Dalton’s Skin Surgery

In April of 2019, Dalton had a vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG). At the time, he weighed 515lbs and he has since lost over 250lbs. Before the procedure, he wore 7/8XLT shirts and size 68 pants, and he now comfortably wears LT/XLT shirts and his current pants size is 38. This journey has not been easy in any way, but the results have been well worth the struggles.

For those of you who don't know Dalton's story, he has struggled with his weight his entire life. When he was as young as six years old his pediatrician placed him in a weight loss program. That program (and countless other programs, diets, and supplements) proved to be unsuccessful despite his best efforts. When he was seven, he refused to pass out his little league baseball cards to his teammates and friends because the cards listed his weight and we was embarrassed by the difference between him and his peers. He was a highly active child, playing several sports and always riding bikes and hanging out with friends, but at such a young age he had little control over what foods were available to him. His family cared about his health and were concerned about his weight, but the continuously fed him until he was full and/or satisfied, often giving him a spread of fried and fatty foods. Despite his active childhood, he continued to gain weight and no attempts to shed the weight or maintain a "healthy" number on a scale seemed to work. Dalton's weight not only had an effect on his physical health, but it took a toll on his mental and emotional health, too. He began to experience depression and severe insecurities that continued with him throughout high school and adulthood. Despite continuing to try to lose the weight in a variety of ways (ranging from proven clinical programs to unhealthy habits and eating disorders) he continued to struggle, and his insecurities and mental struggles continued too. His lack of self-confidence kept him from pursuing or engaging in relationships, activities, and interests, fearing that his health or appearance would result in rejection or failure. On many occasions he attempted to push past those fears and join his family or friends in outings, to pursue his dreams and interests, or to have a more active, fitness focused lifestyle, but if the fear didn't hold him back, the severe physical pain would get in his way. He felt powerless over his weight and body, and the mental, emotional, and physical struggles were seemingly endless.

Finally, in April of 2019, he was able to qualify for the procedure that changed his life. While he is still on a journey of mental and emotional wellness, his physical health has taken a complete 180. For the first time in his life, he is able to pursue and engage in the things that matter without fear and pain. He is able to live a full, fulfilling life. This is a continual journey, and it has not been easy, but it has been worth it.

A common side effect of VSG (and any form/cause of drastic weight loss) is loose/excess skin, and with losing 250lbs, this was inevitable for Dalton. To put it simply, having this excess skin is uncomfortable and frustrating. While Dalton feels one thousand times better than he ever has, the excess skin still affects his self-confidence and is a reminder of the fear, anxiety, and insecurity he has always experienced. It also affects his quality of life and his health in a number of ways that are personal. This is why we have decided to put together this fundraiser for Dalton.

The next step in his journey is to have a panniculectomy and an abdominoplasty. This procedures will remove the excess skin that was the result of his weight loss, giving him more physical and mental freedom while also bettering his health and quality of life. Unfortunately, his health insurance will not cover either procedure, contrary to what his doctors and surgeons had advised back when he got his VSG.

We hope to raise the funds for Dalton so that he can get these procedures and continue his journey to health and success. Because of Covid-19 he is currently working from home, like many others, and will be working from home until the end of the year. This is the PERFECT time for him to have these procedures, because they both require 6+ weeks for recovery. If he receives these procedures while working from home, he can recover safely and comfortably without having to miss an extended time of work or affecting his career.

If you know Dalton, you know how wonderful he is. Kind, generous, would give the shirt off of his back to a stranger... And if you know him, you know how vital this journey has been to his health and how important this next step is for him. If you feel so inclined, please donate what you can and share with your friends--every dollar counts! We greatly appreciate your time and generosity, and we know Dalton does too.