8 months after surgery, Macedonia woman says she has her life back Isaac Nielsen Council Bluffs Nonpareil Aug 22, 2026 10 hrs ago 0 Macedonia resident Chelsey Fender in 2026 after undergoing bariatric surgery. Chelsey Fender Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Isaac Nielsen Council Bluffs Nonpareil Chelsey Fender had spent years trying to lose weight.kAm$96 EC:65 }FEC:$JDE6>[ (6:89E (2E496CD 2?5 6I6C4:D6] }@E9:?8 D66>65 E@ =2DE]k^AmkAmw6C ;@:?ED 9FCE 27E6C D9:7ED H@C<:?8 2D 2 H2:EC6DD 2?5 32CE6?56C[ D96 H2D?VE D=66A:?8 H6== 3642FD6 @7 D=66A 2A?62[ 2?5 56AC6DD:@? 925 =67E 96C H:E9@FE >F49 >@E:G2E:@? E@ =62G6 E96 9@FD6]k^AmkAmqJ E96 E:>6 D96 564:565 E@ AFCDF6 32C:2EC:4 DFC86CJ[ u6?56C H6:8965 ah` A@F?5D]k^Am Macedonia resident Chelsey Fender in fall 2025. Chelsey Fender kAmt:89E >@?E9D 27E6C 364@>:?8 @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE EH@ A2E:6?ED E@ F?56C8@ 32C:2EC:4 DFC86CJ E9C@F89 |6E9@5:DE y6??:6 t5>F?5D@? |65:42= r6?E6CVD ?6H AC@8C2>[ D96 92D =@DE `ac A@F?5D]k^Am People are also reading… All-Sports All-Area Team highlights the year's best athletes Shenandoah football planning on taking steps forward this fall New leaders stepping up for Essex volleyball Bales on a new-look Hawkeye 10 for Clarinda Athletics Goals remain high for Wagoner, Bird, new-look Clarinda volleyball team Clarinda football looking to play at high level, consistently this season Shenandoah volleyball leaning on last year’s experience in making WIC debut New faces laying foundation for Sidney football Sidney volleyball ranked in preseason top 5 Fall Sports Scoreboard: Friday, August 21 Shenandoah state ranked to open cross country season A look back at each season's top athletes, Athletes of the Year released next week Clarinda, Shenandoah results from opening week of the girls tennis season Is Iowa losing its religion? Church closures mount in rural communities Shenandoah girls sweep Red Oak kAm$96 92D H2=<65 2 dz 6G6CJ >@?E9 E9:D J62C 2?5 C646?E=J DE2CE65 ;@88:?8] $96 ?