Hi. I'm Sarah, and I am so excited to join you on your journey.
For thirty-three years, I struggled with an aggressive form of advanced metabolic syndrome. In 2016, I made the decision to undergo weight loss surgery, and that changed everything.
I come from a long line of short, stocky Pacific Islanders who value hard work, savor good food, and are very susceptible to hypertension and Type II Diabetes. My body is no different from my ample-bodied ancestors, and after being diagnosed with high blood pressure at the tender age of eight, I realized that fair or not, these are the genetic cards I was dealt. From an early age, I made it my life's mission to become a doctor and the healthiest version of myself, ultimately choosing naturopathic medicine as my career and the guiding force behind my healthcare decisions.
Natural techniques and lifestyle interventions helped to alleviate my symptoms a little, but the changes were never long lasting or dramatic enough to change my health picture, and as I entered my thirties, I began investigating other options. While my Body Mass Index (BMI) was barely high enough to qualify for gastric sleeve surgery, my long list of co-morbidities argued a great case for this intervention, and I was approved by my insurance upon the first application.
As you may know, preparations for this type of surgery can take many months. From the first call to my surgeon's office to the day of surgery, my pre-operative time totaled around eleven months. During this preparatory period, there were so many questions, concerns, and challenges that presented themselves, and I am grateful to have had such a supportive and knowledgeable team along the way. Combining the wisdom I gleaned from my healthcare team with my own experience from years of practicing naturopathic medicine, I came through my surgery with tremendous success, and I hope to help others do the same.
Managing my weight has always been a source of personal angst, and I'm sure many on this journey can relate. However, despite the societal stigma, I have found that obesity is very rarely a disease of sheer lifestyle choices, but more often than not, a physical ramification of emotional trauma.
Sensitive to the many factors influencing wellness, particularly spiritual and emotional health, I pledge to celebrate your individuality, honor your choices, and support your vitality, stimulating the inherent wisdom of your body to heal itself. I will partner with you and your healthcare team to advocate for your rights, and find solutions that makes sense, so that you can live a long and healthy life. Together, we can end the stigma of obesity and bariatric medicine, and create healthier and happier families, communities, and planet.
In #healthandhumanity,
Sarah
Natural techniques and lifestyle interventions helped to alleviate my symptoms a little, but the changes were never long lasting or dramatic enough to change my health picture, and as I entered my thirties, I began investigating other options. While my Body Mass Index (BMI) was barely high enough to qualify for gastric sleeve surgery, my long list of co-morbidities argued a great case for this intervention, and I was approved by my insurance upon the first application.
As you may know, preparations for this type of surgery can take many months. From the first call to my surgeon's office to the day of surgery, my pre-operative time totaled around eleven months. During this preparatory period, there were so many questions, concerns, and challenges that presented themselves, and I am grateful to have had such a supportive and knowledgeable team along the way. Combining the wisdom I gleaned from my healthcare team with my own experience from years of practicing naturopathic medicine, I came through my surgery with tremendous success, and I hope to help others do the same.
Managing my weight has always been a source of personal angst, and I'm sure many on this journey can relate. However, despite the societal stigma, I have found that obesity is very rarely a disease of sheer lifestyle choices, but more often than not, a physical ramification of emotional trauma.
Sensitive to the many factors influencing wellness, particularly spiritual and emotional health, I pledge to celebrate your individuality, honor your choices, and support your vitality, stimulating the inherent wisdom of your body to heal itself. I will partner with you and your healthcare team to advocate for your rights, and find solutions that makes sense, so that you can live a long and healthy life. Together, we can end the stigma of obesity and bariatric medicine, and create healthier and happier families, communities, and planet.
In #healthandhumanity,
Sarah