Kelly: EVERY DAY IS A BAD DAY.
AND EVERY STEP IS TORTURE.
♪♪
Woman: HE CAN'T STOP. HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW.
Woman #2: IT'S TERRIFYING TO THINK
THAT AT ANY MOMENT YOUR HEART COULD EXPLODE.
♪♪
Woman #3: I DON'T WANT TO DIE.
I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO LIVE YET.
♪♪
WHY ARE YOU JUMPING ON MY CASE?
YOU'RE OVEREATING, AND YOU'RE ACTING LIKE IT IS OUR FAULT.
I KNOW THAT I'M DYING.
I KNOW THAT I'M NOT GONNA MAKE IT.
♪♪
SO, YOU NEED TO DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO LIVE OR DIE RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ALIVE MUCH LONGER IF YOU KEEP DOING THIS.
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
♪♪
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]
Kelly: SOMETIMES I DREAD WAKING UP...
'CAUSE MY LIFE IS A NIGHTMARE.
AND I FEEL TRAPPED IN THIS BODY.
AND EVERY DAY IS PAINFUL.
EVERY DAY IS A BAD DAY.
AND WALKING IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
EVERY STEP IS TORTURE.
I CAN ONLY STAND IT THREE TO FIVE MINUTES
BECAUSE, LIKE, YOU FEEL THE WEIGHT.
AND MY BACK FEELS LIKE SOMEBODY'S STABBING IT.
THERE'S ALSO, LIKE, A SHARP PAIN IN MY ANKLE.
IT'S JUST TOO MUCH WEIGHT ON IT.
I WISH I HAD A DIFFERENT BODY,
JUST ANYTHING TO TAKE THE PAIN AWAY...
BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF LIVING LIKE THIS.
IT'S HARD HAVING TO DO EVERYTHING
AND HAVING TO DO EVERYTHING BY MYSELF.
BUT AT THIS SIZE, I STRUGGLE TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.
I LIVE BY MYSELF,
AND MY DAD IS THE ONLY PERSON THAT WILL COME CHECK ON ME.
WELL, I SHOWER AND I CLEAN MYSELF,
BUT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH
GETTING EVERY PART OF MY BODY CLEAN.
USUALLY BEFORE I GET IN THE SHOWER,
I'LL SIT ON THE TOILET AND I'LL BATHE THE TOP OF ME
OR MY LEGS OR SOMETHING.
SO, THAT WAY, IT'S LESS FOR ME TO DO WHILE I'M STANDING THERE.
WHEN I GET IN THE SHOWER,
I PRETTY MUCH RINSE OFF THE TOP OF ME
AND THEN I DO THE BOTTOM OF ME
AND I TRY TO GET IN AND OUT AS PRETTY FAST AS I CAN...
BECAUSE I CAN'T STAND THAT LONG.
AND I HAVE ANXIETY,
SO IT'S VERY HARD TO ACTUALLY GET IN THE SHOWER
BECAUSE I JUST ALWAYS THINK, LIKE,
"I'M GONNA FALL, AND THIS IS GONNA BE IT."
OH.
NOBODY'S HERE, SO I'M GONNA FALL,
AND I'LL BE JUST LEFT LAYING THERE DYING
BECAUSE NOBODY'S HERE.
WHO'S GONNA KNOW I SLIPPED?
WHO'S GONNA HELP ME?
I'M TRYING REALLY HARD NOT TO END UP IN,
LIKE, SOME ASSISTED LIVING OR NURSING HOME,
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THAT IS GETTING TO BE CLOSER TO REALITY.
EVERYTHING IS HARD TO DO.
PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
THE PAIN GETS WORSE EVERY DAY.
JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S JUST -- IT'S NOT GOING AWAY.
IT'S JUST INCREASING.
SO, AFTER I GET OUT THE SHOWER, I'M TIRED.
SOMETIMES I WANT TO GO BACK TO BED AND NOT GET DRESSED.
BUT I TELL MYSELF AT THAT MOMENT, "I HAVE TO DO THIS."
I JUST FEEL LIKE I CAN'T GIVE UP.
I HATE MY BODY THAT I HAVE TO LIVE IN EVERY DAY.
MY WEIGHT HAS GOTTEN IN THE WAY OF MY DREAMS
BECAUSE I CAN'T STOP EATING.
IT'S LIKE THE THING THAT'S CAUSING YOU
TO NOT FULFILL YOUR DREAMS
IS THE SAME THING YOU USE TO HELP FIX YOUR PROBLEMS.
I'M JUST HUNGRY ALL THE TIME.
LIKE, IT JUST FEELS LIKE IT'S A PART OF ME.
IT'S ALWAYS THERE.
SO, EVEN THOUGH JUST BECAUSE OF MY SIZE,
IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER
TO STILL TRY TO LEAVE TO GET FAST FOOD.
BUT MY MOBILITY IS CHANGING FOR THE WORSE
BECAUSE I CAN DO LESS AND LESS STUFF.
AND IT'S JUST DIFFICULT
BECAUSE I LIVE ON THE FIRST FLOOR IN A BASEMENT
THAT HAS TWO SETS OF STAIRS
THAT ARE BECOMING IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO GET UP AND DOWN.
[ GRUNTING ]
USUALLY I HAVE TO TALK MYSELF INTO WALKING UP THE STAIRS.
[ GRUNTS ]
I CAN KIND OF LIKE LEAN AND KIND OF CRAWL UP THEM SOMETIMES.
BUT IT'S VERY SCARY WHEN YOU CAN'T GET YOUR NEXT BREATH.
♪♪
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
♪♪
[ GRUNTS ]
♪♪
[ KEYS JANGLING ]
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
[ IGNITION DINGING ]
Fred: Yeah?
HEY. IT'S KELLY.
THE CAR WON'T START.
OKAY. You know?
ALL RIGHT. BYE.
[ LINE DISCONNECTS, CELLPHONE DINGS ]
I WALKED UP THE STAIRS.
I WALKED DOWN THE STAIRS.
I STRUGGLED.
AND NOW THE CAR'S NOT WORKING.
I'M NOT UPSET THAT THE CAR WON'T START.
I'M JUST UPSET THAT I CAN'T GET FOOD.
WHEN I HAVEN'T EATEN A LOT, I GET STRESSED OUT, ANXIOUS
'CAUSE I CAN'T SEEM TO CONTROL MY FOOD ADDICTION.
I JUST NEED TO EAT SOMETHING, TRY TO CALM ME DOWN.
I FEEL HELPLESS WHEN THAT HAPPENS,
AND I DIDN'T THINK MY LIFE COULD END UP LIKE THIS.
I'VE STRUGGLED WITH MY WEIGHT AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.
WHEN I GREW UP, I WAS RAISED BY MY GRANDPARENTS IN NEW JERSEY.
MY MOM -- SHE TRAVELED, AND SHE WASN'T REALLY AROUND.
AND MY DAD, YOU KNOW, HAD ANOTHER FAMILY.
I WOULD SAY I HAD A GREAT CHILDHOOD AT THAT POINT.
BUT WHEN I WAS 5, MY GRANDFATHER DIED IN FRONT OF ME.
HE HAD A HEART ATTACK.
SO, WHEN MY GRANDFATHER DIED,
EVERYTHING JUST STARTED GOING WRONG.
MY GRANDMOTHER MOVED INTO A SENIOR-CITIZENS BUILDING
WHERE YOU COULDN'T HAVE A KID LIVING WITH YOU,
SO I SAW HER LESS AND LESS, AND I FELT ABANDONED.
AND MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO GO BACK AND LIVE WITH MY MOTHER.
TO BE RAISED BY MY MOTHER -- IT WAS STRANGE.
I WAS MAD AT HER
BECAUSE I THOUGHT SHE SEPARATED ME FROM WHO I WANTED TO BE WITH.
