From the Sidelines to the Trampoline: Amy’s Journey to 187 Pounds Lost

3/2/2026

For 25 years, Amy lived her life in the background - taking care of everyone around her but herself. After reaching 352 pounds, she spent two decades trying "the old-fashioned way" without success. Like many moms, she poured every ounce of her energy into others – raising two sons, navigating a divorce and managing one son’s health challenges.

“I never really thought much about myself,” Amy says. “I was trying to take care of everyone else.”

The "Aha!” Moment

But a single photograph of herself in a pink-and-white striped dress changed everything. Seeing herself from the outside was her "Aha!” moment that sparked a fierce, internal fire. Amy decided it was time to stop watching her life from a chair and start living it.

The Northwest Healthcare Standard: Care That Goes Above and Beyond

Amy knew she needed more than just a procedure; she needed a team that could match her determination. She found that at Northwest Bariatric and Foregut Surgery after watching others experience success with bariatric procedures performed by Dr. Patrick Chiasson, M.D.

One of Amy’s colleagues who had undergone surgery made the changes feel real and doable. Amy started asking herself important questions and paying attention to habits, meals and mindset.

From the moment she walked into the Northwest Bariatric and Foregut Surgery office, Amy says, the level of communication and genuine compassion from the staff set the tone for her success.

• Dr. Patrick Chiasson: Amy’s "North Star" throughout the process. She knew about gastric sleeves and gastric bypass, but Dr. Chiasson explained all the surgical options available. He empowered Amy to research which of the procedures she felt would work best for her lifestyle, and she landed on single anastomosis duodenal switch with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) for the best long-term outcome. Amy says she felt respected and informed. Dr. Chiasson was also very considerate of Amy's commute from Willcox, and ensured her care was as efficient as it was excellent.
• The Support Squad: The clinic staff became Amy’s backbone. Debra, the medical assistant, provided constant support, while Vivian at checkout became a personal cheerleader – recently marveling that Amy’s current self doesn't even resemble her old driver’s license photo. Amy is grateful for the seamless, caring experiences she had with nurse practitioner Megan Poje, N.P.

Unshakable Grit Through It All

Amy’s journey was a masterclass in persistence. When a backordered sleep apnea machine delayed her surgery by almost a year, she didn't waver. When she faced a bout with COVID-19 just before her surgery date and it was pushed to a later date, she didn't buckle.

"I was tired of not feeling good. I made up my mind,” she says. “If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it right. If I had any fear, it was the fear of failure – and I used that as my motivation to stay on track.”

The Real Trophies Aren't on the Scale

"I did this surgery for myself," Amy says. Today, Amy maintains her weight – after a staggering 187-pound transformation. While the scale goals were amazing, the real victories happened in her daily life:

• The "Full Circle" Hugs: The moment her 25 and 22-year-old sons wrapped their arms all the way around Amy and even picked her up – something they couldn't do when they were little. And the first time her young niece wrapped her arms all the way around Amy and exclaimed, “I can get my arms all the way around you!”
• Participation: At 51, she is no longer babysitting her nieces and nephews from the sidelines. She is on the trampoline letting the kids bounce her around and playing with them at the park.
• Fitting: Fitting behind the steering wheel with ease, and in her own bathtub for the first time.
• The New Lease: Amy is checking off her bucket list items, like going to Dollywood and – more importantly – her son’s wedding this year.

Amy’s Blueprint for Success

How does Amy stay successful three years later? She sticks to these habits:

1. Daily Accountability: Dr. Chiasson encouraged new daily habits, like stepping on the scale every morning, to stay grounded and mindful.
2. Intentional Tracking: Keeping a food journal to maintain awareness.
3. Celebrate the "Non-Scale" Wins: Focusing on energy, mobility and the joy of being present.

"I have zero regrets," Amy says. "This has affected every aspect of my life in only positive ways. This has given me a new lease on life,” Amy says. I’m finally living my life."

Congrats to Amy on her inspiring story and journey to prioritizing herself and her health!

Learn more about surgical weight loss at Northwest Healthcare, or to request an appointment, please visit https://www.healthiertucson.com/bariatric-weight-loss.

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