I would so like to be a pre-op!

[sandy1 1]

Thank you so much again AWright, project lisa, Mandy J, newday11, Cocoabean, and gingy!

Mandy J- Thanks for continuing to be my "cheerleader". I am touched for your caring!

Cocoabean- Excellent advise. Thanks! I had totally imagined that the fills would be included but I will be sure to verify that! Unfortunately my hubby does not have a choice for insurance. That has changed during the recent years as the city he works for is getting shorter and shorter on money. Even if WLS was currently covered under our insurance, we would still have to pay $5,000 out of pocket (- what ever we have already paid this year). The city only offers one of those horrible high deductable plans so in essence, we have no insurance unless something MAJOR happens. Yet, we are still paying about $200 a month for a family plan. I am so disgusted with our insurance plan and our medical bills just keep on piling up. Our 6-year old has a chronic and quite severe asthma so the medicines costs a few hundred dollars a month. We also have a toddler who regularly gets some kind of virus from pre-school and has to visit pediatrician several times a year. I wonder if we should look into trying to privately insure ourselves?

I continue to cast my vote daily! I just hope all this gets you the winning ticket. Definitely look into the fills though. I would hate for you to get the band and not the after care.

I sympathize with you with the toddler getting something at pre school. Mine was fine yesterday AM when I left her at day care. By noon she was running fever. Took her to the DR and she has yet another ear infection!!

[peacequeen 434]

Sent another vote in for you today!

Hi everybody,

First, please forgive me if you have already seen my post in one of the other forums. I posted under three different forums because I am an idiot and did not carefully read the TOS. Now I don't know how to delete any of my posts. Anyway, I promise I will not post anywhere else!

My name is Henriikka W. I am a 35-year old mom from Keller, TX. Like so many others, I have unsuccessfully tried diet and exercise to win my weight battle for several years now. I finally made the difficult decision to seek for a surgery to help me with this fight. I understand that the surgery alone will not resolve the core issue of why I over eat in the first place but it would certainly help me to adapt a whole new way of eating while I would address the emotional side of this complicated condition.

Unfortunately, I recently discovered that our insurance does not cover the weight loss surgery. My husband is a police officer, I am a student and we also have two small children. Therefore, I do not foresee us being able to afford this surgery anytime in the near future. However, I was randomly selected to be one of the nine final contestants in a free weight loss surgery give-away from Dr. David Kim of Colleyville, TX. All of us contestants had to post a video on his web site and now the audience gets to vote one of us to receive this life-changing and life-saving procedure. Would you please take a moment to view my video at www.drdkim.net/contest/ and vote for me if you think that I deserve this opportunity. I would be forever grateful! Henriikka W.

P.S. You can vote once per every 24-hour period per computer. The voting will end on June 1st. Thank you already!

[Cocoabean 430]

I've been voting for you! I wish it had stats as to where everyone stands on the votes! Fills are about $200 a pop for those that self pay. Some are lower, but it seems that is about average. Many surgeons include a year of after-care for self pay patients. Your current insurance will cover any life-threatening complications, but the band is not a set-it and forget it procedure. Do you have a choice with this contest? If you cannot afford aftercare, a bypass might be a better way to go.

I am not trying to scare you off. I just want you to be fully informed of what is to come or may happen down the road. Getting banded is one of the best things I have done for myself.

[mandy J. 1]

Don't forget to vote!

[Henriikka W. 3]

Thank you again you wonderful ladies for supporting me! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it and I can't wait to let you know what happens! Thanks for the insurance advise too. This contest allows the winner to choose which ever surgery. I was very afraid of the bypass and vertical sleeve due to more invasive nature of these surgeries. I am thinking "what if I will end up getting a cancer of stomach etc. later in life and then the doctors will have less to stomach tissue to work with"...???

Thanks again you all. You guys have made me very happy!

[sandy1 1]

Thank you again you wonderful ladies for supporting me! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it and I can't wait to let you know what happens! Thanks for the insurance advise too. This contest allows the winner to choose which ever surgery. I was very afraid of the bypass and vertical sleeve due to more invasive nature of these surgeries. I am thinking "what if I will end up getting a cancer of stomach etc. later in life and then the doctors will have less to stomach tissue to work with"...???

Thanks again you all. You guys have made me very happy!

The band is a great choice! I just know you will win! So many people are voting for you!

[peacequeen 434]

Got another vote in for you!

[mandy J. 1]

one week left to vote! Can't wait until result day!

[sandy1 1]

Voted once again for you!

[mandy J. 1]

Keep the votes coming for Henrikka!

[Henriikka W. 3]

Thank you sooooo much Sandy1, Mandy J. & Peacequeen! You guys are awesome. Yes, that's right... Only one week left to vote. I wish it would be over already! I can't wait to hear the results and hopefully tell you the good news. You have been a wonderful support and no matter what happens, I am looking forward keeping up our new cyber friendship!

[SDTeaGirl 1]

Just voted for you! Good Luck.

[sandy1 1]

Don't forget to vote for Henriikka. You can vote once every 24 hours!!!!

[mandy J. 1]

Don't forget to get your votes in! Voting ends next Wednesday, so lets get our votes in to help Henrikka!

[sandy1 1]

Keep on voting everyone. We need to help Henriikka!