From exhausted to energized mom, weight loss surgery changed Megan’s health.

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When Megan Alexander crossed the finish line of her first half marathon, she thought back to another marathon in her life -- the long, hard distance to reach a healthy weight.

Turn back the stopwatch several years. Megan was overweight, always exhausted, and had no energy to play or hang out with her kids. Her weight increased in 2021, after her two younger children were diagnosed with a rare disease. “We had multiple surgeries and many hospital stays, which did not help my diet or weight,” said Megan of Van Meter, Iowa.

In January 2022, she began her life-changing weight loss journey with MercyOne Des Moines Bariatric Surgery. Five months later, she underwent robotic gastric bypass surgery performed by Mark Smolik, MD.

“There is always risk associated with any surgery; however, robotic surgery does have benefits for the patient vs. traditional surgical techniques,” said Dr. Smolik. “With robotic surgery, the incision is smaller with fewer stitches. There is a lower risk of infection, reduced blood loss, a shorter surgery and a faster recovery.”

Robotic surgery was a great option for Megan. Before bariatric surgery, she weighed 247 pounds. Today, she weighs 172 pounds.

”My mom had bariatric surgery with Dr. Smolik a year-and-a-half before,” Megan said. “I wanted to be healthier for my kids. I had also done every diet out there and would gain everything back. I decided to take the plunge and have the surgery.”

Today, she describes her health as “amazing.” She has a lot more energy and is back to running again, participating in her first half marathon in Des Moines this year.

Along the way, there have been other small victories in her weight-loss marathon. The day she cried with happiness, when she reached one of her first weight-loss goals… when she was able to wrap a normal-sized towel around herself…and the fun she has had shopping for smaller and smaller-sized clothes as she lost the weight. “Even your shoe size may change,” she said.

She has no regrets about having the surgery. ”It’s the best tool to have,” Megan concluded. “The confidence I gained has surpassed all my hopes for this surgery.”