Jenn

You Can Do It !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cassiedsweatpea@yahoo.com

Hi Kelsey, This is Cassie's mom. We also took my neice in a few months ago and my sister in-law. The one thing I want to explain to you is it will not be easy. If your an emotional eater it will be a bit tougher. It gets easy and easy. It is a change of life and with the change is great responsibilites that come with the band. You will completely change the way you look at eating. So in it self this will be a challenge. I am not going to sugar coat it. There are many people around you that will eat large meals and you may feel the need to eat like them, but it is all mental. Take your time and the rewards are a life time. Look for the forum to give you strength. There are great people on here. I am always in San Diego and Cassie tries to be but with a Teen schedule she gets swamped. But email me if you need any support. Dr. Ortiz is the best and so is Fabulous Dr. Martinez. Again, the lap band will help you and make you follow your diet, no cheating , so remember the life time award at the end and also remember like any diet or lapband it takes time to work. I am so glad your mom is getting banded with you, I can not tell you how much it helped my sister inlaw and my neice when they had it done together. Please email me if you need anything, Jennifer

Hope you all watch. Thanks Jenn

Hi everyone, Well Cassie and I are keeping very busy and try to get back to the forum as quickly as possible when we return home. With 4 other kids in the house we are keeping busy. So please feel free to drop us any emails to our phones and we can answer questions more quickly. I have received a few emails from moms considering having thier teens banded and don't want to loose the connection since banding is a better alternative for teens I feel. Here is my email.... jenndivello@gmail.com Cassie's cassiedsweetpea@yahoo.com Have a great summer everyone.... Watch for the rerun of the Oprah Show August 11 !!!!!! xxxooo to all , Jenn and Cassie

Hi everyone, The producer from the Oprah Show emailed me and said it will be airing on around August 11, if it changes I will keep you all posted. Thanks Jenn

> Cassie's picture is on the MYSAPCE and also in Dr. Ortiz book. Also you can visit my ...MYSPACE at DiVello family and see all the pics of her. Wish more teens coul hop on board with this and enjoy thier High School years.

LOL, watch on the show where Oprah sits, hint, she sits in the side of the couch to hide most of her assests. Get it ass...!

I get auto show reports from the website and I have contact with the producer so he will let me know and I will also keep calling to remind him to let meknow. Thanks Jenn

I have 5 kids and three of them have been down there with me and there was nothing to worry about, so your daughter is going to have fabulous time !!!

Hi everyone, Sorry I have not got to post this any sooner, I have been taking the kids camping. Well The Producer from the Oprah Show called and said they will re-air the show once again. To be honest we did take a bit of a beating on the show for those who did not get to see it. Cassie held her own though and defended ALL BANDSTERS!. For those who know us and everyone we have met at the OCC know that Cassie's done fantastic and Cassie her dad and I made the right decision for her to have the surgery. If you look at the OCC pictures you will see Cassie is a proven success! But when we did go on the Oprah Show we were not told how many other guests would be on the show so it gave us limited time on speaking the facts about the OCC and getting more into detail. For those who watched the show and went to the message boards, the board crashed from all the feed back which was good and bad. But I want to express how important it is that you get all your scheduling in because when this airs again and for those beautiful obese people who did not know that the OCC existed will see the show and will be calling and making appoitments like crazy. You can always book and then change your appointment if need be, but just incase I wanted to give everyone a heads up. Also on the show we were not told that Dr. Oz would be on there until the last minute. You will see how little of knowledge he has on the LapBand and you will see Cassie fight the fight for all Bandsters. I am so proud of her and her belief in the LapBand and her belief to help other teens. As for me, as like all of you I was told to go back in time to talk about what it was like taking Cassie into a foreign country. There are a lot of edits also on the tape , especially with Dr. Ortiz. When taping there was a lot more said and a lot more controversy but they cut it out.

[size="6"]WOW... you made the right choice and Congrats!!![/size]

( Awh...lbrings back memories of Cassie. So proud of you Mackenzie. Jenn

Hi Mary, Alana makes a great point. BABIES !! First of all this is reversible, second if you need more nutrition if you do have children you can have an un-fill. Also I have met one person that the LapBand did not accomodate very well and she just had it removed, that is another big difference between Gastric and the Lapband. My family has both. One family memeber fights every day to make sure they work out and watch what they eat, then there is Cassie the floating butterfly...she just picks here and there and let me tell you she is a teen that if you mention the word WORK OUT she is running. LOL... Also the Lapband takes a bit more time with some people but the wait is sooooo worth it. >

Hi Destinie, Wow !!! Your life is going to change so much. Stay on the message board for any help you need. There are great people on here. Also for many young teens it is harder mentally because this is a change and this is hard work. I know you can do it. It sounds like you are ready. I like where JME says ONLY one can decide. When we where on the Orpah show and Dr. Oz said Cassie was too young to make that decision, she really wasn't. She could of said I just want to wait, or No I don't want the surgery. At 13 you still have a voice. Total Honesty, Adults have been through the YOYO weight issues a lot longer then teens so mentally they are truly ready for their journey. If you are a strong person you will go through this a lot more easier then those who are not ready and more emotionally dependant on others. Your strength for this must come first from yourself and then support from family and the forum. It is a life change. You eat to live not live to eat. Remember that !! Also everyone is different when going through surgery. Like breast implants, nose jobs, everyone has a different tollerance and a healing time. Also, enjoy all the comments and glory coming your way. You will deserve it ! People will sometimes think (the skinny people) it is the easy way out but you tell them to loose 10 pounds and see if they can do it. No one realizes how hard it is to diet. If your mom needs any help please call me. Send a message to my inbox and I will send you my phone number. Your family will need support as well. Cassie has been a sucess since 2004 of March. She is wrapping up school right now and has not been on the forum as much. So if you need anything drop me a line and I can get it to Cassie or I can try to help. Take Care,

Alana, I took my neice down in April and she too had the back pain. It lasted her almost 5 days. So hang in there. I know some of it has to do with the gas in your system. PS What a pretty name .

How can I help ???? Hum... I wish I could get through to more future teen bandsters parents!!! Any thoughts on that ?

Hi, This was the perfect place to post and get feed back. You will be surprised how many great people are on this website. Your in great hands with Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez.

Have Fun Swimming Mikayla ! ! !