MY DAD PAID CHILD SUPPORT WEEKLY.
HE WOULD COME BRINGING THE CHILD SUPPORT.
BUT ME AND MY DAD DIDN'T REALLY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP.
AND LIVING AT HOME WITH MY MOM,
IT WAS LONELY BECAUSE SHE WAS VERY DEPRESSED.
AND MY MOM DID NOT LIKE COOKING,
SO WE WOULD END UP EATING FAST FOOD,
LIKE CHICKEN AND BURGER PLACES AND PIZZA.
FOOD WAS, LIKE, THE THING TO GO TO.
I LOVED IT.
AND THAT WAS THE ONLY THING THAT ME AND MY MOM DID TOGETHER.
AND SO I TURNED TO FOOD TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER.
IT BECAME, LIKE, EVERYTHING.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
BUT WHEN I WAS ABOUT 7, THINGS GOT WORSE.
WHEN I WAS 7, I WAS ABUSED BY AN OLDER NEIGHBORHOOD MAN.
HE JUST WOULD ASK ME TO DO THINGS FOR HIM, LIKE, YOU KNOW,
GO TO THE STORE OR GIVE HIM HUGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT,
UNTIL ONE DAY HE STARTED PUTTING HIS HANDS ON ME
AND JUST PHYSICAL TOUCHING,
PUTTING HIS HANDS ON MY AREAS
AND TO JUST EVENTUALLY JUST BEING HELD DOWN AND --
AND BEING RAPED.
I WAS 9 WHEN I WAS FORCED TO HAVE SEX WITH HIM.
AND IT WENT ON FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS,
AND IT JUST -- IT GOT WORSE.
THIS MAN WOULD THREATEN ME.
WELL, HE SAID HE WOULD KILL MY MOM AND MY GRANDMOTHER.
I WAS FEELING SCARED, TRAPPED...
DURING THAT TIMEFRAME.
I JUST WANTED TO ESCAPE, AND FOOD WAS MY ONLY COMFORT.
[ GRUNTS ]
I GAINED 100 POUNDS, LIKE, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
BY THE TIME I WAS 12, I WEIGHED 200 POUNDS.
BUT WHEN MY GRANDMOTHER DIED,
I JUST DECIDED TO TELL MY MOTHER EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED TO ME.
AND SHE TOLD ME, LIKE, "JUST FORGET ABOUT IT."
I WANTED MY MOM'S REACTION TO BE LIKE
SHE WAS GONNA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AND SHE DID NOTHING.
I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANYBODY.
SO I FELT ABANDONED AGAIN AND LONELY,
AND, YOU KNOW, FOOD HELPS.
IT HELPED DEAL WITH THE SITUATION.
SO, AFTER THAT, I WANTED TO GET AWAY FROM HIM,
BUT I COULDN'T BECAUSE HE LIVED IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO, I ACTUALLY WANTED HIM DEAD.
AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT EVERY TIME I HEARD HIS VOICE.
I JUST WOULD PRAY, AND, UM, I WOULD PRAY TO GOD FOR HIM TO GO.
EVENTUALLY, ONE DAY WE WAS AT THE BUS STOP
AND HE DROVE PAST AND HE SMILED AT ME LIKE --
AND I JUST, LIKE, REMEMBER JUST, LIKE, LOOKING UP.
AND THE BUS JUST HIT HIS CAR.
I FELT HAPPY AT THAT MOMENT.
BUT THEN I WAS SCARED.
I FELT LIKE THAT MEANT I WAS GOING TO HELL,
THAT I JUST TOOK SOMEBODY'S LIFE.
SO MY EATING HABITS GOT WORSE, AND I STARTED STEALING.
I STOLE FOOD BECAUSE I LITERALLY COULD NOT STOP EATING.
SO, IN 10th GRADE, I HIT 300 POUNDS.
AND I KEPT EATING AND TRYING TO USE FOOD AS A COPING MECHANISM.
SO, IN 12th GRADE, I WAS ALMOST 400 POUNDS.
Fred: WHEN KELLY WAS YOUNG,
I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT BROUGHT THE WEIGHT ON.
I DON'T KNOW.
BUT I WOULD TRY TO MAKE HER EAT RIGHT WHEN SHE WAS WITH ME.
WHEN SHE WENT HOME BACK WITH HER MOM,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT SHE'D EAT WHEN SHE'D GO BACK HOME.
Kelly: SO, ALL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL,
I GOT BIGGER AND BIGGER.
AND WHEN I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL,
I WAS GETTING READY TO GO TO COLLEGE,
AND I JUST ASSUMED THAT COLLEGE WOULD CHANGE EVERYTHING.
TWO MONTHS LATER, I FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT.
AND THEN I DROPPED OUT.
YEAH, THE BABY'S FATHER GOT, LIKE, ABUSIVE.
I WAS PREGNANT AND HE KNEW I WAS PREGNANT
AND HE HIT ME ANYWAY, SO I COULDN'T STAY WITH THAT.
IT WAS OVER.
BUT I WAS READY TO HAVE THIS BABY ON MY OWN
BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS BABY WAS GOING TO BRING ME
EVERYTHING I MISSED OUT ON.
I FELT LIKE I WAS GONNA FINALLY GET UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
BUT I WAS SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT WHEN THE DOCTORS TOLD ME THAT,
UH, I HAD A FETAL DEMISE.
I LOST THE BABY WHEN I WAS 19.
AND WHAT I DID TO COPE WAS EATING FOOD.
SO, I HIT 500 POUNDS AFTER LOSING THE BABY.
I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT MY WEIGHT.
I JUST ATE.
THE NEXT FEW YEARS, LIKE, EVERY MEDICAL PROBLEM I COULD THINK OF
JUST STARTED JUST KICKING IN.
THE LYMPHEDEMA CAME UP.
AND AFTER THAT, I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON DISABILITY.
BUT THEN MY FATHER'S ADOPTED DAUGHTER, JASMINE,
CONVINCED ME TO GO STAY WITH MY DAD FOR A WHILE.
SO I MOVED TO NORTH CAROLINA.
I MOVED OUT HERE THINKING I WAS GONNA GET A CHANGE,
AND THAT WASN'T THE CASE.
I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE PERFECT IF I MOVED DOWN HERE.
I ENDED UP HAVING TO MOVE TO MY OWN APARTMENT.
SINCE THEN, MY LIFE HAS BEEN UNBEARABLE.
AND IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S GETTING WORSE,
ESPECIALLY WITH MY WEIGHT PROBLEM.
THERE WAS THIS ONE DAY I ACTUALLY WAS HOME
AND I WAS REALLY STRUGGLING TO BREATHE
AND I HAD TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.
AND I JUST LITERALLY THOUGHT
THAT THEY WERE GONNA TELL ME IT WAS OVER.
I WAS -- I WAS SCARED.
I JUST REMEMBER I KEPT THINKING, LIKE, "I'M GONNA DIE BY MYSELF."
I WAS ABLE TO SURVIVE.
I LEARNED THAT I HAVE A REALLY BAD HEART.
AND AS I GET OLDER AND GAIN MORE WEIGHT,
IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT.
SO, MY MOM DIED WHEN I WAS 35,
AND WHEN I WENT TO THE FUNERAL,
IT WAS THE LAST TIME I WENT ANYWHERE.
I FEEL LIKE I'M STUCK IN THIS HOUSE
AND I'M WAITING TO DIE
AND I FEEL LIKE I HAVEN'T LIVED IN YEARS.
I FEEL TRAPPED.
I WANT TO LIVE.
I WANT TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE.
BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE MUCH LONGER I CAN DO THIS
UNTIL MY HEART PROBABLY WILL FAIL.
I SPEND MOST OF MY TIME IN THE BEDROOM.
IT'S VERY LONELY.
MY DAD WILL COME OVER AND BRING ME MY MAIL ONCE A MONTH.
