Stacy heard the kind of medical warning normally reserved for cancer patients when she was just 30.

She was in for a routine physical in 2006 as part of an adoption approval process. The sixth-grade teacher and her husband of 11 years wanted to raise a family, but her weight was causing fertility problems. Her doctor said Stacy’s 208-pound weight also put her health in jeopardy and could considerably shorten her life span, making the adoption approval questionable.

Her older sister had great success with bariatric surgery four years before that and encouraged Stacy to consider this weight-loss method. Stacy says the surgery at Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital changed her life and her odds for living to be a grandma some day.

Kelly was the last among her two sisters and mother to undergo bariatric surgery. As the youngest, she hadn’t experienced the infertility, joint aches, blood pressure or pre-diabetes problems the others had. But she didn’t want to reach that point. She wanted to make sure she’d be able to care for her children and continue her theater work. She’s amazed after losing more than 100 pounds at her newfound confidence and how much fun it is to go clothes shopping. Now she also has lots of energy for her children.

Amanda remembers clearly the day she decided to have bariatric surgery in 2008. She had watched her best friend's two older sisters go through it and have amazing health turnarounds. She had reached the point where she was tired of being tired all the time. She was frustrated with not being able to really play with her four young children. She was tired of hearing doctors say "well it's your weight” to explain her knee problems, her sleep apnea and her acid reflux. But none of it convinced her like the day she was sent to see a heart doctor.

I remember sitting in the cardiologist's office with a lot of older people and thinking, 'Ugh I'm 28! I'm too young for this!' _{- Amanda}

Amanda left that office and headed straight for her best friend's house to ask how to take the first steps to see bariatric surgeons. Within a year of her May 2008 surgery, Amanda was wearing little black dresses, playing volleyball and running with her children. She also had the confidence to try out and get a part in a musical production at her local community theater.