Dameron Hospital | Health Outlook | Fall 2020

BARIATRIC SURGERY is a life-changing procedure that helps patients struggling with obesity and obesity-related health conditions to not only lose weight but also reclaim their life. Tasha Cunningham, a married mother of four from the Central Valley, did just that. Apart from losing weight, her bariatric procedure allowed her to regain her independence, heighten her self-esteem, find freedom from health problems and get so much more enjoyment out of the everyday activities she could never do before. ‘Something had to change’ Like millions of other Americans who struggle with obesity, Cunningham felt that this chronic disease was reducing her quality of life. That’s why she decided to take the leap and look into bariatric surgery. “I’ve always been fairly healthy, despite being morbidly obese,” says Cunningham. “Having four very energetic children ranging in age from 16 to 2 keeps me active, but I also run a successful photography business and work part-time. However, it was getting harder and harder for me to keep up with my lifestyle. I was getting run-down, and carrying all my extra weight was affecting me both physically and mentally.” During that time, it was not uncommon for Cunningham to avoid doing certain activities with friends and family because those activities were too strenuous or made her feel uncomfortable. She was always trying to find an excuse not to do things and to sit out during family adventures. “I was beginning to feel very depressed, and my mental health plummeted,” she says. “It got to the point where I was hiding out in my house or always sitting at home having lazy weekends. I knew there was more to life than what I was settling for. That’s when I knew something had to change.” Cunningham had been struggling with her weight since the birth of her first child. “Originally, it was diagnosed as postpartum, but then I found out that it was Hashimoto’s thyroiditis — an autoimmune disorder involving chronic inflammation of the thyroid,” she says. “This condition was causing me to experience rapid weight gain, and it has been a constant struggle with me going on 15 years now.” Weight lost, found Bariatric surgery helps ease a heavy burden on mind and body —Continued on Page 4 joy DameronHospital.org • Health Outlook  3 HEALTHY WE I GHT