Emily’s Story: Joy in the Journey

Emily Whitaker watched it happen all around her: coworkers, patients, people in the GBMC community, having weight loss surgery and getting amazing results. She saw their transformations and began to imagine her own. 

“My husband and I are hoping to have children in the near future,” Emily said, “and I want to live a long, purposeful life for them.” 

In December 2023, Emily had gastric bypass surgery with Dr. Timothee Friesen at GBMC’s Comprehensive Obesity Management Program. And from her very first interaction with the team, she felt something special. 

“The support has been amazing,” she said. “Between the communication with the surgeons, pre- and post-surgical team, physician assistants, and the dietitians, everyone has been so nice and accommodating. Even the yearly follow-ups are met with joy and encouragement.” 

Emily had tried so many diets before. Fad programs. Weight loss plans. Nothing stuck. 

“Nothing was sustainable or successful for me,” she said. “Receiving gastric bypass has been an amazing tool for my long-term success and wellness.” 

Now, Emily finds joy in meal prepping and trying new foods. She’s healthier, happier, and feels better about herself inside and out. The relationship with food that once felt like a battle has become something nourishing, literally and emotionally. 

Emily’s story is about a woman who saw transformation modeled all around her, and decided she was ready for her own. GBMC’s COMP didn’t just give her a procedure, it gave her a foundation she can build a family on.