A bad fall in October of 2017 encouraged Pryor resident, Christy Peters to consider bariatric surgery at Bailey Bariatrics. The high school math teacher and mother of three fell on some uneven concrete in a parking lot after leaving a University of Oklahoma football game with her family.
“When I fell, I twisted my right ankle inward and broke it,” Peters said. “I tore my ligament in my left knee, so neither one of my legs worked.”
After being in a wheelchair for two months, she transitioned to using crutches, a brace and then a walker.
“The whole time, I kept thinking to myself, if I didn’t weigh this much and have all that weight fall on my knee, ankle and leg, I probably wouldn’t have hurt myself so badly.”
This epiphany caused her to really think about losing weight.
Peters’ sister-in-law had bariatric surgery at Bailey Bariatrics in November of 2017. With her sister-in-law’s encouragement, Peters attended a seminar in December and said everyone was so helpful.
Before attending the seminar, Peters wasn’t sure if her insurance would cover weight loss surgery.
It turned out that Peters’ secondary insurance did cover the surgery, allowing her to start the process in January of 2018. After getting the boot off of her foot from her fall, Peters was able to start walking again and begin following the Bailey Bariatrics nutrition plan. Christy had her surgery in May, with Brandon Varnell, M.D.
“Dr. Varnell was so attentive and listened to all of my concerns before surgery,” Peters said.
Every time she talked to a Bailey Bariatrics’ staff member, she felt like she heard. Peters credits Emily Hunt and Mo Smith for being great moral support, as well as helping her with her exercise and nutrition.
“I thought it was amazing just how much Emily loved her job and was able to help me, especially with the physical therapy and just trying to get back on my feet,” she said. “Everyone at Bailey Bariatrics feels like family.”
Peters and her family just returned from a trip to Colorado, where they spent a lot of time being active.
“It was an amazing trip because we were able to take these little drives up the mountains,” she said. “Before, we would just drive through, look at the scenery and take some pictures.”
For the first time, Peters was able to hike up rugged cliffs along the mountains with her 16-year-old son. He told her he was proud that she was able to accomplish this, knowing how hard she had worked to get there.
“I want to show my kids and grandkids that if you set a goal in mind and work towards it you can accomplish it,” Peters said. “It takes work and dedication, but if you just keep working at it, you can do it.”
While in Colorado, Peters was able to go whitewater rafting.
“I couldn’t have done that as heavy as I was before,” she said. “It was so exciting to be able to physically do things and accomplish them.”
On the last day of her family’s trip, Peters said she woke up and got dressed to go hiking with her son.
“My son and I were supposed to go hiking up Seven Falls and go to The Garden of the Gods and The Cave of the Winds,” Peters said. “My son had gotten sunburnt from rafting and he and my husband were tired and sore. It was the first time I was ready to go and everyone else wasn’t able to.
Peters wants to use her experience to encourage others even to just attend a seminar or make the first step in changing their lives.
“I’m just so excited to see where this body will take me,” she said.
In the future, Christy is looking forward to running a marathon with her sister, completing several 5Ks and riding a donkey in Colorado, something she has been determined to do since being told she wasn’t able to do it when she was overweight.