Mother and Daughter Have a New Outlook on Life After Having Weight Loss Surgery Together

“New year, new…us!” — This motto fits well with mother and daughter duo, Rosa and Kimberly, who chose to undergo bariatric surgery together to improve their health.

Rosa Rakay, a wife of 36 years, a mother of four, grandmother of three, and a breast cancer survivor, said that her health was getting out of hand. Medications, body aches, tiredness, and health concerns such as being pre-diabetic, having high blood pressure and high cholesterol were just a few of the reasons she wanted help with her weight. Her mentality of “Maybe I should just give up and let nature take its course,” changed when thinking of her family and future goals.

Rosa has worked in education for 35 years and is starting to think about retirement. She wants to be able to travel with her husband and spend more time with her grandchildren. “I didn't want to worry about taking medications and feeling tired all the time,” shared Rosa, 57. “My body was not cooperating anymore.” She knew she needed help because dieting and exercising were not working. As a working mother of four, Rosa struggled to find time to cook healthy meals. Her 27-year-old daughter, Kimberly, has also struggled with her weight since high school. Feeling responsible for Kimberly's struggles and not wanting her to face similar health issues, Rosa felt they should seek help together.

This past summer, they decided to speak with professionals about the option of bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, is for patients who are struggling with obesity and losing weight. Obesity can lead to health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, degeneration of joints, and even a shortened life span. There are many types of bariatric surgery, but the goal is the same, which is to help patients achieve a healthier lifestyle. Types of weight loss surgery options include gastric RNY bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, duodenal switch, revision surgery and more. Weight loss surgeons ensure that their patients receive the most appropriate procedure for them.

After discussions with weight loss specialists, it was decided that a sleeve gastrectomy was the best option for both Rosa and her daughter. Typically performed laparoscopically, a sleeve gastrectomy involves removing a large portion of the stomach through small incisions in the upper abdomen with small instruments. The stomach normally looks like a partially deflated football; however, post-surgery it resembles a slender tube. Removing a specific part of the stomach, which is hormonally active, removes the hormones that make people hungry, which in turn helps them eat less. Ultimately, people feel full after eating little food.

Not only would the mother-daughter duo have the same surgery at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, but they would have the same surgery on the same day! “I was the most nervous going into surgery that day,” Rosa explained. “Kimberly was there earlier than me, and as a mother, you never stop worrying about your children, so I knew it would be a tough day for me.” Their family was very supportive of the decision to have surgery, especially since they could go through it together.

Rosa says she and her daughter are both “social butterflies” and said the staff was wonderful and comforting. “At first, it was funny to hear Kimberly in the other room, but eventually, staff caught on that we were mother and daughter,” Rosa shared. “After the procedure, in the post-op area, I was concerned when I could hear Kimberly saying she felt some pain, but the staff reassured me she was doing well and did fine in surgery.” Rosa stated that she really felt no pain, other than some belly-button soreness. The two have since recovered and are doing very well.

While a sleeve gastrectomy helps patients lose weight quickly and can provide long-term weight loss, patients must be willing to make permanent lifestyle changes to continue seeing positive results, which is what Rosa and Kimberly have been doing. “Since the surgery, I am a changed person; I can now plan for my future!” says Rosa. “Both of us are more physically active and happy.” Rosa feels more alert and less tired to walk and exercise. “I love to walk, and sometimes I have the desire to run or sprint!” Rosa said. “Every night, my husband and I walk 2.5 miles or more in only 45 minutes. My legs no longer hurt as much.” Eating has become more meaningful to her, too. She no longer rushes to eat and makes time to eat. She plans what she wants to eat and feels she is making much better choices.

Keeping each other motivated throughout this process has been important for both of them. Talking every day, they share how much weight they've lost, what they've been eating, and keep each other accountable. “Kimberly motivates me by telling me how good I look; in total, I've lost fifty pounds so far,” Rosa said. “I see how she has changed herself, too. She has always been a fun-loving, beautiful person, and she seems so much happier losing weight.”

Rosa enjoys speaking about her experience and feels that it's never too late to talk to a weight loss doctor about struggles. “I always put others before me, but I decided to do something for ME,” Rosa shared. Rosa says she would recommend Methodist Hospital Metropolitan to anyone considering bariatric surgery. Even her family doctor sees her improvements and how happy she is to step on the scale. “She told me that I don't look like I had surgery compared to her other patients, and I told her, maybe they should have gone to Methodist Hospital Metropolitan!”

To learn more about our surgical and medical weight loss treatments or to take a free health risk assessment, please visit us at www.SAHealth.com/weightloss.