Read our Grand Rapids Bariatric Surgery and Medical Weight Loss Patient Stories

We would love to post your bariatric surgery success story! Use our form to share your journey. If you would, please include what procedure you had. Thank you!

If you would like to submit a testimonial, please use this form.

I wanted to have surgery, but my insurance would not pay unless I first tried a supervised medical weight loss program. I was not happy about it, but what choice did I have? I spent twelve weeks on the Active Weight Loss part of the program and a few more weeks transitioning back to normal food. During that time, the staff taught me about my eating behaviors, nutrition, and exercise. The results were remarkable. Most importantly, the knowledge I gained through the medical weight loss program empowered me to keep going. I continued to lose weight and I know what I have to do to maintain my weight. Even though I am years past my "active weight loss," I continue to participate in the "Living Healthy" part of the program through weekly support group meetings because it helps keep me on track. Now I am glad the insurance made me jump through the supervised medical weight loss program first. It was just what I needed.

My name is Beth Rogers. I am a 52-year-old mother of 3 daughters and the wife to a wonderful husband for 28 years. My weight loss story is like so many who have walked into Grand Health Partners. I had struggled with my weight since I was the age of 8. I spent most of my life overweight with only a few months of a normal weight while in nurses training. Like many of you I tried many different diet plans. They would always work and I would lose a significant amount of weight but it always came back on with several more pounds. After the birth of my first child I never saw less than 200 pounds again and by the birth of my 3rd daughter I was over 300 pounds. I had come to a point in my life that I knew that I had hit bottom. I had discovered the reality of my lack of health and I knew I had to make changes, I conferred with my PCP about weight loss surgery. He sent in the paperwork, only to have it lost. I waited an entire year, panicked and gave up. Emotionally I think I just wasnʼt ready. It took several more months and many discussions with my husband to try again, and this time I was denied. I was devastated but was not going to give up. My PCP worked to identify other co-morbidities and he found one - I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. I was then approved to attend the Surgical Weight Loss Seminar. I have to admit that I was very anxious. I was handed several papers asking questions about my health and eating habits. I'm an RN and I was very embarrassed of how bad I had allowed my health to get. I was the kind of person who never went to the doctor unless there was no other choice. Needless to say, I had several co-morbidities that weren't diagnosed until my preop labs. I was right to be afraid because I not only had sleep apnea, but high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. All of which were new diagnoses and all out of control. I was put on hold for surgery until I could get them all under better control. It took me another 6 months, but I did it! This journey is a trial - not only a physical trial but also an emotional one. I was able to make the physical changes but struggled with the emotional ones. My life was changing so fast that it scared me. I had to learn who this new Beth was. Was she a friend? Could she be trusted? Was she going to run away? That was most certainly my running record when it came to friends. Over time I slowly embraced this Beth who was emerging. It took awhile but I slowly embraced all the physical, emotional and spiritual changes. I was still that old Beth but I was so much better and for once in my life I truly felt in sync. I totally and completely loved whom I was inside and out. Today my dreams are to live life and to grab hold of those dreams that I never dared dream before. It's exciting but also it carries uncertainty. After losing 210 pounds from my highest weight of 359, life certainly isn't the same. So what are my dreams now? For now, my biggest dream is giving back to others who are on this journey. To reach out, as a support group leader to give them direction, education, a hug, share a tear and offer an understanding ear. That dream is now a reality and I am loving the opportunity to live this dream. My ultimate dream for myself? Well, I dream one day to be working within a bariatric pracitice as not only a support group leader but also as an RN. I love this kind of work. After picking up nursing hours on the bariatric unit, I have felt so fulfilled and honored for the chance to share this journey with others. And my passion and desire, has grown even deeper. This surgery is certainly, without a doubt, the best gift that I ever gave myself. Thank you Dr. Baker and all from GHP for giving me the chance to actually live my dream. Thank you so much for taking a chance on me. Thank you for always being so willing to advise and teach me. In the past 3 years you have embraced my unending questions with kindness and respect. All of what you are, and all of what you do, just increases my passion more. I have faith that one day I will find my niche, but for now, my biggest goal is just to be able to live a healthy life in a way I never have. Dr. Baker, Amy Pearce, Christine, Todd, Andy and Kim, thank you for being there for me. Your patience and willingness, to share your knowledge, is always so appreciated by me. Youʼve brought me to a place in my life that I dare to dream and I canʼt thank you enough.

