JOANNE M HOLL

I am a now 83 years old, a widow, have two sons & a daughter, 6 grandchildren & 9 great grandchildren, all of whom I love & admire very much. My health in 2006 was not very good. I had borderline diabetes, swollen feet, high blood pressure & etc. I saw an ad in our local small town paper for a LapBand seminar at a local small hospital sponsored by a specialist from another health center in an area north of us. I asked my small town MD & his wife to attend with me. (They were close friends.) We went out for dinner, I recall, and afterwards spoke to several folks who had had the procedure done. Doc said, "Joanne, Go for it!" As I said, "I love my family" and certainly pray to live to see future great grandchildren, I called my insurance and then medicare. They said there were only 3 centers that were qualified to do the procedure in my home state. I phoned the bariatric center near Abbott NW Hospital in Minneapolis and followed their directions to obtain tests, analysis and nutritional education. I was 100 plus pounds overweight and had a history of past participation in about every weight loss program that was commonly accepted across the country to only recover by gaining. (The old Yo Yo). I was happy with my LapBand, and it was a plus to me when 5 others in my vicinity also had the procedure. Several friends, younger than I, have done very well and it was a life changing time and happiness for them. I lost 69 lbs. and the feet swelling, diabetes & etc. are gone. I no longer hide in the back row when family picture taking time arrives and I did have more great grands, and "Oh, yes," I have been told I might be the oldest person with a lap band in my State. P. S. I was told it could be removed at any time in the future, but I'm keeping mine indefinitely!