Michael and Jessica’s Turning Point and Triumph: A Bariatric Surgical Success

The love of family is a powerful thing. It can motivate parents to make bold choices. It can transform lives. It can lead to new beginnings and happier endings. For Jessica and Michael Elliott, it was love of family that led them to make a big decision to take control of their health.

Having been overweight most of her life, Jessica said she tried several things to lose weight, but nothing worked. Michael has a similar story, even trying GLP-1 medication. But that didn’t work either.

In June 2023, the Elliott family was on vacation at Hilton Head Island. It’s a special place for the couple. It’s where Michael had proposed.

Ready to hit the sand for a day at the beach, they’d gotten their beach gear and were walking the two blocks from their condo to the beach.

“It completely took me out,” Jessica said. When they arrived on the sand, she couldn’t play with their son because they were too tired from the walk. She said she turned to Michael and said, “We are literally killing ourselves.”

The trip was a turning point. The couple decided to pursue gastric bypass surgery.

Gastric bypass surgery is a procedure that creates a small pouch from the top of the stomach. This allows less food to be consumed. Then, the small intestine is divided, with food being re-routed from the stomach directly to the lower part of the small intestine. This results in less calorie absorption. Jessica, a nurse, understood the skill needed for the surgery and sought out a good team with a great track record. That’s when they learned about the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute at Atrium Health Navicent, led by Dr. Danny Vaughn.

Their first consultation was in August 2023. But it wasn’t as simple as walking in and asking for bariatric surgery.

Michael said he and Jessica underwent lots of testing, seeing other doctors to make sure they were healthy for what would be a life-changing surgery. Jessica said the preparation also included Dr. Vaughn’s team examining their medical history, body types and previous attempts at weight loss. They provided education about nutrition and support groups that would both be vital to the couple’s success. Both gave up vaping prior to surgery as part of a lifestyle change.

Michael had gastric bypass surgery on April 15, 2024. At his heaviest before the surgery, Michael weighed 439 pounds. Now, his weight is 249 pounds.

Jessica, at her heaviest documented weight, was 450 pounds. She had a previous Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Band (lap-band) surgery. She chose lap-band to bypass revision surgery. In this complicated surgery, the original lap-band is removed and a more effective gastric bypass is performed. Since the surgery on May 1, 2024, Jessica has lost 258 pounds. “I have seen bariatric procedures such as these make an immense difference in people’s lives,” said Dr. Vaughn. “Obesity raises risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and a number of other conditions. Bariatric surgery can help patients live healthier, and feel better.”

Bariatric surgery and its follow-up program are tailored to each patient and were different for Jessica and for Michael, although they chose to have their surgeries just two weeks apart.

Since her surgery, Jessica has taken up running and has learned that she’s building muscles that weigh more than fat. She needs to fuel her body for intense activity and has increased her protein intake accordingly.

She ran 20 races in 2025. Her training culminated in completing the Macon Music Half Marathon in November 2025. Prior to surgery, Jessica was more sedentary in her job as a nurse due to knee and back pain. Now, she’s caring for hospice patients in their homes and is on her feet more, doing whatever is needed.

Michael is a supply technician at Robins Air Force Base. Since his surgery, he’s been able to be more mobile and productive, and without the pain he experienced from being overweight.

The Elliotts have found that they can take more day trips, be more active and enjoy quality family time without being tired. Jessica said, “My only regret is that we didn’t do it sooner.”

More than a year after their surgeries, the couple continues to feel incredibly supported by their care team, who regularly calls to check in on their progress and to see if they need additional support.

“For us, it’s a wonderful situation, to know that there are people who care,” Michael said.

Jessica added, “We’re not just a number on a page. They’re invested in us.”

To learn more about the different types of bariatric surgery offered at Atrium Health Navicent or to schedule an appointment, call (478) 633-1458.