Lisa's Testimony

In 1990, at age 24, I was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and told that my situation appeared grim. Life was difficult, and I medicated my stress with food.  By 2003 I was up to 307 pounds. I became very sick, short of breath, and lightheaded, and was admitted to the hospital with severe congestive heart failure. My heart stopped twice, then later went into tachycardia; it took heroic measures to keep me alive.  I spent months in a Boston hospital, and underwent all the tests required for a potential heart transplant. I met all the criteria, but was eventually rejected because of my weight. The doctor told me that a heart transplanted from an average person would not last in someone my size. He suggested I go home and get my affairs in order. That was not an option--I was a single mother with two daughters who needed me. Their father had died when they were babies.

Shortly after being rejected for a heart transplant I saw a newspaper article about CHIP.  I decided it couldn’t hurt—I was quickly running out of options. The CHIP people were wonderful and I learned so much about my body and about food. I also knew I had a very strong support system behind me with the CHIP program.  I learned new ways to approach food and eating, new recipes, and enjoyed the CHIP alumni dinners. I no longer eat compulsively, using food as a drug.

About the same time, I began to care for two puppies. I was forced to walk them.  Initially I could barely get further than my front porch, but every day I made myself walk one more step than the day before. My exercise took off from there and I began to walk miles a day, joined a gym, swam, played my own version of raquetball, etc. 

Now at age 44 I weigh 145 pounds and my cardiologist says I no longer need a heart transplant. In fact, I no longer need heart medications or the insulin I used to depend on for my Type 2 Diabetes. I stay busy, I exercise, and I feel great.  

--Lisa, Vermont