@ =@?86C FD6D 2 r!p! 7@C 96C D=66A 2A?62[ 2?5 D96 E@=5 %96 }@?A2C6:= E92E 96C >6?E2= 962=E9 92D :>AC@G65 DF3DE2?E:2==J]k^AmkAm“x’> 92AAJ[” u6?56C D2:5] “x’> >@C6 @FE8@:?8] x’> >@C6 >@E:G2E65] w@?6DE=J[ :E’D =:<6 x’> 2 4@>A=6E6=J 5:776C6?E A6CD@?]”k^Am kAmu6?56CVD 6IA6C:6?46 C6AC6D6?ED @?6 @7 E96 62C=:6DE >62DFC23=6 @FE4@>6D 7@C y6??:6 t5>F?5D@?VD 32C:2EC:4 DFC86CJ AC@8C2>[ H9:49 3682? D66:?8 A2E:6?ED :? $6AE6>36C a_ad] w6C DFC86CJ H2D A6C7@C>65 s64] b_ 3J sC] #@36CE rF??:?892>[ 2 32C:2EC:4 DFC86@? H9@ H2D C64CF:E65 E@ y6??:6 t5>F?5D@? :? a_ad]k^Am kAmw6C C6DF=ED 2C6 5C2>2E:4[ 3FE rF??:?892> D2:5 A2E:6?ED D9@F=5 ?@E 2DDF>6 E92E =@D:?8 >@C6 E92? `__ A@F?5D :? 6:89E >@?E9D :D EJA:42=]k^AmkAmu@C 82DEC:4 3JA2DD A2E:6?ED[ 96 86?6C2==J E6==D E96> E@ 6IA64E E@ =@D6 23@FE @?6\E9:C5 @7 E96:C DE2CE:?8 3@5J H6:89E 3J C@F89=J 2 J62C 27E6C DFC86CJ[ 2=E9@F89 C6DF=ED G2CJ 4@?D:56C23=J 7C@> A2E:6?E E@ A2E:6?E] |@DE @7 E96 H6:89E =@DD @44FCD 5FC:?8 E96 7:CDE D:I E@ ?:?6 >@?E9D]k^Am kAmu6?56CVD H6:89E =@DD 92D 366? 72DE6C E92? E92E EJA:42= EC2;64E@CJ]k^AmkAm“$96’D 925 2 DA64E24F=2C C6DF=E[” rF??:?892> D2:5] “xE’D C62==J 366? BF:E6 2 EC2?D7@C>2E:@? 7@C 96C]”k^Am Macedonia resident Chelsey Fender in 2026 after undergoing bariatric surgery. Chelsey Fender kAmpE 23@FE D:I >@?E9D 27E6C DFC86CJ[ u6?56C H2D 2=C625J 5@H? C@F89=J ``_ A@F?5D[ rF??:?892> D2:5] w6 D2:5 96C H6:89E =@DD H2D “7C@?E =@2565[” >62?:?8 D96 =@DE 2 A2CE:4F=2C=J =2C86 2>@F?E 62C=J :? E96 AC@46DD 2?5 >2J C6249 E96 6?5 @7 96C C2A:5 H6:89E\=@DD A6C:@5 D@@?6C E92? D@>6 @E96C A2E:6?ED]k^Am kAmu6?56C D2:5 D96 :?:E:2==J =@DE 23@FE a E@ c A@F?5D 2 H66<[ H:E9 E96 A246 6G6?EF2==J D=@H:?8 E@ 23@FE ` @C a A@F?5D 6G6CJ @E96C H66<]k^AmkAm%96 DFC86CJ D96 C646:G65[ 2 82DEC:4 3JA2DD[ 4C62E6D 2 D>2== A@F49 7C@> E96 FAA6C A@CE:@? @7 E96 6I:DE:?8 DE@>249 2?5 C6C@FE6D A2CE @7 E96 :?E6DE:?6D D@ 7@@5 3JA2DD6D >@DE @7 E96 DE@>249]k^Am kAmrF??:?892> D2:5 E96 ?6H DE@>249 92D 2 42A24:EJ @7 C@F89=J 2? @F?46 E@ 2? @F?46 2?5 2 92=7[ 23@FE E96 D:K6 @7 2 =2C86 688]k^Am kAm%96 @A6C2E:@? EJA:42==J E2<6D rF??:?892> 23@FE fd E@ h_ >:?FE6D] p A2E:6?E DA6?5D 4=@D6C E@ EH@ 9@FCD :? E96 @A6C2E:?8 C@@> H96? AC6A2C2E:@? 2?5 C64@G6CJ 2C6 :?4=F565[ 96 D2:5]k^AmkAmu6?56C D2:5 25;FDE:?8 E@ E96 492?86D 27E6C DFC86CJ 92D :?G@=G65 EC:2= 2?5 6CC@C] $@>6 7@@5D D96 AC6G:@FD=J 6?;@J65 ?@ =@?86C 28C66 H:E9 96C[ 2?5 C68F=2C :46 4C62> ?@H >2<6D 96C D:4<] $96 92D 2=D@ 925 E@ 492?86 E96 H2J D96 62ED 2?5 A2JD >F49 4=@D6C 2EE6?E:@? E@ AC@E6:? 