Lisa Scaturro, 50, of Middlesex County was fed up with diets and exercise programs that just didn’t yield the results she wanted. Battling some serious health issues, her cardiologist, Dr. Robert Kayser of Change of Heart Cardiology, recommended she consult with obesity medicine specialist, Dr. Seun Sowemimo.
“I wanted to attend one of the bariatric support group meetings to find out what it was like after you have the operation,” Lisa says. “I asked my dearest friend Glorinda Capone to come with my husband and me as someone who could understand dealing with weight issues.”
But when Glorinda got home that night after the meeting, she told her husband she was seriously considering having weight loss surgery herself.
“At the time, I was reliant on a walker to get around because I didn’t have the strength to walk on my own,” Glorinda recalls. “I also had type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and high blood pressure, which was mostly due to my weight.” A few months later, she committed to changing her own life as well.
For both Parlin women, July 2016 is a month they will never forget. Within a few days of each other, Lisa and Glorinda had the sleeve gastrectomy (gastric sleeve) weight loss surgery, performed by Dr. Seun Sowemimo.
Two Women in their 50s Lose 320 Pounds after Gastric Sleeve Surgery
Lisa, a former clerical associate in Nursing Administration, weighed 305 pounds on the day of her surgery. A little over a year later, she has reached her goal weight of 147 pounds. “I was diagnosed a few years ago with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and had diabetes as well,” Lisa explains.
Now that she is 158 pounds lighter, she is no longer diabetic and is able to walk and bend more easily when her MS condition flares. “Losing the extra weight has made it more manageable when my MS relapses and I am unable to walk or move.”
Glorinda, 55, who was a retail district manager for 30+ years, has lost 162 pounds and no longer needs a walker. “Don’t get me wrong, I am elated to report my diabetes and sleep apnea are a thing of the past, but to be free from that walker is the best thing in the world.” She credits her weight loss and working with a personal trainer for this accomplishment.
She also notes since her weight loss surgery, she has not had an asthma attack; Glorinda is also in the process of being weaned off blood pressure medication.
“If you had told me a year ago that a personal trainer would be coming to my house three times a week, I would have laughed,” Glorinda says. But, in fact, it is 100 percent true. She is doing cardio, weight and strength training and takes extended walks around her neighborhood.
“Obesity is a disease and the consistent support of friends and family can be the best medicine,” says their bariatric surgeon, Dr. Seun Sowemimo. “When I met Lisa and Glorinda, I saw that fire of determination in their eyes. I knew they were going to be successful and they have proven it.”
A Midlife Reboot
When asked what advice they would offer other men and women who feel like it’s too late to regain control of their weight, both women shared their insight — Lisa is a big supporter of the Prime Surgicare Bariatric Support Group at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold.
“Weight loss surgery is a big lifestyle change, and it helps tremendously to surround yourself with people going through the same experience,” she says. Lisa adds she has never met a doctor and staff who are so caring about the patients they treat. “They are a very rare breed, and you can see it is truly from the heart.”
Glorinda adds a few words of inspiration: “We took back our lives and you can too. You’re never too old to live a better life,” she says with a smile. “Believe me, I know, because I’ve done it. I’m just a healthier, happier version of me!”
About Us
Dr. Seun Sowemimo and Dr. Bennet Togbe are board-certified and fellowship-trained, general, laparoscopic and bariatric surgeons in NJ. They specialize in minimally invasive weight loss surgery and general surgery procedures including diverticulitis, gallbladder and hernia conditions. They are the top NJ surgeons at Prime Surgicare, with offices in Freehold serving Monmouth and Ocean counties.
To learn more, visit our YouTube channel or call Prime Surgicare at (732)-982-2002.