Diaz lost 270 pounds over the course of 6 years, but was left with excess skin all over his body. (Photo: GoFundMe)
BROOKLYN (PIX11) — A Brooklyn writer who lost 270 pounds will finally get the excess skin surgery he has longed for after strangers donated more than $45,000 on GoFundMe.
Matt Diaz, 22, shared his weight loss story on Tumblr, saying at his heaviest he weighed 495 pounds. Diaz had never shown anyone what his body looked like. “This is what 270 pounds worth of excess skin looks like,” Diaz said in the emotional video. “I work out and I work really hard and there’s just nothing I can do about.”
Diaz later set up a crowdfunding page to raise money for the much needed surgery. “This is only an estimation, but based on what I’m seeing online I’m estimating I’ll need around 20,000 dollars in order to get the chest, tummy and arm work that will go into fixing my excess skin,” he posted.
Within 3 days of setting up the fund, Diaz had garnered well over the $20,000 he requested.
“I can’t believe how much attention this has gotten in the last hour or so. You all are so incredible,” Diaz wrote.