2?5 7=F:5 :?E2<6]k^AmkAm“x 2> G6CJ 4@8?:K2?E 23@FE H92E x 62E ?@H[” D96 D2:5] “x 5@?’E 62E 7C:65 7@@5 >F49 2?J>@C6] x 5@?’E 8@ @FE E@ 62E >F49 2?J>@C6 3642FD6 x ECJ E@ =@@< 7@C 962=E9:6C @AE:@?D]”k^Am kAm%96 492?86D 3682? 367@C6 E96 @A6C2E:@?] u6?56C DA6?E D6G6C2= >@?E9D 8@:?8 E9C@F89 E96 AC@8C2>VD AC6A2C2E:@? AC@46DD[ :?4=F5:?8 2AA@:?E>6?ED H:E9 E96 DFC8:42= E62>[ 2 5:6E:E:2?[ 2 AF=>@?@=@8:DE 2?5 A9JD:42= E96C2A:DED]k^AmkAmrF??:?892> D2:5 E96 AC@8C2> 86?6C2==J C6BF:C6D E9C66 E@ 7@FC >@?E9D @7 AC6A2C2E:@?[ 56A6?5:?8 :? A2CE @? 2 A2E:6?EVD :?DFC2?46 C6BF:C6>6?ED] !2E:6?ED F?56C8@ >65:42= E6DE:?8 2?5 C646:G6 5:6E2CJ[ A9JD:42= 2?5 ADJ49@=@8:42= 6G2=F2E:@?D]k^AmkAm%96 AC6A2C2E:@? :D 56D:8?65 E@ :56?E:7J >65:42= 2?5 >6?E2= 962=E9 4@?46C?D 2?5 96=A A2E:6?ED 6DE23=:D9 923:ED E96J H:== ?665 27E6C DFC86CJ]k^Am kAmrF??:?892> D2:5 A9JD:42= E96C2AJ :D A2CE:4F=2C=J :>A@CE2?E 3642FD6 2D >F49 2D a_T @7 E96 H6:89E =@DE 27E6C 32C:2EC:4 DFC86CJ 42? 4@>6 7C@> D<6=6E2= >FD4=6]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts kAm“(6 C62==J H2?E E@ >:?:>:K6 E92E 2?5 >2I:>:K6 E96 72E =@DD[” 96 D2:5]k^AmkAmu6?56C D2:5 rF??:?892> 6>A92D:K65 7C@> 96C 7:CDE 2AA@:?E>6?E E92E E96 @A6C2E:@? H@F=5 ?@E 5@ 2== E96 H@C< 7@C 96C]k^AmkAm“sC] rF??:?892> D2:5[ ‘%9:D :D?’E 8@:?8 E@ 36 2? 62DJ 7:I] x’> 8:G:?8 J@F 2 E@@= E@ >2<6 2 492?86[ 3FE J@F 92G6 E@ AFE :? E96 H@C<[’” D96 D2:5] “xE’D 567:?:E6=J ?@E 2? 62DJ E9:?8 E@ 5@]”k^Am General Surgeon and Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Robert Cunningham of Methodist Physicians Clinic is shown. Daniel Johnson, Methodist Health System kAmq2C:2EC:4 DFC86CJ 5@6D ?@E ?646DD2C:=J AC@5F46 A6C>2?6?E H6:89E =@DD] rF??:?892> D2:5 A2E:6?ED EJA:42==J C6249 E96 =@H6DE A@:?E @7 E96:C H6:89E =@DD D@>6H96C6 2C@F?5 `a E@ `d >@?E9D 27E6C 82DEC:4 3JA2DD] p 82:? @7 `_ E@ a_ A@F?5D 27E6C E92E :D ?@E F?FDF2=[ 96 D2:5[ 3FE 5@4E@CD H2?E A2E:6?ED E@ >2:?E2:? >@DE @7 E96:C H6:89E =@DD @G6C E96 =@?8 E6C>]k^Am kAm%96 2G2:=23=6 =@?8\E6C> 52E2 DF886DED 2 8@@5 @FE4@>6 2E 7:G6 J62CD :D C@F89=J a_T E@ adT 36=@H 2 A2E:6?E’D AC6DFC86CJ 3@5J H6:89E[ rF??:?892> D2:5] w6 42FE:@?65 E92E =@?8\E6C> 52E2 364@>6D =6DD 46CE2:? 3642FD6 >2?J A2E:6?ED DE@A A2CE:4:A2E:?8 :? 