Minooka Man Finds Redemption, Improved Health Thanks to Bariatric Surgery

Mike Nordsell says his weight struggles began in his childhood, earning him an unflattering nickname from friends and classmates. 

As he grew, he carried a variation of the weight-based nickname into adulthood, at one point reaching 450 pounds on his 6-foot, 1-inch frame. That was life for the 46-year-old Minooka resident who, in his words, thought he was “Superman. Invincible.” 

He got his wake-up call in the back of an ambulance on the way to a local hospital after suffering a seizure late one evening. 

“It was July 27, 2022, at 9:53 p.m.,” he recalled. “I woke up in the ambulance, not knowing what happened. I found I had had a seizure. My blood pressure and glucose levels were dangerously high. And I had not been using my CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). At the hospital, they ran a bunch of tests. After which, the doctor came in and sat on the edge of my bed and told me, ‘If you don’t change the way you are living your life, you will be dead within two years.’” 

That really hit home for Nordsell. 

“I finally have my soulmate as my partner in crime. We have five beautiful daughters between us, and I have a job that I absolutely love. I had a lot to live for,” Nordsell said. “When I go into something, I am an all-or-nothing guy. I got busy changing everything in my life, from the way I approached food, portion control, making healthier choices and being mindful of protein, carbs, sugar, etc.” 

Changes Lead to Silver Cross

Through those changes, he managed to lose 40 pounds, but he was driven to do more. He heard from a friend about BMI Surgery at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox and went about seeing if he would qualify for a procedure. 

More than 9,000 weight-loss procedures have been performed at Silver Cross Hospital, which has the only program in Will County that has been named a MBSAQIP accredited center – Comprehensive and Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery. What’s more, in the fall of 2024, Money.com named the hospital’s bariatric surgery program #1 in the United States for offering safe, effective weight-loss surgery with exceptional outcomes, patient satisfaction and safety. 

Nordsell opted for gastric sleeve surgery, but first had to go through tests, including psychological and cardiopulmonary exams. The surgery was scheduled for Dec. 5, 2022, which he said was a really tough time. 

“You have to start a liquid diet two weeks before the surgery. That included Thanksgiving in 2022, which was very difficult for me because, as you may know, Thanksgiving is the happiest day of the year for an obese person,” said. “This was also a difficult time for my wife as well, because I was very irritable and frustrated that I couldn’t eat what I wanted to, and my body and mind was changing and preparing itself for my new journey.” 

Surgery went well, and doctors and patients will tell you that’s when the real work begins. Surgery is only a tool; the rest – major changes in what to eat and when – is a lifetime commitment. 

Nordsell said he was all-in hours after surgery. 

“They told me to walk five to 10 laps around the recovery floor; I walked 27,” he said. “There wasn’t much pain; it just felt like a cramp. I said, ‘This is something I can push through.’” 

Not Alone on the Journey

Nordsell, with the help of his “rock,” wife Amanda, pushed through in the following months to lose 122 pounds. He’s down to 223 pounds, his A1C has dropped from 11.7 to 4.9, and he no longer needs to take meds for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, and, best of all, he doesn’t need to sleep with a CPAP machine. 

He also had some help from BMI Surgery earlier this year when he started gaining back some weight, said Wendy Dyer, APRN, a nurse practitioner who works with bariatric patients, as well as anyone who wants to lose weight through the clinic. 

“Michael did fabulous with the surgery, but he wanted to lose more weight,” she said. “So, we looked at his diet and exercise to see what we could tweak.” 

He had increased his exercise regime, Dyer said, so they looked at ways to add healthy carbs and make sure he was getting three square meals. She also prescribed medication to boost his metabolism. 

“We also changed how we follow up with bariatric patients,” Dyer said. “A year after surgery, it used to be once a year. But that leaves time for bad habits to come back. So, now we see them every six months or even three months.” 

When she last saw Nordsell in June, he was at 259 pounds. After hearing he was now down to 223, Dyer was thrilled. 

“Great job! I’ll see him for another visit later this month. I can’t wait!” 

Nordsell said he’s behaving; not drinking much of anything but water, having only a sniff of his beloved root beer should Amanda open one. Dinners are now high in protein like venison, beef, salmon, or lean chicken or pork. He also incorporates vegetables into every meal. Whether it’s a California medley, half a sweet potato, zucchini, squash or spinach. 

At parties, he said, “It was a matter of cutting down portion sizes and making healthier choices. I still use a kid’s plate to trick my mind into thinking I am eating more than I actually am, which works for me in my journey. Restaurant dinners now yield days of leftovers instead of bilious one-time meals of soup, salad, entree, dessert, and several pops or drinks with my meal. I have so much more energy. Playing golf has been weird, because my body mechanics and shape changed so much over the last two years.” 

He added, “But what I really love now is walking. I take walks all the time. Walk the dog, whatever. It’s great. It gives me time to reflect on the day and to clear my mind.” 

Nordsell warned that people shouldn’t wait until their health becomes critical before considering whether BMI surgery is right for them. 

“I am so happy with the decision I made and would recommend BMI to anyone who wants to become a healthier version of themselves,” he said. “Silver Cross is absolutely amazing. But you have to commit to yourself and stick to your plan. I want people to know that If I can do it, anyone can.” 

If you or someone you know is considering weight-loss surgery – or medical weight management – have them reach out to the BEST in the U.S.! For more information, visit silvercross.org/bmi or call (815) 717-8744.