A Message of Thanksgiving from Joanna

Dr. Myers—

I hope this finds you well and moving forward. I think of you often and wonder where you have decided to practice, but I am especially thinking of you this week as I am reminded by this season to ponder all the things for which I am grateful.

You and your work, Dr. Myers, are near the top of the list, behind only God’s gift of a relationship with Him and the gifts he’s given me in my family and friends. Because of your work, you have helped to give me a life I thought I would never have. I am still surprised when I walk by the mirror at my new body, and it’s been four-plus years since surgery!

I have no pain in my joints and back because I don’t carry the extra weight that was previously putting stress on them. I have more energy to keep up with my disabled daughter and my teenagers. I no longer fear the blood-pressure cuff, which previously revealed increasing numbers. I enjoy shopping, and rather than worry about finding something that I feel comfortable in, I have to worry about spending a little bit too much money!

My husband, who has always been a loving, generous man, and claims he always found me beautiful, can’t stop telling me what a beautiful woman I am. I am more comfortable moving toward people and getting to know them and allowing myself to be known. I can’t think of any aspect of my life that having this surgery hasn’t touched. I feel that I have freedom to be the woman that God created me to be—a freedom that I’m sure that I had as a larger woman, but didn’t realize, didn’t grasp hold of.

I continue to meet people who have had bariatric surgery, and I am always glad to meet them and eager to share my story. I am increasingly shocked when I find out that many of them had little or no preparation in changing their eating habits, dealing with their emotions, and increasing their activity prior to surgery. I am even more shocked when I learn that some of these people are chewing food at 6 weeks! So, I’m not surprised, but definitely saddened, when I find out that these same people are returning to some of their old habits—particularly eating sugar—just months after their surgery! It is so sad!

I am so, so grateful to you Dr. Myers that you have refused to water down your standards and that you’ve chosen to stand by what you know is true about what is best about your patients. I wish you and your family only the best as you move forward in your career. I hope that wherever you have chosen to practice, that you will invite me sometime to speak at one of your seminars. I love to share my story, love to travel, and welcome the chance when I am able to get coverage for my special needs daughter Jessica.

Wishing you all the best this Thanksgiving season and always,

Joanna

Thank you for such a special Thanksgiving message. I am so pleased you are doing so well four years after your operation. I am in discussion with a hospital in Reading, Pa and Grand Rapids, MI. I will certainly let you know when we have made a final decision.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and to all of my patients.

Dr. Myers