Freedom2Thrive

This is a story about a young man who always had a smile on his face but knew he was different. Whether it be his heart or his waistline he always had the biggest in his class. He never let it hold him back because he saw the best in people when they couldn't see it in him.  

He wasn’t always so confident about what life would hold for him. At the age of 12, he had gotten to 220 pounds. Due to a condition unrelated to his weight he suffered pain in his legs and ankles and required surgery to repair a curvature in his legs. Post-op, he gained even more weight. From age 12 to 16 he gained about 120 pounds.

It's hard to see the pain behind this cutie's smile, but when he was 16 he told a psychiatrist that he was ready to die. He felt like he maxed out on his potential in life and it would be okay if he wasn't around anymore. It was an extremely stressful time and he had no proper way to cope with anything, and he let himself get to 340 pounds. He had no values. He had no beliefs and he saw no purpose.

In 2010, his mom read a magazine article about the SickKids Team Obesity Management Program. Through STOMP, patients can access a team of health professionals, support groups and, for those who meet specific criteria, bariatric surgery. At the time, the program was focused on teens with other health issues, such as Type 2 diabetes, but he was still a solid fit. After three months, he had lost 20 pounds and the team was looking at surgical options. In August 2011 and weighing 300 pounds, he had a Roux-En-Y gastric bypass, a form of bariatric surgery

In less than a year he lost around 80 pounds, weighing 220 pounds. His life had changed significantly when it came to eating, but he was prepared for that and knew he would have to manage this for the rest of his life.

It wasn't perfect and for a few years post-op he struggled with complications, but he found a way to push through them and find some balance in his life.

He began to find purpose in his life. He went to nursing school, driven by the care and passion that many doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals poured into him along his journey. He wanted to give back and make a difference in other people's lives. He wanted others to see that they were just as worth the love and care he received. 

 He found values. He became accountable for his actions and saw what was truly important in his life. He became a lover of travelling, eating delicious food and engaging in fitness and leading a healthy lifestyle. 

He developed a new set of beliefs - that every day is another chance to get stronger, to eat better, to live healthier and be the best version of himself because he is human - perfectly imperfect and worth it.