I have always been overweight, even since childhood. My parents were raised in the depression era. When my parents were growing up, food was a main concern, especially for big families. Both my parents came from a family of seven children. If food was on the table, everything was right with the world.

Food had become so precious during the depression, that my family believed that food meant love. So, if you loved someone you fed them, and if that person wanted to show they loved you back, they cleaned their plate – no matter how many times it was filled up! 

By the time I was in high school and started noticing the opposite sex, I was well beyond the “Twiggy” type bodies of my peers. I tried everything – the banana diet, the grapefruit diet, over the counter diet pills, the drinks, the promises and even the prescribed diet pills of the 70’s. I was in high school and on amphetamines, prescribed by my pediatrician! 

When nothing worked, I just gave up. I became the overweight person in the crowd, the one that never had a date. I was the one that always felt left out and literally never fit in. Time passed and I accepted whatever came my way.

I grew up to be an overweight adult who would do anything for friendship and even more for a relationship with a man.  Abuse comes in many forms, and if you don’t care about yourself it will find you. I saw my entire little girl dreams passing me by - finding a nice man, having a big wedding, and a family of my own. The one thing I wanted more than anything was to have a baby of my own, a child to love and care for. I had so much love to give and no one wanted it.

So by choice, I got pregnant at 34 years old. I had a rough pregnancy and almost lost my daughter.  My doctor put me on complete bed rest and between that and some emotional problems I gained 100 pounds during my pregnancy.  Everyone said I would lose it after the baby was born. But by the time my daughter was 5 yrs old, I had ballooned up to 317 pounds.  I was special ordering t-shirts in size 7X just to have something to wear. 

I had pain everywhere in my body but the worst was in my back and neck. My neurosurgeon decided to do back surgery. I had a diskectomy on my lower back, and a herniated disk was removed.  I also decided to see a counselor.

In the counseling sessions more and more things came out about my past that I had never even dealt with. It shocked me to hear what was coming out of my mouth for the first time in my life. This made everything clearer to me. It just all fell together like a puzzle. 

I wanted and needed to get better.  It was at that time I met a woman who had gastric bypass surgery 12 years earlier performed by Dr. Maguire. She looked good, was healthy and happy. I started asking any doctor I came in contact with, who was the best surgeon doing gastric bypass surgery in my area?

Dr. Maguire is who everyone recommended. I did further extensive research on gastric bypass surgery and was finally ready to meet Dr. Maguire and hear his orientation.  As soon as the orientation was over I started running around getting all the paperwork the insurance company required. When the last piece of paper was sent in, I breathed a sigh of relief and gave the whole situation to God. I knew whether I was approved for RNY or BPD or turned down for both, it was going to be the best choice for me. 

On December 5, 2001 I had a Roux en Y gastric bypass. The weight melted off and so did many inhibitions.  One day I found myself standing up in front of many people talking about gastric bypass surgery as president of the New Life Surgery support group.  That is something I would have never even considered at 317 pounds.

It was at the support group meeting that I met my wonderful husband, Matt. He too had gastric bypass surgery only two weeks after I did and I didn’t even know it. I had seen him around the support group but with so many people there I never got the chance to talk to him very much.  I am so glad that one day I found the time. 

I believe God knows who your mate is but both of you have to be ready before you are to meet. You have to be happy with yourself first. So now at the age of 45 I am married for the first time in my life. And also for the first time in my life I am a size 12!  This surgery is one of the best things I have ever done.

I have met many people along the way who have had this surgery.  I listen to everyone’s experiences. I do as much research as I can and try to pass on the information to everyone who is interested.  I share my story with everyone who wants to know about it.  I believe if I spread the word, I might help that one person who is feeling helpless like I did. I might give someone some hope that they can have a better life, like the one Dr. Maguire gave me. 

Anna Mattaliano  
Dayton, Ohio

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