Year of Change

I got some exciting news today. I am scheduled for surgery on July 20. I have spent months getting tested, prodded, pricked and (finally) approved for gastric bypass surgery. I took my time. It is a huge decision. It is going to save my life.

When Rob and Katie got married in December 2007, I finally realized how much my out of control weight gain was controlling my life. The traveling was brutal. There were six of us traveling. When we missed a very tight connection in Las Vegas (of course I felt as if it were my fault) and I almost passed out gasping for breath I could feel my life changing. When it became almost routine to ask for the seatbelt extender, I felt like I didn't know who this person was. The last two years at school have been a blur. I had a couple of my best years of teaching, but they took everyting I had and then some. I have ended each day sitting at my table in the classroom in the dark - trying to find the energy to walk out to the car. I have been overwhelmed by life.

One of my teacher friends started looking into Weight Loss Surgery and I started asking questions. On December 18 2008 I went to a seminar to get some information. What started out as a "do it with my buddy" thing has truned into a solo effort. My friend is a woman of deep faith. She was hitting some roadblocks in the process, and after much prayer decided that God was probably telling her that this was not the right time for this. I'm pretty sure that God was providing me with a companion to hold my hand and give me the strength to find my way without fear to better health. So far, the road has been a little bumpy, but exciting. I want to share the ride.