Lakeland woman's dramatic weight loss

More than anything, Yvonne Gallimore wanted to do something most of us take for granted: stand up. And she just did.

Gallimore has a medical condition that makes hold body hold fluids, and makes her weight soar. She got so big she could no longer stand, and has been relegated to her bed for years.

Last year, Gallimore was hospitalized at Tampa General, weighing nearly 800 pounds at the time. Because of her size, the Lakeland Fire Department had to rip out a wall of her bedroom to get her out of her apartment.

Doctors put her in something that looks like a sleeping bag. She wore it around the clock and it worked. As the device massaged Gallimore's body, the fluids began to be excreted, and she lost 300 pounds.

Now at a lower weight, the moment had come. She was ready to get up.

"We sat on the side of the bed with a sling for support," she said. "When the bed lifted up to a certain spot, I pulled myself and stood up for a few seconds."

Over the next few weeks, seconds became minutes. Her next goal is to begin taking baby steps.

To do that, she will need a lift at home. They cost between $12,000 and $15,000, and her insurance doesn't cover it.

For more information or to help, call (863) 688-4660.