Cincinnati Children’s Bariatric Summer Reunion
It was a night to remember! The Surgical Weight Loss Program for Teens (SWLPT) gathered at the 3rd annual Bariatric Summer Reunion Event - Friday, July 31, 2009, at the Sabin Center in Cincinnati Children’s Hospital- to celebrate another year of shared successes, challenges and triumphs in their journey towards healthy living. It was an evening filled with excitement, bonding, dinner and lots of dancing.
Before the DJ revved up the dance music, teen participants, family and friends took to the stage to entertain the audience with a combined talent and fashion show. Several particpants performed songs and one recited a heart-felt poem she had written. A mother of one of the teens played a beautiful solo piano piece. Victor F. Garcia, MD delivered a motivational speech titled "What Would You Attempt if You Knew You Could Not Fail?" A fashion show in which several members proudly flashed their transformed bodies in style was the highlight of the evening. The talent show was capped by a performance to the group's theme song, "We are Family", and awards given to sfaff members in recognition of the outstanding support and service they provide each teen in the program.
Payal Sawhney, a social worker for SWLPT and organizer of the event, stated that the evening was a success and that it was rewarding to see “all of these kids socializing, talking to each other and being confident… proud of themselves, their bodies, their images.” One of the main reasons to have such an event is so that the members of the support group can motivate each other. The fashion show, for example, was designed as a way of motivating new-comers. Sawhney said the fashion show allowed the teens to “show [new-comers that] they can do it. You are beautiful. You can walk on stage next year, too.”
Following the talent show, families took to the dance floor for the first dance – a father / daughter and mother / son dance. The evening ended with an open dance floor where everyone boogied down. We even got to see Thomas Inge, MD, PhD, shake it on the dance floor!
Many thanks go to Alex Moran for serving as a fabulous emcee for the event!
Cincinnati Children's was the first pediatric medical center in the country to offer a Comprehensive Weight Management Center incorporating weight loss surgery. The guiding principle in forming the SWLPT team is that weight loss surgery for teens should not occur in isolation, but in an environment that meets the unique physical, medical, behavioral, psychosocial and emotional needs of adolescents and their families. SWLPT’s surgical director is Dr. Inge, the medical director is Stavra A. Xanthakos, MD, MS, and the associate surgical director is Dr. Garcia.
