07/29/2026
For hours, beads flew through the air, marching bands thundered past, and crowds packed the streets of New Orleans. As Mardi Gras floats rolled down the city’s famous route, Cheryl, 66, stayed for every moment of the celebration.
This milestone would have been impossible one year earlier.
Cheryl, a sports official, tried for years to lose weight on her own, but didn’t achieve lasting success.
“I was tired of being overweight, out of breath, and unable to do the things that I used to do,” Cheryl says.
At her primary care provider’s recommendation, Cheryl turned to Saint Luke’s for help. She met with Dr. Robert Kenney, a board-certified and fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon, who evaluated her health needs and recommended a gastric bypass.
“Dr. Kenney was awesome in explaining things to me and helping me find the weight-loss path I wanted,” Cheryl says.
In preparation for her procedure, Cheryl met with a behavioral health specialist, cardiologist, exercise physiologist, and dietitian to learn more about what to expect during and after surgery.
Dr. Kenney performed Cheryl’s gastric bypass in May of 2025. She has lost 90 pounds since.
"I have lots of energy and am able to do things that I didn't do before because I just didn't have the desire nor the energy."
Cheryl now finds joy in everyday moments that once felt uncomfortable, like attending a concert or feeling more confident stepping onto the volleyball court and standing in front of crowds as a sports official.
But the biggest example came in the form of a trip crossed off her bucket list. Less than a year after surgery, Cheryl and her husband took a two-week vacation, starting in Tennessee and ending in New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
“We traipsed all over, viewing historical sites, climbing mountains, and watching the parade, but the thing I've noticed is that I'm not ashamed of my body anymore,” she says. “I’m amazed at how things have changed for me.”
Read Cheryl's full story: https://heyor.ca/oKejnD
