The WellSpan Spotlight

Diet and nutrition

Bariatric patient feels ‘reborn’ after surgery

Jessica Carbone loves Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal with whole milk. She loves cereal in general. In fact, she met her husband in the cereal aisle of a grocery store.

Jessica says eating cereal with whole milk – lots of it – was one of her unhealthy habits, along with eating ice cream and junk food, which she sometimes did on the sofa or in bed, both places where she spent a lot of time. A mom of two, she avoided exercise and helping out around the house. She was depressed and tired, and even had trouble keeping up with her kids’ activities.

Jessica started gaining weight after she had her two kids and just kept gaining. At one point, the 4-foot-11-inch Lancaster woman weighed 215 pounds, more than double her weight in high school, when she was a cheerleader and played softball and basketball.

Two years ago, she decided to change her life.

Jessica enrolled in the bariatric surgery program at WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital, noting, “My head and heart were in the right place.

In February 2023, Dr. Jason Marone performed her bariatric surgery – vertical sleeve gastrectomy – on Jessica, who has never looked back. She has lost almost 90 pounds since then and her physical and mental health have vastly improved.

“I was dedicated to losing weight and doing it the right way,” she says. “Dr. Marone’s office was fantastic. They are a great team. They have the most amazing nurses and staff, who feel like a family to me now. They are a huge part of my life and my success.”

From the start, Jessica says she knew what to expect from her bariatric surgery experience. She underwent a required psychological screening, took nutrition classes, and met with Dr. Marone. The preparation is vital because undergoing bariatric surgery requires significant lifestyle changes that a patient needs to be ready to make.

“His bedside manner is fantastic,” she says. “He is a straight shooter. And he is kind. He never made me feel bad or that I was less of a person. He gave me all the resources I needed, and his office provided great support.”

Jessica started losing weight rapidly after her surgery.

Before surgery, Jessica had gestational diabetes during pregnancy, often required a rescue inhaler for asthma, and had high cholesterol and elevated liver enzymes. She also had back and shin pain when trying to exercise. Since having surgery, she no longer uses her inhaler. Her cholesterol and liver enzyme counts have dropped dramatically. She can exercise and enjoy life free of pain.

She now has more energy and regularly goes to a gym, lifting weights and swimming a few times a week. She coaches her son’s travel baseball team and runs and does pushups, sit-ups, and jumping jacks with the kids.

She eats three meals a day, making sure she prioritizes protein and healthy amounts of vegetables, and avoiding carbohydrates and sugar.

The surgery helped Jessica’s mental health, too. She and her husband do active things together, she takes pride in herself and what she has accomplished, and she enjoys going out and being social.

“My son tells me all the time that this was the best gift ever. It’s awesome to go to amusement parks and jump on the trampoline in the backyard,” she says. “I am living again. Life is great! I feel like I have been literally reborn and probably added 20 years to my life. My only regret is not doing this sooner!”