Martin Health System | For your health | Winter 2018

8 MARTIN HEALTH SYSTEM IN FEBRUARY 2017, the month of hearts, flowers and boxes of chocolate, Alejandra (“Alex”) Pena and Joshua Fernandez gave each other a life-changing gift— they both underwent weight-loss surgery. As individuals they had always battled with their weight. After they met and were married in 2014, they put on more weight to- gether. At his heaviest, Fernandez was 370 pounds; Pena’s top weight was 338 pounds. “We didn’t make enough time to exercise and then we reached the point where we really couldn’t exercise,” Fernandez said. That was the point at which the couple realized they couldn’t lose the weight without professional help. Ready for change “We were ready,” Fernandez said. “We have a lot of things we want to do. We want to travel, have kids, be healthy and enjoy life.” Once they learned about the Center for Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery at Martin Health, they felt they had found something that would set them up for success. “Things fell in place for us,” Pena said. “We found a program with people who really care about you and give you the tools you need to be successful.” “I never gave other weight-loss tools 110 percent,” Fernandez said. “This was different. The staff made us feel welcome and comfortable and prepared us both mentally and emotionally.” Once they went through ori- entation; met with the bariatric nurse, registered dietitian and bar- iatric surgeon; and completed the preoperative medical clearance, Pena and Fernandez scheduled their bariatric surgeries two weeks apart. Both chose to have sleeve gastrectomy surgery. Sharing a priceless gift Alex and Joshua find weight-loss success together JOSHUA FERNANDEZ, AGE 27 “I became more aware of not being able to do things because of my weight. I knew I was cutting time off of my life. [Bariatric surgery] is like starting over, hitting the reset button. You have to make the decision on your own. Follow your heart. Do what you need to do for yourself.” ALEX PENA, AGE 23 “I was feeling depressed, and it was taking a toll on our marriage. I told Joshua that we have to get healthy, and if we do it together, it will be easier. We were both excited and nervous. I had never had major surgery before. But this was about a new life, a second chance to be healthy and happy. I love my body now.” Joshua and Alex had always battled with their weight, but after they met in 2014, they put on more weight together. BARIATRIC SURGERY