I thought I would change up the column and introduce a woman who is one of my most encouraging supporters, one of the most creative women that I know and one whom I’ve known all of my life: my eldest sister, Angela. Through the years, Angie has always reminded me that the cup is half-full, not half-empty. Through the rose-colored glasses that she passed down to her daughters, my nieces have always seen me as Auntie Son-Son, not as the ‘baby sister’, the ‘fat sister’ or ‘the other one’ as some family members tend to deem me as the years have dragged on.

     I was born the baby sister of a fraternal twin set and we are the younger sisters of Angie who was an only child for five years (can you imagine; an only child and then: bam, not one sister but TWO at once!) It was a rough road, I’m sure: learning to share attention and space. We invaded her elementary and middle school and, at times, stole the spotlight with the whole “twin thing”. Angela later went on to college out-of-state and married, moving even further out-of-state to explore her own identity. Angie has made the life-changing decision to have the gastric bypass and with her permission, I post this story which will, hopefully, inspire the readers of this column and reiterate: the realm of weight is never ‘black and white’ and that grey area often spreads across the gamut (pun intended).

Here is Angela, in her own words:

     I am the eldest sister... the first-born in the family... the oldest... the "Big" sister. I am the one that walked first, talked first, dated first, graduated first, married and had children first... I was the one that was supposed to do everything first... and I did... until now.

     My "Baby" sister had gastric bypass surgery last year. My entire family went to be with her in the hospital, and my dad brought the video camera. One of the last things she said on the video tape that I saw was a greeting to me... her big sister. She said Hi to me just before they wheeled her away for surgery. I couldn't be there physically, but I was with her in prayers and in Spirit.

     Now, a year later, my sister is barely recognizable to me. I see pictures that she texts me, and she looks more like a cousin or an aunt than my sister. She was the cute, little fat baby that grew to be the sexy full-figured woman. I admired her for that. There was never any aspect of her "fatness" that seemed to bother her... until this last year. Her health complications really did a toll on her and the entire family. I am so proud of her now... smaller, healthier and happier!

     Now, it's my turn. I was always the "standard"-sized sister. Graduated from high school wearing a size 5 (ask my grandmother! She bought my graduation dress!) Married and conceived my now 20-year-old daughter weighing 135 lbs - conceived my 17-year-old daughter at 175 sexy-curvy-pounds and married my second husband weighing in at a happy, healthy 150 pounds. Now, eleven years later - I waddle from one room to the next weighing 350 pounds. I struggle to breathe, I struggle to sit, stand, walk, bend, stretch, cough, cook, eat... my life is a struggle. The diabetes is uncontrolled, the asthma is out of control, the Peripheral Arterial Disease HURTS... the sleep apnea requires a CPAP machine with a pressure of 12 (!) and the list goes on.

     Yes, it is my turn to undergo gastric bypass surgery. I am working with Dr. Keith Kim in Celebration, Florida (near my home in Orlando). The process is life-changing, the inspiration is encouraging. My baby-sister... the youngest of the twins... the "cute-little, fat baby" showed me the way. I can't WAIT to be where she is today! I can't WAIT to be off these 13 different prescriptions, many taken 2 to 3 times a day. I can't WAIT to be able to touch my own feet, to be able to wear a bra that doesn't make me bleed. I can't WAIT to be able to walk without huffin' and puffin' - to be able to stand long enough to participate in Praise and Worship at church - to be able to get off the couch without rolling over on my side to push myself up - I can't WAIT to no longer wake up STARVING in the morning... and to have the hunger no longer wake me up at 4 am.

     Last Friday I met with the nutritional counselor, and next week I meet with the psychologist. This will be an entirely new lifestyle for me, and I can't wait! It will be hard, and I can't wait for it. This new lifestyle will change my action, my health, my thinking and my body... and I owe it all to my baby sister... my inspiration... the one that showed me that life can be worth changing and improving. Thank you Sonya. I love you.

Your "BIG" Sister
Angie

You’re welcome, Angie … Readers, please join me next week as we continue to watch the beginning steps toward a revisited life with my sister, Angie