Meet Our Patients
Leslie Three years ago, Leslie Manners was not leading a life full of bright colors as she does now. After attending Dr. Terracina’s seminar in October of 2004, surgery came quickly without a chance for her to change her mind or get scared. She knew that she needed to lose weight and she decided the tool of gastric bypass surgery was the answer to her prayers. As of January 11, 2008, Leslie is now 140 pounds lighter and feeling great! She never knew how fun it was to go shopping and especially not for vibrant colors or shorts! She was at ease buying clothes that were dark and drab that would blend in with the crowd. Now at a comfortable and healthy 140 pounds she feels as though she “has been born all over again.” Leslie has not had any complications due to surgery and lost all of her weight in the first year, but “it’s the fear of going back to her old size and lifestyle habits that keeps the weight off.” If anyone were to ask Leslie if they should have surgery she would say “absolutely, but not to wait before it gets too late.” The best advice she would give anyone is to remember that “surgery is only a tool and that you can’t go back to your old ways.” Like many other surgery patients, she too has struggled with seeing herself at her new weight. At a healthy weight, even though she knew she can wear smaller sizes, in the mirror there is often a size distortion that sometimes never goes away. The fact that she had surgery never escapes her, however she doesn’t deprive herself of things she wants, and “just a bite or two will satisfy me now!”  Gloria One year and 100 pounds down, Gloria Hoell is now happy with her current weight and has been committed to the adjustable band from the moment she sat down at seminar with Dr. Terracina. She knew it would be a long and steady journey and that the weight wasn’t going to just come off over night. Prior to surgery, Gloria weighed in at 259 pounds, where she was burdened by back pain, sleep apnea, and was plain “tired of the extra weight.” As the weight began to come off with the adjustments of her band, Gloria slowly but surely regained her confidence in herself. Whether discussing with friends or strangers in a store, Gloria will gladly tell you her story of getting the weight off, but she says if it hadn’t been for the advice and compassion displayed by Dr. Terracina she might not have been as successful. “There will be plateaus and there will be hard times,” but as far as Gloria is concerned this surgery and the support of her family have saved her life. When asked what she would say to others considering surgery she would say “to go for it, but not get discouraged, to hang in there, and don’t weigh yourself every day!” To this day Gloria continues her daily protein shake and gets in her walking because she is still committed to her health, both physically and emotionally.
LuAnne “I have had a lifetime of illness; it all started at age 2 with the removal of my tonsils which almost led to hemorrhage. At age 3, my right eye was a problem which cost me my vision in that eye. At age 17, I was diagnosed with lupus and was told I might only live 3 years with a heavy steroid regimen. Needless to say my weight soared even if I didn’t eat, I eventually gained 100 pounds. Having difficulty dealing with the continuous ups and downs with my health and relationships, I turned to food to ease the pain of everything. My dream in life was to be a mother and the fact that I had gotten pregnant was a miracle, but due to all of the female issues I had endured, I miscarried 6 months into my pregnancy. During all of this, I tried to keep reminding myself that “God knows best.” Then I was able to meet someone new after my first relationship ended. I told this man up front what he was in for with all of my illness and he is still here, as we were wed in 1984. Fast forward to 1999, a brain tumor was discovered and due to infection in the hospital I had my left hand amputated. Now I’m not saying these things for pity or sympathy because I was very much a successful business woman for 30 years, winning award after award for property management. However always being in the public eye wasn’t going to be pleasant with the weight gain and no left hand, so I was ever so slightly pushed into the shadows where my emotions ran rampant and again the food was there. As if I hadn’t been through enough, I fell twice in my home in 2001 and tore up my left knee which required serious surgery to repair; they fully expected me to never walk again. Finally better, I returned home with no expectations of ever being able to leave the house unless it was by the kindness of the volunteer Fire Department with ambulance and stretcher. I was determined to get my life back at this point, and Dr. Clark’s gastric bypass surgery seemed to be the answer even though I had experienced every surgery known to man, I was voluntarily willing to take this risk. I needed to regain my life! I can never thank Dr. Clark and his staff enough for giving me the gift of life, I am healthier than ever and I shocked everyone at the office when I was able to walk in for my appointment, Dr. Clark even had a tear in his eye! I’m just shy of two years since surgery and I have gone from 336 pounds now down to 180 pounds my lowest since high school! There is joy in the day and life after 50, and I’m living proof of that!
|
