We’d like to share an inspiring success story from another surgeon’s operating room, highlighting the transformative power of Gastric Sleeve Surgery. This uplifting tale revolves around a mother and daughter duo who chose to undergo the surgery together, showcasing the strength of love, family, and the life-changing impact of this procedure. This story is also accompanied with a video (below).
Amy Hughes and her mother, Jo Ann Miterko, shared many things, including eating habits and weight struggles. Amy recalls, “I started going to Weight Watchers meetings with my mom at 11, and I’ve struggled with my weight ever since. Despite trying every diet and exercise routine, I couldn’t lose the weight. It wasn’t just my life being affected; my kids’ lives were too. I wanted to be active and present for them, but my weight held me back.”
Determined to make a change, Hughes sought help from the bariatric program at Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN). As she learned more about the program, she believed it could benefit her mother as well. “I thought it would be great for us to do it together and support each other,” Hughes says. However, her mom was initially hesitant, citing concerns about her age and the safety of the surgery.
Despite her mother’s reservations, Hughes proceeded with her gastric sleeve surgery on October 14, 2021, performed by Dr. Nicolas Teleo at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Pocono. The minimally invasive procedure removes about 80 percent of the stomach, including the section that produces the hunger-stimulating hormone ghrelin. “There are various types of bariatric surgeries, each aiding weight loss differently,” explains Dr. Teleo. “Gastric sleeve surgery reduces the stomach’s size, while gastric bypass combines restriction and nutrient malabsorption.”
Following the surgery, Hughes experienced significant weight loss and a boost in confidence. Her mother, witnessing this transformation, began reconsidering her stance. When Miterko needed to lose weight for knee replacement surgery, she joined LVHN’s bariatric program and underwent robotic-assisted gastric bypass surgery by Dr. Teleo on July 19, 2022.
“I was worried about recovery due to my age, but it turned out to be easy,” Miterko shares. Since the surgery, she has lost 150 pounds and successfully underwent two knee replacement surgeries, feeling rejuvenated and full of energy. “Losing the weight makes you feel young again. After 60 years of struggling, I can’t describe how good it feels.”
Both Hughes and Miterko have found new leases on life. Hughes, having lost 123 pounds, now engages actively with her children. “I’m saying yes to life and showing my kids what confidence looks like,” she says. Her mother echoes the sentiment, enjoying a renewed sense of vitality.
For anyone considering bariatric surgery, Hughes offers heartfelt advice: “It’s the best decision I’ve ever made. It transformed not only my life but also my kids’ lives.”