7@==@H\FA DEF5:6D 27E6C E96 7:CDE 4@FA=6 @7 J62CD]k^Am kAm“(92E H6VC6 =@@<:?8 E@ 5@ :D 86E E92E 5:776C6?46 36EH66? E96:C AC6\@A DE2CE:?8 H6:89E 2?5 H96C6 E96J D6EE=6 @FE 2D 3:8 2D A@DD:3=6[” rF??:?892> D2:5] “(6 H2?E E@ 86E E96> 2D 4=@D6 2D E96J 42? E@ E96:C =@H6C H6:89E]”k^Am kAm(6:89E C682:? 42? 92AA6? 7@C D6G6C2= C62D@?D] rF??:?892> D2:5 E96 3@5J 252AED E@ E96 =@H6C 42=@C:6 :?E2<6 27E6C DFC86CJ[ 2?5 A2E:6?ED 42? 6G6?EF2==J 4@?DF>6 6?@F89 42=@C:6D E@ C682:? H6:89E] {:BF:5 42=@C:6D 42? 36 A2CE:4F=2C=J 62DJ E@ 4@?DF>6 27E6C 2 3JA2DD 3642FD6 E96J 5@ ?@E AC@G:56 E96 D2>6 A9JD:42= C6DEC:4E:@? 2D D@=:5 7@@5D]k^Am General Surgeon and Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Robert Cunningham of Methodist Physicians Clinic is shown. Daniel Johnson, Methodist Health System kAmw6 D2:5 A2E:6?ED H9@ >2:?E2:? E96:C C6DF=ED ?665 E@ 4@?E:?F6 >2<:?8 5:6E2CJ 2?5 A9JD:42= 24E:G:EJ 492?86D 2?5 C6>2:? 6?82865 :? =@?8\E6C> >65:42= 7@==@H\FA]k^AmkAm%96C6 2C6 2=D@ C:D<D 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 E96 DFC86CJ]k^AmkAmrF??:?892> D2:5 3=665:?8[ 3=@@5 4=@ED[ 2?6DE96D:2 4@>A=:42E:@?D[ :?764E:@?D 2?5 =62<D H96C6 E96 DE@>249 @C :?E6DE:?6 :D ;@:?65 2C6 2>@?8 E96 A@E6?E:2= 4@>A=:42E:@?D 2C@F?5 E96 E:>6 @7 DFC86CJ] w6 D2:5 D6C:@FD 4@>A=:42E:@?D 2C6 F?4@>>@? H:E9 >@56C? 32C:2EC:4 DFC86CJ[ 3FE E96 C:D<D 2C6 C62=]k^Am kAmv2DEC:4 3JA2DD 2=D@ 42CC:6D =@?86C\E6C> C:D<D[ :?4=F5:?8 F=46CD 2?5 :?E6C?2= 96C?:2D] !2E:6?ED 42? 56G6=@A ?FEC:E:@?2= 567:4:6?4:6D :7 E96J 5@ ?@E E2<6 32C:2EC:4\DA64:7:4 >F=E:G:E2>:?D 2?5 42=4:F> 2?5 G:E2>:? s DFAA=6>6?ED]k^Am kAm“!2E:6?ED 5@ ?665 E@ 36 H2CJ[” rF??:?892> D2:5] “%96J ?665 E@ E2<6 32C:2EC:4 >F=E:G:E2>:?D 27E6CH2C5D]”k^AmkAmu6?56C 6DE:>2E6D 96C :?DFC2?46 4@G6C65 gdT E@ h_T @7 E96 AC@465FC6 2?5 C6=2E65 6IA6?D6D] $96 D2:5 E96 AC@8C2> :?G@=G65 >2?J 2AA@:?E>6?ED 3FE E92E D96 7@F?5 E96 42C6 E62> E9@C@F89 2?5 :?7@C>2E:G6]k^Am kAmy6??:6 t5>F?5D@?’D AC@8C2> 92D ?@H A6C7@C>65 >@C6 E92? 2 5@K6? 32C:2EC:4 DFC86C:6D] rF??:?892> D2:5 :E 92D C646:G65 4=@D6 E@ `__ C676CC2=D 2?5 92D D66? C@F89=J c_ A2E:6?ED :? E96 @77:46 H9@ H6C6 4@?D:56C65 8@@5 42?5:52E6D 7@C DFC86CJ[ H:E9 @E96CD DE:== AC@8C6DD:?8 E9C@F89 E96 AC6A2C2E:@? AC@46DD]k^AmkAmq2C:2EC:4 DFC86CJ :D 2=D@ @?6 @AE:@? 2>@?8 2? 6IA2?5:?8 C2?86 @7 EC62E>6?ED 7@C @36D:EJ] rF??:?892> D2:5 9:D AC24E:46 ?