Tyler Schmidt transformed his body through weight-loss surgery, but perhaps more importantly, the Bartlesville resident gained a renewed spirit for life. “I used to eat every two or three hours, eat until I was miserable. I didn’t do anything with my daughter. I was always tired and grumpy and angry and disappointed,” Schmidt said in…

As a mother of three teenage daughters, Shasta Carmack yearned for the time when she would be more active participant in their activities.  The Sperry resident was diagnosed with reduced ejection fraction, also referred to as systolic heart failure, and had to be put on a beta blocker and blood pressure medications. Carmack’s condition contributed…

When Brandon Lalli found out he was going to be a grandfather, he wanted to be prepared. “I wanted to get on the floor and play with the grandbaby and not need help to get up,” Lalli said. Dealing with back and knee issues, as well as a severe case of acid reflux, Lalli weighed…

At 60 years old, Mike Burgess felt the effects of his health history. The Fairfax, Oklahoma resident required six insulin shots and two metformin pills on a daily basis to manage his diabetes. His A1C had climbed to 8.1 mmol/L and was categorized at a dangerous level. At 429 pounds, Burgess’ mobility limited him physically…

Erric Lane did not want to become a statistic, no matter the obstacles he had to face. Heart disease and diabetes were common in Lane’s family history. His father died of heart disease at age 62. In addition to his genetic background, Lane has cerebral palsy, which limits the use of his legs. At one…

When Abbea Porter made the decision to attend a Bailey Bariatrics weight loss seminar in June 2020, she began a journey that changed her physically and left a lasting impact on her mental state. “I didn’t realize the depression and anxiety and how angry I was until I was on this side of it,” Porter…

As a nurse, Cindy Snook witnessed first-hand the impact COVID-19 had on patients. So, when she did test positive with the virus, Snook was thankful for a decision she had already made. “You saw the virus and would see obese people not doing so well,” Snook said. “I thought this is not going to be…

An array of sports and various other activities constantly keeps Cassie Smith, a mother of eight children, on the go. Whether it’s jogging with her high school son during his cross-country workouts or coaching her daughter’s cheer squad, Smith is thankful she can keep up with a busy schedule. “I’m very active,” Smith said. “I…