WEBVTT

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I probably added
20, 30 years onto my life

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because of Dr. Gokal
and Optum and the team.

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Oh, I’ve had some downfalls.

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I could write a book
of the ups and downs.

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But I think the more
I got knocked down in this town,

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the more it made me fight
and want to get back up again.

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I’m an event architect.

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I can design, I can produce,

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I can put a full event together.

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And I’m an interior designer, also.

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I always didn’t have this energy.

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I weighed 345 pounds.

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I had gastric bypass surgery in 2002.

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I lost a lot of weight but it caused
a lot of complications.

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I think there was
18 different things

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that was wrong with me, actually.

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Every time I tried to eat,
I would get sick.

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My hips, all my joints,
everything was just killing me.

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It got so bad,
and I had so much pain

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and so much heartache,
and depression,

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and I couldn’t even pull myself out

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to go watch
my grandson play baseball.

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And that’s when I met Dr. Gokal
and things started changing.

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She had such a great story
of the life that she used to live.

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But she talked about
all of this in the past,

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and it brought her
such sadness because of it.

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When I see a patient
with Medicare Advantage,

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I know truly, that they have
an abundance of resources

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available to them
to help them get to whatever

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end goal it is
that they’re looking for.

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We prescribed a plan.

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We talked a little bit
about some testing we should do.

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We talked a little bit
about medication that we would use.

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We did some procedures

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to see how that would impact
her physical abilities,

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and got her to a place
where she was living

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a more fulfilling and active life.

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I couldn’t believe
how quick and how fast

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changes happened for me

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and that someone actually cared
enough about me to listen.

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It made me feel like
I was worth something

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and that there was actually
going to be hope.

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It fills my cup
to hear that from a patient.

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I know when I get up in the morning,

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I feel good,
I feel confident, I feel healthy.

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I feel very grateful,
and I'm honored

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that I’ve been given
a second chance,

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to be able to understand
what it is to live life

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healthy, happy, and loved.

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Optum is healthier care
for a better life