Jul 30, 2021 Reporting from Niles, MI
On the other side - Heather and Matthew Stefaniak
https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/how-we-compare/our-patients/Detail/on-the-other-side/?utm_source=On_the_other_side&utm_medium=PatientStory_Landing&utm_campaign=InternalPages
Jul 30, 2021
Jul 30, 2021
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
If you are struggling with obesity and other health-related problems because of your weight, you are not alone and it’s time to get help. Take the first step to living the life you have always imagined.
Visit lakelandweightlosscenter.com/online
On the other side - Heather and Matthew Stefaniak
SpectrumHealth Lakeland
https://www.spectrumhealthlakeland.org/ResourcePackages/SpectrumHealth/assets/img/sh_white_logo.png
On the other side - Heather and Matthew Stefaniak
Jul, 2021
Physicians: Seth Miller, MD
If you are struggling with obesity and other health-related problems because of your weight, you are not alone and it’s time to get help. Take the first step to living the life you have always imagined.
Visit lakelandweightlosscenter.com/onlineseminar to watch a free, online seminar and complete a short evaluation.
After more than a decade of marriage, four kids, and two full time jobs, Heather and Matthew Stefaniak found themselves burnout, unhappy, and overweight.
For Matthew, weight was something he had struggled with on and off most of his life—beginning with an unhealthy relationship with food as a child. At his heaviest he weighed 330 pounds. Heather noticed she began to gain weight after giving birth to each of her children and eventually she weighed around 250 pounds.
“My weight just sort of caught up with me,” said Heather. “As soon as I’d start to make progress, I would get pregnant again and with four kids finding time to exercise just wasn’t possible.”
Matthew suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure because of his weight. Heather had limited mobility and often found herself easily out of breath.
Heather knew she wanted to find a solution that would help her lose the weight once and for all. After doing some research, she decided to attend a Lose Weight…Find Health seminar at the Spectrum Health Lakeland Weight Loss Center. At the time, Matthew was skeptical of the process and decided not to join her. During the seminar Heather met bariatric surgeon, Seth Miller, MD.
“I liked Dr. Miller right away,” said Heather. “He was very informative and answered all my questions. I felt like he was speaking directly to me.”
Heather was determined to move forward with the surgery, even if her husband wasn’t on board yet. In November 2019, she underwent a vertical sleeve gastrectomy which forms the stomach into a banana-shaped sleeve causing patients to feel full much quicker. To date, Heather has lost over 120 pounds and has increased energy and mobility.
Seeing his wife’s success with the program, Matthew decided it was time for him to make a change. After six months of shared medical appointments, Matthew was ready to undergo surgery himself. Due to his diabetes, Dr. Miller recommended the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass which divides the stomach to form a new, smaller pouch for food.
Since undergoing surgery in December 2020, Matthew has lost 130 pounds, is off all diabetes medication, and has lowered his blood pressure. Best of all, the Stefaniaks feel like they have gained their lives back. They look forward to trying new foods together and Heather was recently able to ride on the back of Matthew’s motorcycle for the first time.
“We’re both a lot happier now,” said Matthew. “We enjoy spending time together and trying new things. We’re in the best place we’ve ever been since we got married.”
Both in their early forties, Heather and Matthew look forward to being around for their children for many years to come.
“I recently lost my stepfather to a heart attack at 67,” said Matthew. “It’s scary to think if I wouldn’t have got my health under control when I did, that could have easily been my fate. I’ve always dreamed of walking my daughter down the aisle and now I’ll be able to.”
“Our kids love that they can hug ‘all of us’ and reach their little arms around our backs,” said Heather. “You don’t realize how bad it really is until you’re on the other side. I wish we would have done this years ago.”
Photo credit: Gromski House