Success Stories Steve
Steve Fritz
Nearly 700 Pounds
In 1999, my weight had jumped to almost 700 pounds. I couldn't walk very far, couldn't sleep lying down (sat in a chair), my legs were severely swollen. My waist was a 78+, wore 7XL and 8XL shirts and couldn't leave the house out of shame and I had a hard time fitting into a car. I was basically sitting around every day waiting to die. My depression was so bad that when I would open my eyes in the morning, I was upset because I was still among the living.
I have six sons, and was still raising two who lived with me. A single dad, all I could do was make sure they ate, had a roof over their heads and clean clothes and a loving house to come home to. I couldn't do the shopping or errands, I couldn't go to their school activities...partially because I could not maneuver well and partially due to not wanting to embarrass them. In my mind, I had become a freak and didn't want them to be ashamed of their old man.
One day, five of my sons were at the house with a couple of friends and they did what I call an obesity intervention. They told me that they loved me and they didn't want me to die. They told me they wanted their future children kids to know their grandpa personally.
There words struck home. I had once been such an active person. I played football and baseball for years, I was an avid weightlifter; I had been a successful police officer and Detective having been given many awards for the cases I worked including Police Officer of the Year in Montgomery County. Now, here I was waiting for death, hiding from the world.
Dr. Bruce told me that I was one of the heavier patients he had but that if I was serious about the weight loss and life style change, he and Dr. Clarey would do the surgery.
In October 2000, I had lost almost 100 pounds on my own, now down to about 600 pounds, depending on what scales I was on. I didn't lose the weight from dieting. I was from being sick and depressed. The surgery was done October 6, 2000.
What followed was a nightmare....but my wake up call. I think I had every complication that one person could still have and still be alive. In the next 4 weeks, I had 2 more emergency surgeries. I had blood clots, infected mesh, a perforated intestine, quarantined from an infection, an open wound that they couldn't close with the perforated intestine outside my body covered by a colostomy bag. I had at least three different main lines put in, that I remember...no food at all for over 40 days. Three months in the hospital on every floor and in every ward. At one time, I counted more that 9 different IV solutions going into me at one time, not including the whole blood and frozen plasma. Hallucinations, depression, set backs, infections. At the nursing home I was sent to, I got severe pneumonia and went into respiratory arrest. An observant nurse, going off duty, was suspicious because I hadn't moved for several hours and checked me and revived me. Respirators breathed for me while I recovered. Drs. Bruce and Clarey decided to use me as a test patient for the VAC system to see if it would close the open surgical wound any sooner than the year-plus time limit I had been given. Almost 12 weeks later, it was closed.
And, just when I was recovering from all this at the hospital, I found out that my mom passed away from breast cancer in California. She had been a constant inspiration and voice of encouragement during my fight. That almost broke me... except I could hear her voice in my head telling me not to quit. Just the week before she passed, she was on the phone with me telling me to be strong and fight to live. She never told me the cancer had spread to her bones... she told my sister that she wanted me concentrating on fighting my battle and not worrying about hers.
I forced them to send me home even though I couldn't walk. They wanted to send a wheelchair with me but I refused. If it was there, I'd use it. I wasn't going to have a future in a wheelchair. I did this surgery to get my whole life back.
In June, 2001, the perforated intestine was removed. Operation a success. Severe infections set in causing another main line to be surgically put in and strong antibiotics hooked up to my IV, twice a day. Nurses came to my home three and four times a week and helped me and my sons. I looked in the mirror and saw an old man. The antibiotics made my hair white, my skin was very pale and sickly looking and hung off my face.
I leaned on everything to learn to walk again. When the IV's stopped and the sutures cleared up, I went to the pool and exercised there, running from side to side in the water. When my legs got stronger, I started running backwards. I went to a grocery store for the first time in 4 years, leaning on a cart and exercised while I shopped. It was great.
The infections kept appearing, but after months of antibiotics, they cleared up. Loose skin was removed in August, 2002. I started taking vitamins and supplements and the color came back to my hair and face. I walked everywhere I could until my legs cramped. Then I would sit and start walking again.
I moved to Mesa, Arizona with my two sons in October, 2002 and, in August, 2003, another surgery revealed that the reason for all the infections was infected internal stitches. They were removed and it's been uphill.
I went back to work full time for the first time in almost 7 years.
I started culinary school in January, 2004 and am having a blast. Where I once could not stand or walk for any period longer than two minutes, I now stand and work in a kitchen 5 hours a day.
From that
original 700 pounds, I am down almost 380 pounds, more when all the other skin
is removed. My waist is down to 50 from 78, a 2x shirt instead of 8x.
Dr. Bruce and Dr. Clarey never gave up on me. They were not afraid to try new things and be aggressive with all my complications. Dr. Clarey used to stop in and hold my hand and give me encouragement. There are many things I don't remember because I was pretty sick. But, I always knew that both doctors and the nurses at Grandview were fighting for me. 4 years later, I went back and they all remembered me. Very humbling that these people, who care for thousands every year, would remember me.
The wake up call from this nightmare?? I don't take anything for granted and I embrace life. I have a much clearer picture of what's important and what isn't. Sentiments that I used to keep to myself, I now share with those that mean the most to me. It's not about the stuff or what you own, it's about the lives you touch and the love you give. I don't bitch about having bad days anymore... every day above ground is a good one.
In the moments on the ventilator, when my family and the hospital thought I was going to die, I can truly say, with all honesty, I didn't regret the things I had done, I did regret all the things I didn't do.
Now, thanks to
Dr. Clarey, Dr. Bruce, the nurses and staff of Grandview Hospital and the staff
of the doctor's office (and my personal angels, Shelly Harmony and Cathy Woolf)
I am working at correcting those regrets.
Update
November 2004
Steve has achieved one of his goals...to own and ride a motorcycle; something he was not able to do at almost 700 pounds!!
Steve and his Yamaha Venture......
Update
December 2005
420 pounds LOST !!!
Steve graduated from Chef's school in December, 2005
"I am working as a Dining and Food Service Supervisor at a retirement community in Phoenix and I hope to start Arizona State University soon in their Nutrition and Diet program. After what I've been through, I have an interest in going that way. Depends on if ASU will accept my AAS degree and then I would only need another year and a half to get my BS degree."
Congratulations Steve!!!
Update - August, 2007
Well, I am back in school to get my
BA in Culinary management and am working as a full-time chef at Mercy Gilbert
Medical Center. After graduating with my Associates Degree in Culinary Arts, I
was able to obtain my Certified Culinarian (CC) designation from the ACF;
American Culinary Federation.
I am working on a cookbook for the hospital to raise money for a children's
wing they are building and have 2 trips planned in the future. Both are culinary
vacations where I will attend a culinary school in Ireland and Mexico and then
vacation and see the sights.
So, things are great. I will never forget and am always grateful for the gift
of life and living that your office and Dr.'s Clarey and Bruce gave me.
Steve
Results will vary
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