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(CBS13) A Newcastle woman and her family are celebrating a different kind of thanksgiving tonight.  After Kurtis Ming helped her clear up a major insurance problem, she took a big, and scary step toward a new and much healthier life, and it's all because Carrie Davis is determined to have a full, long life with her kids.

When we first met Carrie, she was out of breath from just a few steps.

"I just want to be able to do more things with my kids," said Carrie, who had a body mass index of 50 and enough health problems her insurer agreed she should go through the UC Davis Bariatric Surgery Program.

 But things hit a snag, and after months of counseling and classes, the insurance company said the actual surgery wasn't a medical necessity, so they wouldn't pay!

"I'm not sick enough is what it seems like," said Carrie.

Carrie filed two-heavily documented appeals and got me involved. Her insurer agreed to pay for her surgery. She wasted no time.  Within days Carrie arranged her surgery.  She was very nervous by mid-July when she and her mom arrived for her final pre-operative check up.

It's a big mind change, I think," says Carrie.  "But I think it's something that's good. I mean, I am scared about it. Anytime you go under the knife, you know, it's scary."
 
Carrie's surgeon says she's healthy and diligent enough to make her a perfect candidate for weight loss surgery.

"Very insightful," says Dr. Mohammed Ali. "And very determined, and very dedicated patient, which I think are really the keys here."

Before dawn, five-days later, Carrie's husband Cornell, brings her in for the surgery she's fought so hard to get.  Within an hour, Carrie takes a gurney ride to an elevator she's counting on to lift her to a better life.

"We're really proud of her," says Cornell. "I just wait. Three and a half hours, I believe."

Doctors say someone going through this kind of surgery needs a lot of support and understanding from their family to succeed.

"Yeah, you know, I do like my steaks," says Cornell.  "I do like my steaks. So hopefully it'll change diets for all of us."

Programs like the one at UC Davis have their own support and follow up systems to help patients succeed.  The next time we saw Carrie was three days after her surgery, when she and her mom showed up for the bariatric program's annual fashion show!

"I thought it would be fun," said Carrie. "It's a good motivator. so I just wanted to be here!"

The show is a chance for patients and families to share their experiences, and their progress.

"When I see this up here, and I think about the 6 months that I fought my insurance company; it's all worth it," says Carrie.  "I'm just really excited. I want that to be me next year!"

Two weeks later, Carrie is back to get her stitches removed, and for a post-operative check-up.  All the signs are good.  Since her pre-op appointment, she's lost 32 pounds.  Two-months after the surgery, the loss is even more dramatic. Fifty-seven pounds lost.  Progress is measured in other, unexpected ways, too.  For the first time in years, Carrie is able to cross her legs.  We caught up with Carrie one-more time for this story, two weeks ago.

"The things I can do are just amazing. I'm up and down those stairs now, doing laundry, I mean, I can run," says Carrie.

She'd lost 82 pounds in three-and-a-half months, and plans to lose another 80 before she's done.

"Honestly, even if this was all I lost, it would be worth it," she says.

Carrie hasn't told us what she plans to wear to next year's fashion show, but one things sure: she'll have a whole new look.  She also says she's already out running around with the kids, and by next year hopes she'll be playing soccer with them.

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