Samantha Puc 🍉

@theverbalthing

fat lesbian witch 🔮♿️ 🏳️‍🌈 she/they 📝 eisner-winning journo, rt-approved critic, writing everywhere 📚 fat forward books founder, comics beat editor, naafa blog editor 📖 rep by stephanie winter @ komm 🖼️ pfp by @boooworth.bsky.social 💻 theverbalthing.com

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Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Jul 1

They're helping 😭

A screenshot from Spirit City: Lofi Sessions - Enchanted Garden DLC shows Shrubpuppy, a fluffy green dog with a purple tongue who looks like a Chow Chow, playfully posing in a garden with a watering can on their head.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Jun 18

A screencap of Saiorse Ronan in Little Women saying “Women—“ with her hands out in front of her and tears in her eyes

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Jun 6

A Shrimp Update: The bravest boy seems to be feeling a little better every day, eating more and spying on the neighbors and demanding to be taken on all of my trips to the bathroom. 😂 He’s isolating in a safe room while he heals and he definitely knows he’s the king of the Shrimp Recovery Suite ™.

Shrimp, an orange and white cat wearing a beige recovery shirt, lounges on a multicolored knit blanket and a pink velvet comforter.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Jun 3

Shrimp is home and in his Recovery Suite ™ Here’s the note his vet tech put on his chart while he was at the hospital 🦐🧡

A handwritten pink sticky note says “Shrimp Puc” with a drawing of a shrimp and a bowl (?)

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Jun 2

Unfortunately we are back at the vet! Shrimp says thank you for the well wishes! Please keep sending them if you can! 🧡

An orange and white tabby peeks out of a hole in the side of a cabinet. A sign says “cat hides hole no trash please”

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Apr 23

All chairs with arms are anti-fat, but these chairs with indented arms are a full-on hate crime.

A stock image of a waiting room style chair with a disconnected seat and back. It has arms that indent near the front of the seat.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Apr 3

After a "formal review process," I received a response from clinic and organizational leadership this morning standing behind their bullshit BMI requirement. I suspect they think I'll go away, but I am discussing escalation with an expert. Fat patients deserve equal access to care! More to come.

Dear Samantha,

I am writing to you as a follow-up to our previous correspondence regarding concerns you shared with the Patient Representative team beginning March 17, 2026, related to your attempt to schedule a
consultation with the [REDACTED] clinic. You shared concerns regarding the clinic's use of body mass index (BMI) criteria for elective surgical
referrals, the way this information was communicated, and difficulty identifying how to escalate concerns or submit a complaint during your initial phone call.

Your concerns have received additional review with clinic operational leadership, medical leadership, and the [REDACTED] ADA Regulatory Coordinator. As previously explained, the [REDACTED] service line applies BMI-related eligibility criteria for elective surgical consultations as part of a comprehensive pre-operative risk assessment. These criteria are used to help reduce known risks associated with anesthesia, wound healing, and post-operative complications and are applied consistently as part of standard referral review processes. While national professional
organizations do not establish universal BMI thresholds, they support individualized risk assessment and optimization of modifiable risk factors prior to elective procedures. Based on this review, the referral determination was found to be consistent with established clinic criteria and processes.

Your feedback regarding communication and access to escalation pathways has also been reviewed. Patients should be able to request information on how to raise concerns or seek additional assistance,
and your experience has been shared with clinic leadership to reinforce expectations around clear communication and escalation guidance, with the goal of improving the experience for future patients.

This correspondence concludes [REDACTED] review of the concerns raised and serves as our final response regarding this grievance. While we recognize that you may not agree with the outcome, we appreciate the opportunity to review your feedback thoroughly.
Our commitment is to review all patient concerns thoroughly. Enclosed is information about the
[REDACTED] Patient Complaint and Grievance Procedure for your reference.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Mar 18

I have responded to the email from patient advocacy and cc'ed a representative at NAAFA, who gave me direct permission to do so. I am very aware that my privilege and resources present me with a unique opportunity to potentially effect change in this hospital system, and I am happy to fight.

Email response from Samantha Puc

Hi Jessica,

Thank you for your prompt response to my letter. For transparency, I've cc'ed [REDACTED], who is an expert in medical anti-fatness and the necessity of building protections for people of all body sizes, particularly in healthcare settings.

After reviewing the patient complaint and grievance procedure, I would like to note that I asked the person who answered the phone at the [REDACTED] if there was someone I could speak to regarding my concerns about the clinic's BMI policy and was told that there was no one with whom I could file a verbal complaint. When I inquired about a phone number or email address for either a patient advocacy group or board of directors, I was told that this person did not have access to that kind of information. After we hung up, I was able to find your email quite quickly, but I find it concerning that someone who is doing patient-facing work is not equipped to handle requests for escalation in the event of a complaint or grievance.

Regarding next steps, once my feedback has been shared with the clinic and operational leadership, should I expect to hear from someone even if more details are not needed? I would like to know if change is being made, not just for my sake but for the sake of other patients who may not have the same time and resources to make their case heard in the event of rejection over a measurement that, again, has no correlation to health outcomes and has been firmly debunked.

