Page 104 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2021

HEALTHY LIVING
THE BIRTHDAY
Present
The Gift of Health
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster C photos courtesy of Leslie Diaz
elebrating her 35th birthday this month, Gautier resident Leslie Diaz says that there is no greater gift than getting her life back.
Diaz had struggled with her weight for years, which a ected not only her self-esteem but her ability to do her job. In her multifamily industry, she was required to traverse stairs and perform tasks that left her tired, out of breath, and in pain. Within eight months of surgery, Diaz was able to move around easily—from her desk, on stairs, and throughout the property. With this newfound mobility, she accepted the promotion to community manager.
While these things impacted Diaz personally, she didn’t realize how her weight would a ect her relationship with her family. “I’m originally from Puerto Rico and had taken a trip home
to visit my family,” she recalled. “When I arrived, their focus was not on my visit but on my weight. Their concern was monumental, with so many questions about my health and weight that it took the focus o of our family and bonding time. That really a ected me.”
With her family’s concerns for her health in mind, Diaz needed help. Seeing her distress, her husband took it upon himself to research solutions and suggested surgical weight loss.
“While still indecisive, I was riding home from work one day and a commercial for the South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center (SMSWLC) came on,” Diaz said. “That broadcast alone, and the endless support of my husband, con rmed that it was time for a change.”
Diaz immediately called SMSWLC, recalling that the process was “smooth as butter.” She said, “Dr. Avara was my surgeon
– I couldn’t have asked for a better one. At the beginning of
my journey, he said something that stuck with me: ‘We cannot beat ourselves up about things that happened in our past. We have to work very hard and diligently for our present and future
LESLIE DIAZ before and after her gastric sleeve surgery.
because that’s what counts.’”
Since receiving her gastric sleeve, Diaz has lost 178 pounds.
“This surgery is a birthday gift for life,” she says. “Sometimes I still can’t believe that my body is my body! But I love it and I feel more comfortable and happy with my body than I ever have.”
The South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center has been helping men and women like Leslie Diaz to meet their weight loss goals since their formation in 2000. Founded by South Mississippi Surgeons (SMS), they have been providing the Coast with quality surgical care for over 30 years. Surgeries are performed at Singing River Health System hospitals.
To learn more about weight loss surgery, visit their website at smsurgicalweightloss.com, where you can register to receive a free information session.
DR. WILLIAM AVARA, III DR. JASON PAYNE DR. JOHN HALL
South Mississippi Surgical Weight Loss Center
1124 Oakleigh Road, Ocean Springs 228.872.7277 • www.smsurgicalweightloss.com
104 | April 2021
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
Best