PATIENT TESTIMONIALS

My name is Phyllis Smith and I just wanted to tell you about my journey.

Back in 1995, I started having problems with my right hip. By 1997, I had to have a hip replacement. And needless to say that brought on a lot of weight as well. Before I could really recover from that surgery and be active again, my left hip decided it was going to give me problems as well. I had my left hip replaced in 2001. The only suggestion my doctors had for me was stomach surgery. I had to loose at least 100 pounds before they did surgery on my left hip.

I found Dr. Hamn after searching and checking out several facilities. Dr. Hamn happened to be the #1 doctor in the Dallas area. I had the stomach stapling done in 2001. I lost about 100 pounds.

My second surgery was in 2004. I started out at 365 pounds and am happy to say I now weight 176 pounds. I could not have done this without everyone’s support. Thank you.

My name is Melinda. I was the Bariatric Coordinator for Dr. Hamn and Dr. Cribbins. This is me at 29 years old and 230 pounds the morning of my surgery on April 4, 2003. I have battled with my weight for my entire life. After having 4 children I felt that I was always going to be heavy and thought there was nothing I could do about it. I was so tired of buying clothes at plus size stores and paying plus size prices. After coming to work here I realized that I could indeed change my life.

On April 4, 2003, I stopped being the nurse and became the patient. I made the decision to change my life and my behavior for myself and my family. I chose to have the Lap Band surgery and chose Dr. Hamn and Dr. Cribbins to be my surgeons.

As of today, October 14, 2003, I have lost 55 pounds, 8 sizes in clothes and I feel better at 30 years old than I ever felt in my 20s. I have so much energy and I am always on the go. I am no longer embarrassed to go shopping, in fact I love to shop now! The only thing I regret is that I didn’t do this sooner. Thanks to Dr. Hamn and Dr. Cribbins my new life has just begun!

Hi, I am Don Robert Allison, I was morbitly obese.

December 2002, I was 49 years old, with weight onset type-2 diabetes taking Glucavance, enlarged heart, hypertention, extreme bad knees, feet hurt all the time, serve sleep apnea. I had ballooned up to 430+lbs. (I did not want to admit the “+”).

My wonderful wife of 30 years and I went to shop for the grandchildren’s Christmas at K-Mart where we had parked near the front entrance, I waddled from our van to the front door and I was out of breath, I knew I had to go ahead to help with both the shopping and keeping the budget under control... There was a handicapped motor run-about. I swallowed by pride, and proceeded to shop with my wife. I felt about 3 feet tall, old and just ashamed. How could I have gotten this way?

That night there was a story on TV about “Al Roker’s Surgery” which was just published and was the talk of the land. He had a gastric bypass operation at Lenox Hill Hospital that was preformed by Dr. Marina Kurian.

So, I made and appointment for a physical with my family doctor, who over the years had advised me to control my weight. He had watched as I tried every thing from Atkins to weight watchers. The morning of my physical I had called my father and told him of the doctor’s visit at 11:00am that day. Of course the issue of weight came up, and he point said why don’t you do like his minister of music has done, stomach surgery. Wow I had already thought about it, but hadn’t told anyone.

I kept the doctor’s appointment and while talking to Dr. Todd Wien, he too mentioned stomach surgery. This was a sign. I asked him for a recommendation and Dr. Stephen Hamn was one of 3 referrals that he gave me. Dr. Hamn was the life saver who introduced me to this life saving procedure.

I was so unhappy about the way I looked and felt. I knew that I was minutes away from a heart attack or a stroke waiting to happen. It wasn’t “if,” it was “when.”

Learn more about Don Robert Allison by visiting his personal website, Banded2.com.

Dear Dr. Cribbins,

I just wanted to let you see the changes that I have gone through. Wow what a difference!!! I owe it all to you. I have lost almost 90 pounds in a year and a half. My life has changed so much, I can run and do things with my girls that I could not do when I weighed 263 pounds. I just wanted to say Thank You I think you are the best!!!!

Many years ago I gave thought to having weight loss surgery. Finally after great thought and finding out my insurance would pay for it, I took on the challenge.

In October 2004, I consulted with another weight loss surgeon and was very uncomfortable with him. Trust me, if someone is going to cut on me we almost have to be best friends. Then in December 2004, I attended Dr. Hamn’s seminar. I was throughly impressed in the way he conducted his seminar, he was compassionate and answered every question directed towards him. I made my appointment for January 5th 2005... and my journey started... and it hasn’t stopped. I opted for the Gastroplasty and my insurance denied it as experimental. After Dr. Hamn and the medical director talked, the denial was reversed and I was on my way to having my surgery.

On May 16th 2005 I had my surgery. At the time of my surgery I weighed 285 lbs and I am 5'8", wore a size 22/24. Granted I am tall the weight kept me down, no energy, low self esteem and I didn’t enjoy life. Two weeks after my surgery I was down 22 lbs and couldn’t believe it. I was feeling better and better! My eating habits changed for the better, no more double cheese burgers and tots from Sonic. My energy level had gone up, I was walking almost 2 miles a day under 25 minutes and the weight was coming off. My clothes got bigger and the size got smaller.

In September while shopping I noticed I no longer fit into the Plus Size section at Macys. Embarrassing as it was, I had to ask where the “normal size” clothing department was. The sales person looked at me as if I just lost my marbles. Trust me, all my life I have never shopped in the regular section, always had to ask where the Plus Size section was.

I am now 8 months post op, down 95 lbs and wearing a size 11/12. I still have a long road ahead of me, now I know I can do it! Never in my life had I imagined I would be this size - smaller than I was in High School. My eating habits still remain to small portions and yes, I do indulge in a sweet treat now and again, but not like before. Those days are long gone. Now I am having the time of my life! I get to shop where I never got to shop before, I don’t feel embarrassed about my size. I owe my success not only to myself, but to Dr. Hamn and his staff. Without me taking the first steps and talking to a marvelous man I would not feel the way I do today!

My name is Julie Teel and I have been horribly overweight my entire life. In Jan ’03 I had knee surgery and was told by the doctor that if I did not lose weight, I would be in a wheelchair within two years.

On July 15th 2003 I had the lap band surgery, by Dr. Cribbins. On the morning of surgery I weighed in at a whopping 369 lbs. I was wearing a size 32 in womens clothes (for you guys out there that translates to a 5x).

As of Jan ’06 I weigh in at 185 lbs. I am now half the person I once was. WOW! Dr. Cribbins you ROCK! Thanks for giving me a life I never had before.