I was reading Smartbandsters tonight and someone included a link to the RNY memorial page.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/wlsmemorial.phtml

I don't know what possessed me, but I decided that I would take a look.

WAKE UP CALL...anyone who is currently struggling with the "I've only lost..." or "I'm a failure" needs to take a look at these pages. Not because of the RNY factor- but because these are the beautiful faces of people who had so hoped to be where we are today- and were willing to risk everything.

We are the lucky ones- we survived surgery, we are living the lives they hoped to live.

I guess it stopped me from feeling sorry for myself. I'm alive, and I'm down 43 pounds...and I bet if we could ask any one of those people who sadly passed away what they would have given to be down 25, 30, 40, 50, 100 pounds...they would probably say "anything it takes".

I don't intend this email to sound preachy at all...I just don't want to take my band and all the gifts I've been given for granted, and I thought maybe we could use their stories as inspiration and solace along our paths.

Megan

Megan, I followed the same link you did and actually was in tears at one of those profiles. One woman had two children, ages 5 and 6 months (or thereabouts). My heart breaks in tiny pieces thinking about those children without their mom.

I think I'd rather fly solo than take those risks. Even though I'd gotten to a point where my health was going to be compromised by my weight, it would have had to get a lot worse for me to think resecting myself was a viable alternative.

God is good and I am so glad he lead me to this decision...One of the decesed had the band first and then went with the bypass after having it removed...how sad I feel for all of them:think

Why did I look...now I am so very sad. It hurts my heart. I am glad that I made the decision that I did when I did!!!! It could've been me...any of us....

I am so thankful...I know God will continue to heal the families of these individuals!!

Birdee

I read dozens and dozens of them and just feel awful about the losses. It said at the top front page something about statistically only .2% die from that surgery. I have always heard higher statistics. The things people do for weight loss...:think Teresa

We really are truly blessed! Sending healing prayers to all those precious families.

Yes. That page has actually changed over the past few years. It's very obscure now. There is no link to it on the homepage like there used to be. I read it probably nearly 3 yrs ago and it's the one thing that I tell people about when they ask why I chose the band over RNY.

That being said, we do have to admit that great strides have even been made in this particular surgery. It is now available laporoscopically and the healing time is quite a bit less than what it used to be. Thankfully.

God bless those who have gone before us and those who'll come after.

Leatha