THANKS TO DR. FOOTE & HIS WONDERFUL SUPPORT TEAM (ME TOO) I HAVE MY LIFE & HEALTH BACK!!!!!! I TURNED 60 YEARS YOUNG THIS OCTOBER, & I CAN ENJOY WALKING & EXERCISING MORE THAN EVER; I CAN EVEN CROSS MY LEGS. I LOVE TO SHOP... FOR CLOTHES. I WENT FROM WEARING SIZE 22-24 TO JEANS IN A SIZE 10. I HAD MY KNEES REPLACED SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND TAKING OFF 140 LBS. HAS ALLEVIATED EXCRUCIATING PAIN, ALLOWING ME TO EXERCISE, WALK, & DO DAY TO DAY ACTIVITIES WITHOUT A LOT OF DISCOMFORT. I HAD VERY PAINFUL & EVERY DAY HEART BURN & ACID REFLUX... IT IS FINALLY GONE. I CANNOT STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISE. THERE IS ALWAYS THE CONCERN OF EXCESS SKIN AFTER WEIGHT LOSS... BUT BECAUSE I FAITHFULLY EXERCISED; SLOWLY AT FIRST, & I HAVE NOT HAD AN ISSUE WITH THIS. DON'T FORGET TO STRETCH. MOST IMPORTANTLY, LISTEN CAREFULLY TO YOUR BODY. YOUR INSTINCT WILL BE YOUR VERY BEST FRIEND, WITH RESPECT TO BOTH EATING HABITS AND EXERCISE. STOP!!!!... EATING WHEN YOU START TO FEEL FULL & WHEN YOUR BODY FEELS THE STRESS OF EXERCISE. MY LIFE WAS GREAT BEFORE WITH THE LOVE OF A WONDERFUL FAMILY & FRIENDS. NOW MY LIFE IS UNBELIEVABLY INCREDIBLE & I THANK MY FAMILY & FRIENDS FOR THEIR LOVE & SUPPORT. I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO DR. FOOTE & HIS TEAM FOR THEIR SUPPORT & INCREDIBLE SKILL. THEIR CARE IS GENUINE & I ALWAYS FEEL "SPECIAL" WHEN EVER I CALL OR COME IN FOR AN APPOINTMENT.

I came to Dr. Kemmeter weighing in at 268. I had the Duodenal Switch and lost all of my excess weight within 11 months. I now tip the scales between 127-132 pounds. I am now living a life I only dreamed of in the past. Dr. Kemmeter and his associates took very good care of me and I do recommend them to everybody!

My earliest memories of my obesity date back to second grade. I have struggled since then to “be like most of the other girls” as far as size is concerned. I was able to keep in the overweight range in high school due to sports. Then came college, marriage and kids and my food addictions were strong. Ice cream, pizza, homemade baked goods, all favorites of mine. Of course I tried plenty of diets but put the weight back on. Until I joined the medical weight loss program here I had never had any behavioral therapy for my disease of obesity. I did quite well and the knowledge I gained through every aspect of the medical program has been irreplaceable. I fully participated in everything possible for 4 years which included 2 fasts. I discovered I had sleep apnea in December, 2007 and knew if I continued to lose and gain weight I was only in for more problems with co morbidities. I realized that I needed an additional tool for help. I chose to have a sleeve gastrectomy. My surgery was on April 1st, 2008 with Dr. Foote. I have continued to attend my medical group meetings so I will never forget where I’ve been and learn more about myself . I hope to attend surgical groups at some point also. I follow all the rules, food journaling, exercise and behavior class. I feel like a new person and I can fully enjoy life with my family and friends. A heartfelt thank you goes out to Dr. Foote and EVERYONE at Grand Health Partners for helping me reach my weight loss goals. You are all truly gifted and wonderful people. I look forward to spending more time with you in the years to come. Sincerely, Laura Holstege

<< Start < Previous   1 2 3   Next > Last >>