| Melinda Davis enjoys a walk in Connie Maxwell Park with, from left: husband David, son Davy, and daughters Beth, Rebecca and Katie. Melinda lost 137 pounds in 15 months after having gastric banding surgery at Self Regional Healthcare. She says she enjoys walking more now that she has a boost of energy from her weight loss. |
Greenwood’s Melinda Davis had plenty of motivation to lose weight.
She was constantly tired, had little energy and did not feel healthy. But, most of all, she wanted to set an
example for her four children.
The 44-year-old tried just about everything to lose weight and had some success through dieting: She lost about
100 pounds with WeightWatchers.®
The problem? She couldn’t keep the weight off and found herself on what she calls a “slippery slope.”
“It’s hard to be so overweight with little ones (children),” Melinda said. “They have so much energy. I knew I
needed to be here for them the way I had been for (my) older girls.
“The thought of them living their teenage years overweight broke my heart. They were now at the age that they
did not have to ask for food, and I would not be able to control their choices for much longer.”
Melinda and husband David have 16- and 12-year-old girls and two 4-year-olds, a girl and a boy.
What Melinda didn’t realize was there was not only a physical but an emotional aspect to her weight difficulties.
After attending a weight loss information session offered by Self Regional Healthcare’s Bariatric Services
program, she decided to combat the physical side of weight loss by undergoing gastric banding weight loss
surgery with Edward J. Rapp, II, M.D.
She chose the Realize® adjustable band because she felt most comfortable with that option after considering
others. Another information session attendee inspired her to “go all out” and “not cut any corners” in this
attempt to lose the weight for good.
“No more half-hearted attempts,” said Melinda, who was 323 pounds – just 26 shy of her all-time high – on the
day of her surgery.
Self Regional’s program focuses on more than surgery, though. Psychological testing is required, and there is
plenty of emotional support available through post-surgery groups. Patients also are encouraged and instructed
in both pre- and post-operative exercise and nutritional choices.
It was the psychological examination that helped Melinda find the missing component for long-term weight loss
surgery success.
All patients who have weight loss surgery at Self Regional are required to have a pre-surgical psychological
evaluation. The program uses two psychologists, Drs. Katina Wright and Catherine Benfield.
Patients are given a battery of tests and then talk with the doctor.
Some of the things doctors look for in an evaluation include: depression, how well the patient will cope after
surgery, will he or she be able to comply with postoperative restrictions and instructions, does he or she have a
psychiatric disorder or addiction that may impair judgment, is the patient competent to make the decision to
have the surgery, and what kind of support system the patient has in place to help after surgery.
The doctor may also make recommendations that the patient have additional counseling either before or after
surgery.
Dr. Wright, a licensed clinical psychologist in Greenwood, performed Melinda’s pre-surgery evaluation.
“She was wonderful and so easy to talk to,” Melinda said. “At the end of the session, she told me that I could do
this ... that I’d accomplished every other goal I had set.”
Wright also asked Melinda if she knew why she overate. Melinda didn’t have an answer.
“She told me why and I was surprised,” Melinda said. “It was about a relationship in my life that had long been
healed, but I hadn’t let the hurt go completely.”
Once Melinda began her pre-operative liquid diet, she said all the hurt came to the surface.
“I could no longer shove it down with the food,” she said. “I did lots of crying and praying those 10 days.
“I truly believe this was the most important part of the process, even more important than the band. I say this
because I’ve never had my band adjusted. I can eat a little and feel satisfied. I have been blessed.”
Exercise also played a major part in her weight loss. She started at Self Regional’s Optimum Life Center (OLC)
with the bariatric exercise classes.
“I enjoyed it so much that I signed up for an additional month,” Melinda said.
She said the OLC staff was very supportive and helped her go from three minutes on the eliptical machine to 40
minutes within a month.
From there she joined Wellness Works, Self Regional’s health and fitness center.
She said she was scared and intimidated at first - “all those skinny things” - but: “You know what? They became
awesome cheerleaders,” she said. “I was amazed. Even when I see them outside the gym, they stop me and give
me encouragement. They’ll never know what that has meant to me.”
After losing 137 pounds in 15 months, Melinda says she feels great.
“I now feel like I will live to see my children grown and also my grandchildren,” she said. “I wake up every
morning rested and refreshed. I feel young.”
Melinda said David provided “awesome encouragement.”
“Not a day goes by that he doesn’t tell me I’m pretty,” Melinda said. “He never tempts me with the wrong foods
or any food. For Valentine’s Day, I got perfume - and that was perfect.”
Melinda is now 186 pounds and hopes to reach her goal of 170 this summer.
She said she received support through the entire process at Self Regional, including from Bariatric Program
Coordinator Cynthia Iwig, to the OLC, to Wellness Works, dietary and Dr. Rapp and his staff.
Her church and family also rallied around her. Even after losing her father to cancer in November of 2009, she
stuck to her plan even though it was difficult because of the emotional pain.
“It’s been over a year since the surgery now and there’s no doubt in my mind that this change is permanent,”
Melinda said. “I’m so grateful for this opportunity and I hope my story will help someone else.”
It’s certainly been an inspiration to her family, including David and her children: Rebecca (age 16), Beth (age
12), Davy (age 4) and Katie (age 4).