CALLED ME TODAY, SHE SAID IN MY MAMMOGRAM THERE WERE CALCIFICATION DEPOSITS AND SHE IS CALLING A SURGEON TOMORROW . THEY WILL USE A BIG NEEDLE AND TAKE OUT THE DEPOSITS TO SEE IF THEY'RE CANCER . SO Y'ALL PLEASE PRAY FOR ME. I WAS SO HAPPY THIS MORNING , I AM UNDER 200 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YEARS, JUDY

Has anyone used a coach to help them through the weight loss surgery process? My name is Nikki Johnson, and I am a staff member at Obesity Help. I am looking for people to interview for a story in ObesityHelp Magazine: both people who have used coaches, and coaches who are well-trained and experienced. Please contact me by email NikkiJohnsonOH: : [email protected]

Sharon Neva has been working closely with me and OH to co-ordinate any and all notifications about Momma Angel. We feel that one person making the posts is best so everyone will know who to look for. Sharon will first be making notifications that we need to make via phone calls to some people who are very close to Paula- we don't want them reading such news on a post. It will be posted on the main board as soon as all Momma Angel's family and close friends have been notified. Once it is posted on the main MB, it will be continually refreshed so that people won't have to scroll to another page to see it. It will also be posted on all the state boards. The official notification will be made by Sharon or by OH staff. If you do receive some word via email or phone, please do not post it- as it is either a rumor or all notifications have not been made. Please feel free to email Sharon or me ([email protected]) if you wish to confirm. We am trying to be as sensitive to the family as possible. Rebecca (her daughter) is completely worn out, physically and emotionally and Sharon is not calling her everyday, as she said she would let her know when there was any word. We all love Momma Angel and pray she pulls through. Let us continue to send her positive thoughts, prayers and keep her "work" here on OH alive. She made it her life ambition in recent years to make sure each and every person going into surgery know that someone cared. I hope you all will help us to keep that dream alive. Thank you, Theresa Cloutier Obesityhelp.com Staff