The Shadow
LOW MOOR — Tamara Simmons took her wellness into her own hands, and now through a partnership with the Alleghany Highlands YMCA, she wants to help others.
In 2017, Tamara knew she needed a heart transplant for a congenital defect, but when the doctors asked her to lose weight to help her heart before surgery, she knew time was running out; her heart was working at 50 percent capacity.
At her first visit, Dr. Jennifer Kirby from the University of Virginia Medical Center told her she also had prediabetes.
Tamara was shocked. As a child of eight, Tamara’s parents taught her never to use her heart condition as an excuse, and now that she had prediabetes, she was determined not to feel sorry for herself.
The doctors at U.Va. decided to put in a pacer which would pump her heart. After this procedure, Tamara’s heart stopped working at 0 percent capacity. The pacer was pumping her heart.
Since January 2019, her heart is working on its own, and the pacer has not kicked in.
The doctors told her she could never have children. She now has a 28-year-old son and a 6-year-old granddaughter.
Almost as a miracle, soon after being diagnosed, she heard about a national diabetes prevention program (National DDP) being offered by the Highland Medical Center in Monterey, about an hour away from where she lives.
Caponeia Jackson, her National DDP lifestyle coach, welcomed her with open arms, and Tamara joined a group with four other people with prediabetes in early October 2018.
“I learned so much,” she said.
For starters, Tamara learned about eating healthy in a way she could sustain.
“I used to drink six, 20-ounce Pepsi’s a day,” she said. “I never thought about it — it was just a habit.”
She also started becoming more physically active, starting with chair exercises and swimming. Tamara has gradually increased her physical activity to 14-17 hours per week. She began losing weight.
The more weight she lost, the greater her motivation to eat more healthy and continue moving her body.
“The program really works — the accountability, information and support from the group are so helpful,” she said.
The drive was worth it.
Today, Tamara has lost 77 pounds and reduced her waist circumference by 13 inches. She eats more vegetables and fruits, lean meats, and other healthy foods and moves her body regularly at the local YMCA.
“I don’t feel like I am denying myself at all,” she said. “I feel so good. I just love learning about food and health.”
Her blood glucose is down, putting her out of risk for developing diabetes, and her heart is now working at 100 percent capacity. She is no longer a heart transplant candidate.
Tamara wants to spread the word that she just trained at the Virginia Center for Diabetes Prevention and Education and is certified as a diabetes prevention lifestyle coach.
The Alleghany Highlands YMCA is working with her to help her start teaching her first program. She began her diabetes prevention class on March 19 and plans to continue the course offering at 11 a.m. each Tuesday thereafter.
“I am so grateful to the entire team that helped me along this journey,” Tamara said. “I cannot wait to start helping others.”
For more information on Tamara’s course or other Highlands YMCA offerings, call 962-9622.
Editor’s Note: This story was submitted by Susan Hutchison, development director, and Darlene Thomas, director wellness and health, Alleghany Highlands YMCA.
(Photos Courtesy Alleghany Highlands YMCA)