WE LIVE IN THE SAME TOWN,
PROBABLY LIKE FIVE MINUTES AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.
AND HE'LL TAKE OUT THE TRASH,
OR HE'LL DO SOMETHING AROUND THE HOUSE.
♪♪
KELLY!
Kelly: YEAH?HOW YOU DOING, HON?
I'M IN THE BEDROOM.
HOW YOU FEELING?
I'M ALL RIGHT.
OKAY. HERE'S YOUR PIZZA HERE.
THANK YOU. I GOT IT.
OKAY. I'M GONNA GET THE GARBAGE AND TRASH OUT FOR YOU.
ALL RIGHT. OKAY.
ME AND MY DAD'S RELATIONSHIP IS NOT WHERE I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE.
BUT I KIND OF THINK THAT'S CHANGING
BECAUSE HE SAID HE WOULD COME WITH ME TO TEXAS...
TO SEE IF I CAN GET HELP FROM A DOCTOR WHO HELPS PEOPLE MY SIZE.
Fred: KELLY SHOULD NOT BE LIVING LIKE THIS.
I WANT TO GET HER ALL THE HELP SHE CAN GET.
NOW, THAT'S MY DAUGHTER. I LOVE HER.
I WANT HER TO FEEL BETTER.
I WOULD BE HAPPY IF SHE'D LOSE THE WEIGHT,
AND I'D SEE HER MORE HAPPY.
OKAY, KELLY. I'M GONNA GET READY TO GO THEN.
ALL RIGHT. THANKS.
OKAY, THEN.
LET ME KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
ALL RIGHT. BYE-BYE, HONEY.
BYE. TAKE CARE NOW.
Kelly: A PART OF ME WANTS TO GIVE UP.
SOME DAYS IT JUST FEELS LIKE,
UM, IT WOULD JUST BE EASIER IF I WASN'T HERE.
[ SNIFFLES ]
PEOPLE COULD JUST MOVE ON,
AND, UH, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE BEST THING.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
I AM SCARED ABOUT MY HEART FAILING
'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DIE.
AND I NEED HELP.
I HAVE TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT.
I HOPE THAT ALL THE PAIN I WENT THROUGH WASN'T FOR NOTHING
AND THAT [SNIFFLES] SOMEBODY THINKS I'M WORTH HELPING.
IF I DON'T LOSE THE WEIGHT,
I DON'T SEE MYSELF LIVING ANY LONGER.
IT FEELS LIKE IT'S MY LAST CHANCE.
♪♪
Kelly: TODAY I'M FLYING TO HOUSTON, TEXAS, TO SEE DR. NOW.
AND I REACHED OUT TO MY FRIEND LEE ANN,
AND SHE IS GOING WITH ME ON THE TRIP.
♪♪
I'M JUST HAPPY LEE ANN'S GONNA COME DOWN HERE
AND TAKE OFF FROM WORK TO DO THIS BECAUSE SHE CARES ABOUT ME.
KELLY DECIDING TO SEE DR. NOW IS A VERY BIG STEP,
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF HER.
Kelly: I HAVE ANXIETY ABOUT THIS TRIP,
BUT I MUST GO
BECAUSE I NEED WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY TO SAVE MY LIFE.
I'M EXCITED BUT SCARED TO SEE DR. NOW
BECAUSE THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME TO GET HIS HELP.
I WOULD BE CRUSHED AND DEVASTATED
IF HE SAID HE CAN'T HELP ME, SO THAT MAKES ME NERVOUS.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
BUT IF I DON'T DO THIS, I'M GONNA DIE.
[ GROANS ]
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
♪♪
[ GROANS ]
WANT ME TO PICK UP LEG UP?
YEAH. COME ON.
[ GRUNTING, BREATHING HEAVILY ]
♪♪
I GOT IT.
WHOA.
I GOT YOU.
♪♪
I'M FEELING VERY ANXIOUS RIGHT NOW.
I'M NERVOUS ABOUT THE WHOLE ENTIRE TRIP.
AIRPORTS ARE HUGE AND I KNOW I CAN'T WALK THAT FAR
AND AT ANY POINT THAT I PROBABLY HAVE TO WALK
IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.
AND MY LEGS ARE ALREADY HURTING,
AND WE AIN'T EVEN BEEN ON THE PLANE YET.
LIKE, MY LEG IS TIGHT.
MY FOOT HURT.
I'M UNCOMFORTABLE,
AND IT'S JUST BASICALLY THE BEGINNING OF OUR TRIP.
BUT I KEEP TRYING TO TELL MYSELF,
"AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS BEST THING FOR YOU,
AND THIS WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE."
SO, I'M FOCUSING ON THE END RESULT
AND NOT EVERYTHING THAT GETS ME TO THAT.
Man: GOOD?
♪♪
[ GRUNTS ]
WATCH OUT.
IT'S TAKING A LOT OUT OF ME JUST TO GET OUT OF THE VAN.
I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN RIGHT NOW.
AND KEEP THINKING POSITIVE.
I'M, LIKE, THE TYPE OF PERSON,
LIKE, IF YOU SPEAK IT INTO EXISTENCE, THEN IT HAPPENS.
SO I'M GONNA GET ON THE PLANE.
I'M TELLING MYSELF, "I'VE GOT TO GET ON THE PLANE.
I'VE GOT TO GET DOWN THERE TO SEE DR. NOW,
AND, LIKE, THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN."
GET THE RIGHT ONE.
OHH.
THAT'S BETTER.
NOW THAT I'M HERE,
I'M JUST FEELING REALLY OVERWHELMED,
AND THIS IS REALLY EMBARRASSING
BECAUSE I'M IN TWO WHEELCHAIRS.
MY LEGS WOULDN'T FIT ON THE ONE WHEELCHAIR I WAS ON.
♪♪
SO, I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY'S STARING AT ME,
BUT I'M JUST REALLY IN PAIN.
GETTING OUT OF THE VAN, MY FOOT WAS LITERALLY STUCK,
SO THAT'S HURTING THE MOST
AND FEELS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO BREAK.
SO, I JUST WANT TO GET ON THE PLANE,
AND I JUST HOPE THAT I CAN FIT IN THE SEATS.
♪♪
I'M GLAD I FIT.
I'M JUST READY TO GET THERE.
♪♪
Pilot: ON BEHALF OF THIS FLIGHT CREW,
I'D LIKE TO BE THE FIRST TO WELCOME YOU TO HOUSTON.
Kelly: I FINALLY MADE IT TO HOUSTON.
THE FLIGHT WAS HORRIBLE.
I GOT NAUSEOUS, AND I WAS ALSO IN PAIN.
MY LEG AND MY FOOT WAS HURTING.
[ GROANS ]
Man: YOU HAVE A BLESSED DAY.
I AM GLAD TO BE HERE,
AND I AM PROUD THAT I HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR.
BUT I WILL BE BETTER ONCE I'M ABLE TO GET SOME REST.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO GO TO A HOTEL...
SO THAT WE CAN BE AT THE END OF THIS JOURNEY.
I'M GONNA BE EXCITED TO EAT SOMETHING,
BUT I'M DEFINITELY NERVOUS ABOUT THE CAR SITUATION.
ALTHOUGH THEY SAY THEY HAVE DISABILITY SERVICES,
I JUST HOPE IT'S NOT SOMETHING I CAN'T FIT IN.
AT THIS POINT, I FEEL LIKE I'M ABOUT TO PASS OUT.
I'M TIRED, AND I JUST WANT TO ORDER FOOD AND EAT.
AS LONG AS I SATISFY THE NEED,
IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER WHAT IT IS,
AND JUST START A DIET TOMORROW.
HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
[ GRUNTING ]
Lee Ann: EXCUSE ME. WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
YOU AIN'T HELP NOBODY WITH NO BAGS.
GET OUT OF HERE. STOP SPECTATING.
