In 2018, Pat made the decision to undergo bariatric surgery. Our insurance was willing to pay for it, as he was heavy enough and then some, and it would overall save on health care costs because weight loss would make him healthier overall. However, he had a million and a half hoops to jump through.

So he started jumping and jumping. I won’t go into all the appointments and what all was tested. That’s his story, not mine.

But.

In late May of 2019, Pat went under the knife and had the majority of his stomach removed in a procedure that’s known as a sleeve.

It’s not almost 2 months later and Pat is back on his feet, healthier than he has been, and down a decent chunk of weight, with more to come.

You can see in the loose skin how much he has already lost. A fact he’s self-conscious about because the skin just sort of sags and hangs there. But it’s normal for weight loss like he’s going through. And when I see the loose skin I see a tremendous amount of effort (he had to completely change his diet and relearn his eating habits as a part of this) and success.

Next up, after he reaches his target weight, is skin removal, which insurance will also pay for. Two body parts at a time, over the span of like 18 months. I may be off on that last part.

Anyway, I’m really proud of Pat. His energy levels are up and he seems happier with himself in general. While I never cared how much he weighed, I am thrilled to see the quality of his life improve. That means the world to me.