My husband and I are just recently sleeved . I am 8 months out and lost 85 pounds, He is 1 month out and down 40 pounds. We have a teenage daughter who continues to struggle, although she is really starting to watch what she eats and is losing some of her excess weight.
I know that the younger kids are really not good candidates for surgery, that is why I am putting this camp out there in hopes that we can pass the word around on what a great place it is and possibly help a few children.
She attended Camp Shining Stars in 2008(she was 12). Over 6 weeks she lost 30 pounds and came home a new girl.  She is planning to attend this summer and I am overjoyed that she wants to return.
The director is Ira Green and his heart is with beating Childhood Obesity. He himself is a bypass patient so he knows firsthand the battle himself. He has a medical team of experts on board and the kids have a blast.  They pick their own activities and eat well balanced meals. They are in safe hands. The camp is located on the campus of Barton College in Wilson, NC.  We live just outside of Nashville, Tn and it was only about an 8 hour drive to get her there. If you are interested or know someoone who is, please check it out.
WWW.CAMPSHINGSTARS.ORG or call Ira Green at 1-866-644-2709 toll free, or 919-949-7415.
Please tell him Cheri from Tennessee is where you heard about this great chance for a child.
I just want to get this word out, since I was an overweight child I know how painful it was growing up overweight.
Thanks and please pass the word to anyone you may know. This camp is much cheaper than the others I have checked out, PLUS the kids are guaranteed to lose 7-17% of their total weight during their stay. If you have any questions please feel free to email me as well.

Hey,
      Try not to let it get you down. Try and think of thing that you can do to make the days go by. Maybe start a new hobbie, do something that you have always wanted to do but haven't yet. Do you take any classes like karate? Do you play any sports? Spring is almost here and you could do allot of things with your friends and summer will be here before we know it. You could swim, go bowling, get friends together and go to the movies, play base ball, just get creative and get your parents involved and see if they have suggestions on things that you can participate in. Maybe even go camping, fishing etc. These are the things that my kids like to do. I have a daughter who is 15 and needs surgery to. But I am having a hard time finding a surgeon in Oklahoma to even consider doing the surgery on her because of her age. When we do finally find someone to do it, and if hers was pushed back like yours, I would definitely try to keep her busy, so the weeks would fly by and it wouldn't seem so bad waiting. I'm sorry that this has happened I know how hard it seems to wait, but just try to find fun things to do to pass the time OK? Hang in there, and don't be sad, don't let it get you down.

Good luck sweetie
Parent:  Janice from Okla.

My daughter is overweight and is 14. Recently "a" doctor suggested Lap band.  does anyone out there know if doctors wiould do it for that age.  YES we have tried EVERYTHING!!! just wondering if anyone had any luck with appovals that young.

thanks

Let me just say that I had my surgery on Friday, January 29th and it has been ANYTHING but easy.
I had a reaction to the anesthesia so I was puking all night the first night, and the 90 minute surgery turned into 4 hours because apparently the area they needed to get into was too tight and it was hard to get where they needed to be.
Blah.
And I have this persistant cough that keeps threatening to rip apart my abdomen!
But other than that...
I guess I'm sort of glad I did it early.
I haven't met anyone that's regretted it yet.

U are so not doing anything "easy"! I am 19 and I am looking into surgery! I feel as though having wls when we are young will give us more time to enjoy our new lives!