Wichita

Member Since September 2004

My Story
I am a 65 year old grandma whose weight problems started in grade school. As a child I tested positive for hypo-thyroid and I have been taking thyroid medication since. I was pleasingly plump throughout my school years and I gained the freshman 30 pounds in college. I wanted to lose weight and turned to diet pills for help. Since college and marriage in 1968, I have invested in various weight programs while trying to control my weight, which peaked at 165.

On my sixtieth birthday in 2004, I decided to try Curves. I know the Lord led me there because I needed to get physically fit for what loomed ahead in 2007. I exercised 3-5 times a week.
And then, a life changing thing happened. I was getting ready for church on Sunday morning July 8, 2007 and knew something was wrong in my head. It hurt worse than I can describe. My husband called 911 and I was taken to the hospital where they discovered I had had a brain hemorrhage.
My husband called many of our friends and prayer vigils were started immediately on my behalf. A portion of my cerebellum had to be removed to stop the bleeding and the wait began for the swelling to peak (about 72 hrs) and begin to subside. A drain/shunt was placed in my skull to allow drainage and alleviate some of the pressure. The pressure was so high by the third day that the surgeon brought up the possibility of more surgery to further alleviate pressure on the brain. Because of my familys strong faith and relationship with Jesus Christ and after praying about it, our oldest son and my husband decided to depend on God and not allow any more surgery it was risky at best, anyway. Urgent prayer request went out to all our friends.
After two weeks in intensive care, three weeks in a long term care facility, I improved and was transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes rehab facility. I was unable to walk, talk, swallow or go to the bathroom on my own. They were amazed at how quickly I was able to handle the physical therapy sessions. I was released from the rehab facility on Sept. 19, 2007 in a wheelchair. I also used a walker and cane at home. I went to outpatient therapy three times a week until Jan 23, 2008. I mastered walking without my cane and started back to Curves the first of Feb, 2008. I couldnt wait to get started again. In the beginning, I couldnt lift my left arm above my head so I was unable to use the shoulder press machine, the precept and triceps curl machine nor the bicep and triceps stretch machine. I am now up to 15 reps on the curl machine and I am able to accomplish all of the equipment by myself.
I want to encourage any woman out there who needs to exercise to have better health " IT DOES WORK. I want to thank the many friends at Curves who have prayed for me and the encouragement they have shown me. I also have a wonderful supportive family and God has truly been faithful to me.

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