JACKSON SOUTH PATIENTS STRUGGLING WITH OBESITY TRANSFORM THEIR LIVES BY LOSING MORE THAN 250 POUNDS COLLECTIVELY

Patients Alan Young, Barbara Ronda; Dr. Moises Jacobs, medical director of the Gastric Sleeve Center at Jackson South Community Hospital; Dr. Eddie Gomez, bariatric surgeon; Jay Miranda, chief administrative officer at Jackson Community Hospital

Alan Young started his journey to bariatric surgery in 2010 when he was considered morbidly obese, weighing more than 460 pounds. For more than 10 years, he missed family events because he couldn’t keep up with his wife and daughter.  Alan could barely walk and relied on an electric scooter to move around. He also suffered from sleep apnea, had high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Alan’s knees and right hip constantly hurt.  Mentally and physically, he couldn’t stand the pain anymore. Desperately wanting to change his life, Alan turned to the Gastric Sleeve Center at Jackson South Community Hospital for help. After Alan’s first examination, doctors determined he was a perfect candidate for bariatric surgery. In March 2010, Alan underwent gastric sleeve surgery. In nearly three years, he has lost more than 160 pounds. Alan says the weight loss surgery changed his life. Now, he looks forward to one day being able to walk his daughter down the aisle.

Barbara Ronda struggled with her weight throughout her life. She had developed self-esteem issues and would avoid public engagements. After trying every fad diet with no success, Barbara who is 5’2”, weighed 213 pounds. After doing extensive research on weight loss surgery options, she decided to explore gastric sleeve surgery at Jackson South. During her preoperative visit, she was diagnosed with morbid hypertension and was told she was at risk of a stroke. Doctors first had to stabilize her high blood pressure for three months before doing her surgery.  In August of 2011, Barbara underwent gastric sleeve surgery and has lost 92 pounds. Barbara says this surgery saved her life. She has renewed energy and has regained her confidence.

Jackson South Community Hospital, a satellite of Jackson Health System, was designated as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). The Gastric Sleeve Center at Jackson South received this designation for providing superior bariatric surgery patient care, promoting optimal levels of performance and advancing the safety, efficacy and efficiency of bariatric and metabolic surgical care. The Gastric Sleeve Center specializes in the laparoscopic gastric sleeve procedure, one of the newest and most successful bariatric procedures. Also known as laparoscopic surgery, minimally invasive techniques enable most patients to recover more quickly and experience less pain, with less risk for blood loss and infection. The center is home to two pioneering bariatric surgeons, Moises Jacobs, M.D., FACS, and Eddie Gomez, M.D. They have authored articles on the gastric sleeve procedure, hold several bariatric patents and train hundreds of surgeons every year.

Alan and Barbara will be at Jackson South Community Hospital to celebrate the Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence® designation at a ribbon cutting ceremony. They will share their stories of how they struggled with obesity and how gastric sleeve surgery saved their lives.

January

16, 2013, 1:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.

Jackson South Community Hospital 
Tower 3, 3rd Floor Waiting Room
9333 S.W. 152nd Street
Miami, FL 33157

The Gastric Sleeve Center at Jackson South received this designation for providing superior bariatric surgery patient care, promoting optimal levels of performance and advancing the safety, efficacy and efficiency of bariatric and metabolic surgical care.

*Media will be greeted at the main entrance lobby at 12:45 p.m.