This is such an amazing achievement!
Portland, Tennessee native Kaitlyn Smith made the decision to get healthy and lost an incredible 208 lbs!
The 19-year-old previously weighed 414lbs, and the dramatic weight loss left her with extra skin all over her body.
[ Related: ABC News Correspondent Loses 90 lbs! ]
So, she set up a crowdfunding site where people could donate to help her pay for the skin-removal surgery!
But then something amazing happened when Miami plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Salzhauer saw Kaitlyn’s story. He explained:
“It was late in the afternoon on Christmas, and my sister sent me a text message saying I should check out this story on PEOPLE.com. It really resonated with me. I do this type of pro bono thing at least once or twice a year, so I’m always looking for deserving and inspired people. [Smith] for sure fits the bill. It’s a tremendous accomplishment for anybody to lose 200 lbs. ├óΓé¼ΓÇ£ especially the way she did it, with diet and exercise.”
There is a catch though! Kaitlyn still needs to lose some more weight before it will be safe to do the procedure. Right now, she’s at a 34 BMI and the Dr. likes his patients to be at least a 32 BMI. But the surgery isn’t until February 19th in Miami, so she has lots of time to work on it.
The first surgery will be for her chest and stomach, the next will include her arms and legs, then the final one will be her back, with four to eight weeks of recovery between each procedure.
As for the ca$$$h that was raised crowdfunding, Kaitlyn said:
“The money I am raising and have raised will go to my living and travel expenses while I’m in Miami. I’ll have to take three trips.”
We’re wishing Kaitlyn so much happiness as she continues on her journey to be healthy! Go gurl!
[Image via Kaitlyn Smith/Larsen & Talbert/People .]
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