From Limited Mobility to 20,000 Steps a Day

Patricia Brogoto always loved camping with her kids, but her limited mobility made it feel like a challenge to stand for more than a few minutes.

“My knees used to be bad when I was heavier,” she says. “I tried to lose the weight by myself, but I just wasn’t as successful as I wanted to be.”

Patricia initially turned to an appetite suppressant drug, which offered her short-term results. Her primary care provider referred her to Saint Luke’s for weight-loss surgery. She consulted with G. Brent Sorensen, MD, a board-certified bariatric surgeon at Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City.

Dr. Sorensen recommended a gastric bypass—a procedure that reduces the size of the stomach and reroutes a portion of the intestines—because it was the least invasive option, and he thought it would be successful for Patricia.

“It was a journey, and none of it was easy, but I'm so glad I did it,” Patricia says.

As part of Saint Luke's bariatric program, a team of providers offers expert guidance before and after surgery. An exercise physiologist customized a pre- and post-surgery workout plan for Patricia; 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.  

Misty Stambach, PA-C, is a board-certified physician assistant who works with Saint Luke’s Endocrinology Specialists.  

“Misty helped me out so much in the beginning—she made sure I had the bariatric handbook that covers surgery care,” Patricia says.

Dr. Sorensen performed a gastric bypass surgery in September 2024, and Patricia was able to go home two days later.  

“The surgery went well with no complications,” Patricia says. “I couldn't have gotten through any of this without Dr. Sorensen, my primary care provider, and Misty.”

Postoperative recovery went smoothly for Patricia, and now she enjoys camping with her 15-year-old daughter and 7-year-old twin boys.

“When we go camping, I'm moving around and helping my sons—I’m chasing them around now, which makes me smile brighter,” Patricia says.

With her mobility restored, Patricia made the decision to work a seasonal job where she walks 20,000 steps a day—something she would never have dreamed possible just a few years ago. She’s working toward the goals she set for herself after achieving her weight-loss milestone.

“My friend had free tickets to an amusement park, Worlds of Fun,” Patricia says. “One of the rides that I wanted to ride after I lost the weight was the Patriot, so that became one of my big goals, and I did it in early November 2025.”

Her successes have become the turning point that helped her become the person she is now: more present, confident, and active.

“I'm completely different from the person I was last year,” she says. “I'm happy I'm able to run with my sons, climb on things with them in the park, and not have to sit off to the side wishing that I could.”  

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.