Bariatric patient hopes his story will help others live a healthier life
After losing more than 100 pounds through bariatric surgery at Powers Health, Deonte Mackie had one regret.
“I wish I had done it years earlier. That has been my only regret throughout this journey,” the 37-year-old Hammond resident said. Deonte is sharing his story in the hopes it could help at least one person live a healthier life.
Deonte, who had battled his weight since middle school, had tried “literally everything,” but the scale was like a yo-yo. “I felt like losing weight and keeping it off was not something I could control with diet and exercise. There’s only so much you can do on your own,” he said.
In 2017, his primary care physician noticed his weight fluctuated significantly between visits. The doctor asked if he was actively trying to lose weight, and Deonte told him of his struggles with the scale despite eating right and exercising. The doctor asked him if he ever considered bariatric surgery.
“I used to think if you need surgery to lose weight that you’re not serious about it … that you’re looking for an easy way out,” he said. “In hindsight, it is the stupidest thing to say no to a surgery that is going to help you in the long run.”
The turning point for him was when he experienced a lot of stress in his life. “I thought I was going to have a stroke,” said Deonte, who works while earning his physics degree at Purdue University Northwest. That was the moment he made an appointment with a Powers Health bariatric physician.
At his highest weight, Deonte was 330 pounds. After completing the two-week pre-surgical diet through Powers Health Bariatric Services, he weighed 307 and was ready for his sleeve gastrectomy on June 3, 2024, with Dr. Paul Stanish. Deonte’s weight one year after the surgery was 213, and by September, the scale dipped below 200 pounds. This was an accomplishment he said he never could have reached on his own.
“From my dietitian to my surgeon to every person in the Powers Health office, everyone was so helpful, so encouraging,” he said.
The number on the scale is not the only number to shrink for Deonte. His clothing size went from 52 to 36.
Over the years, he had saved a favorite shirt and pants in the hopes he would one day be able to wear them. “After I had lost the weight, I dug up that outfit and tried it on. I was almost in tears because they fit! They were even big on me!”
The benefits of his weight loss did not stop there. Deonte is off one of his blood pressure medications and expects to be off the other two soon. His sleep apnea is resolving, he no longer suffers from acid reflux, and he can trek up the stairs at college, a task that used to leave him out of breath.
Dr. Stanish, who has been performing bariatric surgeries since 1998, praised Deonte’s weight-loss success following his gastrectomy.
“He has done tremendously well post-surgery. An ideal patient, like Deonte, knows surgery is an important, effective weight-loss tool, but it is not a guarantee. Patients still have to prioritize their health. If they play by the rules, they will change their life,” the Powers Health surgeon said. “Almost every week, I’ll see patients while at Costco or somewhere else in the community, sometimes years after their surgery, and they will cry talking about how their health and quality of life were vastly improved since having the procedure.”
In his lighter body, Deonte enjoys exercising, staying on track with his diet and getting creative in the kitchen to make healthier, tastier meals. He wants others considering bariatric surgery to know the procedure will help them live their best life.
“Don’t be afraid. Do a lot of research. Listen to your doctors,” he said. “This surgery is a tool that will change your life for the better.”
Powers Health offers bariatric surgery for people who find lifestyle changes and medical weight-loss treatment ineffective on their own. With board-certified bariatric surgeons among its team of healthcare professionals, the comprehensive bariatric surgery program has earned accreditation based on high standards of quality and successful outcomes.
