Hi Barbara;
My name is Jo Anna Chacho and we met when you spoke to Drs. DeMaria, Kellum and Sugarman’s support group in Richmond, VA.  You were dynamic and entertaining and certainly an inspiration. 

My daughter had the Roux En Y procedure done in August of 2001.  She has gone from a size 26 to a beautiful size 6, and had a weight loss of 136 pounds.  She's had a tummy tuck and works out at least 4 times weekly.  She too has been an inspiration to me. 

I decided to have the surgery last August and started the ball rolling with an informational meeting in September.  I chose to use the services of Dr. Dan Procter at the Obesity Solutions Center in Gainesville, Ga. because that is where Amy went.  As a matter of fact, she is now part of their team full time.  All of my research only convinced me further that this was the doctor for me.  He has a marvelous program that includes so much.

I began the long process of the "insurance game" with CIGNA in September.  First, they wouldn't pay for the psychological workshop that Dr. Procter insists you commit to.  The cost of this, along with a 1-hour evaluation and also the MMPI exam was $750.00.  They paid $150.00 for the evaluation. 

Then they denied my surgery claim because they said they didn't have the proper evaluation to make a decision.  They went on to deny my claim 3 more times. I accepted an invitation to attend the 5th and final appeal hearing in person in Charlotte, NC yesterday.  This was about a 5 1/2 hour trip just 1 way for me.  We left at 7 a.m. and traveled 3 hours when my cell phone rang.  It was the appeals coordinator in Charlotte calling to tell me that she just received a call from another of CIGNA's many doctors denying my 4th level appeal based on the lack of that same psychological evaluation which she pointed out was, in fact, there in his packet.  With that the appeal doctor changed his mind and reversed all of the other denials. 

So, my surgery is now scheduled in 3 weeks.  I'm so excited.  I'm so looking forward to a healthier, slimmer me.  I'm 60 years old and a grandmother of 19 with 1 great granddaughter.  I have never been able to get down on the floor and play with them or play ball or run with them.  All of that will change now.  I have the desire and determination to be one of your success stories. 

Everyone told me to give it up because the insurance company simply would never say "yes".  I guess I showed them what Mom is made of.  When my daughter told me yesterday she was proud of me, it was all worth it. 

I thought some of your readers would realize that they can "play the game" too and win just as I did.

Thanks
Jo Anna Chacho
Palmyra, Va.