GO ON ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, GUYS.
I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GONNA MAKE IT AT SOME POINTS IN THIS DAY.
I'M NOT IN SHAPE TO DO ALL OF THIS.
IT'S JUST, LIKE, A LOT ON MY BODY,
AND I WAS NOT MENTALLY PREPARED TO DO ALL OF THIS TODAY.
[ CAR DOOR CLOSES ]
Lee Ann: I'M VERY PROUD OF KELLY FOR GETTING THIS FAR
AND MAKING THE DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS TRIP.
THIS IS A VERY BIG STEP FOR KELLY
BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO CHANGE HER LIFE.
[ KELLY BREATHING HEAVILY ]
♪♪
Kelly: I WASN'T REALLY, TRULY EXPECTING ALL OF THAT.
♪♪
I JUST HOPE THAT ALL OF THIS WAS WORTH IT.
♪♪
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
TODAY I AM GOING TO SEE DR. NOW FOR MY FIRST APPOINTMENT.
I AM SCARED 'CAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.
BIGGEST THING IS HOW MUCH WALKING,
STANDING UP WILL I HAVE TO DO?
YOU GOOD?
YEAH.
I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD FEEL BETTER AFTER GETTING SOME REST,
BUT JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE I HAVE.
YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO FIGHT FOR THIS,
BUT IT'S JUST -- MY BODY'S HURTING.
♪♪
[ GRUNTING ]
I AM NERVOUS ABOUT STEPPING ON THE SCALE
BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I WEIGH.
THE LAST TIME I WEIGHED, I WAS 658.
WHAT I WANT TO HEAR FROM DR. NOW TODAY
IS THAT I CAN BE A PART OF HIS PROGRAM
AND THAT HE WILL HELP ME LOSE THIS WEIGHT.
KELLY MASON?
I JUST REALLY NEED HIM TO TAKE ME ON AS A PATIENT
'CAUSE I FEEL LIKE MY LIFE IS RIDING ON THIS APPOINTMENT.
♪♪
I KNEW I WAS UP, GAINING WEIGHT, BUT THAT OBVIOUSLY SCARES ME.
AND IF DR. NOW DOESN'T ALLOW ME TO BE A PATIENT OF HIS,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WILL DO.
[ DOOR OPENS ]
HELLO. HOW YOU ALL DOING?
I'M GOOD.
I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
AND YOU ARE?KELLY.
KELLY. AND YOU?
LEE ANN.
AND YOU ARE HER...
BEST FRIEND, LIKE A SISTER.
BEST FRIEND. ALL RIGHT. GREAT.
HOW WAS YOUR TRIP DOWN TO HOUSTON?
VERY, VERY PAINFUL.
I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE THAT PAINFUL.
BUT, LIKE, MY KNEE WAS HURTING.
MY LEG HURT.
DID YOU DRIVE OR --
WE FLEW DOWN, BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT,
LIKE, THE EXPERIENCE THROUGH THE AIRPORT
WAS GOING TO BE, LIKE, HARD ON MY KNEES
BECAUSE THERE WAS JUST NOT ENOUGH SPACE
FOR, LIKE, MY LEGS ON THE PLANE.
AND SO IT WAS JUST LIKE --
EVERYTHING IS JUST IN PAIN.
WELL, ANY AMOUNT OF ACTIVITY LIKE THAT
IS BOUND TO TAKE A TOLL ON YOU WHEN YOU'RE UP TO 726 POUNDS
AND YOU HAVE A BMI OF 117.
THAT'S ALMOST BREAKING THE RECORD
FOR THE HIGHEST I HAVE SEEN YET.
SO I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW
THAT YOU'RE LIKELY ALREADY IN VERY CRITICAL CONDITION
WITH ALL THAT STRAIN ON YOUR BODY.
AND THAT'S A SITUATION THAT WE HAVE TO TURN AROUND IMMEDIATELY.
OKAY.
I CAN SEE FROM YOUR CHART
YOU HAVE DEVELOPED A NUMBER OF SERIOUS ISSUES ALREADY.
YEAH. I HAVE.
AND THE LIST GOES ON.
AND IT ALSO SAYS YOU WERE IN THE HOSPITAL RECENTLY.
YES.
SO, WHAT HAPPENED THEN?
I HAD CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE.
MM-HMM.
SO I WAS HAVING REALLY BAD SHORT OF BREATH AND SWELLING.
SO, THAT CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE
IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION,
AND YOU HAVE TO START TO LOSE WEIGHT IMMEDIATELY
BECAUSE EVERY DAY IS A ROLLING OF THE DICE FOR YOU
AS TO WHETHER YOU WILL SURVIVE RIGHT NOW.
YEAH.
SO, IN LIGHT OF YOUR SITUATION,
YOUR OPTION WILL BE THAT, NUMBER ONE,
YOU MOVE DOWN TO HOUSTON SO WE CAN GET YOU IN BETTER SHAPE.
NUMBER TWO IS CHANGING YOUR EATING HABIT.
YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT?
I DO THINK I CAN DO THAT.GREAT.
BUT I WANT TO CHECK EVERYTHING WITH YOU RIGHT NOW,
SO AFTER WE'RE DONE HERE, I WANT YOU TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL
SO WE CAN DO THAT.
AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU SOME READING MATERIAL
ABOUT HOW YOU'RE GONNA CHANGE YOUR EATING HABIT.
IT WILL BREAK DOWN A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET
THAT IS HIGH-PROTEIN.UH-HUH.
YOU'RE GONNA EAT ONLY THREE TIMES A DAY,
AROUND 400 CALORIE EACH MEAL...
UH-HUH.
...AND NO SNACKING BETWEEN MEALS,
AND YOU'RE GONNA ONLY EAT VEGETABLE
AND YOU'RE GONNA EAT ONLY PROTEIN,
WHICH IS MEAT AND MEAT PRODUCT.
UH-HUH.
THERE WILL NO CARB ON YOUR DIET, OKAY?
OKAY.AND IF YOU DO THAT,
I GUARANTEE YOU IN LESS THAN A MONTH,
YOU'RE GONNA BE UNDER 600.
OKAY? REALLY?
YES. WOW.
100 POUNDS IN A MONTH.
THAT'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO STRIVE TO LOSE,
BUT I'M NOT GONNA GIVE YOU A GO-AHEAD
TO GET APPROVED FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET YOU TO A POINT
THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO SURVIVE THE OPERATION FIRST.
BUT WE'LL RUN TESTS ON YOU AS YOU LOSE WEIGHT,
AND AS SOON AS YOUR BODY CAN HANDLE IT,
WE'LL DO WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT YOU START LOSING AS MUCH AS YOU CAN NOW
AND GET TO THAT POINT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
UH-HUH.BUT THIS WON'T BE EASY
BECAUSE THIS IS GONNA BE A DRASTIC CHANGE
IN YOUR EATING HABIT
AND DRASTIC CHANGING IN YOUR ACTIVITY, AS WELL.
WE'RE GONNA START MOVING YOU AROUND EVERY DAY,
DOING ONE HOUR OF EXERCISE IN THE MORNING,
ONE HOUR OF EXERCISE IN THE AFTERNOON.
SO, YOU'RE ABLE TO WALK, RIGHT?
YEAH. NOT FAR, THOUGH.
NOT FAR. NOT FAR.
SO, YOU GET UP AND WALK AND YOU COME BACK AND REST,
CATCHING YOUR BREATH, AND THEN YOU GET UP AND WALK AGAIN.
AND YOU DO THAT ABOUT 20 TIMES A DAY.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, KELLY, I'M GONNA SEND YOU TO THE HOSPITAL NOW
SO WE CAN RUN SOME TESTS AND SEE HOW YOUR CONDITION IS,
TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE ANY
IMMEDIATE LIFE-THREATENING ISSUES.
