Wayne's story

An achievement that really stands out to me is the day my wife gave me a hug and could put her arms all the way round me. Physically, it was a strange sensation, because I’d never really felt that before. Emotionally, it was very moving, and something I'll never forget. And I still get those same emotions when she does it today. ~Wayne

There was not one event that led me to consider bariatric surgery, it was more a gradual self-realization of where I was, and what I was doing to my life. It struck me that I was 35 years old and walking up a single flight of stairs had me huffing, puffing and sounding like I had just finished a 5K. Also, I had sleep apnea and ongoing back and knee issues that seemed to be getting worse and worse.

I came to realize that I wanted to change my life. I wanted to stop missing out on life experiences and be a better role model for my son. My health was not only negatively impacting me, but also my family and marriage.

I researched bariatric surgery and sat on the information for quite some time. When our family relocated to Minnesota for work, I decided I wanted to sort out my health issues. My general practitioner recommended I contact Park Nicollet Bariatric Surgery Center, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Surgery and committing to losing weight has to be about you. You have to want to do it for yourself – to want to change your habits and lifestyle. Having people support you is key to success, but as the patient, you have to commit 100 percent. This is not a get-out- of-jail-free card. You have to physically and mentally prepare for the long-term changes you must make to your lifestyle.

I received a great deal of comfort and support from the presurgery process. Park Nicollet staff's rigor and attention to detail really put my mind at ease and allowed me (and my wife) to focus and plan for my pre- and post-surgery success.

My dietitian, Julie Pike, was amazing. She spent so much time with me, and I felt she really knew who I was and what I needed. I never felt like I was just another patient rolling through the doors.

Going into this, I remember initially thinking how great it would be to buy clothes off the rack, but pretty soon I realized that was a short-term focus. An achievement that really stands out to me is the day my wife gave me a hug and could put her arms all the way round me. Physically, it was a strange sensation, because I’d never really felt that before. Emotionally, it was very moving, and something I'll never forget. And I still get those same emotions when she does it today.

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