Natalina’s Journey

Hey team,

Firstly I would like to say thank you for checking out this page, and for hopefully becoming a part of my journey.

My name is Natalina and four years ago at 160cm tall and weighing 137kg, my doctor confirmed that I was morbidly obese. A lifelong struggle with food addiction had left me with low self esteem, poor physical health and even worse mental health. The excessive weight was impacting every aspect of my life including my work, relationships, and most importantly my ability to have a long and healthy life for my daughter.

My history.

The first 3 years of my life were spent in an orphanage in Romania before my mum arrived to rescue me and bring me back to New Zealand. The trauma of neglect, abuse and starvation in my early years contributed to an unhealthy relationship with food which began to take its toll as I entered puberty. Since the age of 14 I have tried every weight loss solution available with no long lasting success. After 15 years of struggling and feeling defeated, I finally decided to undergo gastric sleeve surgery with the support of my family and friends.

Results.

My recovery was challenging but the surgery was a success! In total I have lost 77kg. I have maintained a weight of 60kg for the last few years through determination, healthy eating and exercise. I was warned by my doctor that a high percentage of people who undergo gastric surgery put the weight back on as they do not adopt a sustainable healthy lifestyle. So I’m super proud of where I am today.

Why am I asking for help.

I have now reached the point in my journey where no amount of exercise or healthy eating will take me to the next step. I have been left with large and uncomfortable folds of skin in multiple areas around my body which are causing physical complications. My surgeon has told me that I require numerous excess skin removal procedures, which will kick off with an initial 11 hour surgery and 6 week recovery. My surgeon would like me to have this surgery immediately, as my skin is thin and struggling. The longer I leave these surgeries, the more procedures I will be needing, with more complications and more health risks added into the mix.

How you can help.

Financial support is a tough thing to ask for especially during these unpredictable times, with so many people impacted by Covid. I have some savings and have requested access to my kiwisaver to cover what I can of the surgical costs, but it is not enough. So I am now reaching out to my community for help. I would appreciate any donation you are able to give, to help me over this last hurdle. Thank you.