When all that matters is...

...a walk, a run, then a marathon.

At 5’9”, 330 lb., Rodney Rubin knew he was putting his health and future at risk, but he needed more than wise words of advice from a doctor to lose weight. After researching his options, he decided on Shady Grove’s Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence for gastric banding surgery. Almost immediately after surgery, the weight began to come off.

“I was hopelessly overweight, but psychologically unable to lose it – even with a doctor’s supervision,” Rodney says. “I needed the tool of surgery to kickstart my weight loss and exercise.”

The surgery Rodney chose was gastric lap-band bariatric surgery. Whether involving the adjustable (and removable) lap-band or gastric bypass, bariatric surgery limits a person’s food intake.

Just knowing he was about to have his surgery motivated Rodney to start walking a few minutes each day, then a few minutes more. With surgery, he made rigorous exercise part of his regime, so much so that just months later he was able to run a half-marathon in Baltimore and full marathons in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Rodney is now training for the grueling Half Ironman triathlon: a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run.

Within six months of surgery, he’d lost over 110 lb. And his weight continues to drop.

The program Rodney turned to is the only one in Montgomery County designated as a Bariatric Surgery Center for Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. The Center, with generous funding from our community, provides a valuable option for people at least 80-100 lb. overweight, especially those facing related, life-threatening conditions. It brings together certified bariatric surgeons, specially trained nurses, dieticians, and dedicated equipment for bariatric patient care, as well as all-important patient education classes and nutritionists. Rodney, for example, needed special dietary guidance to balance gastric band restriction and his own high-powered exercise regime.

“I’m now physically fit and I feel fantastic, absolutely amazing,” Rodney says. “The surgery changed my whole perspective…and definitely saved my life.”

How You Can Help

Interested in helping patients like Rodney in our Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence? Contact the Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Foundation at (240) 826-6570 to learn more about our giving opportunities and how your gracious contribution can be best directed to help.

We Want to Hear From You

Do you have a story that you would like to share with us? Tell us about your experience at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital to inspire others and help us recognize the efforts of those who made a difference in your life!