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I found my old blog :) So we will move on from here

I am: daughter, love, beautiful, wrecked, learner, friend, counselor, and most recently I am a post-op gastric sleeve patient. My life is pretty amazing, do not get me wrong, I have bad days too. The good days out way the bad.
June 5, 2015 was the day that my new life began. I had Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (vsg) in Tustin, California. My mom and a dear friend, Shelly, were able to be at the surgery center with me {so blessed that Shell took a vacation day to support me and mom}. That day was about 18 months in the making. My cousin, Lauren, nominated me for a Humanitarian Award, through The National Obesity Foundation. The NOF had some office turnover, they are almost completely ran by volunteers, and my initial paperwork was lost. I can be assertive, but almost always for good. I called the NOF and after a few phone calls, I resubmitted my paperwork...and 6 months later I won the award and was boarding a plane to California. Mom was able to take off work and be my sidekick on this trip, the fact that she has over 30 years of surgery/nursing experience was an added gift.
I had other visitors too :) Heather, James, and Smith drove from Tuscon to check on me and bring mom some snacks, because she did not want to eat in front of me. I was on a clear liquid diet for several days.
Dr. Bobby Bhasker-Rao was my surgeon, he and mom talked surgical talk and made us all feel at ease. As they wheeled me into the Operating Room, they were playing Hotel California. That is really the last thing that I remember, then I woke up in Recovery and was super extremely nauseated. I get pretty pukey anyways, but this was horrid. After about an hour, it eased up and I was able to focus and walk around. I am almost 8 weeks out and I feel great. I have had some small incision issues, but it is my fault for working out too hard/too soon.
I have always been the big kid, but I never realized how large I had become until I saw this photo

That photo was taken in 2011 at a Tacky Christmas party. This photo changed my life. After this, I began going to the gym, eating better, and trying to change my life. But it was hard. So hard. For 4 years I struggled and would lose 20 and gain 25 and lose 15 and gain 20. At my highest I weighted 364lbs. It is shocking. 
I currently weigh 318. I have a long road ahead, but I am excited about the opportunity that I have been given. 
My family and friends, especially my Desperation family, has been so supportive and loving and there is no way that I would be in this place with out you.
I don't want this blog to be all about weight, because my life in general is a piece of work. However, my sleeve (his name is Gilbert, I'll explain why later) is part of who I am and I will talk about him.

Love you big,
Sara 

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