In October 2009, Laura Pereira, 28, feared she only had a few years left to live.
The single mother from Kelowna weighed nearly 500 pounds and was fighting desperately to get on the list for weight loss surgery.
Due to lengthy waits in the province, it was going to take up to four years for Pereira to receive gastric bypass surgery.
However, after writing letters to politicians and surgeons and appearing on CHBC News, a Victoria surgeon offered to operate on Pereira right away.
On Wednesday, Pereira told CHBC News she has lost 185 pounds since her surgery.
Pereira says she still has 95 more pounds to go to reach her target weight but is proud of her progress.
Not only can she now go for walks with son Keegan, 10, she is feeling happier, has more energy and is even sleeping better.
Pereira says she has had to make major adjustments to her eating habits and lifestyle but says it’s all worth it.
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