A Whole New Life
Glen McFarland

Before

After

When asked what has changed in his life after gastric bypass surgery, Glen McFarland laughs and responds, "What hasn’t changed?" At 6 feet, 5 inches, and 491 pounds, Glen was depressed and tired constantly. But it wasn't until Glen woke up experiencing the symptoms of a heart attack that he made the life-altering decision to have bariatric surgery.

At the hospital, Glen discovered one of the ventricles in his heart wasn’t filling up properly. He was diagnosed with sleep apnea, a disorder that caused his heart to stop repeatedly during the night. Sleep apnea primarily affects individuals who are overweight. He began to research bariatric surgery, a procedure that restricts the amount of food to enter the stomach. "A person must be 100 pounds overweight and have an additional medical problem for insurance to help with the surgery," says Glen. “My diagnosis of sleep apnea made me a good candidate.”

In December 1999, Glen underwent surgery with Norman Samuels, M.D., a general surgeon on staff at Plantation General Hospital and one of the few surgeons in Florida who specializes in bariatric surgery. Three years later, Glen weighs around 210 pounds, has a new career, and sleeps through the night. "I feel like I’m 20 years younger," he says. "I go dancing for hours—I’m amazed at my energy! I thank Dr. Samuels and his staff for giving me a renewed outlook on life."