Couple overcomes obesity to become parents

This Thanksgiving, the Hernandez family has something extra to be thankful for: a beautiful baby girl named Grismel.

Sindia Hernandez and her husband, Luis, feared their weight, over 400 pounds each, would stop them from ever conceiving.

But that’s where bariatric surgery came in.

"I never thought I'd be a mom," Sindia told NBC 10 News.

"Before surgery, I was 489 pounds," Luis said.

Luis not only had a slew of health problems, but a low semen count, making their chances of having a baby limited.

But through bariatric surgery at The Miriam Hospital in Providence, their parenting dream has now become a reality.

"All these different health complications subsided and just doing it together has been a blessing,” Luis said.

A journey that cut both of their weights in half.

The surgeries were performed by Dr. G. Dean Roye, with no complications and minimal recovery time.

Sindia wasn’t on board as strongly as Luis first, but Roye said that’s typical in a heavy couple.

"There’s usually one that's the guinea pig that gets to go first, then the other one see’s how it’s going and then their fears are answered and they feel comfortable going forward," Roye said.

A whole new meaning for the word "thankful."

"It's been an awesome journey, and it brought us here and now we have a little princess,” Sindia said.

Thankful for health, happiness and of course their long-awaited parenthood journey.