British Columbia Association of Bariatric Advocates
Board Member Profiles
President - Kris Greene
Since becoming involved in the WLS world in 2003, Kris has been
an advocate. She is a Moderator and Owner of several online support
groups, and the creator/publisher of the WLS Forum Newsletter.
Advocating on a provincial level is why Kris has become involved in
BCABA. Education for government officials as well as for educators
and the medical community is a necessity. More funding is required
for weight loss surgeries of all types, as well as for the
post-operative care that comes along with losing a substantial
amount of weight.
Kris had the RNY Gastric Bypass surgery November 8, 2004, and has
lost 160 pounds. Not only did having WLS save Kris' life, but it has
also changed the course of her family repeating the pattern of
generations before; Kris' children have been and will be taught by
example, to lead a healthy lifestyle that not only includes a
balanced diet, but also daily exercise.
Most recently Kris has decided to pursue the next step of her weight
loss journey, and that is to have reconstructive surgery. Having
lost 160 pounds her body now has lots of loose skin -- all over. Our
Provincial Medical Services plan does not cover reconstructive
surgery, a necessary surgery for many people that have lost a
substantial amount of weight (even though to not have it is a daily
struggle -- rashes and infections, not to mention the mental anguish
of having a disfigured body). Therefore she is having to self pay
for this surgery, taking out a bank loan that she will be paying off
for the next five years; her families’ dreams of owning their own
home once again put on the backburner so that she can be "normal."
She has chosen to go to Costa Rica primarily because of the cost
difference. The belt lipectomy (lower body lift) here in Canada is
approximately $15,000 ; in Costa Rica this surgery, as well as a
thigh lift, lipo, and brachioplasty (arm lift) is $8400USD, plus the
cost of hospital stay ($500) and flights/accommodation. The total
cost will be approximately the same cost there for everything as it
would be to have the one surgery here in Canada.
Kris' dream is that someday the children of our Country will not
repeat the patterns of the generations before them. Until that time
comes she will continue to lobby the Government and to advocate for
more funding and education surrounding the struggles that the obese
and formerly obese people face every day.
To contact me, email me at:
Vice President - Erin Madsen
Erin was overweight ever since childhood, gradually gaining more
and more weight each year until reaching a high of 371 pounds. She
suffered from sleep apnea, severe back pain and venous stasis which
resulted in an ulcer on her right leg. At the age of 30, she found
herself unable to continue functioning at her job full-time and went
on part-time medical disability. After a four year wait, at the age
of 31, she underwent gastric bypass with Dr. Brad Amson in March of
2004. In 13 months she lost just over 200 pounds. She experienced a
number of difficulties the first year following surgery, including
strictures which greatly reduced her ability to eat solid food, and
sludge in her gallbladder (which was treated with the drug Ursodiol,
avoiding surgery). At 14 months post-op, upon the recommendation of
her plastic surgeon, she underwent a surgical resection of her
varicose veins. Left with considerable redundant skin following her
weight loss, she had the first of her plastic reconstruction
surgeries in August of 2005, a breast lift/reconstruction with
implants with Dr. Donald Guichon in Surrey. She experienced few
problems with that procedure (only a minor infection), so she went
in for number two in February of 2006 (also with Dr. Guichon): a
lower body lift (belt lipectomy with abdominoplasty). She
experienced severe anemia following this five-hour procedure and
received two blood transfusions. The recovery was far more
difficult, particularly for the newly-constructed belly button. But
she made it through and is ecstatic to finally have a shapely
woman’s body! She is still planning on having a thigh lift once
she’s finished paying for the first two procedures. (MSP paid
$292.68; Erin paid almost $16 000.)
A teacher by profession, Erin spent a number of years facilitating
the support groups in Langley and North Vancouver. She has recently
passed the reins to other post-ops to bring new blood to the
meetings. She founded the BCABA out of a desire to organize the many
voices speaking out as advocates for better access to bariatric and
reconstructive surgery. She has spoken publicly on numerous
occasions about her experience and has had her weight loss story
featured in The Vancouver Sun and The North Shore News.
To contact me, email me at:
Treasurer - Christine Demarse
Christine is one of the newest members of WLS, with her surgery
date being April 29th, 2008. Having been overweight most of her
36yrs and trying every (yes every) diet out there, she finally
decided that she needed Dr Amson’s help. It was a three year wait
for her first appointment and two years on Dr Amson’s wait list. The
longest five years of her life, but well worth the wait. Since
having WLS Christine’s life has changed. She is now healthier,
stronger and more confident.
