There's a monkey on my back!

Some months ago, Gene realized that he was getting nowhere battling this obesity beast. What a horrible word: obesity. But, tiring of the fight he decided, and I agreed, to at least investigate the lap-band procedure and gastric by-pass surgery. We sat in on one informational seminar in our area and although I was sold, Gene could not yet buy into the procedure.

I remember being furious at him to the point of tears (it was dark and he couldn't see my misty eyes) and wondered what in the world it would take to get him to see the seriousness of the matter.

Some few months passed and FINALLY, his cardiologist Dr. Clint Doiron of East Tennessee Heart Consultants, suggested Gene accept the fact that he was not making any headway in this battle and go ahead and seriously consider surgery.

Our internist, Dr. James (Stephen) Alley of Knoxville Internal Medicine, agreed and recommended Dr. Stephen Boyce with Parkwest Comprehensive Weight Loss Center and the next thing you know, we are filling out paperwork, gathering old records and scheduling the required psychological evaluation.

To the best of my recall, the paperwork was filed with our insurance company on a Friday after 2pm and at 10am the following Monday, we got a call from Dr. Boyce's office that the procedure had been approved and Gene needed to come in and schedule surgery! I cried. Again. But this time, from happiness and relief! I cannot yet put into words what Gene's weight and subsequent health problems has done TO our lives.

Most of our friends are of the faith-based nature and have been in "religious" circles long enough to be familiar with the philosophy that sin you cannot beat is simply considered a spiritual weakness. Be that as it may (or may not), we have found comfort in Matthew 5:29 "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell."(New American Standard Bible)

So, that is what Gene has done. He has "torn out" his stomach (except for a 2 oz pouch) and will be reminded of his sin and the grace that God provides to endure, every time he has a hunger pang...or smells food(s) that he loves...or comes to one of the many fellowship meals we enjoy over the course of a year with dear friends and family.

Here is my question, not only for you but myself as well: how serious am I willing to be about dealing with the "sin which so easily entangles us..." (Hebrews 12:1, NASB)?

And on a more light-hearted note, I am attaching a picture taken on May 31 at Uncle Bubba's Restaurant in Savannah, Georgia. You may recognize him as Paula Deen's brother. Once he found out that Gene was prepping for gastric by-pass (which, by the way, is what he had on June 10, not lap-band) by eating his way through the south, Uncle Bubba brought out the plate of food to Gene while we waited for our table! Needless to say, we are now huge fans of Uncle Bubba and no, he and I did not dress alike intentionally, but we do look lovely, don't we?!

I will report on Gene's progress here and of course, attach photos as he melts down. Those of you who pray, please keep us in your prayers and those of you who don't, we will pray for you!