I returned home from the hospital today. I'm a little sore, and in a little pain. Although I have many stories and experiences to share, I must share this one first....It had NOTHING to do with my surgery at all.

After getting my xray this am and getting moved from recovery to a regular room, I arrived at my new room, and realized that I had a roommate. No big deal. What happened next was one of the most emotional experiences of my life.

He had told the nurse that everything was OK in the bathroom, whatever that meant, and he finished his IV Nexium. (a drug used for GERD, or acid reflux) A girl, no older than 35, and a man walked in. My bed was closest to the door so naturally I greeted them, just said hello. A doctor I hadnt met walked in, and walked passed me. The girl was his wife, the man his brother..

The doctor had bad news. He told the young man, about my age, 31, that he was pretty sure from test results that he had Leukemia. I couldn't say exactly what was said after that, but because my own best friend is being treated for Hodgkin's disease right now, my wife and I completley lost it as well.

Family began to come in....more doctors....First his inlaws, then mom and dad. I immediately summoned my wife to get me out of bed so we could go for a walk....the young man told his mom before we could leave..."my baby, my baby" is all we heard....and the sobbing.....we left the room.

I felt guilty. Guilty for the pain I was in. Embarrassed of the fact that i was there because I was overweight. Although a great day for me, I downplayed the rest of the conversations with my nurses and doctors that visited. I tried not to kid around or laugh. I was leaving the hospital to begin my new life......James wasn't leaving.....

Before I left, I excused myself for butting in and wished him my best. Although a stranger, I felt like I had been through so much of it to this point. I told him my friend is winning his battle, and that he would too......They wished me well too, I assumed they had overheard enough to know why I was there...I replied, "its not that important, I'm just fat." It provided a little comic relief.....

I'll talk about my band tommorrow. I'm not really up to it tonight......

Pray for James, please....

WoW , Powerful....that really puts things into perspective. I pray that God gives James and his family strength and healing.

Wow very powerful and I am sorry for James I pray he gets better. I get your situation and down playing your band now here is the other side. A study was just released that stated people who are 80 pound over weight live 3 to 12 years less than those who are not. So your surgery is life giving to you also. I know it gave me my life back. So congrats on your band and your new journey!

Givempills,

How selfless of you to be more concerned about your roomie than yourself. You and your new friend will be in my prayers tonight. I wish you much luck and success on your WL journey.

TPG

That is so tragic but hopefully they caught in time and he will beat it. God bless him and his family. I can't imagine having to get and give that news. I don't think I could ever be a doctor for that reason. That day has to be horrible for everyone concerned.