BUT IF WE FIND SOMETHING CONCERNING,
I WILL ADMIT YOU SO WE CAN ADDRESS WHAT WE NEED.
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU OVER THERE.
THANKS, DR. NOW. BYE.
Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT KELLY RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE IN HER CURRENT CONDITION
THERE IS NO WAY SHE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO SURVIVE MUCH LONGER.
SO, THE PRIORITY RIGHT NOW IS TO GET HER TO THE HOSPITAL
TO RUN THE TESTS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE
THERE'S NOTHING IMMEDIATE THAT IS LIFE-THREATENING TO HER.
Kelly: THAT WAS VERY SCARY FOR ME,
AND I AM SO FULL OF DREAD RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I'M NOT A CANDIDATE FOR SURGERY
BECAUSE I WOULD BE HIGH-RISK.
BUT IF I FOLLOW WHAT HE'S SAYING,
THEN I WILL BE A CANDIDATE.
YOU ALL RIGHT?
JUST SHORT OF BREATH.
HI, KELLY. HOW DO YOU FEEL?
I'M SHORT OF BREATH.
I WAS AFRAID THAT THE TRIP YOU TOOK DOWN TO HOUSTON
MAY BE A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH FOR YOU.
OH.LET'S SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.
[ BREATHING DEEPLY ]
WELL, YOU'RE WHEEZING PRETTY MUCH,
AND YOUR HEART IS RACING,
SO WE NEED TO GET YOU ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL, OKAY?
OKAY.AND I'LL GET YOU A WALKER,
AND THAT WILL HELP ALLEVIATE
SOME OF THE STRAIN IN WALKING RIGHT NOW.
ALL RIGHT. [ SIGHS ]
Dr. Nowzaradan: AT THIS POINT, I'M CONCERNED
KELLY IS STARTING TO PUSH HER BODY TOO FAR
WITH ALL THE STRAIN FROM TRAVELING.
SO WE NEED TO GET HER TO THE HOSPITAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
AND ADMIT HER TO MAKE SURE SHE FULLY RECOVERS
BEFORE SHE TRAVELS BACK.
AND IN THE MEANTIME,
WE CAN START HER ON A CONTROLLED DIET AND P.T.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET YOU TO A CAR
AND THEN WE CAN GET YOU TO THE HOSPITAL, OKAY?
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. [ GRUNTING ]
I'M JUST OVERWHELMED, BUT I FEEL LIKE DR. NOW CARES.
AND I'M GONNA FOLLOW HIS PLAN.
I'M GOING TO EAT HEALTHIER, AND I'M GOING TO EXERCISE.
IT'S A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME CHANCE TO GET MY LIFE BACK,
AND I CAN'T GO BACK TO DOING
SOMETHING HARMFUL TO MYSELF AGAIN.
BUT THIS APPOINTMENT TOOK A LOT OUT OF ME,
SO MY LEG IS KILLING ME RIGHT NOW AND I JUST WANT TO REST.
[ GRUNTING, BREATHING HEAVILY ]
♪♪
UH-HUH.
♪♪
I NEED HELP PULLING MY LEG -- CAN YOU PUSH MY LEG UP?
PUSH YOUR LEG UP?YEAH.
WHERE DO YOU WANT ME? RIGHT HERE?
YES, SIR.
[ GRUNTING ]
HUH?
GO AHEAD. YOU'RE IN ALREADY.
I CAN'T BECAUSE --YOU HAVE TO PUSH --
HERE, GRAB YOURSELF FROM THAT ONE SEAT.
I CAN'T. IT'S -- I CAN'T.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER DOOR TO THE SIDE?
YEAH, IT'S THE SAME THING.
CAN YOU OPEN IT? LET'S SEE IF WE CAN HELP HER.
OKAY.
[ GRUNTS ]
[ CAR DOOR OPENS ]
KELLY, YOU FEELING OKAY?
I'M TIRED, AND I CAN'T PULL MYSELF IN HERE.
JUST TAKE IT EASY. TAKE YOUR BREATH.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET YOU TO PULL -- OKAY.
[ GRUNTS ] YEAH, I JUST -- I -- [ SIGHS ]
COME ON.
YOU CAN DO IT.
I NEED HELP FROM THE BACK MAYBE, TOO.
I DON'T KNOW.
I'LL HOLD HER UP, AND IF YOU CAN HOLD HER LEG UP,
I'LL PULL HER IN.
ALL RIGHT, YOU READY?
YEAH. PULL.
[ GRUNTS ]
COME ON. COME ON.
COME ON.
I'M ON THE FLOOR.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
ALL RIGHT, KELLY, I KNOW YOU'RE TIRED,
BUT YOU CAN'T LET YOURSELF GET STUCK IN BETWEEN THE SEATS.
YOU'RE DROPPING BETWEEN TWO OF THEM.
Dr. Nowzaradan: KELLY HAS PROBABLY EXPERIENCED
A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL OF ACTIVITY TODAY THAN SHE'S USED TO.
AND I KNOW SHE HAS TO BE TIRED AND HURTING AT THIS POINT,
SO SHE DOESN'T WANT TO TRY LIKE SHE NEEDS TO GET UP IN THE SEAT.
BUT IF SHE ENDS UP IN THE FLOOR, WEDGED BETWEEN THE SEATS,
THE STRAIN OF THAT WILL LIKELY
CAUSE HER TO GO INTO CARDIAC ARREST VERY QUICKLY,
AND WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET HELP TO HER IN TIME.
CAN YOU CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT?
Kelly: MY KNEE IS HURTING.
YOU OKAY?
NO.
JUST HOLD ON. JUST BREATHE, OKAY?
OKAY. JUST -- JUST TAKE IT EASY.
WE GOT SOME HELP COMING, OKAY?
CAN YOU PUSH YOURSELF BACKWARDS?
-NO. OW! OW! -HOLD ON.
-OW! -STOP. STOP.
Dr. Nowzaradan: OKAY. JUST TAKE IT EASY.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
[ CRYING ]
STOP. STOP.HELP IS COMING IN, OKAY?
JUST RELAX. TAKE A DEEP BREATH
AND BREATHE NORMALLY, OKAY?
[ GROANING, CRYING ]
HEY, THERE'S A POLICE OFFICER DRIVING OVER THERE.
WAVE HIM OVER.
I'M RIGHT HERE. THEY'RE ABOUT TO GET YOU UP.
IT HURTS REALLY BAD.
Dr. Nowzaradan: WE NEED SOME MANPOWER HELP.
Officer: YOU NEED SOME MANPOWER HELP?
YEAH. SHE'S STUCK IN THE --
OKAY. GOT HER HEAD DOWN IN THE --
YEAH, THEY'VE GOT HER HEAD DOWN.
YEAH. SHE'S COLLAPSING, SO...
OKAY. WELL, HANG ON A SECOND.
YEAH. WE NEED SOME HELP.
270.
Kelly: AHH! AAH!Lee Ann: LISTEN. CALM DOWN.
Dr. Nowzaradan: JUST TAKE IT EASY.
I'M GONNA GET HELP, OKAY?
I CAN'T BREATHE.
[ WHIMPERING ]
OHH, MY LEG.
Kelly: OW! OW! OW! AHH!
[ GROANING ]
Dr. Nowzaradan: AFTER HER APPOINTMENT,
KELLY WAS GETTING IN THE VAN,
BUT SHE STRUGGLED TO GET IN HER SEAT.
AND SHE'S DOWN, STUCK ON THE FLOOR
AND UNABLE TO GET UP NOW WITH THE POSITION SHE'S IN.
AND MY CONCERN IS THAT THE STRAIN OF THAT
WILL LEAD TO HER SUFFERING CARDIAC ARREST HERE SOON
IF WE DON'T GET HER UP.
