Bariatric Surgery

My name is Carla Jean Medley.  I am 69 years old. In 2015 I weighed 340 lbs.  I am 5' tall. I was becoming immobile due to my weight and medical conditions that kept me from moving very much.  I was a two insulin a day Type II Diabetic.  When I fell asleep at night, often the thought would run through my head, "I may not wake up in the morning because of my weight and poor health."  Every day I would sit in my Lay Z Boy recliner and watch TV.  Over and over I would see these fitness gurus and they would say, "Just get up and MOVE!"  After about the 200th time hearing them say that, I turned to my sister and said, "I am going to get up and move."  AND, I HAVE NOT STOPPED.  I did not know what it would look like.  I did not know what I could do.  I could not walk but a very few steps and be huffing and puffing.  I could not ride a bike because of the small seats and balance issues.  I was just too embarrassed to go to the gym.  I just did not know how to start.  One day I was on the computer, and up in the right hand corner was a fit looking many standing beside a trike.  It was an adult size trike.  Under his picture was the line, "The Biggest Loser".  I knew the show.  In his weight loss journey, riding a Terra Trike brand street trike was his chose exercise.  My immediate thought was, "I can ride THAT kind of bike!"  Suddenly, I had hope.  FAST FORWARD 4 YEARS......you  see me standing next to my 24 speed Terra Trike.  I have LOST 200 POUNDS!!  My Diabetes is gone...no meds, no insulin....controlled strictly by food and exercise.  I take only two medicines now..thyroid and a little neuropathy left over from the Diabetes.  I bike, I kayak, I hike, I walk, I play with the neighborhood kids, I substitute teach, etc.  I have  life now!  You may ask...what more could you want, Jean?

After bariatric surgery and such a great weight loss, I am now left with a great deal of sagging, excess skin, that presents it own problems.  I have pain associated with it, I have balance issues with it, it causes open sores between the folds, and other personal health issues.  So,the last leg of my journey is to get the excess skin removed.  Since I am 69 years old, I am on Medicare.  They will not pay for the surgery.  It will cost approximately $70,000.  I do not have that kind of money.  So, I need your help.  I would like to keep as active as I possible can.  Getting the skin removed will not only help with the medical issues, but will help me maintain the active lifestyle I have been accustomed to.

I would appreciate your help in reaching my goal to have the 3 surgeries that I need. I am not getting any younger and my Doctors would like for me to have the surgeries as soon as possible.  

You may click on the links below to hear more of my story.  Share my story with friends or loved ones who may be feeling hopeless because of their health.  I understand where they are.  I had to take it a day at a time, a meal at a time, one step at a time.  It can be done.  Look again at my pictures.  See where I started and look at where I am today.  I stay in a grateful state of mind always.