Many of you, who know me, know me as a big guy. At 415 pounds I was a very big guy. I would speak around at conferences throughout the region, sometimes I think it’s my size that everyone finds easiest to remember about me. I’ve tried just about everything and changed my eating habits, changing all my habits had only stabilized me. I’ve been about the same weight give or take a few pounds for a couple years now.
I’ve tried to go though the insurance plans of previous employers but there was always so much red tape. I was once told that the reason (this was from a rep of the insurance company) that they are hesitant to cover such operations is because most people don’t stay with the plan long enough for the company to see the benefits.
Shortly after I started with Microsoft I got a notice that my previous insurance wanted me to go though some additional hoops they didn’t mention before. I laughed since I no longer had them, but it was just another let down and I felt really bad. So I called the doctor’s office and they talked to me about what the insurance company said, I told them well I’m no longer with them, do you want my new insurance information.
So they resubmitted the claim and I got a call a month later that they were going to schedule my surgery. I was like WHAT? No hoops to jump though, no long wait lines, I was like “are you sure?” I really could not believe my ears. At the same time I was in the middle of training in Redmond, I had to share the good news with all my new found friends.
I had commented on how well Microsoft takes care of its employee’s and how much they invest in training and time into their employee’s. Though I found out how Microsoft does their insurance, and they expect employee’s to be with them a while, hence they are not afraid to invest and have the things done that need to be done.
I have just come home 1/29/08 from surgery, I’m very sore; I had the lapband surgery done where they put a band around your stomach to control the amount of food eaten. I’m very sore as I type this, but I’m also filled with such happiness. I don’t know what else I can say. For a long time, diet after diet, I felt like I was doomed to die in my 40’s (avg death rate for most on my mother’s side). I feel like the possibilities of a much longer future are open to me now.
I’ve been overweight since I was a little boy. People just don’t know the pain one feels when living as an overweight person, I know I’m a smart guy, but I wonder sometimes how much my size had played in holding me back? The perception that people have of overweight people is one of lazy and clumsy and not very bright. I’ve had to work probably extra hard and be extra detailed in everything I do to fight this perception.
I’m happy that now with the right controls in place and the right determination in place that I can reach my goal weight and finally my outside will match my inside. I’m thrilled with the prospect of finally realizing my lifelong dream to being a pilot and look forward to starting the training here in Tallahassee when I reach or get close to my goal weight. I’m also happy at the prospect of meeting my grand children one day, something my mother wasn’t able to do.
I’m only sad for one thing, the fact that I will miss the 4th annual Code Camp South Florida. I’ve talked and attended since the first Code Camp South Florida, but not this year. My mind has been so focused between work and this operation and now I’m so sore you just can’t imagine. I feel very sad for missing it and I will miss seeing everyone attending. I hope to see many of the people I know at the following code camp in Florida.
To all those who read my blog and that attend the code camps in the region, I look forward to seeing you.
I don’t know what else to say, there are so many people that helped me along the way that all tie into this that I don’t know how I could ever thank them enough. For some people it’s just a job, for me I believe it saved my life. Time of course will tell, but finally I have hope for a real solution for a future.