955lbs I thought my life was over!

My name is Catrina and I have struggled with my weight all my life. At my heaviest, I weighed nearly half a ton, 955 pounds to be exact. Bed ridden and trapped in my home, I thought my life was over. I was unable to walk, couldnt clean myself, and was a prisoner in my home. I was certain that I would never be able to drive, go to college, work, or even be able to go outside and breathe fresh air. I suffered from sleep apnea, cellulites, congestive heart failure, and was literally being killed by the fat that surrounded my short 5 feet 2 inch frame.

When I thought things could not get any worse, my life took a significant turn on one hot summer day when I had trouble breathing and was forced to leave my home. My mother called 911 as I lay in bed struggling to breathe, wondering if this was the end. I was afraid but silently hoping that my suffering might be coming to an end. The rescue crew arrived and was immediately faced with a dilemma; my half-ton body was unable to fit through the door. The rescuers demolished the wall of my bedroom in a critical attempt to get me out of the house and then discovered that I was unable to fit inside the ambulance. As my condition continued to deteriorate, the rescuers had to act promptly to get me to the hospital and my only method of transportation was a tow truck. Yes a tow truck! I was hauled away as if I was some sort of broken down vehicle. Embarrassed, afraid, and extremely disheartened, I vowed that if I was able to make it through this experience my life would never be the same, and boy was I right!

The horrific experience of having rescue workers tear down the wall in my home was not only significant because the workers were there to save my life, it was symbolic of me breaking away from my past. The demolition of that wall was the beginning of me breaking away from being a prisoner in my own home, me breaking away from obesity related medical conditions, breaking away from immobility, and breaking away from the death grip that the fat had held on my life for so many years. After leaving the hospital I was admitted to a weight loss facility, underwent weight loss surgery, improved my diet and began to exercise regularly. Since that time, I have lost over 500 pounds. After my weight loss, I was able to attend college, I work, have regained my ability to walk, and I am able to independently support and take care of myself. I have made significant progress toward my weight loss goal and improved my health, but yet find myself faced with another obstacle.

After losing over 500 pounds I have been able to improve my mobility significantly, however, I am extremely limited by the extra skin that enclosed 955 pounds of fat. My walking, bending, standing, and sedentary movement is compromised by the extra skin hanging from my body. The extra skin that is restricting my mobility is also restricting my ability to continue reaching my weight loss goal. I am unable maximize workouts and must limit my movement and mobility. I have received approval from my physician to have the skin removed, but need help obtaining the funds required to undergo the surgical procedure. The cost of the procedure and associated fees is $10,000. Although that amount is not a lot of money, it is more than I can afford to pay. I have overcome heart failure, sleep apnea, and weighing nearly half a ton, there is no way a measly $10,000 is going to prevent me from obtaining my goal. This is the reason I need your help today. Although I may stumble, struggle, and even fall, I REFUSE TO LOSE. And with your help, I won't. A wise man I know always says, “You will win if you dont quit.†I can’t give up and I wont quit! No amount is too small and any donation helps. If you are you able to help please…..