Best,
Samantha

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Mar 17

This is the email I just sent the hospital system's patient advocacy group. [Alt text is cut off by character limit, so the remaining bits are in the next skeets.]

Email subject line: Unethical adherence to BMI requirement

Hi there,

I hope this email finds you as well as can be expected. My name is Samantha Puc and I am a prospective patient with a referral to [REDACTED] via my PCP at [REDACTED]. I just called to schedule a consultation with one of your surgeons and was told, point-blank, that no one at the office will even speak with me because my BMI is too high. When I inquired as to why surgeons at this particular office are still committed to the unethical adherence to a measurement that is rooted in anti-Blackness and was created by a eugenicist, the lovely person on the phone said that it is because of "concerns about anesthesia and healing."

It has been proven that BMI has no correlation to health outcomes in patients, whether fat or skinny. My BMI is 51.7. I have had multiple major surgeries over the last four years and have never had issues with anesthesia or healing, which is evidenced in my extensive medical records and charting by multiple surgeons and physicians. However, I cannot even get in the door at [REDACTED] to discuss my surgical history or desires with a physician. This is an example of egregious medical anti-fatness that is not only anti-patient welfare, but anti-science.

I am certain that if I asked about weight-loss surgery, my BMI would not be considered a "risk" because the outcome of said surgery would be fat loss. In fact, I have had weight-loss surgery - which comes with high mortality, post-op paralysis, nerve damage, hernias, and other complications in addition to lifelong malnutrition and anemia concerns, among others - offered by surgeons at [REDACTED] who would not perform other surgeries without me first losing weight.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Feb 5

A couple years ago, a groundhog showed up in the backyard and the ones here carry the black plague, so we were concerned about the dogs messing with it. Got it into an old pet crate and then scooped it into a Rubbermaid container and freed it in a field nearby. WILD time.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Jan 1

Bonus: I read *a lot* of really great books this year. These were my faves. 💙📚 🌈📚

A 6x6 grid of book covers set against a pink, orange, and yellow gradient. In black bubble font across the top of the graphic, it says, “Favorite Reads of 2025.” Black botanical sketches are in the background of the upper right and lower left corner. Samantha’s Instagram handle is in smaller, all-caps black font at the bottom of the graphic.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Jan 1

🪩 2025 in Review, Pt. 2 🪩

A collage of video games including Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Moonstone Island, South of Midnight, Wanderstop, Tiny Bookshop, and Split Fiction.

>>> thoughts
in a year of some of my greatest personal achievements, during which I began to build the foundations of my biggest dreams, I also spent a significant amount of time offline, recovering and doing work with my therapist and plumbing the depths of grief I haven't ever allowed myself to fully process. this year required more of me than I thought I could give, and now that the 2025 calendar is concluding, I'm grateful for the joy and support that pulled me through it.
thank you for being here with me.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Jan 1

Last year I made a digital collage to recap major moments and my favorite media, and I enjoyed it so much that I made one this year, too! 🪩 2025 in Review 🪩

A collage with a selfie of Samantha, a fat, white person wearing glasses, a black face mask, and a red cropped shirt; flowers; and text that reads, “2025 in review: recap / playlist / watchlist / gayming / thoughts.”

A vertical list of 2025 “recap” moments written in white font with pink backgrounds: AWP panelist, first PW feature byline, finished my thesis, graduated with my MFA, Fat Forward Books launch, The Beat’s Eisner win, Queer Zest Zine Fest, Denver Zine Fest, Pikes Peak Zine Fest

A collage of musicians including Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Chappell Roan, Hayley Williams, Lola Young, Jade, Rebecca Black, and Florence and the Machine.

A collage of movie posters including KPop Demon Hunters, Wake Up Dead Man, and Come See Me in the Good Light, as well as the animated series The Owl House and logos for The Devil’s Plan and The Traitors.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Dec 25

Welcome to a Flip 7 thread I guess 😂

A series of Flip 7 cards lined up next to each other: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12. A “Flip Three” card is below them.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Dec 25

First to Flip 7 in the family and with such a satisfying series of numbers!

A series of seven cards from the game Flip 7: 0, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Dec 21

One of our older cats loves to crawl under the blankets for cuddles, especially in winter, and she purrs SO LOUD the entire time. It’s one of my favorite things that she does. :’)

A brown and orange tabby cat sleeps under a blue, floral-patterned sheet.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Nov 2

Thank y’all so much for your support so far. We’ve reached 35% of our goal! 🧡 Shrimp is doing great! He’s the bravest little lad. If you want to help us recoup the rest of the cost of his vet visit, I have zines for sale or you can leave a tip! 🐈✨ ko-fi.com/theverbalthing

Shrimp, an orange and white tabby, lays on a colorful blanket and looks to the side of the camera.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Oct 29

No blockages or visible stones! Shrimp has been sent home with several meds and a new prescription food. Thank y’all so much for your support so far — it means the world. 🧡🧡 I’ve set up a @ko-fi.com goal to hopefully make up some of the vet bill. If you want to help: ko-fi.com/theverbalthing

Shrimp, an orange and white tabby cat, sits on a counter in a vet’s office. His back is to the camera but he twists to look at a corner of the ceiling behind the photographer.

