Man Leaving Hospital After Losing 462 Pounds

[matcom]

edited to include a stolen pic from Underpant's thread :D



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Patrick Deuel, the once gravely obese man who has spent the past seven months in a Sioux Falls hospital, said he has lost 462 pounds and is scheduled to go home Jan. 22.

Deuel, who has called Avera McKennan Hospital home since June, when he peaked at 1,072 pounds and was dying of heart failure, said he's eager for that date to arrive. He plans to move back into the Valentine, Neb., home that he shares with his wife, Edith.

"Everything is going really good now," Deuel said. "The staff here has been real helpful in getting me to a point where I can go home."

Deuel, however, has at times reported conflicted feelings about leaving the round-the-clock hospital care that saved his life.

The 42-year-old suffered wound infections after having obesity surgery last fall to restrict the amount of food he can eat. His recovery has been slow as a result.

http://www.argusleader.com/news/Wednesdayfeature.shtml