An array of sports and various other activities constantly keeps Cassie Smith, a mother of eight children, on the go. Whether it’s jogging with her high school son during his cross-country workouts or coaching her daughter’s cheer squad, Smith is thankful she can keep up with a busy schedule.
“I’m very active,” Smith said. “I have some kids that are in soccer, cross country and track. I can go do that now. I had never been able to do that before.”
Smith’s new lifestyle began in June 2020 after undergoing weight-loss surgery through Bailey Bariatrics. The difference was immediate for Smith.
“I noticed it right away and I haven’t looked back,” she said. “It has been an amazing journey.”
Smith’s journey began several years before when she was diagnosed with preeclampsia while she was pregnant with her first child, a condition that resulted in significant weight gain.
“I tried so many diets on my own,” Smith said. “I just couldn’t lose it.”
She was later diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis, both conditions that made losing weight more challenging. In 2018, Smith began experiencing severe migraines, dizzy spells and even some blackout episodes. She had gained additional weight and was diagnosed with degenerative disk disease, a condition that required three back surgeries.
Facing the possibility of additional back surgeries, Smith considered weight-loss surgery after consulting with her surgeon.
“I had considered weight loss surgery in the past, but I was scared,” she said. “You always think of the worst-case scenario. So, I thought, ‘This isn’t for me.’ But my surgeon said to think of what the rest of my life was going to look like if I continued what I was doing.”
Smith decided to attend Bailey’s free introductory seminar about the bariatric program and was glad she did.
“As they were talking and every step they went through, it was like they had written an entire seminar on me,” she said. “They just didn’t mention my name. At Bailey, everyone was so welcoming. From the first moment you walk in there, they make you feel like family. You know that they are going to be supporting you and cheering you … For me, Bailey was the best option I could have done.”
Her Bailey journey has allowed for many changes in Smith’s life. She no longer relies on a cane for her stability. She does not need any more back surgeries and her spine is now healthy. Smith went from taking 16 daily prescriptions to just two.
But, most importantly to Smith, she is able to be more active in the lives of her children.
“To be able to do those things, it’s giving me a whole new life,” she said. “And, for my children, it’s given them the mom they deserve.”
To learn more about Bailey Bariatrics’ free seminars, click here.