Weight Loss Surgery for Teens

By WKRG Staff

Published: Tue, June 05, 2007 - 7:06 am

We've all heard about things like gastric bypass surgeries to help obese adults. Well now the U.S. Health Department is weight the risks and benefits of weight loss surgery for teenagers. Those surgeries include something called the lap band procedure. A family in Brewton believes that procedure is their son's only hope.

     Austin Lindsey of Brewton isn't just overweight. Austin was born with a hip defect and it went undiagnosed for years. Now that the problem has been identified, his weight stands in the way of treatment. The hip defect is very painful and it's very difficult for him to walk.

   Lavon Lindsey is Austin's father. "It's not his fault. He was born with a birth defect. He can't exercise. So how do you lose weight without exercising-"

   At this point, weight loss surgery may be his only hope. He's running out of time because his hip is getting worse. His mother Carmen explains, "We're on a time limit. We probably don't have but about six months to a year maybe at the most before he would just have to be in a wheel chair."

    Austin's activities are already very limited. His life is certainly not that of a typical teen.

    Lavon Lindsey says, "He's never played baseball, football. He's a basketball and football fan and he can't do neither one."

   Austin adds, "I can't go to the T.R. Miller football games and that bothers me."

    It would be his dream come true to some day play ball for the T.R. Miller Tigers like his big brother did, but that's not likely to happen. Austin can't play sports. In fact, he can't even go to school. In the fall when his friends and kids his age are headed to high school, he'll be home schooled.

    Hip surgery is his chance at a normal life, but weight loss surgery would have to take him there and that won't happen anytime soon. His insurance won't cover it.

    Carmen Lindsey just received a letter from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. Carmen read a portion of it to us. "This procedure is not covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama for patients less than 18 years old." It's heartbreaking news for this family. "So we're looking at 3 and a half more years before they would even consider paying for this. This is detrimental. You know this is one more day that my baby has to suffer."

    Austin's doctor has been communicating with the insurance company hoping they will reconsider their age requirement.

   Dr. Jonathan Southworth told News 5, "We're in the process of sending an appeal to Blue Cross to say you now this is sort of a special case. This isn't just about weight loss. We're talking about a child that has a hip disorder that's really affecting his entire life and it's not something that we feel like he should have to wait several years before he can have something done."

   "Everything is a struggle for him," explains Carmen. "And if they could just see that and just take away this age. He's as big as a grown man as far as his weight and things and just get this 18 year old thing from over our heads. I just want to see him better."

    Austin just doesn't think he can make it to age 18. "I can't take the pain no more. I'm tired of it."

    Carmen and Lavon Lindsey are both working 2 jobs and have saved up a little over 3 thousand dollars. The cost of the surgery and after care could reach 20 thousand dollars or more.

    If you would like to help the Lindsey family, you can send donations for the "Lavon & Carmen Lindsey's Special Account" to Bank Trust at 100 St. Joseph Street, P.O. Box 3067, Mobile, Alabama 36602 or Bank Trust 227 Belleville Avenue, Brewton, Alabama 36426.

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