@H D66D A2E:6?ED H9@ 92G6 EC:65 v{!\` >65:42E:@?D 3FE DE@AA65 3642FD6 @7 D:56 67764ED[ =24< @7 C6DF=ED @C :?DFC2?46 4@G6C286] $@>6 A2E:6?ED 92G6 =@DE DF3DE2?E:2= H6:89E @? E96 >65:42E:@?D 3FE C6>2:? 6=:8:3=6 7@C DFC86CJ] rF??:?892> D2:5 E96 EH@ 2AAC@2496D 42? D@>6E:>6D 36 FD65 E@86E96C]k^Am kAmu@C u6?56C[ E96 >@DE G:D:3=6 492?86 92D 366? H92E D96 42? 5@ ?@H]k^AmkAm$96 A=2J65 32D<6E32==[ D@446C[ D@7E32== 2?5 C2? EC24< :? 9:89 D49@@=] q67@C6 DFC86CJ[ D96 925 =2C86=J DE@AA65 6I6C4:D:?8 2?5 D2:5 D96 5:5 ?@E 92G6 E96 >@E:G2E:@? E@ 5@ >F49 @FED:56 E96 9@FD6]k^AmkAmw6C 7:CDE dz 42>6 y2?] b_[ 6I24E=J 2 >@?E9 27E6C DFC86CJ] $96 7@F?5 :E 5:77:4F=E[ 3FE 7:?:D9:?8 :E 82G6 96C 6?@F89 4@?7:56?46 E@ <66A 8@:?8] $96 :D AC6A2C:?8 7@C 96C ?:?E9 dz @7 E96 J62C]k^Am kAm$96 2=D@ H2=<D H:E9 96C h\J62C\@=5 5@8[ H9@ 92D ;@:?65 96C 7@C E96 C246D]k^AmkAm“x 5:5?’E H2?E E@ 8@ 5@ 2?JE9:?8[” u6?56C D2:5] “}@H x H2?E E@ 8@ @FE 2?5 x 24EF2==J H2?E E@ 5@ DEF77] x H2?E E@ 8@ A=2J 8@=7 H:E9 >J 7C:6?5D 2?5 72>:=J] x H2?E E@ 8@ 7@C H2=<D] x 766= =:<6 x 92G6 >J =:76 324<]”k^Am kAm$96 DE:== H2?ED E@ =@D6 D@>6 255:E:@?2= H6:89E 2?5 9@A6D E@ 6G6?EF2==J CF? 2? 6?E:C6 dz] $96 2=D@ <?@HD 96C 6IA6C:6?46 :D ?@E ?646DD2C:=J H92E 2?@E96C A2E:6?EVD 6IA6C:6?46 H:== =@@< =:<6]k^Am kAm“xE’D ?@E 2? 62DJ AC@46DD E@ 8@ E9C@F89[” u6?56C D2:5] “x 5@?’E H2?E 2?J3@5J E9:?<:?8[ ‘x’> 8@:?8 E@ 8@ 92G6 E96 DFC86CJ] xE’D 8@:?8 E@ 36 D@ 62DJ] %9:D 8:C= 925 DF49 2 5C2>2E:4 6IA6C:6?46 H:E9 :E 2?5 92D 5@?6 D@ H6==]’ %92E’D ?@E 2=H2JD E96 42D6 7@C 6G6CJ A2E:6?E]”k^AmkAmw6C 25G:46 :D E@ C6D62C49 E96 AC@465FC6 2?5 E2=< E@ A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 8@?6 E9C@F89 :E]k^AmkAmu@C ?@H[ D96 :D 7@4FD65 @? >2:?E2:?:?8 E96 492?86D E92E 3682? H:E9 E96 DFC86CJ 6:89E >@?E9D 28@]k^Am kAm“%96 3:886DE E9:?8 :D HC2AA:?8 J@FC 9625 2C@F?5 D66:?8 J@FCD6=7 2D 2 5:776C6?E A6CD@? 4@>A2C65 E@ H96C6 J@F H6C6[” u6?56C D2:5] “%92E H2D AC@323=J @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 5C2DE:4 5:776C6?46D :? A@D:E:G6 @FE4@>6D]”k^Am 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular South Dakota tribe asks for privacy after homicide followed by death amid standoff The Yankton Sioux Tribe put out a statement Monday describing the