It is easy to trust Coe. His ruddy face, firm handshake and soft English accent invites calm. He had performed hundreds of successful surgeries like the one he would perform on Troy. But a good record does not eradicate risk. During the surgery, a patient's heart can stop.
Infections can occur.
Patients sometimes die. Many patients even after dropping hundreds of pounds are left with folds of skin stretched out from years of obesity. A stomach once puffed with fat can hang flaccid to the knees. I look at him and say, OK, we have 300 pounds to get off this man. At 523 pounds, Troy didn't care about risk.