5 years of waiting....less friends but a healthier future

[Lady1000 16]

I do not know if my story is very different than others but for me it has been a 5 year struggle to finally have my sleeve done.

I live very close to Mexicali and had gone to several consultations with Dr Aceves and had the pleasure of calling him my friend. I had close friends that had surgery with him and I could see how their lives had changed. He gave me all the help he could with payment plans , counseling, etc but in the end I still had to come up with the hospital costs. it was just taking me so long to get the money together. Unexpected expenses, traveling to see my family out of town, etc At one point a group of my close friends and family got together and started pitching in for me to have surgery. I was so touched by this and could not believe it! I could finally see myself getting surgery, I started to get excited. I started my pre op diet and was looking into possible dates. Not sure how it started but someone started putting doubts in everyone's mind, if this was the right thing to do? if I really knew what I wanted ? what if had problems? I am 50 years old so I definitely knew what i wanted, I had researched, learned and wanted to have it done so badly. The plan fell through and I was back to square one and very angry at some of my so called friends. Worse thing is that they did not even ask me, just assumed I could not make a decision on my own. Of course in the meantime I gained 15 more lbs and was frustrated and hopeless. I spend the little I had saved and was ready to live the rest of my life at my weight. I am by nature a happy person, I enjoy many things in life but weight has always held me back, I know this. Dr. Aceves died and I felt this was just a sign I would not have surgery, ever. it was a very sad time for all the community in mexicali to lose this great man. Only 3 months later my ANGEL appeared. She is my friend and I know she had money but this is not something I would ever dare ask for, it NEVER crossed my mind, I could not have even asked for a loan. She went to speak with Dr. Campos , he is a bariatric doctor, and asked who was doing surgeries now that Dr. Aceves was gone. When she heard it was Dr. Wilhelmy she asked him to schedule me even before talking to me! LOL He couldn't do this but I had a consultation the following day. Everyone knows Dr. Wilhelmy in Mexicali, he is an excellent doctor and very well esteemed in the city , he cares for his patients, very skilled and with many years of experience. I could not believe it when she told me, we had never discussed this and she was so serious I thought she had some awful news to tell me. It turns out she did not know if I would be offended! I cried when she told me, I had no words to express what I was feeling, I could just hug her and cry. We talked and both felt very comfortable and confident with moving forward with Dr. Wilhelmy and the rest of the doctors. We knew half of them personally! The hospital is the best in the city and well we knew some people that had had surgery with Dr. Wilhelmy too. 10 days later I was sleeved! I do not underestimate what I need to do and the work I have ahead of me but I am so ready! Anyone struggling with financing keep the faith! It may happen for you too!

[Marietizzy 5]

Awesome!!!

[VSGAnn2014 12,992]

Outstanding intervention. I wish for you the best possible outcomes for surgery, recovery, and your new life.

[4everbeautiful 61]

Beautiful story! Thanks for the share. Congratulations on now being sleeved!! True friends are AWESOME!!

[Lady1000 16]

Thank you I feel so blessed. I look forward to learning from the everyone here!

[mz.newlife54 103]

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your journey.

[purplelite 5]

Great story!

[kikicoates78 220]

What a great friend! Good luck to u on ur journey!!