How bariatric surgery restored a Rutherford mom's life

Larrina always found the beach to be her sanctuary. The Rutherford County resident’s absolute favorite place to relax, recharge and enjoy life is near the ocean, but during a vacation to Cancun, a painful reality set in.

Larrina looked out at the water and realized she couldn't physically walk the distance across the beach to reach the ocean. She spent the entirety of that trip in the hotel pool instead.

"That was the day I decided I was going to do bariatric surgery," Larina said. "I needed to do whatever it took to get back to the beach. My whole life, weight had been an issue—from the age of six on for everyone but me, till that day in Cancun.”

Larrina’s path to surgery wasn't without its roadblocks. After nine months of frustrating setbacks and delays with her initial care path, she felt ready for a change and decided to seek out a team that aligned better with her needs.

That search led her to Stephen Rich, MD, bariatric surgeon at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford.

"When I met with Dr. Rich and explained everything that had been holding me up, he looked at it and made the process seamless," Larrina said. "Within four weeks of switching to Saint Thomas Rutherford, I was scheduled for surgery. It went so fast and so smooth—I just knew that was where I was supposed to be."

Larrina underwent bariatric surgery on December 3, 2024. Just a few months into her recovery, life threw her an overwhelming challenge. On February 24th, her fiancé and biggest supporter suddenly passed away from a heart attack.

Faced with grief while still in the early liquid phase of her post-op recovery, Larrina was forced to confront emotional eating head-on.

"I learned real fast how to deal with my emotions because I wasn't allowed to eat them," she said. "I immediately went into therapy to navigate the grief and the mental health side of the surgery all at once. The physical recovery was nothing compared to the mental work, but learning to live without turning to food changed everything for me."

Larrina credits therapy, a steady post-op routine and a balanced mindset for keeping her grounded. She doesn't restrict herself unnecessarily or punish herself if she enjoys a treat. Instead, she practices moderation, listens to her body and embraces a healthier, more intuitive relationship with food.

When Larrina started her bariatric program, her weight was 464 pounds. Her initial personal goal was to reach 250 pounds. This was a goal weight she hadn't seen since childhood, but remembered as a comfortable place in her body. Dr. Rich envisioned an even healthier target of 220 pounds.

Through hard work, sheer determination and the guidance of the Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford team, Larrina blew past both goals.

Today, she weighs around 200 pounds—surpassing every expectation set for her.

Now an empty nester with four grown adopted children and a growing family of grandchildren, Larrina is living life on her own terms and soaking up every moment.

"My kids get to see the change in me and all the things I struggled with that I’m doing now," she said. “Navigating airports is so much easier, traveling is easier, and just being able to be active and hang out with my grandkids is the icing on top of the cake."

Learn more about the weight loss surgery options available at Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Bariatric Services.