• Pieter says, 'Me and Connieclicked straight away. WhenI saw the documentary and howdetermined she was, it made melove her even more. '

him in his school p~ he toldeveryone Pieter was his dad!And thanks to Pieter's kisses

and cuddles, for the first time inmy life, I was proud of my body.In August last year, Pieter

returned to Nashville to visit. Ona cruise along the CumberlandRiver, he dropped to one knee.'Will you marry me?' he asked.'Of course!' I trilled.I wore a lovely size 14grey suit

for our register office wedding inApril this year.Life is good. We're going to run

a healthy food business from aLondon double decker bus we'reshipping over, and I'm trainingto be a psychiatric nurse.Because of my surgery; I can

only eat a few slices of bread, abit of cheese and a few spoonfulsof veg each day. But watchingCollin play with his chihuahua,Nani, gives me so much joy.And this month, Pieter and me

will be celebrating our marriagein style with a hot air balloonride over Nashville! Now 13st, I'nbe slipping into a one-shoulderedivory dress with a pink sash, andPieter will be wearing a kilt.After losing 33st, I'm a third of

the woman I used to be- but forthe fIrst time, I feel complete.

Connie""""', 45,NasIrviUe, nmnessee, USA

So, in May last year, when Iwas offered a three-day free trialwith a dating website, I loggedon and spotted a brown-hairedhunk called Pieter Barbour.From Sittingbourne, Kent,

driver Pieter had been lookingfor love for 10years after hisrelationship had broken down.The same age as me, we shared alove of mountain walks and TheBee Gees. Soon, we were chattingon the phone for three hoursa~

But UJQuldhe still want me whenhe knew about my weight?'I've lost 3Ost,' I said hesitantly;

after a week. 'My surgery was ontelly. I've sent you the DVD.'A few days later, I received a

bunch of flowers and a card fromPieter. You're so brave, it read. Ithink I'mfalling in love with you.Four months later, Pieter flew

out to my home in Nashville. Atthe airport, wearing a T-shirtwith the US flag on the front thatI'd bought him, he was even moregorgeous than in his photos.The next few weeks

were bliss as we wenton country walksand played baseballwith Collin.Collin clicked with

Pieter straight away.When we watched

hospital. After thell-hour op, I felt likeI was being stabbedwith red-hot pokers.Bound by 1,000stitches, I thoughtmy skin would burstMy stomach

churned as doctorsshowed me the5ft-Iong stretchof skin they'dremoved.Looking in the

mirror, my jawdropped. I hada waistline!But then Denise

came in -and herface was grave ...'I-I'm so sorry;

Marcia's dead,' she stammered.I stared at her in shock as she

explained that Marcia had diedin a car crash while I was inhospital. She was only 46.Ignoring the doctors' orders

to stay in hospital for a week, Imade the three-hourtrek hometo Mum's. 'I can't believe she'sgone,' she sobbed.Seeing the frightened look

on my three-year-old nephewCollin's face, I put my griefaside. Collin didn't have contactwith his dad. He needed me.'Do you want to live with me?'

I asked, cuddling him. He nodded..Over the next six months,

me and Mum filed for adoption.Watching Collin play with histrains, I felt fulfilled.. A twist offate had brought mea son.

I even started my nursing .training again. By now, theweight was falling off me, andI had further tummy tucks andskin removed from my thighs.Finally; I was piecing my lifeback together. The only thingmissing now was a man ...

I'm dying a slow,miserable death...

She was right. For the fIrsttime, I could walk upstairswithout gasping for breath.Then, in May 2005,a TV show

got in touch. I was astonishedwhen they offered to pay the£195,000it would cost for an all.over body tuck and a further 24ops to remove the excess skin.It was a staggering amount of

money; but there was so muchwork to do. Surgeons would carvearound my torso, cutting out themiddle section, then pull theskin from my upper and lowerbody together and stitch it up.

I was terrified, but I had to do it.My cousin, Denise, 54, and the

TV crew came with me to the

a steamroller. Amazingly; though,all I had was a pinprick-sizedscar below my belly button.'There have been no

complications,' the surgeon said.Still, scared I'd split my stitches

open, I ate only soup for 10daysbefore graduating to pureed veg.Within six months, I'd lost 7st.Then, in September 2002, I had

a second operation to shortenmy intestines. After that, I couldeat only tiny portions and had to

, steer clear of protein and carbs,which caused agonising trappedwind and diarrhoea.I was losing 7st a year but was

still wearing size 26 clothes, asI had swathes of sagging skin-like 15in batwings whenI lifted my arms.

Worse, the rubbingfolds of skin had gotinfected and werecovered with sores.'I wish I'd never

had the operation,'I sobbed to Mum.'Think how much

more you can do nowyou're thin,' she soothed.