Looking for penpal(s)

I am a 30 year old married woman who has been post op Lap RNY for over 2 years. I am currently pursuing insurance to cover a tummy tuck and I also have my first consult for breast impants in Febuary. I have met 2 other penpals that I still keep in touch with on here and I talked with them thur their entire journey to have WLS and now even several months post op. I am a college student in the field of Surgical Technology and I have 1 son. I did 6 years in the Navy active duty and my husband has 10 1/2 years currently in the Navy. We tend to move often so I don't really care where a penpal is from, I just love to email and get emails and discuss different things about the surgery and live. Jeannie 244/115

Hi Jeannie! I read your bio a few days ago and was very impressed with all you have done to get to where you are at. I too am a veteran of 10 years of service, but I was in the Army. I am 100% VA disabled and have spent three 30 day inpatient stays at North Chicago VA as a result, so I know something about Great Lakes Naval Academy, as well. I also followed my military experience with college, when I received my BFA from the University of Louisville. Luckily, I am able to use some of what I learned there as therapy, as I currently do paintings of my memories as a medic in Vietnam! So, now I am beginning the walk and will soon be getting the Lap-band surgery. I am hoping to have it done sometime in February, or early March...or as soon as I can! The VA will pay a civilian doctor for this surgery, since I live so far from a VA hospital that can provide it. I have chosen Dr. Terry Simpson who has an office in Phoenix, about 3 1/2 hours from my home in Lake Havasu City, AZ. I would love to hear from you anytime you feel like pecking away at your computer. I am home most of the time, either in front of my easel, or my computer. My email address is [email protected] Please call me "Doc."

Hello Doc! It was so nice to get a response from you on the penpal forum. You would be surprised at how Grat Lakes has changed since you have been here. They are now in the process of closing the Great Lakes Naval Hospital and moving EVERYONE over to the North Chicago VA Hospital, that is why I am having to go out to the civilian plastic surgeon for a tummy tuck. I actually had my first consult today and the surgeon said I needed it and he hoped that Tricare will agree after reading his recommendations and seeinf photographs. So you had 10 years active duty in the Army? Wow. I appluade anyone who has served active duty for several years. It takes alot from a person and their family. My husband actually just made E-7 in September and he did it in less than 10 years which is really good. I am very proud of him. So you were in Vietnam? I actually took a Humanities course on Vietnam, from the very begiining up until now and I was supposed to go there with the class but I had to have my gallbladder removed, it went bad after the WLS. You are going for the LapBand surgery? I have a friend in Chicago who went to Mexico to have the surgery done, almost a year ago already and she is very happy with her results. She looks great and has so much more energy. Your surgeon is 3 1/2 hours away? I complained because my plastic surgeon was just over an hour away in Milwaukee, boy I won't complain anymore. I hope to hear from you again soon and how everything is going as far as your WLS journey. I am on the computer everyday after classes. Jeannie 244/117