At age 30, and with three young children, I had reached 300 pounds. I had my whole life in front of me, but my body was holding me back. I couldn’t go up the stairs in my own house without stopping to take a break. I decided it was time to ask for help. A month after surgery, I could feel my clothes becoming loose. Now, I have more confidence than ever and love chasing my family around, without breaks! My advice to people considering surgery is: Don’t let other people tell you this is the easy way out – the surgery is a tool you are given, and it still requires hard work. But if you rely on the support at St. Luke’s, you will be successful.