Help Rick Complete His Weight Loss Journey

Hi everyone, my name is Rick Moore. Just before I hit 40, I started a health journey to try and get myself in a better position to live longer and be there for my family.

I have always been a bigger person, even through school. I ate what I wanted and thought that bad things happen to other people, not to me. This led me over the years to become morbidly obese. My BMI was at 61, with my top known weight being 450 lbs.

I finally got to the point where I knew I needed to get some help, or I wouldn't be around for a terribly long time. I started working on it myself, but with my body's current state, I couldn't get active enough to make much progress with my weight goal.

Finally, I determined I needed medical help and went down to see the BMI group in Salt Lake City. After working with them, I got approved for weight loss surgery. With my weight and health conditions, we went with the Duodenal Switch bariatric surgery.

I had surgery in December of 2022. It was the tool I needed. With the help of the surgery, I was able to adjust my habits and start reducing my weight. I would be lying if I said I did this on my own. My wife Melissa and my family were key points to my success. They helped me by changing their lifestyles with me, and reminding me what I was doing this for.

Over the last year and a half, I have been able to get my weight down from 450 pounds to my current stable weight of 180. I have been able to be more active across the board. I can walk further, go on bike rides, go on excursions with my family, etc.

My last big hurdle in getting to a place that I am comfortable in my body is to try and get rid of some of the loose skin that is still weighing me down. Everybody sees the success that I have had, but they don't see what is under the clothes, the stuff that my mind is trying to use against me to convince myself that I will fail and be back where I was before. Loose skin weighs on my body still and because of how long I was obese, it creates folds that cause sores and rashes.

I have gone into a local surgeon to look at skin removal surgery, and they are excited by my progress and how they can help me close the last of the distance to my goal and dream. But insurance won't help as it is considered purely cosmetic, and it isn't a small amount. The money will be used to pay for the doctor's fees, hospital fees, etc. I haven't added on anything to pad this as I only want to request help for what it need to get the first surgery. I will be able, by combining 2 of the four surgeries that I need, to reduce the first surgery cost as it would only take Hospital stay and costs for anesthesia.

Over the past 40 years, I have put myself in this spot I am at, so I find it hard to ask for help, but here I am. Hoping for people's good will and help. I didn't believe in the beginning that I would even get this far after this many years, but I have. And I am hoping that you all will see how much work it has taken to get here, and that by the work I have put in with my family, that I will not waste your generosity, but that I will be able to pay it forward as I cross this next hurdle.

To get the surgery, I have to be off of nicotine for at least six weeks, but it will be much longer than that as it will take multiple surgeries to complete this stage of my journey. As soon as I heard that, I quit. I haven't vaped since and my wife is using it as a chance to change and quit as well. I share this to show how serious I am about this commitment and continuing to do everything I can to be healthy and here for my family and those that I love.

Thank you all whether you are able to help or not. Thanks for caring and reading about my need. Every little bit helps if anyone is able.