Humbling Moment
WARNING: Pre-ops...you might wanna skip this message.
I just got off the phone with a WLS friend of mine and I am floored.
The short version of her story up to that phone call, as I knew it. She started out in the high 300's and is in her early 60's. Lost a tremendous amount of weight. Got her panni removed. Seemed to be doing well. Vanished from support group for months and months.
She recently reached out to me on FB and asked me to call her so I did. Turns out she has had major complications. I admit I don't understand it all but she had scar tissue that led to a surgery that eventually led to another emergency surgery. At a point she died on the operating table, big sections of her intestines died and had to be removed and her bypass had to be reversed. She has a colostomy bag and she has some sort of device that delivers nutrition to her body because her digestive system (although not bypassed) does not receive nutrition from food.
You know what humbles me though. She is so damn upbeat! She doesn't have the strength to move much anymore so she stays pretty close to home. She is in the 130's now from 360 something (and jokes that she'd hoped to hit 125). She is grateful that she got to hold her granddaughter who her daughter was carrying when this all started. And she says she feels blessed to be here, blessed by the prayers she received and just plain blessed.
And all of a sudden I feel so ungrateful about my petty woes. I am healthy. My body works the way it is supposed to (all things considered). I need to remember my blessings. I am so blessed to know her. I am gonna go see her next week because I wanna give her a hug and thank her for helping me to remember some important stuff.
Just thought I'd share that. If you're the praying type, her name is Ellen and she appreciates any and all prayers.
I just got off the phone with a WLS friend of mine and I am floored.
The short version of her story up to that phone call, as I knew it. She started out in the high 300's and is in her early 60's. Lost a tremendous amount of weight. Got her panni removed. Seemed to be doing well. Vanished from support group for months and months.
She recently reached out to me on FB and asked me to call her so I did. Turns out she has had major complications. I admit I don't understand it all but she had scar tissue that led to a surgery that eventually led to another emergency surgery. At a point she died on the operating table, big sections of her intestines died and had to be removed and her bypass had to be reversed. She has a colostomy bag and she has some sort of device that delivers nutrition to her body because her digestive system (although not bypassed) does not receive nutrition from food.
You know what humbles me though. She is so damn upbeat! She doesn't have the strength to move much anymore so she stays pretty close to home. She is in the 130's now from 360 something (and jokes that she'd hoped to hit 125). She is grateful that she got to hold her granddaughter who her daughter was carrying when this all started. And she says she feels blessed to be here, blessed by the prayers she received and just plain blessed.
And all of a sudden I feel so ungrateful about my petty woes. I am healthy. My body works the way it is supposed to (all things considered). I need to remember my blessings. I am so blessed to know her. I am gonna go see her next week because I wanna give her a hug and thank her for helping me to remember some important stuff.
Just thought I'd share that. If you're the praying type, her name is Ellen and she appreciates any and all prayers.
RNY Gastric Bypass 1-8-08 350/327/200 (HW/SW/CW). I spend most of my time playing with my food over at Bariatric Foodie - check me out!
I'm so sorry to hear about your friend's issues. Sounds like she's handling it well, but from what you say, those were some major complications.
Puts a whole new perspective on things, doesn't it? I hate that we need to hear something bad to fully realize how good we have it.
Thanks for sharing... I am going to try to hold on to that better perspective. I wish your friend the best of luck and am sending positive vibes her way.
tori
Puts a whole new perspective on things, doesn't it? I hate that we need to hear something bad to fully realize how good we have it.
Thanks for sharing... I am going to try to hold on to that better perspective. I wish your friend the best of luck and am sending positive vibes her way.
tori
Wow. Thanks Nik and thanks Ellen for reminding me of what's really
important in life, and for giving me a glimpse of a truly beautiful and
clearly blessed woman. For Ellen to have such a humble and happy heart,
God has truly touched it...reached right in there with the hand of God.
I will keep her in my prayers and thoughts and hope to become half
the woman she is. Thank you Nik!
important in life, and for giving me a glimpse of a truly beautiful and
clearly blessed woman. For Ellen to have such a humble and happy heart,
God has truly touched it...reached right in there with the hand of God.
I will keep her in my prayers and thoughts and hope to become half
the woman she is. Thank you Nik!
Jan
RNYgirl2020
on 3/9/12 8:08 am
on 3/9/12 8:08 am
Nik thank you so much for posting this. I've been miserable all day....I interview for a RN job last week. I swore I was going to get the job, better hours, better pay. Well found out today that I was one of the two top candidates, and they went with the other RN. :( Basically had a pitty party all day....and was planning it for the weekend too.
Your post made me realize how fortunate I am to have good health....thanks for the slap in the face....
I will say a prayer for her....wish her the best from us here at OH.
Your post made me realize how fortunate I am to have good health....thanks for the slap in the face....
I will say a prayer for her....wish her the best from us here at OH.
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