Transformation Tuesday: Heather Wade

Heather’s Story

In 2019, I was on a weight-loss journey that was sparked after the birth of my son in 2018. I was ready to take back my life and become the best physical version of myself. I had the support of my primary care physician and scheduled quarterly appointments with them to monitor my progress. I was 44 years old. At that time, I weighed more than 270 pounds. After all the physical trauma that I put my body through, I felt like a ticking time bomb for serious medical issues. It was only a matter of time before I felt my doctors would tell me that I had diabetes or high blood pressure and would be prescribed medication for the rest of my life.

When the pandemic hit, my weight loss journey was abruptly disrupted. I continued to work full-time remotely for a national non-profit, my two elementary schoolers were virtual students, and I still had to care for my toddler. My adult son with Cerebral Palsy was still living with us at the time. Due to the threat of death by COVID, we discontinued all home health services and isolated our entire family from anyone outside of our circle. I became the caregiver for my adult son, too. My husband was the only one who left the home daily to work for a residential facility where COVID was a daily threat. He was also finishing up his master’s degree at OSU.

With this major disruption in our life, I unfortunately found comfort in food. Quickly, the weight that I lost in 2019 (30 pounds) found itself back on my body, and by year’s end, I was 279 pounds. I went to my PCP and cried! I was scared. So, we started again. Entering 2021, I was hopeful I could rebound. And I did! The weight was coming off, I was down to 230 pounds by July with diet and exercise. But COVID wasn’t done. With schools still fighting about protocols and vaccines, my husband and I decided to homeschool our children another year. I had another year as a full-time employee, homeschool teacher, adult caregiver, wife, and mother.

By the end of 2021, all my progress was gone, and I was 280 pounds. I went to my PCP again in tears. I felt utterly helpless. I told them I needed medical intervention. I wanted bariatric surgery. They gave me a referral that I sat on for two months. I finally called, scheduled my consultation and, at the end of my appointment with Dr. Page, I was determined to follow through. I got through my checklist within 45 days and was in the OR by May 18, 2022. I got the help I needed.

How has having weight-loss surgery changed your life for the better?

Having weight-loss surgery changed my life! I am now able to do something I never thought was possible. I am a marathoner! And I LOVE IT! I can keep up with my four children (ages 4, 10, 13, and 27) without feeling exhausted. I enjoy being active again. I enjoy shopping for clothes! I enjoy socializing and no longer feel insecure about my size. My heart, lungs, and joints feel amazing. I am strong—the strongest I’ve ever been in my life!

What are the biggest changes you’ve experienced since your surgery?

The biggest change I experienced since my surgery is that I’ve maintained my weight and level of fitness for a considerable amount of time. Before surgery, my weight would fluctuate by 30-50 pounds in the winter months. And in the spring, I would fight to bring my weight down. Each year, this battle got harder and harder. This is the first year I did not have to worry about it. My eating all year long was under control. I did not binge. It was such a relief to have vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) as a tool to manage my caloric intake.

What would you say to someone who is considering weight-loss surgery?

I would say to someone who is considering weight-loss surgery... just get the help. There is no need to feel like you have to do it alone. Talk to others who had the surgery. We will tell you, there are some learning curves and challenges with this option, but the benefits far outweigh the cons. For many of us, this intervention saved us from serious life-threatening conditions.