I am scheduled to have some surgery done on Sept. 4, and I wanted to ask all of you who have been so amazing and supportive after seeing my story to keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I have this done. I am very excited and nervous, but I have chosen an amazing plastic surgeon (Dr. Jeff Friedman) and Garth will be doing a procedure as well, so I know everything will be ok.

Thank you again to all of you who have been so supportive of me after seeing my story! Your comments and prayers have been truly amazing, and they have meant so much to me I can never thank you all enough!

I have to ask this question- I thought for whatever reason that regular surgeons didn't do plastic surgery. I am amazed to find out that surgeons actually get involved with the other part of the process.

Kim,
I can't wait to see your results in Season 2. I know you will do great and we both know you are in great hands!
Andrea

Best of luck to you, sweetie! I'm sure you'll do just fine!

Kim, Good luck. I'll say some prayers for you and the surgeons that it all goes well. Please keep us posted.

Jamie, Garth is not doing the plastics for me, he is going to fix a seroma that I have while Dr. Friedman has my abdominal area open doing the tummy tuck.

Heylo, they have been doing some filming for season 2, but my story may not be on if I don't get my excess skin in the arms removed before the TLC filming deadline. Apparently, the thought is that my problem with my excess skin in the arms is the "compelling" part of my story, and viewers won't be interested in my story if that issue is not resolved, so we'll see how that goes. I will have some work done on the arms to get them ready when I have surgery on the 4th, but I don't know when I will have the actual skin on the arms removed. Much depends on the recovery from the first surgery and the cost of having the second surgery done. At any rate, I'm very happy to get started on fixing the skin issues. It is a wonderful step in the journey!

You all rock, and your support has been wonderful!

Thanks for clarfying that for me. the way they edited even Allen's story it made it seem he was actually doing it.

What is a seroma? Sorry for the question

No problem for the question, Jamie. A seroma, as I understand it, is a collection of fluid around a previous wound site. It seems that it is from the hernia repair surgery I had in December of 2005. Garth is going to fix that, which will be great. It is a lump in my lower abdomen. It doesn't hurt, but it is sometimes uncomfortable, particularly when I do certain exercises or when I lay on my belly.

I believe Allen's plastic surgeon is Dr. Rappaport. Garth may be present for the surgery, I'm not sure, but I know he was taking the photos of Allen's excess skin so that Dr. Rappaport could see them and get an idea of what is going to be needed when he works on Allen.

Wow Kim! You must be feeling the love from everyone in this room. That is so wonderful.

I can't believe they think the arms would be the only part we want to see. Crazy! I think as the message board shows everyone is curious about every aspect of the Dr. D's patients.

BTW, I finally got approved on the 17th! Now I'm just waiting for them to call and schedule. Pretty soon I will be following in your footsteps. I only hope to be as strong and motivated as you have been.

Andrea

Congratulations, Andrea! If I can be of any support to you along the way, don't hesitate to email (kimvalera@hotmail.com)! It is a crazy, exciting, amazing process, and it is so worth it all! And, yes, I do feel lots of love from the people who post on the discussion boards...it's a very, very cool thing! I can't even begin to tell you how much I have appreciated it and how grateful I am!!

KIM, You're in my prayers for a successful surgery and speedy recovery. God Bless!

Kim-
Good luck, if you have any questions, you know how to e-mail me....you are on your way to another part of the journey. Rock On!

That's great Kim! Good luck to you. Wish I could get my arms and thighs done - I look like I could fly and I have sharpei puppies living on my thighs LOL.

Lynne

GOOOOOOOOOOO Kim!!! I'm so happy for you and your new surgery! I'll be sure to keep you in my thoughts and prayers!

Andrea, CONGRATS on the approval! You'll be there in no time!

Lynne, Sharpeis are cute puppies LOL. Probably not in your thighs but you have come such a long way with your other surgeries. I'm so proud of everything you've done!

