My Crazy Hawkeye Journey (University of Iowa) - Iowa City, IA

This is a crazy journey. I had thought of getting a reduction for a while. I wanted to wait until I had kids, though. After 2 miscarriages and 4 failed fertility treatments, I finally said it wasn't going to happen. During this time, I had a bad experience with a very unprofessional mammogram tech in California who made comments about my breast size. I had 2 choices: open my mouth, which was connected to my fist and give her a beat down or file a complaint against her. Since I have an aversion to jail, I opted to file the complaint.
Fast forward to November 2011, I moved from California to Iowa. This is when the journey REALLY began

Picture it-November 2011. I finally threw in the towel on having children. Sigh. Damn PCOS. INFERTILITY SUCKS! I decided to see a local plastic surgeon (Dr. Grado) to discuss breast reduction. (Different from the current doctor). I was about 280. I stretched the truth and said I was 270. He asked what was I going to do about the 270. At the time I was down 24 from my highest of 304. We had a conversation about weight, which always brought me to tears. He gave me a brochure to the University of Iowa. Had I ever thought about bariatric surgery? Yes, barely. After seeing more and more friends doing well, I was like "can't hurt to check it out." I had an appointment at the University of Iowa bariatric clinic for 1/5/12. At that time, my bra size was 48 I/J. The beginning if 2012 was very stressful. My best friend Tammy had been diagnosed with lung cancer. I made a few trips back and forth to her home and hospital in North Carolina. Information and request for gastric bypass was sent to my insurance company at the end of March. I got my approval on April 19. I got the call from U of Iowa 10 minutes after I received a call saying that Tammy was going to be taken off life support. She died later that evening. I flew to North Carolina with a heavy heart as I said goodbye to my partner in crime and dear friend (she knew about my wishes). Although I had a heavy heart, the approval call gave me a glimmer of hope

Meeting Ben Daniels. He's such a dear. I fell in love with him when I started watching Law and Order UK. He came to NYC to do a play. I hate this photo because of my rack 48 I/J