For nearly 40 years, Timothy Rogers has been battling against his body for survival.
He weighs over 500 pounds and obesity has been an obstacle he has been struggling to overcome, his journey through the complex disease as heartbreaking as his journey to it.
“People often ask how did it start. You don’t know what children go through to make them psychologically dependent on something. Food became my comfort. I was initially not an excessive eater, but when I was six years old, I was sexually assaulted and food became my comfort,” he said.
During a tearful interview with Guardian Media at his home in central Trinidad yesterday, Rogers broke his silence on what caused his dietary descent.
He said, “When my father found out, he beat me. I was assaulted by an adult, my father never spoke to me about that, I never spoke to anyone about that.”
The recent publication of a report by the World Health Organisation, ranking T&T in the top ten for the world’s fattest children under five, also propelled Rogers, now 50 years old, to speak out.
He said, “Parents, talk to your children, don’t expect them to grow out of it, because they may grow out of it and become dependent on something else. It is better you talk with them, take them to a professional so they can be free from this before it becomes chronic.”
In an interview with Guardian Media three years ago, Rogers had made an urgent appeal for financial assistance for a lap band procedure.
The surgery involves putting a ring around the top part of the stomach. The ring slows the entry of food to the main part of the stomach and the person feels full after eating only a small amount of food. Despite little success, Rogers is still in need of funds for the operation and continues to endeavour in an effort for survival.
“I had contracted COVID-19, I thought that was it for me, I thought I was going to die, I was at hospital, I was scared for my life,” he said.
Daily, Rogers wrestles with himself within walls he has left less than five times in the last six years.
“The other day I had to renew my ID card, they had to come home. The last time I had to renew my driver’s permit, it is expired now but the guy had to come out of Licensing Office to facilitate me.”
Rogers maintained that for most of his life, he has been at war with his overshadowing figure.
“I tried diet after diet and programmes after programmes, nothing worked. Everything I ate, I just piled on the weight. I know plenty people think this is by choice, but I have been grappling for years,” he added.
He explained every battle has left him defeated and dejected.
“I’ve been afraid what people may think, I’ve been afraid of people leaving me, I’ve been afraid of people bullying me—I’ve always been afraid of something.”
Rogers, who has been married three times, said he has been fighting for life, love and against loneliness.
“I wonder even how long this one will last—I know she loves me but can she push through?
“What if it does not happen, the amount of time death crosses my mind, I wonder how many times it crosses hers.”
Rogers, a graphic designer, said he was willing to work in an effort to afford the life-saving surgery needed and was hopeful members of the public could lend a hand in his fight for survival.
Anyone wishing to assist can contact Rogers at 462-6562.
