Cathy Teel

Cathy Teel decided to look into bariatric surgery after realizing that her weight was preventing her from fully enjoying life's experiences with her family.

Things that other people take for granted, such as being able to sit comfortably for extended periods of time or playing with her grandchildren, required immense effort for Cathy and typically resulted in great discomfort or pain.

"My son plays the drums in a band, and I had never heard him play before because it was impossibly uncomfortable to sit on chairs and stools," said Cathy. "When you're big and sit on a stool, either you fall off or you can't cross your legs because it's uncomfortable." She adds, "I couldn't take my grandkids to the park and participate in playing with them because I was huffing and puffing from walking. All I could do was walk and then just sit down."

Cathy's weight would also draw stares at her grandchildren's school. "They were talking about how big grandma was, and I didn't want to be the biggest grandma picking up my grandkids at school. That's why I chose to have bariatric surgery. I did it for myself, but I also did it for my children and grandchildren," said Cathy.

Determined to make a change, Cathy made an appointment to see a doctor who a friend recommended. "From the moment that I entered Dr. Jeffrey Henke's office at Medical City Dallas, everything was wonderful and easy."

After meeting with Dr. Henke so that he could evaluate her situation and answer all of her questions, Cathy decided to have gastric sleeve surgery at Medical City Dallas. "Everything was wonderful during my time at Medical City Dallas, and Dr. Henke and the team were very professional."

Since her surgery, Cathy's blood pressure has significantly decreased, and she reports having more energy and confidence. She is thrilled to not be confined to the plus size section when shopping, and she has had more opportunities to connect with her loved ones.

"I no longer have to just settle for what they offer. Now, I have a bigger selection of dresses to choose from than before, when I wore size 4X. Now, I wear a size 14 dress," said Cathy. "My friends and family say I look so good, and my grandkids want to go more places with me. After I started losing weight, my granddaughter wanted me to come eat lunch with her at school!"

"I had gastric sleeve surgery on September 3, 2014 and I lost more than 100 pounds in nine months. I weighed 303 pounds at my heaviest and 279 pounds on the day of my surgery. Now I weigh 177 pounds, and I am still losing weight. I'm happy and healthy. It's been a life-changing event, and it's a journey that I haven't completed yet."