It’s almost surgery day…

Reach Retreat 2023 in Costa Rica - Retreat Host: Danielle Throckmorton. Photo by Evergreen Photography.

Hey Scribblers! If you follow me on my personal social media channels - IYKYK. For the past 7 months, I have been apart of the OU Bariatric Surgery Program. In February of last year, God specifically answered a prayer. I researched it quite a bit while I was waiting for an answered prayer. After I got my answer, I became apart of the OU Health Bariatric Surgery Program. I made the decision to get Gastric Bypass surgery. I started the program on July 15, 2022. I was given a page full of program requirements, and I had to lose a total of 40 lbs on my own before they would schedule me for surgery. As of February 16, 2023, I have lost 45 lbs. I am now scheduled for my surgery on February 28, 2023! I am so dang excited and proud of myself. This program was one of the hardest things I’ve done, but I know it is already so worth it. I started going to therapy in October 2022. My bariatric clinic on-staff psychologist recommended me to start therapy. For my mental well-being on this complete mindset shift that I’m going on. I’m glad that I started going. By our sixth visit, she diagnosed me with Major Depressive Disorder. Ouch. That was a really hard pill to swallow. That was December. December was a hard month for me. My parents separated, it was like a flashback of their first divorce in 2004. I tried to be strong but my emotions couldn’t hold back. My therapist told me that our bodies remember trauma. I believe it. December was a complete fog of depression. The anniversary of my grandpa passing. My best friend.

January was exceptionally better than December. I was looking forward to travel. January 21-26, I conquered a fear of mine: traveling alone. I said yes to going to an all women’s retreat called Reach Retreat a couple months prior. It was held in Costa Rica. My mom drove me to Dallas so that I could catch my plane from DFW -> ATL (Atlanta). Pro (because I’m a pro) tip: Don’t be a stranger. If you don’t know, ask someone! Chances are you’ll learn even more pro tips. I met the sweetest 75-year-old lady in the Dallas airport. She was smiling so big at the Information Desk, just waiting anxiously for someone to ask her a question! She looked so inviting, so I stopped by and I asked her a question about my flight. (There was some confusion as to what gate I needed to be at.) Her name was Elouise (seriously, does it get any cuter?!). AND — it was her 75th birthday! She was so happy! After we had talked for a while, I asked her why she was working on her birthday. She said she was volunteering! I said “What? You’re not getting paid for this? And it’s your birthday?!” She said yes ma’am, I’m a volunteer. She just truly inspired me in that woman. There she was in all her beauty, so happy because she is donating her time to what she is passionate about on her birthday. Wow. I want to be Elouise when I grow up! After DFW, I flew to Atlanta. I had an overnight layover in Atlanta. That was a little rough, but I made it through. My flight the next morning departed around 7 AM. I made it safe to Costa Rica, y’all! And I conquered traveling alone! Only with God’s strength and God’s people (I definitely asked a lot of questions).

Reach Retreat was life changing y’all.

I went from Depression December to Fabulous February.

Surgery is on February 28!