Patient Takesha Anderson of LaVergne, Tennessee came to a realization she had to lose weight after experiencing embarrassment at a party she attended at a college party she attended. “That night, I knew I had to make a change – a major change. The whole evening I felt so uncomfortable and ashamed. I knew there had to be a better way.” Thanks to high blood pressure and a weak heart, TaKesha had already started to explore bariatric surgery at Ascension Saint Thomas. Now she knew for certain that she had to move forward.
Surgeon George Lynch, MD talked her through her options. “I knew when I met him that he was the guy,” she recalls. “He talked to me like a person, explaining gastric bypass surgery and why it could be right for me.”
After her surgery in December 2012, TaKesha embraced the commitment to changing her life for the better. Because her procedure re-directed her digestive tract to her small intestine bypassing her stomach, she could no longer eat big meals or large amounts of carbohydrates. She learned a new way of thinking, both about food and about herself. Since the surgery, TaKesha has maintained a weight loss of over 125 pounds. That newfound confidence led her to join the bariatric center staff at Ascension Saint Thomas as a patient advocate.
From setting up their appointments to meeting with them one-on-one, she is there for bariatric patients at every step, both before and after surgery. TaKesha delights in helping patients adjust to their weight loss. She loves knowing her own experience is making a difference. “I get emotional when people come back and I see a whole new person. I’m humbled to be part of changing someone’s life.”
Wondering if weight-loss surgery is right for you? Learn more about the Saint Thomas Center for Surgical and Medical Weight Loss at ascension.org/nashvilleweightloss.
*Note: Weight loss results may vary depending on the individual. There is no guarantee of specific results.