Hope's Excess Skin Removal

First, I want to express so much gratitude to those who encouraged me to create this Go Fund Me.  To anyone who considers donating, please know how much I appreciate you and how thankful I am for any amount. Please share this because, even if you do not donate, I hope my story may motivate someone else who is contemplating losing weight. 

Between March 2016 to November 2017 I lost 175 pounds, from 325 pounds to 150, naturally with diet and exercise. While I love the energy, stamina, and drastically improved health I have now, being less then half my former size left me with a significant amount of loose skin. The extra skin makes me feels like I was a caterpillar, who turned into a butterfly, but hasn't been able to get free of my cocoon. 

Yesterday (9/5/18) I sat in a plastic surgeons office and  cried with happiness because he told me that my health insurance will cover most of the costs to have the excess skin on my stomach removed. For the first time, I felt like I will actually be able to get free of my "cocoon." The copay I need to come up with is $3600. I am asking for $1600 because I am hoping with some side jobs and a lot of work, I'll be able to make $2000. This will be the bare bones expense and not account for prescriptions, recovery time, or anything else that might come up. I just have faith I can make it work if I come up with the main expense. 

The loose skin has been very hard for me because it causes me pain and headaches when I workout. Additionally, it makes me look bigger then I am and feel self conscious about this body I worked so hard for.


For the past few months I have been a full time student, studying fitness and nutrition. My goal is to help others lose weight in a healthy and sustainable way. As I am striving towards this goal, my husband is working full time and we are barely getting by paycheck to paycheck. It's not easy for me to share these pictures or ask for money, but this is something that will make a huge impact on my life. I am thankful for the people around me who encourage me and make me feel confident in this choice. 


For most of my life I used food as a coping mechanism. I have lived through so much pain and disappointment. When I was sad, stressed out, scared, or overwhelmed I turned to binge eating. At 35 years old, after a lifetime of being obese, I reached a breaking point and I finally understood that I had to take control of my health so I could be a better mom and a happier person. I started with small changes in my diet and occasional walks around the neighborhood, but I quickly became obsessed with personal growth. I spent all my extra time reading books, listening to podcasts, and researching what it would take to lose weight and keep it off forever. 

As time passed, my occasional walks turned into a passion for hiking, yoga, and fitness. Still, every time I workout, I do so with a big, happy smile on my face because I am so thankful for what I am capable of that I never was before. Having the excess skin removed from my stomach will be the next huge step in this journey. It will allow me to enjoy working out pain free, and have the confidence to enjoy my body. 


If you would like to know more about how I lost weight, ask questions, find support, or share your own story- I welcome you to join my free Facebook group Weight Loss Support Group. 

Thank you all, so much, for supporting me!!