[ KELLY CRYING ]
Dr. Nowzaradan: ALL RIGHT, JUST TAKE A DEEP BREATH
AND BREATHE NORMALLY, OKAY?
HELP IS COMING IN, OKAY?
I KNOW. I KNOW.
IT'S GONNA BE VERY DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT
HOW WE LIFT 700 POUNDS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE'S WEDGED IN BETWEEN THE SEATS,
PREVENTING ANYONE FROM BEING ABLE TO REACH HER.
SO RIGHT NOW THE ONLY OPTION WE CAN EVEN TRY
WILL BE TO GET A SHEET OR A TARP UNDER HER
TO TRY AND PULL HER OUT.
BUT WE HAVE TO GET HER UP SOON
BEFORE HER BODY STARTS TO REACH A BREAKING POINT.
WHERE THE PART IS STUCK MOSTLY? YOUR RIGHT KNEE?
Kelly: MY RIGHT KNEE AND MY RIGHT FOOT IS STUCK.
OKAY. RIGHT KNEE AND THE FOOT IS STUCK.
OKAY. LET ME GO SEE OVER THERE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT.
[ GROANING ]
KELLY, IF I LIFT YOUR LEFT LEG, ARE YOU GONNA BE OKAY?
YEAH.
OKAY, SO, WE'LL LIFT THE LEFT LEG.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
Lee Ann: THEY'RE RIGHT HERE.
HER RIGHT KNEE IS STUCK OVER HERE.
CAN YOU BRING A COUPLE OF FLAT SHEET,
LIKE WE HAVE...
[ GROANING ]
RELAX.
KELLY, I NEED YOU TO STAY CALM, OKAY?
[ GROANING ]
IF YOU PANIC, IT'S ONLY GONNA MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE
IF YOU START TO HYPERVENTILATE.
THAT FOOT IS STUCK OVER THERE. BE CAREFUL.
OKAY, THAT'S GREAT. SHE'S ALMOST THERE.
SHE'S OKAY.
OKAY, READY? LIFT IT UP.
WATCH HER FOOT.
[ GROANS ]
Dr. Nowzaradan: ALL RIGHT, SHE'S UP. THAT'S GREAT.
WE'RE GONNA SEND HER TO ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL
TO ADMIT HER.
-GET YOUR BREATH. -YOU FEELING OKAY NOW?
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
ALL RIGHT, YOU WANT TO GET YOUR FEET BACK IN FRONT?
KELLY, YOU DOING OKAY?
WE'LL GET YOU TO THE HOSPITAL,
AND I'LL MEET YOU OVER THERE, OKAY?
WE'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF YOU.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE ENOUGH HELP TO GET YOU OUT OF HERE, OKAY?
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT.
[ CAR DOOR CLOSES ]
Dr. Nowzaradan: THANKFULLY, WE WERE ABLE TO GET KELLY
UP OFF THE FLOOR BEFORE HER SITUATION GOT ANY WORSE.
BUT THAT WAS A VERY CLOSE CALL,
AND KELLY MAY NOT BE OUT OF THE WOODS YET...
BECAUSE SHE MAY STILL BE FACING CARDIAC ARREST SOON
AS A RESULT OF ALL THE STRAIN
THAT SHE JUST PUT ON HER WHOLE SYSTEM.
SO WE NEED TO GET HER ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY.
BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT
GETTING HER OUT OF THE VAN WHEN WE GET THERE.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY EXTREMELY HARD TO LIFT SOMEONE
WHO'S OVER 700 POUNDS.
SO IF KELLY REFUSES TO TRY
AND USE HER LEGS AND STAND AGAIN,
THEN THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE
SHE CAN END UP ON THE FLOOR AGAIN OR THE GROUND.
AND IF THAT HAPPENS, THERE'S LITTLE CHANCE
SHE WILL SURVIVE THE STRAIN OF ALL THAT A SECOND TIME.
Kelly: I'M IN PAIN.
I JUST LITERALLY THOUGHT I WAS PROBABLY DYING
BECAUSE I COULDN'T BREATHE.
♪♪
Dr. Nowzaradan: I INTENDED THE EMTs
TO TRANSPORT HER IN THE AMBULANCE,
ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY WERE HERE.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE STILL UNWILLING TO TRANSPORT HER
SINCE SHE'S OVER 700 POUNDS
AND SAYING THEY'RE NOT PREPARED FOR A PATIENT THAT SIZE.
SO I NEED TO MAKE SURE A TEAM IS READY AT THE HOSPITAL
TO TRY TO HELP GET HER ON A BED AND INSIDE
WITH AS LITTLE STRAIN AS POSSIBLE ON HER.
BUT AS MUCH AS SHE DOESN'T WANT TO,
SHE'S GONNA HAVE TO GIVE SOME EFFORT AND USE HER LEGS
BECAUSE SHE HAS TO MAKE IT OUT OF THE VAN ENOUGH
FOR US TO BE ABLE TO REACH HER AND LIFT ALL HER WEIGHT
TO HELP MOVE HER TO MAKE SURE SHE DOESN'T END UP FALLING AGAIN
BECAUSE, IF SHE DOES, THERE WILL BE NO WAY TO SAFELY GET HER UP
AND SHE WON'T SURVIVE IT.
♪♪
SO, LET'S HELP HER TO STAND UP.
WE GOT SOME SHEET OVER THERE.
PUT IT UNDER HER LEG SO WE CAN HELP HER LEG.
ALL RIGHT, SO, LET'S PUT THIS LEG ON THE FLOOR.
OW. [ WHIMPERING ]
BRING THE BED CLOSER.
GO AHEAD. CLOSER, CLOSER.
[ GROANS ]
LOCK IT.
HERE.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
I KNOW YOU'RE TIRED, KELLY,
BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PUSH YOURSELF A LITTLE FOR US
BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE FAR WORSE ON YOUR BODY
IF YOU END UP ON THE GROUND.
WE WON'T BE ABLE TO LIFT YOU UP IF THAT HAPPENS,
SO YOU HAVE TO DO THIS.
[ SCREAMS ]
WHAT -- WHAT -- WHAT --
MY FOOT! PULL -- PULL -- PULL ME.
PULL ME. PULL ME. PULL ME. PULL ME.
HERE WE GO. YOU'RE DOING GOOD. PULL.
[ WHIMPERING ]
Dr. Nowzaradan: OKAY, WE GOT HER.
THE SIDES ROLL UP.
-HUH? -WATCH THE ARM.
WATCH THE ARM. -THAT ARM.
OKAY. THANK YOU.
OKAY, GREAT.
LET'S GET HER INSIDE.
♪♪
Dr. Nowzaradan: KELLY'S WEIGHT IS SO HIGH,
IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO LIFT HER.
BUT NOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET HER INSIDE
AND ON A BED WITH THE HOVERMATT,
WE'LL BE ABLE TO MOVE HER AROUND LIKE WE NEED
AND WE CAN START RUNNING TESTS ON HER
TO MAKE SURE WE IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS
ANY LIFE-THREATENING ISSUES
SHE MAY BE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW.
KELLY, YOU DOING OKAY?
WE'RE IN THE HOSPITAL,
AND WE'RE GONNA TAKE CARE OF YOU, OKAY?
Woman: WAIT TILL SHE FEELS LIKE SHE CAN...
Dr. Nowzaradan: HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE PREVENT
HER BODY FROM HITTING ITS LIMIT TODAY.
IF NOT, HER HEALTH COULD START TO DECLINE RAPIDLY
HERE VERY SOON.
AND WE NEED TO MOVE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE TO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO PREVENT THAT, BUT SHE'S LIKELY GOING TO NEED
TO BE HERE FOR A WHILE, BECAUSE HER BODY HAS BEEN
IN SEVERELY BAD SHAPE FOR A LONG TIME NOW,
AND THAT'S NOT GONNA BE EASY TO FIX AND BRING HER BACK FROM.