Kim,
Yeah!!!! Another step in your amazing journey!
I am so happy for you! My prayers are with you!
You Rock! Wanda

Thank you, Wanda! I'm excited and nervous and ready to go! Every emotion you can imagine has been a part of my life the past week or so, and I'm sure it is going to get more intense over the next week, but I'm up for the challenge! Keep me in your prayers!

Kim

Kim,

Best wishes to you for continued success. I was shocked when I first saw you on the show. I can only imagine how uncomfortable you must have been. I will keep you in my thoughts as you go through your process. Have you posted any progress pictures online? I'm curious to see what you look like now.

Nic

Nic,

I have not posted any pictures yet. There really isn't a whole lot of change yet in how I look...I still have the "melting candle" look! Once I have my surgery done, I expect to not have that problem! LOL!

Seriously, I will be taking lots of pictures leading up to the surgery and immediately after. TLC is filiming everything, too, so you will be able to see how things go. The surgery on the 4th will be to fix a seroma I have in my stomach, tummy tuck and lipo on the arms and back.

Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers!

Kim, I'm so glad you're having this done. You have my prayers. I hope you don't mind if I give an update on the OH graduates board. You have lots of supporters there. Please be sure to post as soon as you can after surgery.

Wanda, it is completely ok if you post an update on the OH graduates board! People have been absolutely amazing to me, and I have appreciated that more than you can imagine! I will get an update posted as soon after surgery as I can.

Thanks!

Best of luck Kim. I will say a prayer for you too. I got approved for the tummy tuck, but I have a year to make up my mind. I'm scared about it, so you will have to tell us how it goes.
Producers: Please do a followup with Kim. We loved her story.

To be honest, bestauntie, I am nervous, but I'm also incredibly excited! The best part is that I'm going to get rid of this skin that is causing back pain, rash and is ugly. I'm going to have pain, I'm certain, but I am pretty sure it will all be worth it!

I have a lot of confidence in my surgeon, Dr. Jeff Friedman, and of course in Garth, who will also be performing a procedure, which helps me be more calm. I'm sure it helps that I've been CRAZY at work this week, too! LOL!

At any rate, thank you so much for all of the prayers and support! As soon as I'm recovered enough to get on a computer, I will post an update. Thank you, thank you!!

Hi Kim, It's September!! I have had you and your surgery date on my mind... I don't even know you, yet I feel I do... and when I realized it was September this morning, the first thing I thought of was that Kim's surgery is 3 days away!!!

It will be GREAT! You have an excellent attitude; you realize there will be discomfort, yet you know that it will be well worth it! You are one of the most beautiful people anyway... that's what my 7 year old said!

You are SO in my thoughts and prayers!! I am very happy for you! Keep smiling your beautiful smile!
Darcy

quote:

Originally posted by poogaly:

It will be GREAT! You have an excellent attitude; you realize there will be discomfort, yet you know that it will be well worth it! You are one of the most beautiful people anyway... that's what my 7 year old said!

You are SO in my thoughts and prayers!! I am very happy for you! Keep smiling your beautiful smile!
Darcy

THANK YOU, DARCY!! I am very anxious, excited, nervous...but overall, ready to go. It is so definitely the next logical step, and I'm really looking forward to the new body...one that does not feel like a melting candle.

I just love what your 7 year old said, and I hope that wonderful attitude stays in place forever! What a darling child!

Please do keep me solidly in your prayers tomorrow, starting at 8 Houston time. I'll be in surgery for 6 - 8 hours. It's going to be fantastic!! Thanks for caring, and for taking time to reach out!!!

Kim

Kim: Good luck tomorrow. I hope it all goes well. I know you are very excited and nervous, too. We're all pulling for you!


Joyce

Kim,

I didn't forget about you, take things slowly, we shouldn't expect you to post for at least a week. We are all keeping you in our prayers, can't wait to hear how you are feeling!

Lora

Hello,I am 6 weeks post op doing great down 45 lbs.Feel great.Good luck!!