Dr. Bour,

I wanted to write you a letter to let you know how much I appreciate everything you have done for me. Since my gastric bypass surgery in September of 2005, I am a new woman!! I am doing things now that I have not done in years. I am doing things now that I knew I would never do again. With your help, I am learning how to do those things again. Life is very different for me now. I can not begin to tell you how much better I feel. Each day is worth waking up for!! It has been a long hard journey but looking back, I have no regrets in my decision. I have lost over 125 pounds as of today and will continue to work until I reach my goal. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to live again. Your thoughtfulness and caring changed my life for good. I owe it all to you!!!

Sincerely,

K.D.P.

As an executive chef, I was constantly around food and on my feet. I was overweight, had tons of joint pain and high blood pressure, and very close to becoming a diabetic. Since having the surgery, I can do whatever I want when I want. I can buy clothes right off the rack and people act differently to me now. It has changed my life and I feel great!!!

Thanks! E.J.K.

I am almost at my two year anniversary, Nov. 24, when I had my gastric bypass surgery. This is a day I will long remember as being truly, life changing. How can you express your appreciation to someon who has literally "saved your life". I cannot express myself enough nor can I completely explain how life changing this experience has been. I realize that I had to make the decision and I had to follow the instructions and I had to "want" to change my life forever. Those are all givens, but there have been a lot of folks who have made decisions and have not been successful. You have to have the right team in place who will come along side you and give you encouragement, have the skills that God has given them and mesh all this together in order for all this to come together and be successful.

There has been much written, documentaries made, and testimonies given about gastric bypass. As always, the media seems to only focus on the negative and is slow to even report on the thousands of successes. I am one who is willing to shout it to the rooftops that if you are morbidly obese and you have tried all the so-called cure-alls and you have lost hope, you can be successful if you will...

...research the procedure thoroughly, attend an information meeting, make the commitment, find a support person who is willing to make this journey by your side and "do life" with you, seek the complete support of your family, DO EVERYTHING DR. BOUR AND HIS STAFF TELL YOU TO, attend all support group sessions, EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE, DO NOT CHEAT, and know that this is a procedure that changes your life forever!

I have done all of the above and today I am living proof that gastric bypass is a viable solution to morbid obesity. When I talk with other folks who have had the surgery and have not been as successful, I immediately ask where they received the surgeryand if the program they followed is the same as the one Dr. Bour follows. In every case they have lacked some part of what it takes to be successful, namely Bariatric Solutions. To those who are a part of the Bariatric Solutions Team, my heartfelt appreciation for all you have done to help make me successful. To you Dr. Bour, I am forever indebted to you for all you have done for me and my family. I am sure I speak for all the hundreds of others who have had the privilege of having you for their doctor.

Good bless all of you and your families,

W.E.B.

To my Angels...

Dr. Bour, Katie, Lacey, Carmen, Michelle, Chris and Dr. Russell,

I am writing this testimonial that I have meant to write for a long time now. I want to share with you a little bit of my story and how you guys helped me.

I had not always been overweight, I became pregnant at 20 and then just grew from there. I then became depressed and the weight just kept on coming. I secluded myself and really did not go out very much and was not very motiviated to do much other then hang out and watch TV. Before I turned 40 I realized I had to do something about my weight which was 329 pounds.

I went to your informational seminar in the fall of 2005. I had worked for IMA several years ago so I knew of Dr. Bour and had actually filled in for 2 weeks in his office. I took my mom with me to the seminar because she was the skeptic and I knew she would have questions that I would not think of and I hoped it would ease her mind .

I am a single mom of a special needs child and just was worried if something happened to me who would care for her. So I took a few months to work it out in my head and I realized at 300+pounds that I may not be around for her anyway. I was fat, miserable and hated going anywhere because of the looks and comments. Then I realized that I did not walk, I waddled and I was mortified. I did not enter into this decision lightly and without research.In January 2006 I felt I had done a lot of research, read a lot of books and felt like I was ready to get started. I had to wait for my taxes to have the 2,500 down payment and then started attending the pre-op meetings.

I saw Dr Russell who’s test really freaked me out as did the results, he told me that I was not “crazy” but had some issues to resolve and he was so right about that. I had to face some very hard issues and hae conversations with some people in my life that I should have done a long time ago. He recommended Lexapro and it has really helped me a lot and I am not sure how I survived without it!

I slowly met the staff at that time and really liked everyone and was so surprised at the support you all gave to me. It was a hard road and you all were very honest and upfront.

I then met some of the patients who a lot of them have become my family. We now meet almost every week after Dr. Bour’s meeting and we had a great beach trip to meet other folks from the lower part of the state who have gone thru this also. I think we all just bonded right away due to the fact we have all been through surgery and that most of us have the same inner turmol and issues on how to deal with out new bodies and new life.

I met with Dr Bour right before surgery and he made me feel very at ease, he was honest and forthright and I appreciated it.

The morning of surgery I was unusually calm. I believe I made peace with my decision and was right with GOD. My folks waited and said they were notified a few times that all was going well. I was in pain but it was not the worst thing in the world. I believe the hardest part for me was waiting for the leak test. It was torture going without liquids for so long by mouth. I wound up having a mild panic attack but a shot of adavan took care of that. It was hard at the time but now it is just a blur!!!

It is a very hard adjustment and still is. I am a food addict and I am not sure that has gone away. That is an ongoing issue. What has gone away is 109 pounds in 10 ½ months. I have no regrets, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat and would only use Bariatric Solutions.

You guys have such a fantastic support system in place for us. I really don’t know all the newer folks because the practice has gotten so big now but I like the fact that you guys I mentioned know me and know my name and it just feels good to not be just another patient. I know of others who do not get this type of support from their surgeon and I feel for them!

I was honored that you all asked me to speak to the pre-op group, I felt like that meant you guys are proud of me and felt that I could represent the office. I have also been asked to speak at the informational seminar and I again was honored to have been asked.

I speak your praises everywhere I can and I wish I could go up to everyone who is overweight and just give ‘em a hug and Dr. Bour’s card and tell them to call and start a new life. I know I can’t do that but I wish I could.

I call mine new life, Patti’s Life Part 2. I am doing things I have not done in 20 years, I am going on my first cruise on Monday, where I plan on parasailing and swimming with the dolphins. I enjoy going out in public now, I do not feel like I am the fat chick that people either sneer at or just ignore. I feel bad that obesity is still one of the major prejudices left in the world. Now people speak and at stores sales people ask if they can help me instead of looking through me . I do not stay at home and watch tv and eat. I go to the gym and I like it..what ??did I just say I like the gym??..well yes I did. I am proud of myself everytime I complete a 1 hour class, last year I could not have walked up the stairs at the gym to get to class without needing a break.. I like to go out with friends and doing things I have not done in 20 years. Two months after surgery I went to Helen, Ga with friends and tubed down the mountain, it was so freeing and I was so proud of myself. I made a list of goals pre-op that I wanted to accomplish and I have marked all of those of my list and am creating a new list now! It also made be happy when my daughter says she is proud of her skinny mom and likes that we can wear some of the same clothes.

You guys helped me start on a journey that had changed my life for nothing but the better, again it is not easy but if it were everyone would be doing it. Saying thank you seems like it is not enough but I have no other words, I will continue to tell everyone I can how lucky I am to have all of you in my life and how much you guys help me! I am excited to see the changes that we have heard about that are headed our way. I thank you all for hearing us and putting some of our suggestions into play and trying to get new programs for us to participate in. It shows how much you all care!

Forever greatful.

P. J.