Kathy Wrenn Newton:  

Life I underwent weightloss surgery on January 9, 2006. To date I have lost 37.5 lbs gone forever. My new stomach is the size of a man's thumb. I no longer am confined to a power wheelchair. No pain from arthritis, none from the leukemia I was diagnosed with last July, and I have tons of energy regardless of the chemo. Now I am able to get down and play with my Grand-babies and not crying from the pain of trying to get back up. This was the best thing I have done for myself. A healthier life for my family. So when is the next reunion? I missed all the others because of health problems. Now I want to party. Kathy 4/7 I have lost 52 lbs. Loving every pound gone. I am still having problems keeping my potassium up, so I end up hooked to an IV pumping in Potassium into my system. Plus I had to have 2 pints of blood on Wednesday. Where does the blood go within a 24 hour period? Beats me. Tuesday's blood work was fine, Wednesday morning it was fine, but at noon I had lost 2 pints of blood. Oh well, other then that, I feel great and ready to take on the world. Kathy 5/27 I have lost 77.5 lbs and I still have 70 more to go. I work out 3 times a week at a gym, then around my home or in my home on the opposite days. 10/26/06 My how time has flown by. Today my oldest son is turning 30 and his son is turning 2years old. I have lost a total of 116 lbs so far and still have another 29 to my goal, which I can lose just having the excess skin removed, plus it takes a full 18 months to lose it all before the weight gradually settles down. So it flucuates between 159 and 167. I am now able to wear a size 14 ladies shorts or jeans, and 16 tops, but I have one dress that is a size 12 that fits me perfectly. I love seeing the inches and pounds just melt away. I love it when someone doesn't recognize me because they were used to the over weight me. Even my 4 yr old grandson didn't recognize me, I wasn't in a wheelchair or to fat. But was able to walk, and run with the boys, to sit on the grass and just play with them. It's a dream come true. I have met a wonderful man, he knows I have leukemia, and I was recently diagnosed with cancer on top of it all. He's beside me all the way. Too bad he's out of the country right now. But he'll be home soon, just 3 weeks away, then we'll be together again. Later Kathy 4/28/07 Gosh I can't believe it's been 6 months since I posted. where has the time gone? Where was I when the time was going? I now live in the Nashville area. I miss the mountains on the east side of Knoxville. In fifteen months I have lost a total of 179 lbs. for good, never to see again. I've gone from 299 to 120. Just had my tummy tuck done. Not worried about the rest of it at this time there isn't much to worry about. I'm ready to meet Mr. Right and start living and enjoying my golden years. Every day I wake up is a blessing from God. I try now to make each day count, as if there is no tomorrow. That's the best way to live. Make each moment count for something as you never know what tomorrow will bring. 3/08 It's been over 2 years since I had the weighloss surgery. I have since had the tummy tuck and thigh reduction. I feel great, now dating a wonderful man. I am in the process of moving closer to Nashville. I'll be a grandma of another baby in May, don't know the sex yet, my son and daughter-n-love don't want to know until it's born. ...Expand for more