Well where do I start? my name is Stephanie. I am a thirty year old woman with three beautiful children. I am very excited to say that I married my high school sweetheart and we are still together today. Yes, fifteen years and still counting.

The reason this weight loss challenge is so important to me is because I have been through so much during the past several years. Just to be able to be part of this fantastic adventure is a miracle in my eyes.

It all started four years ago. I was eight months pregnant with my youngest son and I become very sick. My sickness became something so horrific that it turned into Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, which is a disease in which one cannot breathe room temperature. I was on full oxygen through my mouth and nose, yet still strived to breathe. My kidneys, lungs, and liver were all failing. They wanted to put me on life support, yet I resisted. I wanted to fight as long as my tender body would let me. I knew that after signing power of attorneys and requesting my last wish to be that my request of donating my organs be carried out that I had to fully concentrate on trying to survive.

As if that wasn’t enough during my few weeks in the hospital many more testing times occurred. My son came a month early. Luckily, he was healthy. It was just so difficult to deliver a child with an oxygen level that was nearly nonexistent. I also broke out in a rash throughout my body due to a medicine. My body swelled up because my organs were failing, and I received a blood clot behind my knee. Because of god being on my side and my supportive and loving family I surpassed it all.

After all of that I was doing quite well for awhile; however, in 2006 while working at an elementary school I had a seizure. Every since then I have had a difficult time. Many times I just don’t feel right. I have had dizzy spells, slurred speech, forgetfulness, and fatigue just to name a few. I have been to physicians many times. They have run numerous test from blood work, diabetes, blood pressure and urine test. I was even sent to a cardiologist.

A few months ago I had two more seizures. Finally, the doctors began to listen. They ran an EEG, which came back normal. They also ran an MRI. Unfortunately, the MRI showed an abnormal spot on the posterior part of my brain. I will soon be seen by a neurologist to try and figure this all out. In the meantime the anti seizure medicine has made me feel better than I have in years.

I know that this whole experience that I had to endure was all for a purpose. I also know that it is up to me as well as the physicians to make me the healthiest possible. I am pledging to eat healthier, workout, and to keep a possitive attitude. I don’t want to just improve the way that my body looks and feels, but to improve my mind as well.

My family means the world to me. I would like to stick around to see my children grow. This is my chance to live my life to the fullest and I intend to do just that, so here I go!