Finale to Kim's Weight Loss Journey
Donation protected
Kimberley Ulrich has a truly inspirational story to share about her challenging journey to her weight loss achievements and most importantly, the improvement of her health. At this stage, Kim has now reached a plateau in her weight loss limits and has been informed by her doctors that she no longer is able to lose anymore. It all comes down to the necessity of multiple surgeries, 4 in Kim’s case, to remove excess skin that is impossible to tone following such an incredibly drastic weight loss. In our healthcare system, only one of those 4 procedures are covered. Let’s help Kim to finish these final steps of her incredible feat!
Read below to hear more about her adventures & the breakdown of her GoFundMe campaign.
As her friend for several years, I have the honor of writing this caption for her and have been encouraging her to start this page, along with many other people, for a long time.
To say Kim “worked her butt off” would be a serious understatement! She has lost over 434 lbs and has dropped 12 sizes in her clothes, over a 9 year span. I don’t know how the girl managed to workout 6-7 days per week and change her eating habits while maintaining her hectic life that includes her job as a smokin’ hairstylist, spending quality time with family members and friends, which includes the frequent care of a loved one, and being THE MOST giving person of herself, that I have ever met. Kim volunteers so much that I needed her to write a list to ensure nothing is missed. *This list is at the bottom of this page. I’ll encourage anyone to ask Kim about the details as I’ve only listed her volunteer work in point form*
Despite all of her hard work and dedication, the end result of her weight loss success comes with a tough reality of her functioning with a strong, fit body underneath a heavy burden of stretched out skin that can never be toned, with any amount of exercise. Three main obstacles associated with having excess loose skin, for Kim, include chronic infections, pain & inconvenience. She is constantly on antibiotics which have their own risks/side effects. Her infections could possibly become fatal especially if her body becomes immune to those medications. Kim also deals with persistent and reoccurring pain as it can hit her own body with basic movement as well as hitting others, including her clients.
There have been various setbacks and challenges with Kim’s health along the way. As she is a commission based employee, benefits to include disability coverage for the time required to rest and heal, is unavailable. Due to a recent surgical experience (and several others as well), Kim has learned the harsh consequences of pushing her activity level, in order to work, against doctor’s orders of 6-8 weeks healing time following surgery. In these instances, she has torn her incisions which inevitably set her back even further than the original recovery time. This is the primary reason for starting this GoFundMe page.
It’s not about the number on the scale, it’s about changing her lifestyle permanently to be healthy. At this stage, her excessive skin from her weight loss success is interfering with her daily functioning and most importantly, hindering her progress on this incredible life journey. Kim is unbelievably generous in every aspect of her life and is always putting others, even strangers, before herself. She is not one to ask for help, even when she desperately needs it. It’s time to rally the forces and help Kim out with her battle now. Please consider donating to this amazing cause and we can help Kim to finish her miraculous journey by affording the surgeries she requires!
Upcoming surgery booked for:
October: Tummy tuck $7,500
January: Arms & Back $14,000
Future surgeries not yet booked:
-Inner thighs $10,300
- Panniculectomy *FREE* - the only one covered by healthcare, includes the stomach area however, it is not to be mistaken for a tummy tuck
8 Weeks Budget for Kim:
-Rent & bills: $6000
-Medical supplies & hospital bed rental: $500
-Groceries: $500
-Uncovered medications: $400
Total: $7,400 per surgery plus cost of surgery
Grand total breakdown: $61,400
4 separate surgeries x $7,400 (budget) = $29,600
+ cost of 3 surgeries: $7,500 + $14,000 + $10,300 = $31,800
$29,600 + $31,800 = $61,400
Volunteer Work:
Kinette – 4 years of foodbank shifts, Cinderella Project, Made by Momma (cooking shifts and golfer girls), Adopt a Grandparent, various projects for both Cancer Society and Cystic Fibrosis, Kids Radiothon
Victory Church (nursery shifts, another Cinderella project, Stuff the Bus program for back to school haircuts & Not For Sale Gala)
Cancer Society – shaving heads (Calgary Firefighters record) and different projects
Diabetes Foundation – various projects & walk
Women’s Shelter
4H – associate judge for parades and achievement days, plus highway cleanup, 22 years with 4H since childhood and several years of being a JR leader
Special needs kids – multiple fundraisers and volunteering time
Lion’s Park Reconstruction (Richard McNab Memorial Park)
Women’s conference – did all the women speaker’s hair for free
Constantly giving away free haircuts for multiple fundraisers and positive causes!
