From surgery to style show
BY ROB EARNSHAW
Times Correspondent | Monday, November 12, 2007
Mike Gruhlke was literally at the end of his belt.
There's only so many notches you can custom-cut into a specially made belt for a 74-inch waist like Gruhlke's. The 55-year-old Valparaiso man had to take disability retirement from his welding job at Inland Steel.
His bosses told him, "Enjoy life -- save your knees."
Gruhlke was only 48 years old, a premature age to be riding off into retirement pasture.
"Too early," Gruhlke said. "It really screws with your head."
But that's what happens when you tip the scales at 567 pounds. Eventually Gruhlke realized he had to do something if he wanted to "be around longer" to spend time with his wife, Vickie.
Enter the weight loss surgery program at Methodist Hospital.
Gruhlke did, and he exited more than 250 pounds lighter (and counting). This Saturday he'll join 11 fellow bariatric surgery patients who will show off their new physiques during Methodist Hospital's 4th annual Weight Loss Surgery Style Showcase and Celebration at Avalon Manor.
"This whole thing has been a total change for me," Gruhlke said. "I'm overwhelmed by the way I feel.
Gruhlke will be able to express his new feelings during the celebration where participants will present their testimonials to an audience while their "before" pictures are displayed on a screen. Then they'll strut onto a catwalk to a song they've specifically chosen to express their new selves.
Gruhlke's song is "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred.
"It's exciting to see," Methodist Bariatric Coordinator/RN Donna Kettle said.
"This is a popular event; it's really a celebration of what these people have strived for."
Take Eddie and Amelia Scott of Gary, one of two husband/wife couples who went through the surgery together. They joined the Methodist program after realizing their weight was keeping them from the life they wanted to live.
"You can't imagine being trapped in a body you know is not yours," Amelia said.
That body of Amelia's is at 205 pounds, down from 363. Eddie, a minister, is about 270 -- down from 463.
"We're both thankful," Amelia said. "I bet our mattress is happy."
"Now I can sing like I want to sing and minister like I want to minister," Eddie said. "I have more room to breathe."
With their new lease on life, the Scotts traveled to New York and toured Times Square, walking a total of six miles.
"We had a ball," Amelia said. "The best transportation was our feet."
Lake Station's Darryl and Angie Cobb are the other husband/wife team who were tired of their escalating weight and health problems. Darryl, 47, was a contractor who at 444 pounds, was climbing up ladders (holding supplies) despite being well above the ladder's weight rating. He had gastric bypass surgery almost two years ago and is now down to 202 pounds. Angie followed with the same surgery and went from 307 pounds to 130.
"It's a lot more fun to go shopping for clothes now," she said.
All the participants realize that regular exercise and diet goes hand-in-hand with the surgery in order to stay healthy and happy. The Cobbs, for example, have been venturing on regular 25-mile bicycle treks to Dairy Queen in Chesterton for some sugar-free ice cream. People will ask Darryl what the biggest problem is in undergoing weight loss surgery.
"I tell them the biggest problem is that I can't stop smiling," he said.
The Methodist weight loss surgery program was started by Dr. Paul Stanish, a general surgeon. Stanish said performing weight loss surgery is most rewarding.
"You transform people's lives," he said. "Some patients were on 13 to 14 medications and now they're down to nothing."
Methodist Hospital's bariatric surgery program was recently designated as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Ifyougo
"Methodist Hospital's 4th annual Weight Loss Surgery Style Showcase"
When: Noon, Nov. 17
Where: Avalon Manor, 3550 U.S. 30, Merrillville
Cost: $10 (includes lunch)
FYI: (888) 909-3627
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