Dr Ramos Kelly has approved me and agreed to be my surgeon! I found out yesterday morning and have been very excited for the past 30 hours. I have no spleen, so I had to agree to paying for platelets or whole blood if it came to it, but that is no different than if I were to have surgery in the states. A couple weeks ago I already requested the withdraw from my retirement, because if I don't have this surgery I may not be here to spend my retirement.

About 10 days ago I changed physicians, or at least changed the physician I would submit my health history to first, knowing there might be a possibility to have to submit to more than one during my process. Three years ago I had to have open heart surgery to repair the defects that Fen-phen left me with. I had to have my aortic valve replaced and the surgeon was able to repair my mitral valve. I had no idea I was looming on the edge of heart failure for the past 15 years. It just took a little bit of bacteria to latch it's self on the heart valves that were left with little rough patches from the diet drug. I never was tested when they pulled the medicine off the market because I was 30 and had no health insurance. I was a single mom working 36 hours a week and taking 19-22 college credits a term, and felt there were more important areas to spend the money.

Seven weeks later, I was released from the hospital. Minus my spleen, another abdominal surgery where I was internally bleeding, and now pig parts in my heart. I had 8 little clots come off my heart and go to my brain, so I had to learn to walk and write again. One of those clots lodged into the retinal artery, so I am over 50% blind in it. It was an ordeal, that I can say for certain.

I had another doctor all picked out, after all I am going to Mexico for weight loss surgery, not a 'vacation.' When I shared my decision with my son, he was a little hesitant. We talked about the prior doctor and what to expect, since the plan is for him to come with me. He was not crazy with the fact that I would not be staying in a hospital. So on went the search for another surgeon, and that is how I found Dr Kelly. My son is thrilled that he grew up in the states, and has been in the military, and that I will be in a hospital for 2 days. Here I thought a 'day surgery' would be easier on him, I guess I should have asked him. But everything happens for a reason, and I was meant to go with Dr Kelly. My BMI is 34.7, so I do not have tons of weight to loose, but what I have is too much for my frame, and too much for heart parts that do not belong to me.

So this evening I will give my son a call to let him know of the approval. He is in the next state over in Job Corps learning welding. He is excited about the travel to Mexico & 'protecting Mom', and I am excited to share this next step of my life with him. I can't think of anyone else I would rather take with me! I have raised a good kid!