10/21/2025                                                                            
                                    
                                                                            
                                            For Nicole and Marcus Wessells, choosing bariatric surgery at Inspira Health wasn’t just about losing weight, it was about gaining life back, together. This South Jersey couple, parents of three, decided to take the leap side by side with Dr. Christopher Bashian, Director of Inspira’s Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Program at Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill.
 
“I tried everything, including fads and hitting the gym. Nothing worked. My P*P, Dr. Trom, suggested surgery. I was hesitant, but then I met Dr. Bashian. He was very personable and gave me a much more thorough explanation of the surgery and the process than I had gotten previously. He walked me through every little thing. He made me comfortable in my decision.” - Nicole Wessells
 
Since their gastric sleeve surgery last October, Nicole has gone from 218 to 130 lbs and says she can finally chase her kids up the stairs without losing breath. Marcus has lost 120 lbs and reversed his prediabetes.
 
Their secret? Support from each other and from Inspira’s compassionate weight loss surgery team every step of the way.
 
“We figured if we did it together, we could encourage each other and hold ourselves accountable.” — Marcus Wessells
 
👉 Learn more about bariatric surgery at Inspira Health and discover how our program helps patients achieve long-term, healthy weight loss and confidence.