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Jess Gamache

@jessgamache

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◍ wife + mama to 4 under 6
◍ small business owner (@gamachephoto)
◍ homeschooler, homebirther, homebody 🙃
◍ living with chronic illness🫶🏻

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***deeeeep breath****

All right, friends. 🤍

This takes A LOT of courage to post – but this is the reality of what’s been going on this year. And it’s also the reality (the first time I have EVER shared my excess skin publicly) of the skin and body dysmorphia I’ve been dealing with my entire life.

Many of you know me outside of social media. You probably didn’t know the skin was this bad – even if I told you or joked about it – very few people could see the full extent of what I was going through.

I masked the pain, hid the skin as best I could, and wore a smile to make everyone believe it didn’t bother me – that I didn’t notice being stared at for my excess skin and strange body shape. I hyped the world up while tearing myself down in my head.

Even after losing 100+ pounds SEVERAL times, I was left looking (in my mind) much the same. The skin weighed on me so heavily – literally and emotionally.

On April 3rd, I finally had my first excess skin procedure. I chose a fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty (a T-section tummy tuck that’s very intensive – the incisions go from in between my boobs all the way down, and far around to the back of my hips).

Muscle and hernia repair was also done internally.

They removed 17 LBS of skin – the average is around 5 lbs.

Recovery has been hell. My chronic illnesses make healing and wound care rough, and I’ve been dealing with open wounds and chronic pain every single day since. And this surgery happened before I had even fully recovered from my broken leg surgery – so that’s a lot of pain to carry all at once.

Still, I’m grateful to be on this side of the surgery. I’m praying that I’ll finally heal completely, without anything else reopening.

Here’s to healing, resting, and recovering – one day at a time. 💫

--- swipe right to see the before --->

#postweightloss #fleurdelisabdominoplasty #tummytuck #depression #chronicillness #chronicpain #reallife #skinremoval #postvsg #learningtolive #honest #raw by @jessgamache

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a year ago

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a year ago

You know ME! I couldn’t let a good opportunity to make a silly reel go to waste! 😂 Jess YOU are FANTASTIC! 📸

Thanks @miscmeg_designs for my custom shirt! #addictedtobleachinghair
#hairstylistofinstagram #funnyphotoshoot #photographerofinstagram #funnyphotography taken in Oswego, Illinois by @jessgamache

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a year ago

I mostly call you “babe”, but you’re also:

My soulmate, husband, lover, best friend, selfless provider, father of our babies, business partner, caregiver, gaming buddy, adventure taker, & a million things more.

Our life is certainly not always easy, but that only makes the good even more beautiful.

Praying we get to dance at a million more weddings in this lifetime we have together 🥹✨🪩🫶🏻

📸 @gamachephoto taken in 10 South Wedding Venue by @jessgamache

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a year ago

It’s been the LONGEST 6 months of my life, y’all.

Full of freak accidents, chronic pain, depression, anxiety, & turmoil both inside and out. So much chaos. So many doctor appointments. So many things just feeling so out of our control.

I had to step away and find myself while living through constant pain and being unable to do anything (I’ll be sharing more on the full story of all that’s been going on). I felt like an empty vessel for a while, constantly somehow pouring into my family but having nothing left for myself or my clients.

But no longer! 🙌🏻

I am really happy to say that I am FINALLY (consistently) feeling like ME again and, ugh, it’s been such a long time coming! 😭 🥹

We have grown SO much through this season of forced rest & recovery. I feel reconnected to God, my family, myself, my creativity, & our vision for the future of our business @gamachephoto.

I am so damn grateful for my incredible husband who held my hand and literally carried me through this season of life. 😍

Praying this year is ramping up to be amazing! 🫶🏻

-

P.S.

@morgs.creations always knows exactly what to do 🥹✨🫶🏻 #findingyoursparkle #getyourpinkon #freshhair #bellami #redhairdontcare #adhd #adhdburnout #depression #chronicallyill #reallife #hairtransformation #shesback #photographer taken in Azza Salon by @jessgamache

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a year ago

Thankful, grateful, blessed ✨

We are hosting Thanksgiving today for the first time ever, so of course it’s total chaos as we’re also editing like crazy still this time of year😅 - but I couldn’t be more grateful for this family we’ve created & the life we have. Sometimes I still can’t believe that we get to raise these amazing little humans together & wake up to each other forever. 🥹🤍

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! 🍂 taken in Leland, Illinois by @jessgamache

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2 years ago

And one of your besties @beccahoffman11 gets it with you while on a Harry Potter themed trip at @earthandskydwellings ! 🥹 (before Helene crashed the party). The three little stars at the top of every page of Harry Potter - the series that made me fall in love with reading once upon a time. 🫶🏻

Thanks @lustandloretattoo ! 🧡

Please continue praying with us for Asheville, NC! taken in Asheville, NC by @jessgamache

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2 years ago

I’m definitely just enjoying the peaceful drive with an audiobook ✌🏻✨ @anotherbuddyread I know you understand 😂🫶🏻 by @jessgamache

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2 years ago

#blessed ✨🍂🥹

📸 @steffanieseyller taken in Plano, Illinois by @jessgamache

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2 years ago

My babies are getting so big 🥹 #backtoschool by @jessgamache

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2 years ago

home 🫶🏻 taken in Leland, Illinois by @jessgamache

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2 years ago

Dancing barefoot in the front yard in my client closet gown stuff with all the kids, just because we can 🫶🏻
📸 by @steffanieseyller edited by me @gamachephoto taken in Leland, Illinois by @jessgamache

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2 years ago