Page 114 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2018

HEALTHY LIVING gastric sleeve
PUTTING HERSELF
First
Ocean Springs woman gets lifestyle change from South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss
Istory by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster photos courtesy of Gloria Amacker
t can be difficult to and truly understands that being put ourselves first, overweight is a disease, not a
especially when it comes choice.”
to our health. Gloria After talking
Amacker, 44, from Ocean with Dr. Avara, Springs wanted a lifestyle change, Amacker decided not just so she could be more active on the gastric
with her family, but for herself as well.
“Prior to my surgery I had constant knee and back pain and was taking three medications for my high blood pressure,” Amacker said. “Even with the medications, my blood pressure was always above normal. All I wanted was to be able to get off the medications and just live a normal life.”
Amacker had heard great reviews about Dr. Avara and the team at South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss and decided to schedule a consultation with Dr. Avara. “I knew that by choosing him I was getting the best of the best,” she recalled. “He is very compassionate
sleeve surgery
due to its shorter recovery time. Not only was Amacker
up and walking within hours of
the surgery, but
she completed her Master’s degree just
a month after surgery and never experienced any interference with her school work.
Degree in hand and surgery behind her, Amacker has already lost 121 pounds since receiving the gastric sleeve. “My weight the day of surgery was 312 pounds and
at 13 months post-op I weigh 191
BEEFORE AND AFTER losing 121 pounds.
114 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • May 2018
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