Shrimp, an orange and white tabby cat, sleeps curled up on a colorful blanket. He is on his left side and has his front right leg extended under his head.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Oct 29

👋🏻 We’re at the emergency vet with Mr. Shrimp! He’s being checked for bladder stones because his litter box usage has been weird this week. It’s $800 that isn’t in our budget, but he deserves the world. 🐈🧡 If you want to help, I have zines in my shop: ko-fi.com/theverbalthi...

Shrimp, an orange and white tabby cat, stretches his paws above his head and squints as he gets belly scratches from Samantha, whose pale hand and “CAT” knuckle tattoos can be seen.

Shrimp, an orange and white tabby cat, stands on a colorful blanket and stares at the camera.

Shrimp, an orange and white tabby cat, sits on top of a cardboard cat house made to look like a sardine can. Scampi, a long-haired grey and white cat, stares out from a door underneath him.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Sep 29

I hate asking for help as often as I do, but as I continue to hunt for work and freelance opps, money continues to be a major struggle. I’m almost $200 in the red and want to avoid bank fees if at all possible. Anything helps, especially shares. 🩷 ko-fi.com/theverbalthing

A screenshot of Samantha’s bank balance, which is -$173.86

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Jun 15

Wear a mask. Wear a mask. Wear a mask. 😷 Not just at protests! At the grocery store, at the farmer’s market, at the museum, LITERALLY EVERYWHERE. Especially as mask bans become more common, get back into the swing of wearing one to protest fascism and show solidarity with disabled people! Mask up!

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· May 4

Um... I turned in my thesis. #ThesisWriting

A Google Form confirmation says "Spring 2025 MFA Creative Thesis + Lit Project - Your response has been recorded."

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Apr 29

All that's left is my final meeting with my advisor and then edits. AhhhHHHHHHHHHHHH #ThesisWriting

Black text on a white page says, "As of 4/30/2025: Manuscript: Word Count: 24,329; Page Count: 62, Completed Chapters: 4. Critical: Word Count: 3,833; Page Count: 11. Goal: 17-20,000 words (4-6 chapters). Total: 28,162 words (5 chapters, 73 pages)"

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Apr 26

Home stretch. Final meeting with my advisor on 4/30. Thesis due 5/5. #ThesisWriting

Black text on a white background reads: As of 4/25/2025, Word Count: 21,297; Page Count: 54; Completed Chapters: 3; Chapters Left to Complete: 2

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Apr 7

Progress. #ThesisWriting

A screenshot of a Word document with the following text: "As of 4/6/2025: Word Count: 17,753; Page Count: 47; Completed Chapters: 2. Goal: 17-20,000 words (4-6 chapters)"

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Apr 1

The Nonbinarian's virtual book club meets Friday, April 25 on Zoom to discuss The Thirty Names of Night by Zeyn Jhoukadar and our hybrid, TGNC-only book club meets Monday, April 28 to discuss Transgender Warriors by Leslie Feinberg! Details: thenonbinarian.gay/virtual-%26-...

The cover of Transgender Warriors by Leslie Feinberg is framed by information about the April Reading Trancestors: A Trans History Book Club meeting. The hybrid meeting happens in-store (after hours) at The Nonbinarian Bookstore at 1130 President St., Brooklyn, NY, and over Zoom on Monday, April 28 at 8 p.m. ET. The club meets monthly on the last Monday. Register via Zoom or Partiful. This group is open only to TGNC attendees.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Mar 29

This will fix me.

A screenshot of the Steam library page for Rollercoaster Tycoon Deluxe.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Mar 22

They saw you at the bar and they hate your vibe #AssassinsCreedShadows

A screenshot of Naoe and Yasuke from Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Mar 21

Calling all #AWP2025 attendees! Our virtual panel 'Fat, Flawed, & Fabulous: Writing Fat & Queer Narratives in Fiction & Nonfiction' is live on the conference website! I had a blast recording this panel with C. Adán Cabrera, Tiff Joshua TJ Ferentini, and August Grimm. awpwriter.org/AWP/Magazine...

Fat, Flawed, & Fabulous: Writing Fat & Queer Narratives in Fiction & Nonfiction

C. Adán Cabrera, Tiff Joshua TJ Ferentini, Samantha Puc, Miguel M. Morales, and August Grimm

Trans and queer fats are waiting for their “moment,” as it’s still radical to include characters that positively represent us in fiction and nonfiction. This panel explores the challenges and rewards of writing while fat, creating fat characters, how to create positive narratives for fat readers living at the intersection of their queer identities and fatness, and other craft issues. Panelists will offer ways to transform negative narratives around fatness and queerness into positive ones.

Samantha Puc 🍉@theverbalthing· Feb 12

If you live in one of the following states, PLEASE contact your state AG and encourage them to drop out of this lawsuit and support Section 504 before February 25. If you live in any other state, please contact your state AG and encourage them to file documents in defense of Section 504!