Christine has 10 years of business and accounting to bring to the
BCABA. She is happily married with one beautiful daughter. She is an
active member on the school PAC. Christine is very committed to the
BCABA, and to help bring awareness and education about morbid
obesity.
To contact me, email me at:
Secretary - Shari Lychak
Shari was an obese child and has struggled with her weight for
her entire life. She has lost and gained significant amounts of
weight repeatedly throughout the years, never reaching a normal,
healthy weight. Part of this struggle was due to a genetic family
history of obesity, and part was learned lifestyle behavior. By the
time she learned to make healthy lifestyle choices her body was
unable to respond to these changes without surgical intervention. At
38 years of age, Shari suffered from osteoarthrits, hypertension,
sleep apnea, and she was pre-diabetic. The physical, social and
psychological symptoms of severe obesity made it impossible to
exercise at a gym; drive a car; use a public washroom; sit in a
movie theatre, classroom, or many restaurants; or even tie her own
shoes. She began attending weight loss surgery support meetings and
after a three year wait underwent roux-en-Y gastric bypass with Dr.
Brad Amson in February of 2006. Shari committed to daily exercise
and a strict dietary regimen following surgery and lost 300 lbs in
18 months. Despite the additional challenge of rheumatoid arthritis
(a non-WLS related auto-immune disease) Shari understands that
making healthy lifestyle choices is a life-long commitment to ensure
the weight loss is permanent. Shari’s doctors estimate she has 40
lbs of redundant skin sagging from her body. This excess can only be
removed surgically and still leaves her insulin-resistant and at
risk for many obesity-related co-morbidities, not the least of which
is stress on her damaged joints. Redundant skin also causes pain,
rashes, mobility problems, cuts off circulation, difficulty using
muscles while going to the washroom, etc. Shari, as with most people
who carry redundant skin, still feels like the obese person she used
to be when she looks in the mirror. She feels that she looked
‘normal’ 300 lbs heavier. The excess skin makes her body quite
deformed and there are significant psychological issues related to
this deformity. Even though she has worked very hard to be
successful with weight loss surgery, Shari feels that she is only
half-complete without reconstructive skin removal.
Shari went from taking months to work up the courage to attend her
first support group to chairing her local meetings. She has
organized walking groups, gym classes, aquafit groups, post-op
potluck dinners, and support group picnics. Shari is active on
several on-line support groups, regularly contributes articles to
the WLS newsletter, and her journey has been featured in the Nanaimo
Daily News and The Times Colonist. She has also spoken publicly to
medical professionals, politicians, and the general public regarding
bariatric surgery and reconstructive skin removal. Shari became an
active member of BCABA because of her belief that everyone has a
right to adequate health care, regardless of size, experience, or
income.
To contact me, email me at:
Director - Danielle Pridge
As a long standing member of BCABA, Danielle is proud to now hold
the position of Director. She has been working with the Board and
Members since BCABA's inception, volunteering at all of the
fundraising events, and acting as an advocate in her local city of
Nanaimo, BC.
To contact me, email me at:
Director - Blake Handley
Blake Handley was not always a big guy. It was only after he
became an adult that he began to gain weight. For the next thirty
years the weight just kept on compounding and eventually he passed
the 300 pounds mark. It was only then, and the recognition that he
could no longer do the physical things he needed to do, that he
considered something must be done about his weight. One of his many
doctors recommended him for weightloss surgery in 2008 and in 2009
he met with Dr. Amson for the first time.
In 2007 Blake was looking for a place to workout for overweight men.
Nothing was available. There were plenty of places for women but for
some reason men do not work out. To fill the gap he created
“Victoria Big Guys”. VicBigGuys was created with the assistance of
Camosun College’s Fitness and Exercise program as a place where big
guys could work out together. Blake still operates Big Guys as an
place for men but has expanded it beyond Camosun to other venues.
Blake is now active on two on-line weight loss forums, and at the
RJH Forum and serves proudly with the BCABA. He is pre-op in that
long list of patients awaiting bariatric surgery. He and his Big
Guys walk at least two 5k’s a week. Each Saturday morning they are
out at Cuthbert Holmes park. He can usually be found walking in many
of the 5k events in Victoria. He has been happily married to his
college sweetheart Marla for over 30 years. They live in Victoria
with two hairy dogs and one overweight cat.
To contact me, email me at:
