Surgery Date - April 14, 2010...the beginning of my new life!

The date is confirmed - April 14, 2010.  This is NL-DAY...no, not National League Day...but New Life Day.  This is the day that begins my new life. 

Imagine spending your whole life with a dream of doing something but knowing that you will never be able to do it because some obstacle stands in your way.  You do everything in your power to overcome this obstacle, but you go backwards instead of forwards.  Next, consider how you may feel if you have to decide to abandon that dream and follow another path...one that you are good at but doesn't bring you any satisfaction. 

That's me.  My entire life, I have wanted to be in law enforcement.  From a little kid, I wanted to provide a service to the community, uphold the law and provide protection for those who cannot protect themselves.  However, when my weight would never go down despite eating right and playing sports, it became more and more difficult to achieve my dream.  So instead, I went to college to get a degree in business...went to grad school to get a degree in business...worked in a business field.  I wasn't happy, but I tried to convince myself that this is what I was supposed to do. 

When I was laid off back in March 2009, I was able to take stock of my life.  When I saw my doctor for routine check-ups, he noted that my blood pressure was right on target for the first time since I became his patient...the stress my job created in my life was actually affecting my health.  I realized at that point that I needed to make some changes.  Weight loss surgery wasn't well known when I started college.  I didn't really understand the whole process until I met my wife.  When I was laid off, it provided me with an opportunity to gain my life back...to be able to make a change and actually be able to pursue my dreams once again.  The feeling of optimism for the future is overwhelming.  I giggle every day when I think that I am one day closer to a better life. 

Do you have a dream?  More importantly, do you have a dream you feel you'll never achieve?  What is the one thing that would have to change for you to be able to pursue your dream again?  It can be anything...

Now...if someone told you that you could have the tool to make that change...wouldn't you grab it with both hands?  It's been 16 years for me...but I am 34 days from reaching NL-DAY.  It can't come soon enough.

Surgery Approved

When someone says that today is a defining moment in their life, I think they may mean that today is the day that removes all excuses, reasons, hurdles and doubts from taking the necessary steps to change their life forever.  Today is that day for me. 

I contacted my insurance company today as I have every day to get a status update on my pre-authorization for surgery.  All week I've been getting the same response - "It hasn't posted yet, so it is still pending...give it 24-48 hours and we should have an answer for you."  Ok...so I am a persistent pain in the rump, so I called back every day.  This was just too big to let go because I didn't make a phone call.  So, today, I called, half excited because it would be the end of the 48 hours, but half expecting to be let down and having to start asking for supervisors and getting huffy.  The lady I spoke to on the phone was very polite and said that it still hadn't posted, but she would call over to the pre-authorization office and see if they had any status that wasn't put on the computer.  So, I gladly waited on hold and listened to some Sade...yeah...they play Sade for hold music...a little odd, yet very relaxing.  When she came back, she said it was approved and gave me the authorization code. 

So, after I did a little happy dance, I realized that today is the defining moment.  The day that the hurdle has been lifted...the obstacle has been tackled...no more doubts or excuses...just a doorway to a new beginning - and I was given the key to unlock the door and walk through. 

So, now's when the fun begins.  The tentative date for my surgery is April 7th...I am just waiting for a callback from my doctor to confirm.  It's all very exciting.  Interestingly enough, April 7th is my Mom's birthday...I figure she'll be right there with me the whole time, just like she always was whenever anyone in our family was in the hospital.  At least now, she won't have to sleep or eat...not that she ever did...it just won't take a toll on her now...she'll just be ever-present to make sure the procedure goes according to plan.