One of my cousins in Ohio had gastric bypass surgery last week.  When I called to offer support and to find out how she is doing she had just one question for me, "what was the hardest part?"

I've never looked at my surgery at Catawba Valley Medical Center as just an operation.  From the very beginning I looked at it as a life-saving tool that would help me physically while I tackled the emotional and spiritual aspects of changing my life.  I believe there are two types of healing that have to take place and it doesn't happen overnight.  You heal from the actual surgery very quickly, but the other type of healing is all mental and it’s a process. 

Frankly, I remember feeling a little sad the day I cleaned out my refrigerator and pantry to get rid of all of the stuff I couldn't have post-surgery.  I even took a picture of my beloved Cheez-Its and Mt. Dew.  From that day on I began to change the way I viewed food.  I now put myself in the same category as the peanut allergy kid.  The kid who could DIE if exposed to peanuts isn't going to gobble down a peanut butter cookie just because she thinks it'll be delicious.  Thanks to poor food choices coupled with genetics my type 2 diabetes was taking a toll on my body every single day.  I knew it.  I could feel it.  My doctor gave me the warnings.  I saw what the disease was doing to family and friends.   So, why were those Cheez-Its more important than my quality of life?  Why was I being so careless with the temple God gave me?  Why didn't I have the same discipline of the lady on the cover of __________ (fill in the blank of women's magazine) who lost 100 pounds on her own?  What have my weight loss obstacles been and how can I keep them from coming back to haunt me? 

My body has difficulty processing carbs and sugar.  I have to be very careful or they'll poison me.  The peanut allergy kid and I have a lot in common.  My poison just works a lot slower.  The progress I've made can be undone if I don't keep asking the same questions.  Is that sweet tea more important than my sugar-free, healthier life?  What's a better way to handle fear , disappointment and stress than eating?  The bottom line is my cousin is going to have to show herself the same kind of love she shows her kids.  After all, any mom who knows her child has a food allergy would fight an army to keep ANYONE from feeding the wrong things to her child. 

I really wish she had her surgery here because I know she could benefit from the Mentorship Program at CVMC, the support group meetings and the awesome guidance of Lynn Delserone and Libby Shaver.   But since she is all the way up there in the Buckeye State, she'll just have to settle for me BUGGING THE HECK OUT OF HER by phone!

Before Surgery:

One Year After Surgery: