ALMOST THERE: Bariatric Surgery

I was motivated and inspired by a friend of mine in recovery to make some huge life changes over the past few months. As many of you know I am extremely overweight and medically diagnosed as morbidly obese. However, I have had pulmonary issues since before the pandemic and they are worsening currently. I am unable to do much at all without having oxygen on me at all times. My O2 levels are dangerously low daily. Which exacerbates the circulation issues I have already with my legs.

My health is now declining and it is imperative to my life that I get weight loss surgery. However, due to insurance criteria here in the US, my BMI needs to be below 50 and I am currently at 79. My respiratory issues that I have had since before the pandemic are worsening and the inability to breathe properly is all-consuming.

This causes me to always be tired due to the lack of oxygen in my body. Because of the low O2 levels, my heart is working overtime to get oxygen and blood to my body, however, my preexisting circulation issues from having IV used in my addiction are making getting blood to all my extremities even more difficult.

Because of this, the cells are starting to die in my legs and I am fighting for my life over here. If I don't get the surgery I could lose a leg or both. Then the stress of all this, and my personal affairs only further exacerbates all of the symptoms, which is further stressing my heart. I have already suffered a minor heart attack last year in March from the high stress of circumstances.

I looked into the facility where my friend recently had surgery located in Tijuana, Mexico, and, amazingly, the doctors specialize in the needed surgery for myself called the duodenal switch surgery.

I have never done a GoFundMe before but I am humbling myself and reaching out to my network of people to ask for your help. Some of you may know that I only receive $1,000 from my permanent disability as my monthly income and there is no way I could afford the procedure, the cost of airline tickets (I need two seats to fit on the plane), the needed vitamins to take every day, and costs to help me while I’m recovering.

I am currently looking at a surgery date in May after I graduate from SJCC, as long as God-willing I can reach my needed goal.

I have prayed a lot on this and am finally just letting go and letting God do the rest of the work. So if you can donate anything I appreciate and if you’re willing to, please share this with your network of people. I know I’m not done here yet and I want to continue doing God’s work in the community as I am currently. I dedicate my life daily to My HP and then just try to do the next right thing by not worrying about my health and just being of service to others. I am hoping to transfer to a 4 year university next and I am on multiple advisory boards advocating for the homeless, I am passionate about helping others that are in the streets still and those suffering from the disease of addiction and alcoholism.

It’s time now though that I need to advocate for myself and take action by humbling myself and asking for your help to save my life.

Thank you to each and every one of you for being a part of my life whether you can help or not and please know that I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all of you.

Love,

Sketch, Etch & Doodle