Congratulation on your own success story. You have done a marvelous job bringing down your weight from 400 pounds to 145 pounds. I hope that you will visit often and share with others for we all need to know that people are doing well after weight loss surgery.
Terry

Though most of us that come to Terminal Obesity including myself have never had the opportunity to meet you in person – I can tell that you have lots of admirers here and I count myself among them. Please stick around and continue to share with us the successes that you are surely going to continue and make.

Congratulations on your new relationship with David.

Terry

First off, I apologize for taking so very long to read and respond to these posts. I sincerely do appreciate all the wonderful compliments and well wishes. Many have asked for an update, so let me do that now. (I’ll try to keep it brief, but I write like I talk, on and on and on…)

In the beginning of June, 2006 I broke off my engagement with Bob (he ws the man I met at Andover and was in the second show with me). Unfortuantely, he was going one way and I was going another way. He left Andover at the end of June. After about a year I contacted him after having a disturbing dream. We remain friends and speak once in awhile.

I began struggling with my weight loss the last few months at Andover and by the time I left at the end of 2 1/2 years (end of September, 2006), I had gained about 25 pounds. I went home (still with no driver’s license or vehicle) and after only 3 weeks I came down with cellulitis in my right leg. I became housebound again and depressed. My old demons came calling hard and within 13 months I had regained 240 pounds and had neglected my leg treatments. My legs filled with lymph fluid so badly that again I couldn’t leave, wear shoes, or do much. I felt like a complete failure in everything. My health deteriorated, my heart rate was increased, my blood pressure was up, and I had MRSA in a leg wound. I was probably near congestive heart failure because I felt filled with water to my eyeballs. I finally swallowed my pride and tried to find another treatment facility. I didn’t want to go back to Andover for two reasons, 1) I felt like a complete failure and 2) I knew I was a food addict and needed a program that really dealt with that issue.

In November I found that the administrator that was at Andover during the first 18 months of my stay was now at a facility near Clevleand and was in the process of starting a bariatric program similar to the one at Andover, but with with a high concentration of food addiction therapy. I called her and she asked for my help as I asked for hers. On November 13, 2007 I came to Aristocrat Berea in Berea, Ohio. I went to Andover at 766 pounds and left at about 425 pounds. I weighed in at Aristocrat Berea at 666 pounds. After 10 months I am down to 406 pounds, but am struggling again.

The program here was great, but unfortunately, it could not be sustained for several reasons. Since the bariatric program was shut down in July, I have been visited by my old food demons. I have regained about 30 pounds. I really know, now, that I need structure to be successful. I have been searching for support groups and am waiting to get a bus pass so I can go to these meetings.

I am also waiting for insurance approval to begin more lymphedema debulking surgeries on my legs. We hope to get one surgery done before the end of the year. New masses have developed and it looks like I may need as many as 5 or 7 more surgeries. I am sure I’ll be at this facility all of 2009, but I really want to be “fixed” before I try to go home again…and this includes having my driver’s license again and a vehicle.

There is a new man in my life, David. He is also a resident here and has MS. He is waiting for approval for a handicap accessible apartment in the building next door.

I hope that fills everyone in for now. I welcome any emails, so please feel free to write. RRMoran2004@yahoo.com I would love to offer my help and support and, in all honesty, I could use support myself. If I could I would give you all hugs of love and encouragement. I look forward to hearing from you.

Love and best wishes,
Robin

Hope this note finds u well. I have seen your show several times and im so proud of u. I cant imagine how difficult it is to leave your family and to go to Andover. But some times we must take control of our lives Im attemping to take control of mine but it is difficult. Thanks for being on that show and letting us into a little peace of your life. Thank you.

will