By Tiffany Kernell, CCMA, Patient Advocate
As an employee of Foothills Weight Loss Specialists, I’d like to take a moment to talk to the friends and family members of our current and future patients. When you hear “Weight Loss Surgery” what do you think? I’ll be honest – before I began working for Foothills Weight Loss in 2012, my idea of a bariatric surgery was very different than it is today.
In fact, before working for Foothills Weight Loss you might even have heard me say about bariatric surgery something like, “Oh well, that person just took the easy way out.” I can assure you than you will no longer hear that statement come from me! I have witnessed firsthand as countless patients decide to make this life change, and yet still struggle.
Not until our patients gain the determination, dedication, and will to change does our bariatric surgery fully change their life for the better. You see, it is only a tool we give to help them. Then, people have to learn the correct nutrition and exercise program that works for them. And that is where YOU come in! Patients need your unwavering support and encouragement as they walk through this journey to a new healthier person.
Of course, we education them, support them, and cheer them on every step of the way before and after surgery. However, they need YOU to be their number one fan! This decision your loved one has made will not only positively change their life, but yours and generations to come!
Thank you! Tiffany
Tiffiany Kernell is a Patient Advocate with Foothills Weight Loss Specialists in Knoxville, TN.