October 13, 1997

Dear Oprah,

I watch your show religiously and I find you to be extremely caring and inspirational. My name is John Doh and I too suffer from obesity. I actually stand 4 feet 11 inches tall and currently weigh 309 pounds. My obesity and apparent dwarfism has haunted me for as long as I can remember. In addition to my food addiction, I am also a chain smoker, an obsessive gambler and a raging alcoholic. My behavior and lifestyle as an adult has no doubt been detrimentally influenced by traumatic childhood experiences. As a child my peers would routinely shove margarine down my pants, inevitably smearing some on my assy cheeks. They would then surround me and taunt me with such hurtful names as "lard ass" and "butter butt". Once this humiliating scene was played out I would then have to endure the slings and arrows hurled my way by teachers and faculty. I remember every day at roll call as each name was announced the teacher would always have an interesting variation when it came down to me. I was often referred to as "Pilsbury Doh Boy" or "Plump and Fresh". As I grew older and found myself in high school my tormentors increased in number and the frequency and intensity of the bullying multiplied. I could not walk down the hall without someone trying to milk me or tweak my nipples. Through watching your show I have been able to forgive those responsible for making my life a living hell. I have set new and attainable goals for myself; the most urgent one is becoming a successful Iron Man Tri-Athlete. With God's help I hope to make my dream come true. It would mean a lot to me if you could send an autographed photo of yourself along with a few words of encouragement. You serve as a beacon in the darkness for all of us struggling with a weight problem. Thank you for listening. I anxiously await your reply.

NO REPLY

Sincerely yours,


John Doh
P.O. BOX 2959
Hearst, Ontario
P0L 1N0