DayOne Health Chicago Grants Local Woman a Free Lap-Band Surgery
Amy, a Chicago resident, also a free Lap-Band surgery winner at DayOne Health has received her weight loss surgery procedure.
Chicago, IL. (Vocus/PRWEB) January 03, 2011
After winning a contest, a Chicago resident has received a free lap-band surgery at DayOne Health, a leading outpatient weight loss surgery program located at the 900 North Michigan Surgery Center in downtown Chicago. Her goal: to overcome obesity and related conditions.
For her whole life Amy, 31 year old Chicago resident, has fought her obesity and health related conditions. She struggled with polycystic ovary syndrome and an underactive thyroid. While watching childhood friends do things she couldn’t do, Amy went from one diet to another but without any major results. At 31, Amy now has three ruptured disks in her spine. Her doctors told her that bariatric surgery would help ease her medical problems, but her insurance did not cover it, so she went back to dieting, but the results never lasted.
Recently, though, a friend told Amy that DayOne Health in Chicago was having a contest. The prize: lap-band surgery to be performed by Dr. Enrique Elli at DayOne Health, all expenses paid, including a year of follow-up care.
Amy was one of more than a hundred entrants to the contest, which ended on Oct. 31st.
“Financially, it’s been tough out there, and the lap-band is a big investment,” said DayOne Health surgery center president Guita Griffins. “Many people face challenges getting the procedures approved by their insurers, as well. We wanted to help somebody improve their health who might not otherwise have had that chance right now.”
It was difficult for DayOne Health staff to select a winner, Ms. Griffins said: “So many people had moving stories about how their lives are affected by their obesity, but in the end, we could only choose one person. Amy’s a great candidate and we’re happy to help her.”
On her birthday, Amy received an e-mail telling her she had been selected as a finalist. All the finalists were invited to DayOne for medical screenings and interviews with a patient advocate, nutritionist, and surgeon.
Amy was announced as the contest winner on Dec. 3rd, at DayOne’s holiday party for lap-band patients, and would have the surgery just weeks later.
“My husband and I arrived to the holiday party and were anxious to hear the results,
Amy said. “When that time came, I’m sitting there listening to Dr. Elli explain about how the contest worked and when the surgery was going to take place. When he said my name as the winner, every thought, feeling and emotion hit me all at once.
“I am now starting my weight-loss journey with Day One. Even though I was ecstatic I found myself to be a little nervous because everything was happening so fast.”
Amy knows the surgery will require commitment. “I’m ready to face it head on and do what I have to do because the end result is so worth it,” she said.
Following the surgery, Dr. Elli said the patient is doing fine. “We selected Amy because she was medically eligible, she’s in good general health, and based on her eating habits she made the perfect candidate,” Dr. Elli said. “But most importantly, we selected her because out of all our entrants, we felt she would benefit from the lap-band the most. So far, she’s responded very well.”
The surgery took place Dec. 27th at 900 N. Michigan Surgical Center, the outpatient surgery center affiliated with DayOne Health Chicago bariatric clinic.
Amy will share her post-surgery weight-loss progress with the world with photos, videos, and blog entries on DayOne’s website http://www. DayOneHealth. com] as well as clinic’s Facebook fan page.
About DayOne Health
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, DayOne Health performed its first outpatient LAP-BAND® surgery at 900 North Michigan Surgery Center in November 2001, shortly after the procedure was approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (June 5, 2001). In March 20 2008, DayOne health has been designated as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence (BSCOE) by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). DayOne Health is home to some of the most experienced bariatric surgeons in the country and specializes in the Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding or LAP-BAND® procedure, a safer and less invasive bariatric surgery alternative to gastric bypass. As part of their program, DayOne Health provides its patients with a comprehensive pre-surgical patient education program, nutritional counseling, state-of-the-art outpatient surgical facilities, expert medical staff and extensive after care support. Further information about DayOne Health and its outpatient LAP-BAND® surgical weight loss program can be found at http://www. dayonehealth. com.
If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview, please contact DayOne Health at 312.255.7501.
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