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Danny Perry
Age: 52
Date of Surgery: 10/10/2007
Surgery Procedure: Gastric Bypass
Surgeon: Dr. Dyer

I was a 403 pound unhealthy person.  I ached daily from neck to ankle and decided that I need to do something to improve my health and to have a better quality of life.  I was talking to a co-worker who had the gastric-bypass surgery and suggested that I contact Centennial to get more information.  One year later I was scheduled to have the surgery.  It's been eight months since surgery and approximately 142 pounds later, my health has improved tremendously.  My life has changed, I am more active than I've ever been.  I would recommend Dr. Dyer and Centennial to anyone, it has been a life changing experience.

Sheila R. Perry
Age: 50
Date of Surgery: 11/14/2007
Surgery Procedure: Gastric Band
Surgeon: Dr. Dyer

I have struggled with weight every since I became pregnant with my first child.  I have for the past thirty years gone up and down with my weight.  It has truly been a vicious cycle.  I have been interested in the lap band surgery every since I first heard about it but always felt it was beyond my dreams.  I was so excited when I found out that I was approved to have the surgery.  So excited that I couldn't sleep.  Post surgery it has been great seeing the pounds come off little by little because it is a slow process but I would not change a thing.  I know that I will get  to my target weight soon and I will never go back.  Centennial has been wonderful from start to finish.  They have a great support system and I don't feel like I had surgery and I'm now on my own.  I feel as though I have inherited a family

John Sloan
Age: 57
Date of Surgery: 06/25/2007
Surgery Procedure: Gastric Bypass
Surgeon: Dr. Douglas Olsen

The staff at the Centennial Center for the Treatment of Obesity has always been extremely courteous and has assisted me in every way possible. Dr. Olsen has been extremely professional and went above and beyond to explain my surgical procedure and has answered my post operative questions in great detail. He truly cares about the well-being of his patients. In my opinion Dr. Olsen's experience, knowledge, surgical skills, personality, and professionalism make him second to none in bariatric surgery. I can, without hesitation recommend Dr. Olsen and his staff to anyone that is considering bariatric surgery.

I lost 83 pounds in the first 10 months after surgery and am nearing my goal weight. I feel much better now, am jogging two or three times a week, and have stopped taking two of the prescription drugs I was previously taking for high blood pressure and arthritis. But most importantly, I have dropped three or four strokes off of my golf handicap!!!"

Lesa Franklin
Age: 45
Date of Surgery: 08/13/2001
Surgery Procedure: Rou-En-Y Gastric Bypass
Surgeon: Dr. Douglas Olsen

Centennial’s Center for the Treatment of Obesity is a one-stop shop for bariatric surgery patients.  It has everything the bariatric patient needs – it’s a great source of information, there are nutritionists and an exercise physiologist on staff, psychological support, plastic surgery consults, support groups throughout the region, financial counselors who will guide you through the insurance approval maze and office staff who will happily assist you with whatever you need – they will even talk you through those little meltdowns that occur when you are losing weight (or in the process of getting insurance approval).  The surgeons are excellent; you can’t go wrong with any of them (that’s what I hear at support group, anyway).  My experience at Centennial has been consistently positive.  From the seminar I attended in 2001 to these years after surgery, I’ve felt accepted, loved and supported.  Debbie Thompson gave me a ton of moral support; Lisa Ferrell was extraordinarily helpful in my dealings with the insurance company; Jill Burns has been fabulous to answer my questions and the exercise physiologist has been most helpful in tips to get me moving.  Dr. Olsen saved my life.    Not only did he do an excellent job with the procedure, he has always been encouraging and helpful during the process of losing the weight.  He gave me a tool that I can use for the rest of my life to be fit and healthy.

I will be 8 years out on 13 August 2009.  I weigh less right now than I ever have in my adult life.  I can move – I can breathe – life is good!  Thanks Centennial!

Kathy Payton
Age: 53
Date of Surgery: 09/18/2007
Surgery Procedure: Gastric Bypass
Surgeon: Dr. Houston

My weight loss surgery experience has changed my life forever. From the beginning when I attended the seminar to today, everyone I have met at Centennial has been so encouraging and supportive of me. It was so comforting to learn how many of the staff at the Center for Obesity and Centennial Women’s Hospital have also had weight loss surgery and had been so successful with the program. After seeing them I knew I too could do it. With this encouragement, the skillful hands of a great surgeon and the information provided by the dietitians and exercise physiologist I was able to reach goal weight in less than 9 months.