pair of deaths as a "heartbreaking ordeal" and calling for privacy for both … Ashley Hinson bill would use tobacco tax money on cancer research U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson is introducing a bill in Congress to divert a portion of federal tobacco tax revenue to fund cancer research, taking i… St. Ambrose, Mount Mercy universities see delays in completing merger Close to two years after announcing plans for their strategic combination, two Iowa Catholic universities say they’re still waiting for final … Pete Hegseth honors fallen Iowa soldiers, defends Iran conflict at Iowa State Fair “There is a cost of doing very difficult things,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told an Iowa State Fair crowd as he honored Iowans killed ove… Watch Now: Related Video China: Robots box and dance at Beijing's 2026 World Robot Conference Trump Tours New White House Helipad, Touts Rapid Construction For Ballroom 'Military Complex' Trump Tours New White House Helipad, Touts Rapid Construction For Ballroom 'Military Complex' Moderna’s Personalized Cancer Vaccine Scores Late-Stage Win Moderna’s Personalized Cancer Vaccine Scores Late-Stage Win Treasury Doubles Bond Buybacks as Bessent Moves to Calm Markets Treasury Doubles Bond Buybacks as Bessent Moves to Calm Markets
South Dakota tribe asks for privacy after homicide followed by death amid standoff The Yankton Sioux Tribe put out a statement Monday describing the pair of deaths as a "heartbreaking ordeal" and calling for privacy for both …
Ashley Hinson bill would use tobacco tax money on cancer research U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson is introducing a bill in Congress to divert a portion of federal tobacco tax revenue to fund cancer research, taking i…
St. Ambrose, Mount Mercy universities see delays in completing merger Close to two years after announcing plans for their strategic combination, two Iowa Catholic universities say they’re still waiting for final …
Pete Hegseth honors fallen Iowa soldiers, defends Iran conflict at Iowa State Fair “There is a cost of doing very difficult things,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told an Iowa State Fair crowd as he honored Iowans killed ove…
