Surgical Patient Testimonials

Brenda Baar*

Brenda Baar* After Photo

Before

Brenda Baar* After Photo

After

Having the gastric sleeve changed my life. I used to be just a bystander at my children's sporting events; The mom in the stands taking pictures. I wanted to be active with them, and now I am. I have been able to complete 4 sprint triathlons since having my surgery.

* Weight loss results may vary based on the individual.

Beth Cooper (Hiemstra)*

Beth Cooper (Hiemstra)* After Photo

Before

Beth Cooper (Hiemstra)* After Photo

After

Now I can do...EVERYTHING! It has been 1.5 years since my Roux-en-y surgery and i have lost 190 lbs-more than 1/2 my weight! The changes in my life are phenomenal! I was injecting insulin 3x per day and 10 months after surgery...insulin free! I could not stand or walk around for more than 30 minutes without excruciating back and leg pain...and now I can walk and stand indefinitely PAIN FREE! this amazing journey has transformed me into a new and vibrant woman experiencing life again. This gave me the confidence to finally rid myself of an alcoholic husband. My sister used to call me the "I CAN'T girl"...everything she asked me to do...places she wanted to go...I always responded "I can't do that...I can't fit in that chair...I can't stand that long...I can't walk that far" etc...now my sister looks at me and says "Who are you and what did you do with my sister?!" I am so blessed to have had this surgery without difficulties and the kindness and caring staff at Grand Health Partners.

* Weight loss results may vary based on the individual.

Joyce Bowen*

Joyce Bowen* After Photo

Before

Joyce Bowen* After Photo

After

In August of 2015 I had the vertical gastrectomy performed by Dr. Baker. I was apprehensive about it, but I only saw my health getting worse if I didn’t proceed. I thought that I could at least go through the 6 month requirements. It didn’t mean I had to have the surgery. I now I realize it was the best decision I ever made. I had been overweight my whole life. I never imagined that I would ever be a size 2! That is the size of jeans I wear now, and I went from 265 to 139. The procedure is a tool that can assist you in your weight loss. Changing your lifestyle is another key to success. I now incorporate moving activities into my life, not food. Everything used to be about that place’s pie, or this places pizza. Now its how many steps can I get in today while I’m shopping, or let’s put up volleyball net at the family picnic. I still use MY Fitness Pal app. I think food tracking is one of the biggest keys to success. I wish I would have had the surgery years ago, and I have no regrets.

* Weight loss results may vary based on the individual.

Lisa Koetje*

Lisa Koetje* After Photo

Before

Lisa Koetje* After Photo

After

I had the DS with Dr. Kemmeter. I think my before and current pictures say it all! I'm down 111lbs and still losing. My post op life is great and I don't feel like I'm on a "diet"

There are so many things I look forward to this summer... golfing, boating, amusement parks, bike riding, canoeing and just not being on the sidelines. It's amazing how 111lbs makes daily tasks much easier.

I would highly recommend GHP to anyone considering weight loss surgery!

* Weight loss results may vary based on the individual.

Theresa Buist*

Theresa Buist* After Photo

Before

Theresa Buist* After Photo

After

I am a mom of 3 young girls and I wanted to be active and enjoy my time with them. But my weight made it increasingly hard to keep up. I had the vertical sleeve surgery in February 2015 and I couldn't be happier with my decision. I've lost 200 lbs from my highest weight and I've gained a whole new lifestyle. The whole family is more active and healthier.

* Weight loss results may vary based on the individual.

Trudy Heath*

Trudy Heath* After Photo

Before

Trudy Heath* After Photo

After

It was about one year ago today, I received my second chance at health. My second chance to do it right and take care of myself. My second chance to be the best version of me that I can be. I decided to go to an informational seminar at GHP that changed my life! I didn't set out to be skinny. I didn't set out to be beautiful. I set out to be healthy enough to live my life without pain & without shame. I made the decision to have a surgical intervention because I had tried it all and I had failed for the last time. I NEEDED to succeed. So I Decided to get my life back. Yes. I have lost 69 lbs But I have gained so much more than I could have ever dreamed. I've gained confidence. I've gained self-worth, I've gained the ability to get on the floor and play with my grand kids. Feeling better every day, I wouldn't change a thing! Thank you Dr Kemmeter and all GHP Staff. You helped me change my life! For that I will be forever grateful!

* Weight loss results may vary based on the individual.