BUT HOPEFULLY IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR HER
AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
♪♪
WE'VE HAD KELLY IN THE HOSPITAL FOR THE PAST WEEK,
AND WE FINISHED RUNNING OUR TESTS ON HER,
AND I'M EVEN MORE CONCERNED NOW THAT I ORIGINALLY WAS FOR HER,
BECAUSE HER RESULTS SHOW SHE'S CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING
HEART FAILURE, AND THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE NOW.
THE HEART WASN'T DESIGNED TO BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN A PERSON
THE SIZE THAT KELLY IS, SO WHEN A PATIENT GETS OVER
400, 500, 600 POUNDS, THEIR HEART STARTS TO STRUGGLE
TO PUMP BLOOD TO EVERY PART OF THE BODY,
SO IT'S NOT A SURPRISE THAT SHE'S STRUGGLING WITH THAT.
THE CONCERN IS WITH HOW LONG SHE'S BEEN IN THIS STATE,
HER HEART IS VERY WEAK TO THE POINT WHERE
EVERY HEARTBEAT SHE HAS RIGHT NOW IS PRACTICALLY A MIRACLE.
SO WE HAVE TO ALLEVIATE AS MUCH STRAIN AS WE CAN OFF HER HEART
BY GETTING HER WEIGHT DOWN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
AND UPPING HER AEROBIC ACTIVITY TO TRY AND STRENGTHEN HER HEART.
AND IT'S ALSO GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT THAT
SHE START WORKING WITH A CARDIOLOGIST TO SEE WHAT ELSE
CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE HER CONDITION.
HI, KELLY.
HEY. HOW ARE YOU?
HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY?
A LOT BETTER. GREAT.
WELL, WE'VE FINISHED RUNNING ALL OUR TESTS,
AND OUR BIGGEST CONCERN IS YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP YOU HERE ON THE CONTROLLED DIET
YOU'VE BEEN ON, BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
WE GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY RIGHT NOW,
AND WE CAN ALSO START YOU DOING PSYCHICAL THERAPY
EVERY DAY TO GET YOUR STAMINA UP.
OKAY. BUT ONCE WE GET
YOUR WEIGHT IN THE 500s AND CARDIOLOGIST SAYS
YOU'RE READY, WE'RE GONNA TRANSFER YOU TO
A P.T. FACILITY THAT WILL HELP TO GET
YOUR STAMINA UP EVEN MORE...
UH-HUH....BECAUSE YOUR HEART
IS VERY WEAK RIGHT NOW, AND WE HAVE TO
ADDRESS THAT IMMEDIATELY...
OKAY....BECAUSE IF WE DON'T
DO IT NOW, YOU'RE NOT GONNA SURVIVE MUCH LONGER.
AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS TO REDUCE THE STRAIN
ON YOUR HEART RIGHT NOW,
WHICH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.
UH-HUH.
ALL RIGHT, KELLY. I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.
ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU TOMORROW.
ALL RIGHT. IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, LET ME KNOW.
OKAY.
HOPEFULLY THE COMBINATION OF LOSING THAT AMOUNT OF WEIGHT
AND CERTAINLY HER HEART WILL BE ENOUGH TO PREVENT
KELLY'S HEART FROM GIVING OUT SOON.
BUT IT MAY HAVE TAKEN ON TOO MUCH DAMAGE
OVER TOO LONG A TIME TO BE ABLE TO GET HER FULLY RECOVER.
SO HER HEART GIVING OUT MAY BE IMMINENT AT THIS POINT,
BUT WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO GIVE HER THE BEST CHANCE POSSIBLE.
WE JUST HAVE TO DO IT FAST,
BECAUSE KELLY'S TIME COULD BE UP ANY DAY NOW.
♪♪
YEAH.
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]
♪♪
[ GRUNTS ]
-NO. -OKAY.
♪♪
Kelly: I'VE BEEN IN A HOSPITAL FOR ABOUT A MONTH,
AND IT'S BEEN A LITTLE ROUGH.
I'VE BEEN WALKING ONCE A DAY WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY,
AND I HATE IT.
I'M JUST GONNA PUT THIS ON,
KIND OF COVER THE BACK SIDE A LITTLE BIT.
OKAY?
DR. NOW SAID THAT HE WANTED ME TO WORK ON MY MOBILITY
AND TO GET STRONGER,
BUT I'M NOT SO WILLING TO DO THINGS NOWADAYS.
I PROBABLY CAN WALK FOR MAYBE, LIKE, TWO TO THREE MINUTES
BEFORE MY LOWER BACK STARTS HURTING BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT,
AND I HAVE TO STOP OR LEAN ON SOMETHING.
WE HAD KELLY IN THE HOSPITAL FOR ALMOST A MONTH NOW,
AND IN THAT TIME, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET HER WEIGHT DOWN
A GREAT DEAL.
WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING TO HELP HER IMPROVE HER STAMINA
BY GETTING HER UP TO WALK EVERY DAY,
BUT SHE'S NOT BEEN TOO HARPY ABOUT THAT
OR DOING ANY OF HER BED EXERCISES EITHER.
BUT DESPITE THAT, WE MANAGED TO GET HER UP TO DO WHAT SHE NEEDS.
BUT AT THIS POINT, WE NEED MORE FOCUS ON HER P.T.,
SO WE NEED TO TRANSFER HER TO A REHAB FACILITY
THAT CAN HELP HER DO THAT.
BUT IT STILL A QUESTION OF HOW FAR WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE
TO GET HER HEART TO RECOVER AND WHETHER IT IS EVEN POSSIBLE
TO TURN HER SITUATION AROUND ENOUGH TO AVOID HER HEART
FROM GIVING OUT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
HI, KELLY.
Kelly: HEY.
HOW YOU DOING TODAY?
I'M OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO --
GET YOU TO GO TO A FACILITY THAT WILL HELP YOU
INCREASE YOUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY EVEN MORE
AND HELP YOU STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART LIKE YOU NEED.
OKAY, SO HOW LONG DO YOU THINK I'LL BE IN REHAB?
DO YOU KNOW?THAT'S ALL UP TO YOU.
IT DEPENDS ON HOW HARD YOU WORK
AND IMPROVE TO WHERE WE FEEL IT'S SAFE TO SEND YOU HOME.
OKAY. SO WE'LL GET THEM TO
TRANSPORT OVER TO TAKE YOU TO REHAB NOW.
BUT SO FAR, I'M PLEASED WITH YOUR PROGRESS,
SO KEEP WORKING ON IT, AND LET'S SEE WHAT
YOUR WEIGHT IS, AND THEN WE'LL GET YOU
TRANSFERRED TO REHAB, OKAY?
OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
♪ DA, DA-DA, DA ♪
WILL I LOSE WEIGHT? WILL I NOT LOSE WEIGHT?
UH-OH.
DO OR DIE.
♪♪
WOW. YOU'RE DOWN TO 604.
YAY.
THAT'S GREAT.
IN A COUPLE DAYS, YOU'RE GONNA BE UNDER 600.
I KNOW, RIGHT?
SO YOU LOST 122 POUNDS SO FAR IN ALMOST A MONTH,
SO YOU'RE DOING GOOD.
BUT YOUR GOAL FOR THE NEXT MONTH IS TO LOSE 50 POUNDS.
AND IF YOU DO THAT AND WORK HARD WITH P.T.
TO GET YOUR STAMINA UP,
THEN IT WILL BE SAFE TO SEND YOU HOME.
ALL RIGHTY.
YOU HAVE A PLACE TO STAY IN HOUSTON, RIGHT?
YES, I HAVE A COUSIN AND HIS FAMILY THAT ARE HERE,
AND HE'S THERE.
THAT'S GOOD.
SO YOU HAVE SOME SUPPORT SYSTEM IN HOUSTON?
YES.THAT'S GONNA BE GREAT.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU LATER.
