Hua

Watch Hua discuss her experience at Marina Del Rey Hospital.
Watch Hua discuss life after surgery.
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My name is Hua and I had the lap-band surgery on February 9, 2009.  I weighed 227 lbs the day I had surgery. At my heaviest I weighed 248 lbs.  I have lost 98 lbs to date and have another 15 lbs to reach my ultimate goal weight.  I can only speak of my own experience and strive to live as authentically as I possibly can. 

Before my procedure I was not happy and was not living the life that I envisioned.  I was tired of being treated as a second class citizen.  I didn’t believe I deserved to be happy because I was morbidly obese.  I blamed my weight for every disappointment in my life.  I hit my all time low and was desperate to escape my misery.  I thought perhaps losing the weight would solve my problems.  I did not realize that making the decision to have the lap-band surgery would change my life so dramatically and it is difficult to articulate how much my life has changed.  

My experience goes beyond losing the weight.  What I realized through my journey is that I am worthy and deserve to be happy regardless of my weight.  It has been a two year process and I’m still working on being the best me.  As the weight was coming off I gained more confidence every day.  I allowed myself to believe change was possible.  That epiphany was the catalyst that drove me to be better and gave me the strength to be better.

I started looking at the possibilities versus the limitations in life. I used to watch people live instead of participating in my own life.  I was worthy of the infinite possibilities that life has to offer.  I started to run and it gave me a purpose: to challenge my mind. If I could mentally endure the physical challenge there wasn’t anything I couldn’t do.  The harder I trained the stronger I became.   

My 3rd Year Surgiversay

 

For the first time, my personal life is right where I want it to be, and now I’m looking at making some changes in my professional life.  That is a scary place to be but what I have learned from my journey is not allowing fear to hold me back.  I know that sounds cliché but it is my truth: I matter and am worthy of happiness.

I am grateful to Dr. Korman, Bridgette, Mel and the entire staff at LA Bariatrics for their support and guidance. Their sensitivity in regards to obesity and their compassion in helping their patients are truly remarkable and speak of the human experience.  I am not a second class citizen and know who I am is priceless.  That is what I have gained.