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Heather Grill, who is now 19, walked proudly with a smile on her face Sunday as she modeled a black satin evening gown in a fashion show in the Magnolia Cafeteria at Miami Valley Hospital.

Heather, from New Lebanon, was one of 20 taking part in the fashion show billed as a "celebration of life."

The models walked in front of more than 200 family members and friends as applause and smiles of approval greeted them.

They were wearing fancy attire, but the special outfits were really not what each model was showing off.

It was a new and much slimmer profile.

All of the models are patients of Dr. John McGuire, who, with Dr. Donovan Teel, operates Premier Bariatric Associates now in Miami Valley Hospital. And all of those in the fashion show have undergone the special surgery which shrinks the stomach.

Heather, who will celebrate the second anniversary of her surgery on Sept. 28, weighed 535 pounds when she turned 17.

On the day of her surgery she weighed in at 503 pounds, and as the second anniversary of her procedure is celebrated she said she has lost 270 pounds.

"I continue to lose weight every week," Heather said. "I am as happy as I can be right now. It is great to be with these other patients and to celebrate our weight loss together. We are all getting healthier, and happier."

We first introduced Heather, and her dilemma to you, in the summer of 2004. That is when she weighed more than 500 pounds, and her health was deteriorating. She suffered from rising blood pressure, circulation problems, ulcers, blood clots, and an enlarged heart.

Her parents, Russ and Michelle Grill, knew Heather's physical and psychological problems were escalating, and they tried to find medical help.

"We were told about the bariatric surgery, but our insurance company would not cover it," the mother said. "The procedure was considered cosmetic surgery."

Heather had gone through a period of time when her peers laughed at her, her father added. "They told her she would not go to heaven because she was too heavy to fly with angel wings. She took a lot of abuse."

When I wrote about Heather's situation, and how her family was holding fundraising events to try to raise money for surgery, a number of readers responded with financial help.

McGuire, and members of his staff offered medical services, and I was along on that day two years ago when Heather had the surgery that changed her life.

Heather said she is attending classes at the Ohio Institute of Photography and Technology in Moraine, and is studying criminal justice and social studies.

"My goal is to become a counselor to teenagers, especially young people who suffer from obesity," she said. "I continue my special diet, exercise and weight-loss regimen, and my next step is to have surgery to remove excess skin."

Her face was radiant as she smiled and said: "I have come so far in two years, and still have a way to go. But I can say this ... I am a happy person now. I have a boyfriend. I can drive a car. I can get up out of a chair. I can go into a store and not feel like people are staring at me.

"Just about everything has changed in my life. The best part is, things continue to get better every day."

Dale Huffman wants your ideas. He'd like to share a story about you, your family, or a friend that you find touching or humorous. This column is for you. Got a tale about your child? Have you seen the works of a Good Samaritan? Do you want to share a special day coming up in your life? Send e-mail to dhuffman@DaytonDailyNews.com or write to Dale at 45 S. Ludlow St., Dayton, OH 45402. Fax: (937) 225-2489. Phone: (937) 225-2272.