Hi! My name is Angela. I am 38 years old and i live in North Carolina, though I am not a southern belle, as i was born and raised in New York.
I was overweight for most of my life. I never had any real health problems related to being overweight, so I figured it wasn't that big a deal. Hey, I was a healthy fat person. And, if I could still function and do the things I liked to do, then why bother trying? I was 'fat and happy'. The only thing that was bothersome was society's perception of me, but I always said, "If they can't like me for who I am, they don't need to know me"
Then, Valentine's Day, 2010 came. My whole world changed. I was 33 years old and I was in the the ICU at Presbyterian Medical Center in Charlotte, NC, having just come out of surgery. After several months of certain symptoms, my doctor told me that he found cancer. Uterine cancer. I was too weak and sick to have much of a physical response, but inside, i thought, "What? Cancer? I'm 33!" Over the next several months of radiation, sicknesses (which includes pneumonia twice), blood clots in my lungs and heart, many many hospital visits and stays, my body had to fight. The doctor told my family four separate times that I would not live through the night. But, the Lord saved me. He preserved my life.
And somewhere in that time came the words that I can still hear my doctor saying, clear as day. "The only reason for a woman your age to get uterine cancer is because of your weight." He was not mean spirited about it. Just matter of fact. I had no family history of this type of cancer. I had polyps in my uterus or cervix. Nothing that would cause it. It was because of my weight.My choices caused my body to turn against itself. I was no longer a healthy fat person.
And then he said something else to me at a later appointment. "If you don't do something about your weight, you won't live to see 40." That might make most people mad. But I saw compassion in him. I took it as a challenge.
I started working with a friend from church who is a certified nutritionist to start a new way of eating. She came in my house to rid my house of anything unhealthy. I started eating organic and natural. Withing a year and a half, I lost 100 pounds. That was so encouraging to me! But then, I plateaued. I have been on a plateau for 2 1/2 years and that's frustrating. I have tried many different things, to no avail.
In March, I saw Dr. McDonald (oncologist) for a follow-up. He previously recommended weight loss surgery, but I told him I didn't want to do that, but I didn't quite know why. He thought I was making excuses, but I knew I wasn't. In March, I told him I was considering it and he told me that he is proud of what I already have done and is supportive of whatever choice I make.
In May, I went to a seminar for Bariatric surgery and it really put it in a new perspective. I had not been a supporter of it, for myself previously. After the seminar, I really felt like the Lord was giving me grace to have the surgery. I did have to get over myself and the feeling that I was taking the easy way out. My whole life, I was fat and that meant having to work extra hard to prove my worth to people. So I felt like I had to work extra hard in my weight loss and to prove to people that I could lose weight, too. But, I was shown that surgery is not easy. So, I decided to start to program that my insurance requires.
And, on October 23, I had surgery. Finally. I have quite a bit of weight to lose. I can't yet get a picture of how I'll look at my goal weight. But, I have so many goals and I am excited to accomplish them. Mostly, I am looking forward to the way the Lord will better be able to use me.
Thank you for reading my story. I am always looking for friends who I can chat with who can share in my journey. :)
