Voices of Wellness : Our Patients Speak

Miriama Ualesi

(45 year old female), Auckland, New Zealand - March 2024 Tour Group Participant
June 20, 2024

March 2024 will forever be embedded as the month that changed my life! I had settled for obesity and was in a constant mind battle of denial (that I wasn't that obese) and masking the fact that I was unhappy with how I looked and how it made me feel. To those around me I would put on a smile and pretend I was fine with how I looked, yet the smile never reached my eyes. 

Fast forward to December 2023, we were on a holiday with family in Sydney and I opened up to my sister about where I was at and I was exploring the idea of gastric sleeve surgery. She told me she knew someone who had gone through it and is now helping others by sharing her experience and inviting them to join by offering tours to Turkey. I made up my mind then and there that YES I am going to do it! Made contact with Arrianna, and before you knew it, I was boarding a plane with my sister as my support person heading for turkey. 

Arrianna was amazing from the word get go! Readily available to answer any queries and the support she gave to not only myself but to the amazing group of women who were also on the tour. Literally seeing us through every step of the way right up to being wheeled into surgery and post surgery! Not only did I experience life changing surgery, but I got to meet extraordinary women who were living out their why, experience a country I never in a million years thought I would travel to and got to share it with one of the most important people in my life.. my sister! 9 months on and I have absolutely no regrets! I feel and look Uh-mazing! (Yep I'm owning it!!). 

Quality of life is back, energy is back, masks have been dropped and my smile has reached my eyes! I am thankful and blessed to have been able to join Arrianna's tour! It gave me my life back and the authentic mum, partner, Nani, daughter, sister, aunty back to my loved ones.