‘I Feel Like I Got My Life Back’: Leighanna’s Weight-Loss Transformation

Leighanna Cooper, 43, had always been an active person. As a high-school athlete and avid runner, she lived an active lifestyle—completed a half marathon in 2013—but maintaining her weight felt like a struggle, and her repeated weight-loss efforts gnawed at her confidence.  

"I tried fad weight-loss programs and lost 50 pounds, but then life happened, and I gained it all back," she says.  

In search of a more permanent solution so she could get back to the active life she loved, Leighanna reached out to her primary care provider who referred her to Kathryn Sobba, MD, a board-certified and fellowship-trained bariatric surgeon at Saint Luke’s North Hospital–Barry Road, to discuss weight-loss surgery options.  

In March 2024, Leighanna decided she wanted weight-loss surgery, consulted with Dr. Sobba in April, and prepared for a gastric bypass—a procedure that reduces the size of the stomach and reroutes a portion of the intestine—between April and October.

“I liked the program because of how the different specialists talk to you about exercise and diet,” she says.

As part of Saint Luke's bariatric program, a team offers expert guidance before and after surgery. An exercise physiologist customized a pre- and postoperative workout plan for Leighanna; a psychologist screened her before surgery; a dietitian personalized a meal plan for her; and a behavioral health team was there for her after the operation in case she needed support.  

Leighanna thought she would be afraid to juggle surgery preparation with life at the same time, being a busy mom of two kids, but she was able to prepare and recover from the procedure without issue. Dr. Sobba performed a gastric bypass on Leighanna in October 2024.

As of January 2026, she has lost 72 pounds, and she now goes to the gym five times per week.

“I feel like I got my life back,” she says. “Last year was the first year that I felt comfortable in my own skin.”

Now more than a year after her gastric bypass, Leighanna is making up for lost time by playing soccer with her kids, enjoying walks, and going on family vacations—including a couple of trips to Hawaii.  

“We went tubing, and it was super fun, but before the surgery, I would have never done that because I would have felt uncomfortable in a swimsuit sitting on an inner tube,” she says.

Beyond family trips, Leighanna says her husband has been supportive of her through her weight-loss journey.

“I told my husband, ‘I'm so much happier,’ I feel like I have more energy and life is better.”

Saint Luke’s Center for Surgical Weight Loss is nationally recognized for high-quality and compassionate care. From extensive education upfront, through surgery, and long-term postoperative support, you can trust that our experts will be there with you throughout your journey. For more information or to take the first step  in your surgical weight-loss journey.