Chad’s Testimonial

Chad Kersh might not have looked bad, but the excess weight he carried into his mid-30s certainly made him feel bad. In fact, weighing over 350 pounds at his age was draining the life from him and not allowing him to enjoy time with his kids. It also made his job more difficult, and while he carried it well on his already big frame, he knew he needed to do something about it. Turns out the answer he was looking for was right in his own house. Chad’s wife, Ashley, underwent bariatric surgery with Longstreet Clinic’s Center for Weight Management, and it did wonders for her. Her success prodded Chad forward, and now he cannot imagine life without the help he received from the providers at Longstreet.

BENEFITS OF WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

  • Increased Energy, Activity Levels
  • Improved Mobility and Flexibility
  • Improved Mental Health
  • Reduced Blood Sugar/Diabetes Threats
  • And More.

To learn more about the benefits of weight loss surgery, click here or call 770-691-1645.

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A Choice for Family, a Choice for Health

Family life means a lot to Chad Kersh, but, recently, he realized that some of its most precious moments were passing him by.

“I was coming home from work and wanting to play with my kids. But I had an active outdoor job at that time, and the next thing you know I’d be passed out on the couch. I’d wake up at 9 and I’d lost time with my kids and my wife. It was so frustrating, but because I was so big, I was just exhausted all the time,” Chad said.

Born with a naturally big frame, Kersh had gone from a 190-pound high school athlete to a 35-year-old who weighed 360. And while he carried the weight well – “most people never believed that I was classified as ‘obese,’” Chad said – he certainly felt its consequences. 

“I didn’t have any medical complications yet, but I knew I was at that point that something just had to change,” Chad added. “I was worried I wouldn’t be there for the kids when they needed me most.”

That fact was made even more clear by the journey his wife was on. Ashley Kersh had also suffered from weight concerns, but in October 2024, she opted for bariatric surgery with Longstreet Clinic’s Center for Weight Management. That procedure kickstarted a 120-pound weight loss for Ashley, but while he was proud of her success, Chad’s own health was going the other way.

“It seemed like whatever she lost, I gained,” Chad said. “I was having to buy 4XL clothes, and that’s not easy…But in the end, she proved an inspiration for me.”

Joining His Spouse on a Health Journey

Ultimately, Chad decided to follow in his wife’s footsteps – and after losing 140 pounds in six months he is thrilled that he did.

“I was nervous at first. But then once me and my wife talked about it, and I met the Center for Weight Management staff, I felt like it was like an extension of my family and that, no matter what, they had my back,” Chad said. “And now I’ve got people giving me compliments all the time. I couldn’t recommend them enough.”

Chad initially met with clinic surgeon Dr. Eric Velazquez, MBA, FACS, FASMBS, who helped him determine that a Single Anastomosis Duodeno-Ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy (SADI) offered the best path to lasting health.

“I knew about the bypass and then the sleeve. But the SADI is more for patients that are maybe a little bit bigger, especially men because of how our bodies operate,” Chad said. 

The SADI is a minimally invasive procedure that reduces stomach size and bypasses a portion of the small intestine to decrease calorie and nutrient absorption. During the operation, Dr. Velazquez removed about 80 percent of Chad’s stomach, turning it into a narrow tube. The new, smaller stomach restricts Chad’s food intake and alters his hunger hormones, helping him to feel full longer.

During the procedure, Dr. Velazquez also detached the upper part of Chad’s small intestine (duodenum) and reconnected it to a lower loop of the intestine. This structure also contributes to Chad’s body absorbing fewer calories.

The results have been nothing short of astounding.

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Surgery Made a Huge, Almost Immediate Difference

“I got down to 325 right before surgery, but one week after surgery I was already down to 308,” said Chad, who had the SADI on Nov. 17, 2025. “By December 8, I was already under 300.”

By his six-month post-operative appointment, Chad weighed 208 pounds.

“I had originally planned on just getting down to 220-225 pounds, but now I may go down to 190-200,” Chad said. “The main thing is that my (Body Mass Index) is down to 25 or even below that by now.

“The best thing is that I’m doing everything I want with my kids, I’m working out, and I’m running 5K races. I loved playing softball but had popped by calf, so I’m staying active in the game by umping travel ball games. I can also walk work projects with no worries about getting tired.”

Support – From Many Sources – Is Key to Success

That doesn’t necessarily mean the entire process has been easy. Chad has had to ditch his favorite food: Chinese – “I can’t do it with all the MSG,” he said. Chad has also worked hard to maintain his post-surgical appointments and follow the regimen recommended by Velazquez and his staff.

“The first couple weeks were easy. Week three and four, I had a couple of bad days in a row where I was like, ‘did I make the right decision? Was this something that I should have done? Could I have bettered myself without the surgery?’ Seeing people eat food and hearing them eat was hard,” Chad said.

It helps that Ashley is going through a very similar journey, however, and the husband and wife enjoy supporting each other’s successes.

“With us being a double house of bariatric surgeries, we learned to bounce off each other and feed off the energy,” Chad said. “We were able to use each other’s surgery and stories as fuel for each other.”

And if either needs support or advice beyond that, they know they can turn to the staff at the Center for Weight Management.

“This is a lifelong partnership when you come to us,” Dr. Velazquez said. “We’re here for our patients beyond just a surgery. We know this is a journey, and there is no real finish line.”

Chad understands this, and with the way he feels now, he’s ready to keep running the rest of the way.

“If you’ve tried all the fad diets – like the carnivore diet – and exercising and it’s not working, I would definitely recommend getting this surgery, whether it was a SADI, a sleeve or the bypass, because this isn’t an overnight fix. It’s a tool,” Chad said. “I would ten out of ten recommend getting the surgery, contacting the Center for Weight Management and going through the process.”

No surgery is without risks. To learn of all the potential risks with weight loss surgery, click here.

More Patient Stories

The decision to have weight loss surgery is more than just a quick fix – it’s a lifelong journey. But for many who make the decision to change their lives, the long-term effects mean more than just a smaller number on the scale. We invite you to explore just a few of the many tremendous stories we witness each day.

Read More

Contact Us

Our specialized bariatric care team is here to answer your questions and help you achieve your weight loss goals.

770-691-1645

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Our Providers

Our bariatric team includes experienced surgeons, medical weight loss specialists and a registered dietitian.

Robert L. Richard M.D., FACS
Eric J. Velazquez MD, MBA, FACS, FASMBS
Eileen D. Javellana M.D.
Oteia Keion Morris FNP-C
Maria Mercedes Hall FNP-C
Sheenagh King RD, LD, CPT

Locations We Serve

Longstreet Clinic Center for Weight Management has three convenient locations across Northeast Georgia plus telehealth options making appointments available across the U.S.

Gainesville
Braselton
Suwanee