Another useful part of the Centennial experience has been the Support Group at Centennial. I have found this group very educational as well as supportive. I drive 170 mile round trip and find it definitely worth the trip.

All these things have made the weight loss experience the “time of my life”. I can’t think of a time in my life when I have had more fun.

Thank you for being a part of our new website, what a great way to pay it forward!

Pam Davis
Age: 43
Date of Surgery: 3/02/01
Surgery Procedure: Gastric Bypass
Surgeon:

When I chose Centennial in 2001 for my bariatric surgery, I knew it was a special place, everything just felt right. Over the years, seeing how the program at Centennial continued to grow and to offer opportunities to their patients that other facilities just were not able to offer, I knew I made the right choice. The level of commitment that Centennial has made to the patients, the staff, the surgeon’s, that’s what embodies the Centennial Experience.

Tim Pickard
Age: 48
Date of Surgery: 1/09/08
Surgery Procedure: has lost 132 pounds with gastric band
Surgeon: David Dyer

Centennial Center for the Treatment of Obesity is an excellent program for bariatric patients. A special thank you for Dr. Dyer and his staff (Joanna & Robin), they have treated me with respect and professionalism through my journey from obesity. I would recommend Dr. Dyer and the Center to anyone who needs to make a lifesaving journey from obesity. From the first seminar, to preop, surgery, postop, band adjustments, support groups, psych aftercare, nurses; the staff at the Center and the hospital have been wonderful. Dr. Houston and Dr. Olsen are also great doctors with a great passion for any patient of this program. Thank you to Pam Davis and Kathy Hungerford for their encouragement and keeping me positive in my life changing journey. I am truly blessed to be a part of the Centennial family. I am a lot healthier now than I was 1 year ago at this time. My joint pain in my knees has almost completely gone away and my blood pressure is normal now. I can actually walk 5 miles without stopping, that’s something I couldn’t have done last year. Thanks to all for helping me with my new lifestyle.

Holly Parsons
Age: 39
Date of Surgery: 4/25/2007
Surgery Procedure: lost 64 pounds with gastric band
Surgeon: Hugh Houston, MD

I truly feel grateful to be able to be a patient and walking the same path as my band patients. I love helping and inspiring them with their weight loss journey. I am proud to be a part of the great team at Centennial.

Adam Woodside
Age: 22
Date of Surgery: 3/05/07
Surgery Procedure: gastric band
Surgeon: Dr. Houston

I can say nothing but good things about my experience at Centennial. From all my appointments with Dr. Houston, to any experience at Centennial Medical Center, things always go better than expected. I could not have asked for better treatment during the time I was there. I feel that this is with out a doubt, the BEST choice I have ever made in my life. I feel like I have just begun to live life to its fullest, and can now enjoy it. The two year mark is approaching, and at almost 200lbs down, I have nothing but thanks to all the people who have helped me through it, Dr. Houston and crew have been some of the best to work with over this time…

Jane Ellen Herrin
Age: 43
Date of Surgery: 10/25/2002
Surgery Procedure: gastric bypass
Surgeon: Dr. Olsen

Centennial Hospital represents a lot more to me than just that place where I got my gastric bypass surgery.  It's the very same hospital I chose to have my two daughters born at, and I live in Cookeville.  I even requested Charles Knapper to do my anesthesia, the very same man who was there for me during my RNY.  Centennial means family to me.  Dr. Doug Olsen is family to me.  I didn't have the gastric bypass just to wear smaller clothes.  I had a BMI of 60.  And I have PCOS.  My  husband and I had been married for many years and had wasted thousands of dollars trying to have children.  What I needed was to be healthy.  Having gastric bypass surgery was the way to go.  I wish I hadn't waited to so long to do it.  But now I have two beautiful and healthy girls.  And Doug Olsen was there each time I was back to have a baby.  Doug Olsen and the staff at Centennial are a part of my extended family.  I have a lot of dedicated people to thank when I look at my daughters,  and it all starts with Dr. Doug Olsen and countless people who helped us at Centennial.