Forty-six-year-old Brandy loves being active and spending time with her husband and children. She recently became a grandmother to a 7-month-old baby boy who calls her "Gigi." She is training to run her next 10K alongside her son and enjoys staying fit with daily workouts and healthy meals.
In 2020, however, Brandy's life looked drastically different as her health was rapidly declining. As an account representative for an organ transplant company, Brandy traveled long distances for work, making it difficult to prioritize her health. She continued to gain weight, reaching 270 pounds.
Brandy's heart struggled to function amid her weight gain. Her heart was pumping less blood and showing signs of potential heart failure. She had trouble breathing and could no longer walk up the stairs. She began vomiting blood and developed inflammation in her colon, known as diverticulitis. With no relief in sight, Brandy feared for her life.
"I was miserable," Brandy says. "Every day I woke up feeling like I was dying."
A second chance with ARC Bariatric Surgery
In January of 2025, Brandy's physician Sarat C. Burri, MD, ARC Family Medicine, referred her to Marco Vinicio Medina-Zea, MD, FACS, FASMBS, Director of ARC Bariatric Surgery. After years of being critically ill, Brandy says visiting Dr. Medina to explore bariatric surgery was her final hope.
Dr. Medina advised that Brandy receive a gastric sleeve, a surgical weight-loss procedure in which 80% of the stomach is removed. For Brandy, the gastric sleeve was a vital surgery she desperately needed to save her life. Brandy says Dr. Medina made sure she fully understood the procedure and was comfortable voicing her thoughts and feelings throughout the process.
"You have a discussion with your physician about your care, and you're involved," Brandy says. "That's a big deal."
After undergoing the procedure in May of 2025, Brandy saw immediate results. She quickly began losing weight, and as her weight dropped, her health significantly improved. Brandy's care team discovered that her heart issues were microvascular. By losing weight, Brandy reduced the amount of stress on her heart.
"As soon as I had the surgery, it reset my body," Brandy says. "I instantly started feeling better, and the weight just started shedding off."
"A whole new life"
Brandy, who now weighs 136 pounds, lost half of her body weight. Brandy's weight loss opened the door to "a whole new life," she says. Her heart functions normally again, and she requires minimal medication to maintain her health.
"Dr. Medina saved my life," Brandy says. "Without Dr. Medina, the surgery, and care that his staff provided, I honestly don't think that my mortality rate was more than five years."
Brandy now enjoys going on regular walks, working out, and running. With the support of an ARC nutritionist, she comfortably manages her portions while enjoying her favorite foods, like corn on the cob.
"My reality right now looks very different," Brandy says. "I'm all about making sure that I don't get back to where I was, so I'm always making smart choices."
Today, Brandy has the strength and vitality to keep up with her children and grandson with ease. Her family was the ultimate motivation behind her decision to pursue bariatric surgery. Knowing that ARC provides dedicated resources to support patients' families gave her complete peace of mind throughout her journey.
Looking forward to a brighter future
In June, Brandy enjoyed a relaxing tropical getaway to St. Barts, St. Martin, and Anguilla with her husband. The trip was a personal milestone for Brandy, as she wore a two-piece swimsuit for the first time in decades, feeling a level of confidence she describes as priceless. Thanks to ARC's comprehensive care model, Brandy found the physical, mental, and emotional support she needed to reclaim her health and her life.
"Dr. Medina isn't just about making you look fabulous on the outside. He wants to make sure that you feel fabulous on the inside," Brandy says. "I feel so much better now, and that's all that matters."
ARC Bariatric Surgery
Bariatric surgery treats obesity by restarting your physiology. It is a procedure that changes the size of your stomach to assist with weight loss. A smaller stomach leads to altered gut hormones, decreases appetite, less food intake, and boosts metabolism. The overall result is up to 80% weight loss, long-term weight management, increased activity, and resolution of health conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia, and arthritis.
"Bariatric surgery isn't just about losing weight — it's about recovering your health," says Dr. Medina. "For many patients, it can dramatically improve or even resolve chronic conditions and help them reclaim energy, mobility, and quality of life."
Is bariatric surgery right for you? If you are interested in learning more or pursuing bariatric surgery, visit our website or call 512-421-4408.