Miami Native Loses More than 250 Pounds in a Year After Bariatric Surgery

By: Miranda Torres

Edward Ferguson, 36, knew he needed to make a drastic change in his life when he was nearing 700 pounds. Before the pandemic hit, he stayed active by coaching basketball and working at a nightclub, but that all changed once he started working a desk job and kept the same eating habits without exercising. His desire to make a change led him to the bariatric surgery team at Jackson Health System.

At his heaviest, Ferguson was weighing 660 pounds and began to have intense anxiety and panic attacks. All that changed in 2022 when he met Irving Miranda, MD, a bariatric surgeon at Jackson West Medical Center.

“What struck me was the first question he asked me, ‘How can I help you?” Ferguson said. “He cares, and is attentive to his patients’ needs and goals. He wanted to make sure my heart, mind, body, soul, and family were ready for this journey.”

Before meeting with Dr. Miranda, Ferguson attempted to manage his weight on his own, and was able to lose 50 pounds just by changing his eating and workout habits. This showed Dr. Miranda that he was committed.

“My first impression of Edward was that he was a diamond that needed to be polished,” Dr. Miranda said. “He had a great personality, was always smiling, but I knew deep inside him, he had a healthier version of himself he wanted to show the world.”

Before his surgery, Ferguson was struggling with prediabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea. In order to prepare him for his surgery, Dr. Miranda and his primary care doctor started Ferguson on medication for his pre-existing conditions.

One of the keys to having successful bariatric surgery is to surround yourself with a dedicated support system, which was essential for Ferguson. He credits one of his coworkers with giving him the strength and inspiration to move forward with the procedure after watching them thrive after bariatric surgery.

“When I initially went into the process, I didn’t want to tell anyone. I wanted to do it alone,” Ferguson said. “But I sat down with my parents, sister, and coworker, and told them I couldn’t do it by myself. I needed the support from them, and they helped me through the entire thing.”

On May 23, 2023, he underwent a gastric sleeve – a bariatric procedure where 80 to 90 percent of the stomach is removed, leaving behind a banana-like tube or sleeve that creates a restrictive process where patients can’t eat as much as they used to. At the time of his surgery, Ferguson weighed 647 pounds, with a body mass index (BMI) of 88.

The change he experienced was immediate, losing 60 pounds and lowering his BMI to 68 in just the first month after his operation. By the six-month mark, he was 150 pounds down with a BMI of 58, and no longer requiring any form of medication.

“To see the transformation in Edward and see how he can be present for his family now is such a big deal,” Dr. Miranda said. “He was a very smart patient in the sense that he knew he needed to make a drastic change and bariatric surgery was the best permanent solution, rather than medication that only solves the problem temporarily.”

Now, Ferguson is down 252 pounds and is feeling better than ever.

“I’m so grateful to the entire bariatrics team, from the scheduling team and nurses to the support groups who have kept me motivated and continued to help me through this process.”

Thanks to his weight management and continued follow-up, Ferguson found a healthy balance with food and exercise, and is on the path to hitting his goal weight by the two-year mark of his surgery. Despite working an overnight job, he manages to still incorporate a two-to-three-mile walk every day and started riding bike to stay active.

“Dr. Miranda gave me my life back,” Ferguson said. “The support he and the bariatrics team offer is so important, and they empower their patients, so we’re able to encourage others going through this journey.”