Allen*

Allen*  After Photo

Before

Allen*  After Photo

After

Just over a year ago I began a journey that would change my life in every way, and in all reality, it saved my life. I had a surgical procedure known as a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I chose a path that most would consider drastic, but after numerous consultations with my primary care doctor, surgeons, behavioral therapists, dieticians and exercise physiologists, we decided as a team that this was the right path for me, and I have no regrets. Without his vital support network this would have been impossible for me so I want to express my gratitude to GHP for sharing their knowledge and providing support and encouragement over this past year. Since I started this journey I have lost almost 240lbs! This surpasses the initial predictions made by my team and certainly exceeds anything I imagined for myself. I still have a goal weight I would like to hit, but that will happen in due course. I’m more focused on living a healthier life than I am losing weight so even if I stop where I am I’ve accomplished something that I never imagined would be possible when I started. For the longest time I felt bad sharing my story. If anyone commented on my progress or inquired about what I was doing to lose weight, I would answer honestly and then I would almost feel ashamed because I hadn't been able to lose weight on my own. Somehow I felt like I had cheated because I was finally having success. But now that I'm a year into it and I know what it takes to lose that amount of weight, maintain it and lead a healthier lifestyle, I don't feel like I cheated at all because the surgery is only a small part of the equation in the grand scheme. The truth is that surgery might make your stomach smaller, but it doesn’t fix behavior. It doesn’t create new relationships with food and exercise, and it doesn’t make social situations easier; in fact it makes them harder, and anyone who thinks these things magically take care of themselves is grossly under-informed. I went into this with both eyes open so I knew exactly what I was getting into when I flipped the switch, and the reality is that every day is a new day full of new challenges and choices to make and it takes an arsenal of tools to get you through each day. I had to be willing to make permanent changes to my life because this isn’t a temporary program and old habits live just around the corner. Now that I’m just over a year into this journey, if people ask me what the "secret" is or what I’m doing I tell them the truth; that I’m doing what anyone leading a healthy lifestyle does; making informed choices, working out regularly and not being a spectator in my own life. I did that for far too long and look where it got me. And there’s the secret… The secret is that surgery isn’t the secret. It’s a tool and nothing more. It’s a very powerful tool if used correctly, but consistency, education, presence, determination, loving yourself, showing up in your own life and choosing differently than you normally would is the secret, and those are all more powerful than any surgery and that’s been my greatest lesson. We all have our demons in life and they may take form in many ways. Mine happens to be more visible than what others may struggle with, but everyone has something. We do the best we can with what we know at the time and I learn something new every day and I hope to for the rest of my life. A very wise person once told me that there are at least 5 different ways to do anything. I chose the way that worked best for me. If learned anything through this process, it’s that short-term success is easy. Doing anything that requires permanent change is where the challenge is for most of us, myself included, but I’m off to a good start and I’m armed with determination and knowledge that I didn’t have in the past. I’m looking forward to the journey. It took me 42 years to grasp these concepts, but thankfully I finally did. I've won a couple big battles for sure, but ultimately, I'm focused on the war.

* Weight loss results may vary based on the individual.

Bonnie Clark*

Bonnie Clark* After Photo

Before

Bonnie Clark* After Photo

After

In 2012 I came to GHP for the first time to see what others have been successful with. A mother of 5, grand mother of 7, well over 300 pounds, with diabetes growing out of control, high Blood pressure, fatty liver disease, and lipids very high, I needed to make some life changes but failed at every attempt. With encouragement, understanding, support and education I left understanding me a lot better. I am forever Blessed, and Thankful to the entire team at GHP, Dr. Nagle was my surgeon, I was suited for the DS. Though behaviors I will forever chisel at the team and duodenal switch gave me a solid foundation to live life free of all the co-morbid diseases, I work on my feet very active, now pain free. Thank you so very much! I encourage anyone, struggling with gaining control of a battle with weight and the struggles that are compounded by obesity to reach out, listen, learn and let those who truly are the best educated, life long coaches to your struggles help you beyond a procedure. They have given me a new me inside and out! They have blessed me with the tools and support to live with my grand children, and career vs. a day to day existence, with reoccurring failures. I am 2 1/2 years out, my weight has been stable within a ten pound range for 18 months. I am down from my life time high 191 pounds. I can easily ride my bike 10-15 miles with no struggle at all. Kayaking this year was so much fun, not once did I drag bottom, or feel tired on the trip. Simply amazing what life is like today! There is nothing I can do or say that would express my gratitude.

* Weight loss results may vary based on the individual.

Judith Gonzalez*

Judith Gonzalez* After Photo

Before

Judith Gonzalez* After Photo

After

I originally started weight loss surgery in Arkansas with a lap ban but did not have success. With the removal of the ban a Deudenal Switch with Sleeve was performed. I would not have chosen to do such a drastic surgery but the ban had eroded my stomach and the doctor had to choose that for me once he was in there removing the ban. Anyways, I was healthy and losing but eventually hit a plateau. When I moved to Michigan. Dr. Kemmeter looked at my records and found that my sleeve was actually in the shape of a P, allowing for more food to be eaten at the top portion of the stomach. I have had complications along the way (in Arkansas) and this was how at the time of removing the ban they were able to shape my stomach. Dr. Kemmeter thought enough time had gone by that he could correct it to a sleeve because the original scar tissue was probably softer by now. He did a phenomenal job. The surgeries I had in Arkansas had some complications but I had none with Dr Kemmeter. My recovery was so smooth and everyone at Grand Health has been so supportive and I mean EVERYONE!. Recovery was faster than I expected and weight began falling off again. I have now lost a total of 125lbs and have about 80 more to go. The biggest problem for me with losing has been a psychological one. Weight loss surgery is not a miracle cure but with this particular surgery, I am not gaining weight back but if I am not diligent weight loss stops. I am at that point where exercise and diligence is important. It is especially important with any of the surgeries to follow the rules and get the support you need to fight the thoughts and habits that lead to over eating. I love who I have become through this journey and look forward to completing it. I wish Grand Health Partners had been in Arkansas when I started this journey. There is nothing even close to it there. This place is fantastic!

* Weight loss results may vary based on the individual.

Jackie DeHaan*

Jackie  DeHaan* After Photo

Before

Jackie  DeHaan* After Photo

After

I came to Dr. Kemmeter weighing in at 268. I had the Duodenal Switch and lost all of my excess weight within 11 months. I now tip the scales between 127-132 pounds. I am now living a life I only dreamed of in the past. Dr. Kemmeter and his associates took very good care of me and I do recommend them to everybody!

* Weight loss results may vary based on the individual.