Read below to hear more about her adventures & the breakdown of her GoFundMe campaign.
As her friend for several years, I have the honor of writing this caption for her and have been encouraging her to start this page, along with many other people, for a long time.
To say Kim “worked her butt off” would be a serious understatement! She has lost over 434 lbs and has dropped 12 sizes in her clothes, over a 9 year span. I don’t know how the girl managed to workout 6-7 days per week and change her eating habits while maintaining her hectic life that includes her job as a smokin’ hairstylist, spending quality time with family members and friends, which includes the frequent care of a loved one, and being THE MOST giving person of herself, that I have ever met. Kim volunteers so much that I needed her to write a list to ensure nothing is missed. *This list is at the bottom of this page. I’ll encourage anyone to ask Kim about the details as I’ve only listed her volunteer work in point form*
Despite all of her hard work and dedication, the end result of her weight loss success comes with a tough reality of her functioning with a strong, fit body underneath a heavy burden of stretched out skin that can never be toned, with any amount of exercise. Three main obstacles associated with having excess loose skin, for Kim, include chronic infections, pain & inconvenience. She is constantly on antibiotics which have their own risks/side effects. Her infections could possibly become fatal especially if her body becomes immune to those medications. Kim also deals with persistent and reoccurring pain as it can hit her own body with basic movement as well as hitting others, including her clients.
There have been various setbacks and challenges with Kim’s health along the way. As she is a commission based employee, benefits to include disability coverage for the time required to rest and heal, is unavailable. Due to a recent surgical experience (and several others as well), Kim has learned the harsh consequences of pushing her activity level, in order to work, against doctor’s orders of 6-8 weeks healing time following surgery. In these instances, she has torn her incisions which inevitably set her back even further than the original recovery time. This is the primary reason for starting this GoFundMe page.
It’s not about the number on the scale, it’s about changing her lifestyle permanently to be healthy. At this stage, her excessive skin from her weight loss success is interfering with her daily functioning and most importantly, hindering her progress on this incredible life journey. Kim is unbelievably generous in every aspect of her life and is always putting others, even strangers, before herself. She is not one to ask for help, even when she desperately needs it. It’s time to rally the forces and help Kim out with her battle now. Please consider donating to this amazing cause and we can help Kim to finish her miraculous journey by affording the surgeries she requires!
Upcoming surgery booked for:
October: Tummy tuck $7,500
January: Arms & Back $14,000
Future surgeries not yet booked:
-Inner thighs $10,300
- Panniculectomy *FREE* - the only one covered by healthcare, includes the stomach area however, it is not to be mistaken for a tummy tuck
8 Weeks Budget for Kim:
-Rent & bills: $6000
-Medical supplies & hospital bed rental: $500
-Groceries: $500
-Uncovered medications: $400
Total: $7,400 per surgery plus cost of surgery
Grand total breakdown: $61,400
4 separate surgeries x $7,400 (budget) = $29,600
+ cost of 3 surgeries: $7,500 + $14,000 + $10,300 = $31,800
$29,600 + $31,800 = $61,400
Volunteer Work:
Kinette – 4 years of foodbank shifts, Cinderella Project, Made by Momma (cooking shifts and golfer girls), Adopt a Grandparent, various projects for both Cancer Society and Cystic Fibrosis, Kids Radiothon
Victory Church (nursery shifts, another Cinderella project, Stuff the Bus program for back to school haircuts & Not For Sale Gala)
Cancer Society – shaving heads (Calgary Firefighters record) and different projects
Diabetes Foundation – various projects & walk
Women’s Shelter
4H – associate judge for parades and achievement days, plus highway cleanup, 22 years with 4H since childhood and several years of being a JR leader
Special needs kids – multiple fundraisers and volunteering time
Lion’s Park Reconstruction (Richard McNab Memorial Park)
Women’s conference – did all the women speaker’s hair for free
Constantly giving away free haircuts for multiple fundraisers and positive causes!
Organizer
Kimberley Ulrich
Organizer
Okotoks, AB
