As Kim Stam turned 50 years old, her weight was at an all time high of 269 pounds. She grew weary from dealing with the laborious weight problem that she had since childhood. Her constant exhaustion from performing simple daily activities motivated her to look into weight loss surgery. “After attending BMI Surgery’s informational meeting, I knew weight loss surgery was the best option for me to lose weight,” said 53-year-old Kim Stam. And now Kim’s endurance has increased after losing over 100 pounds in 15 months as a result of her weight loss surgery at Silver Cross Hospital.
“My advice to others that are considering surgery is if you follow the guidelines, your dream of losing weight will come true,” stated the Bourbonnais resident.
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Since Kim’s weight loss, her stamina to perform her job as a nurse assistant for Veterans has greatly increased. Also she is able to work-out longer on the treadmill, bike and elliptical. “Not only has my health improved, but the social aspects of my life have as well,” she said. “I am able to go out more socially with my family and friends. I feel wonderful about myself. I am still shocked when I see my reflection in a store window – it just amazes me that it is really my body!”
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After researching quality weight loss programs, Kim decided to attend BMI Surgery’s free informational session. “After listening to Dr. Brian Lahmann’s presentation, I felt a positive connection with the program, Dr. Lahmann and his staff at BMI Surgery. I felt that I would have this great support of people helping me through each step – and I did,” states Kim. With their support, along with encouragement from her family and friends, Kim committed to the exercise and diet plan and underwent REALIZE™ Adjustable Gastric Band weight loss surgery on January 29, 2013.
Patients benefit from a multidisciplinary approach, with the help of many different departments at Silver Cross. "Patients see an exercise physiologist, dietitian, cardiologist, psychologist, pulmonologist, and a bariatric nurse to get them ready for surgery," says Dr. Brian Lahmann. "We screen our patients very carefully to ensure their success and safety."
The key to her success was adhering to the nutrition and exercise plan, as well as finding others who had similar experience maintaining their weight loss. “I now practice portion control and exercise,” said Kim.
“What I learned from Dr. Lahmann is that the surgery was merely a tool to lose weight and the real success depended on me making lifestyle and behavioral changes,” stated Kim. “In all of my fifty plus years of life, I can honestly say I now feel the best ever – both physically and mentally. I am so grateful to Dr. Lahmann, his team and the nurses at Silver Cross Hospital, who were so helpful and treated me so warmly.”
“Kim is an excellent example of how bariatric surgery can positively enhance one’s life. Her dedication to adhering to the program by eating well and exercising was critical in her ability to lose over 100 pounds,” says Dr. Lahmann.
The American Society of Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery defines the morbidly obese as those with a body mass of 40 or above, or, for a normal height woman, being more than 100 pounds overweight. Patients with a BMI of 35 and higher, who are suffering the medical consequences of obesity, are often best treated with bariatric surgery as opposed to nonsurgical weight loss. Those who are morbidly obese are at a higher risk of mortality and such extreme obesity puts people at risk for life threatening disease, including heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes.
BMI Surgery has changed the lives of over 3,500 patients with life changing surgeries including laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, and Lap-Band and REALIZE gastric band systems at Silver Cross Hospital. Board certified laparoscopic and bariatric surgeons Brian Lahmann, M.D., and Christopher Joyce, M.D., are dedicated to helping patients win their personal battles with obesity and enjoy healthier lives. Their office is located on the new Silver Cross Hospital campus at I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox. Silver Cross has been named a Bariatric Center of Excellence by the American Society of Bariatric Surgery and a Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery.
To find out more about the bariatric surgery program at Silver Cross Hospital, attend a free informational session on both traditional and laparoscopic surgery on any Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. at BMI Surgery at 1890 Silver Cross Blvd., Suite 260, New Lenox. To attend, visit www.bmisurgery.org or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325).
About Silver Cross Hospital
Silver Cross Hospital is a not-for-profit health care provider serving Will County and southwest suburban communities since 1895. Silver Cross has been recognized as a Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals National Award winner for seven consecutive years and as a Hospital of Choice by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers. With over 3,000 employees, physicians and volunteers, Silver Cross operates a 289-bed acute care hospital and 5 satellite facilities providing outpatient services and physician offices. Silver Cross opened a state-of-the-art replacement hospital on February 26, 2012 at I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox. In 2013, Silver Cross provided over $48 million in charity care and other community benefits. To learn more about Silver Cross Hospital or a referral to a physician on staff, visit http://www.silvercross.org/ or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325). Physicians on Silver Cross Hospital’s Medical Staff have expertise in their areas of practice to meet the needs of patients seeking their care. These physicians are independent practitioners on the Medical Staff and are not the agents or employees of Silver Cross Hospital. They treat patients based upon their independent medical judgment and they bill patients separately for their services.
