Mr Sherif Awad 2018-12-03 Person 5 5 0

I first spoke to Mr Awad on the phone and I was very surprised at how nice, calm and to the point he was. He really took the time to discuss with me the possibilities, the challenges I had faced in my past, the challenges I still faced, what I thought, letting me talk and exchange with him really truthfully - with an incredible openness. He proposed several solutions, also went into the details of the positive of me having the surgery as well as what the implications/complications could be. What I appreciated and really spoke to me is he never said it would be a "fantastic" surgery, or the most amazing thing of my future life, he explained and rationalised the great positives but also the possible complications gave me space to make my decision and think it through for myself. I wanted to meet him face to face as even though we spoke on the phone, I needed reassurance of who was about to operate me (if I did go with it) and putting a face to Mr Awad helped make the decision. Not only was he knowledgable but you could feel that he cared even though he was very impressive. So there I went, reassured, positive, hopeful for the future with an operation date booked. On surgery day - I was feeling very anxious, withdrawn, as if this reality was a parallel one that was not mine. But the nurses were so kind and patient, Mr Awad came to see me before the operation. He was serious but also smiling, reassuring to my mother and I, letting me ask any last minute questions, taking me through what was about to happen next. The anaesthetist also came - they do speak the truth of what is about to happen, the reality of it, the complications of it and your head spins but thankfully the smiles, the reassuring eye contact makes it a bit better. I walked to the theater and I cannot actually remember the details but Mr Awad, the anaesthetist, their two assistants - everyone had a kind smile, a reassuring touch, Mr Awad was also working as anybody else in the theater and helping and talking to me as he did so. The anaesthetist made me relax with a joke and next thing I knew I was back. I am very grateful for that entire team for taking so much care of me and my mother as she waited on the other side. Mr Awad came after the operation, several times, checked on me, checked everything was fine, checked that someone was picking me up. Answered my mom's additional questions (she had lots) with always so much patience and kindness. He was very down to earth on managing my expectations of weight loss too. I met him 6-8 weeks later and he was on point on the loss I would have and again still there, still patient, still happy to take the time, still answering my questions, still very intimidating but kind : )