Julia's Gastric Journey.

It is with a completely broken heart that I write this post for my sister. Julia's surgery was a success, as far as we can tell. It was the post-operative care that failed her. She was not monitored and went into cardiac arrest and was without oxygen for at least 30 minutes. Her husband found her and notified the nursing staff. She was transported back to the States to a hospital in San Diego in a coma. Her family had to make the excruciating decision to remove her from life support yesterday, February 27th.

Please pray for her husband, Gregg and her three sons, Sheldon, Brandon and Mason as they now have to navigate life without her.

Rest in the arms of Jesus, my sweet sister.

If you have ever considered going to Mexico for this surgery, please do not do it!

NOW I can go almost 4 days without food and control myself! Why couldn't I do that before I got to this point? That's the question of the day?! If I could only back in time.......I guess we all feel that way about something in our lives, right?

Got my IV in and I'm ready to go. Just want the surgery part over with!

So many of you have supported my by reaching out by Facebook, texts, calls, etc. Thank you so much! I know everyone is so busy in their own lives so it means the world to me. I love you all so much! I'm going to try to get some rest now. They are waking me at 5am to prep me for surgery. Gregg will update you when I'm out of surgery.

BTW, I survived 3 days on a clear liquid diet...... now I'm ready for Naked and Afraid, ha ha ha!

Finally I'm here at the hospital! On top of being nervous and no food for 3 days I dropped my phone in the shuttle van and I didn't realize it for about half an hour! Gregg couldn't get a call through to my phone so finally called Mason, he called my phone and spoke to the shuttle driver who brought my phone back! Crisis averted!

Have been having a great time with my sister, Sarah and her husband Ben today. I brought down salmon for them and we grilled it for lunch. (Not me of course. I had beef broth and jello.) Went to dinner at their favorite Mexican restaurant. I ordered Mexican meatball soup and only drank the broth though. Didn't even drink! I had hot green tea. It was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be to watch people eat while I couldn't. But it was surprisingly easy! I didn't even have a bite of a chip! I am committed! Tomorrow afternoon we'll be heading to the hospital to get ready for my surgery on Monday morning.

Today is day 1 of my clear liquid diet that I'll be in for the next couple of weeks at least. Surgery is scheduled for 7:30am Monday.

Good morning! It's been a couple of days since I posted. I'm only 4 days away from surgery! I'm getting very excited. Went to see my GP yesterday to have a COVID test that the hospital in Tijuana required......came back negative. Said my heart, lungs, BP were excellent. My doctor said he has absolutely no reservations regarding this surgery in Mexico. He even indicated that the surgeries done there were sometimes even better than in the U.S. I will go to see him 3 months after surgery to monitor my blood and see if I'm deficient in any vitamins, minerals, etc. and adjust accordingly. Gregg and I leave tomorrow night for San Diego and will spend Saturday night with my sister before heading to Tijuana Sunday. I will keep you posted. Thank you again for all the support and love I have received! You have no idea how much I need that and all of you! Love you all!

Surgery is only 6 days away! Very excited and still a nervous. But talking with friends who have already done this has helped immensely! Feeling good!

The shirt I am wearing in my new profile picture I ordered 3 years ago. I've been waiting to wear it until it wasn't too tight. Well it's still too tight! I decided today that this is the perfect outfit to wear. A year from now I will post a picture with this same shirt to see my progress! I'm not afraid anymore! I know the difference in a year will be life changing!