Sherry Grant and I met over the Internet through the OSSG, an On-line Support Group: "The Obesity Surgery Support Group." She decided to become one of Dr. George Cowan's patients and have her surgery done here in Memphis Tennessee. Seeing as how Dr. Cowan is also my surgeon we became well aquatinted with each other by e-mails. When time came for her to have her surgery she had to travel across the state to be here in Memphis. When she first was to arrive, on a Wednesday, then start her pre-op testing and finish on Friday -- she would be without her family or friends. SO I had an idea...

At Dr. Cowan's Christmas Party for his post-op patients, I made mention of Sherry's pending trip to Memphis. This stirred some interest with a few of the Cowan's Angel Support Group. This was my plan: Diane and I would pick her up at the Hospital from Dr. Cowan's office after her Endoscopy and we three would journey from Memphis to Tunica Mississippi where the Casinos were located. There she could have her last big Horrarh and eat to her hearts content at the big Seafood Buffet that the Gold Strike Casino puts on every Friday night. What fun we would have!

It gets even better, My father and step-mother who were with me through much of the long hospital stay when I had my surgery, decided to drive up from Grenada Mississippi and meet us at the Casino. Then there was one of Dr. Cowan's post-op patients, Lorraine, who wanted to drive down from outside of East Memphis and join us for an evening of support. Also the Vice-President of Dr. Cowan's Angels Support Group, Sandra who is also a very successful post-op patient, decided that she and all her family would meet us there and we could all have fun and enjoy great food while discussing the things Sherry needed to know so her hospital stay would not be a frightening experience full of unknowns. We all wanted to help Sherry feel at ease with her choice for surgical intervention in her fight with morbid obesity.

This is Sherry Grant the Friday evening at the Casino before her surgery:

Sherry Grant, Diane & Daryl Davidson
(From Left to Right)

Dr. Cowan's Angels On Duty
Lorriane, Sherry Grant, Sandra Clark, Diane Davidson
(From Left to Right)& Daryl is behind the camera!

Lorriane & Sherry made friends

We had Laughs....!

By Thursday afternoon she was moved into a regular room and outside some pain she started getting active and was already off full liquids and started in on the Puree Diet. Her family had made it in earlier in the week and her daughter was coaching her along on when to take that next little spoonful! It sure is Great to have a coach to help you through the recovery at the hospital.

Diane and I visited with her on Thursday when she got to her room and brought her a Christmas Gift to brighten her room with the Christmas Spirit. I checked on her by way of her nurses over the holiday weekend and she continued to make wonderful progress. Monday night I called and spoke for a moment with Sherry's son and then with the nurses: looks like she will be checking out in a day or so. Everyone says she has done so well and only Tylenol for pain! Check the Bulletin Board for further follow-ups on this fantastic lady!