ALL RIGHT.
KELLY HAS DONE WELL SO FAR, AND I'M PROUD OF HER PROGRESS,
BUT SHE JUST HAS A LONG WAY TO GO.
SO SHE NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON MAKING
AS MUCH PROGRESS AS POSSIBLE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE IF SHE WANTS
ANY CHANCE TO SURVIVE.
AT SOME POINT, WE MAY CONSIDER PUTTING A PACEMAKER
AND DEFIBRILLATOR ON HER, BUT WE HAVE TO GET HER WEIGHT
DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY BEFORE WE CAN PERFORM AN OPERATION
SAFELY ON HER, BECAUSE THE CONDITION HER BODY
AND HEART IS IN, SHE WOULDN'T SURVIVE.
Kelly: GOING TO A REHABILITATION CENTER WHERE I'VE NEVER BEEN --
IT'S A LITTLE SCARY.
AND DR. NOW WANTS TO MAKE SURE I WORK OUT.
THAT'S SCARY, TOO.
BUT, LIKE, IN THE END, I'LL PUSH THROUGH.
SO I HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED,
AND ALL I CAN DO IS KEEP THINKING ABOUT THE END RESULTS.
AND AT THE END OF THIS, I JUST WANT MY LIFE BACK.
♪♪
LIFE AT THIS PLACE IS STRESSFUL BECAUSE THE FOOD IS NASTY.
AND THEN IT'S LIKE -- I'LL ORDER OUT,
BECAUSE IT'S LIKE I NEED TO EAT SOMETHING.
SO I'M NOT BEEN LOSING WEIGHT, AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT
WHAT DR. NOW WILL SAY, BUT I'M TRYING.
♪♪
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
COME IN.
HEY. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M DOING WELL. YOURSELF?
THANK YOU.
Dr. Nowzaradan: KELLY HAS BEEN IN A REHAB FACILITY FOR
A COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW.
THE REHAB FACILITY IS ONLY PROVIDING HER WITH
1,200 CALORIE A DAY ACCORDING TO HER HIGH-PROTEIN, LOW-CARB DIET.
BUT THEY HAVE TO GET CONSENT FROM THE PATIENT BEFORE THEY CAN
RESTRICT THEIR DIET AND PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING OUTSIDE FOOD,
AND KELLY SO FAR HAS REFUSED TO AGREE TO THAT.
AND AT THIS POINT, SHE'S LIKELY GAINING AGAIN,
AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LET HAPPEN.
♪♪
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
Kelly: HEY, DR. NOW.
HEY, KELLY. HELLO.
HOW YOU DOING TODAY?
I'M OKAY.
SO GIVE ME AN UPDATE ON YOUR ACTIVITY
AND YOUR EATING HABIT.
ARE YOU MAKING THE PROGRESS YOU NEED WITH BOTH OF THOSE?
THE ACTIVITY, YES.
EATING HABIT, NO.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN "EATING HABIT, NO"?
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
I DON'T LIKE THE FOOD HERE, SO BEEN ORDERING OUT FOOD.
ALL RIGHT, WE'LL LET'S SORT IT OUT
SO WE GET SOME IDEA ABOUT IT.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU NEED TO DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO LIVE
OR DIE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE AT THIS POINT,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ALIVE MUCH LONGER IF YOU KEEP DOING THIS.
SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS FACILITY,
YOU SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST LOST 25 POUNDS BY NOW,
BUT I BET YOU YOU ALREADY STARTED GAINING AGAIN.
YOU CAME HERE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE, RIGHT?
I AGREE. I JUST -- I WANT TO DO THE RIGHT THING
OR WHATEVER, AND I ASKED THE NUTRITION --
I TELL HER WHAT I WANT, AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO EAT
OR WHATEVER, AND THEN I GET THE SAME THING
THAT I DON'T WANT, AND THIS FEELS LIKE --
I JUST FEEL LIKE I'M JUST BEING SET UP FOR FAILURE.
THIS IS JUST MORE EXCUSES.
TWO WEEKS AGO, YOU WERE DOWN TO 604,
SO TODAY YOU SHOULD BE DOWN TO AT LEAST 579.
LET'S SEE WHAT YOUR WEIGHT IS NOW, OKAY?
♪♪
YOU'RE OKAY.
♪♪
YOU'RE AT 636.4, SO INSTEAD OF
LOSING 25 POUNDS YOU GAINED 32.
AND THEY'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU'RE OVEREATING
EVERY DAY WHEN YOU'VE BEEN IN HERE.
AND AT THIS POINT, YOU'RE AT THE CROSSROADS.
YOU NEED TO MAKE A DECISION.
ARE YOU GONNA CHANGE YOUR LIFE, OR ARE YOU GONNA GIVE INTO
TEMPTATION, EVEN IF IT COSTS YOU YOUR LIFE?
BUT YOU'RE THE ONE THAT -- YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.
♪♪
Kelly: OKAY.
OKAY.
♪♪
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]
♪♪
ALL RIGHT, KELLY, SO DO YOU THINK YOU CAN AGREE
TO START DOING WHAT YOU NEED?
IF YOU DON'T THINK YOU CAN MAKE THESE CHOICES
ON YOUR OWN RIGHT NOW, DO YOU THINK YOU CAN AGREE
TO GIVE CONSENT TO THE FACILITY TO CONTROL YOUR DIET?
BECAUSE YOU'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
I AGREE.
FOR NOW THAT WILL WORK, BUT YOU'RE THE ONE
THAT HAS TO PUT THE EFFORT AND DO THE HARD WORK
IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A CHANCE OF SURVIVING FOR THE LONG RUN.
BUT WE'LL GET A NUMBER OF THINGS SET UP FOR YOU --
GET DOCTORS IN TO COME AND SEE YOU,
THERAPISTS TO COME AND SEE YOU.
OKAY?
♪♪
BUT YOU TELL ME WHAT'S GONNA WORK FOR YOU,
AND WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU ALL THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE
TO GET YOU ON THE RIGHT PATH.
BECAUSE WE'RE HERE TO GIVE YOU ALL THE HELP THAT YOU NEED,
BUT YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR PART FOR THIS TO WORK.
ALL RIGHT, KELLY.
START WORKING HARD.
AND DON'T GIVE UP, AND I'LL SEE YOU SOON.
OKAY. OKAY?
ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU LATER.
ALL RIGHT.
♪♪
Dr. Nowzaradan: IF KELLY CONTINUES TO CHOOSE
NOT TO COOPERATE WITH US, THEN IT'S GOING TO COST HER HER LIFE.
BUT HOPEFULLY SHE'S GOING TO START
TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY NOW.
BUT IF NOT, WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WE CAN IN THE HOPE
THAT SHE WAKES UP, AND THAT'S WHAT SHE NEEDS
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
♪♪
WE'RE GONNA DO 2 SETS OF 20.
Kelly: I'VE BEEN IN REHAB FOR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH,
AND I'M FEELING A LOT BETTER.
I FEEL STRONGER.
[ VELCRO TEARS ]
♪♪
ALL RIGHT.
COME RIGHT HERE TO THE BAR...
OKAY.
...WHEN YOU'RE READY.
DR. NOW TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO CHANGE SOMETHING,
'CAUSE I WAS, LIKE, REALLY WEAK.
NICE AND TALL.
SO, THAT GAVE ME SOME CONCERN.
IT WAS SCARY THAT MY HEALTH GOT THAT BAD.
WORK ON GETTING THOSE KNEES AS HIGH AS YOU CAN.
STAND NICE AND TALL.
DR. NOW SAID THAT HE WANTED ME TO WORK ON
PHYSICAL THERAPY AS WELL AS DIET.
THE TRIP DOWN HERE ACTUALLY DID TAKE A LOT OUT OF ME.
I WAS VERY TRIED, WEAK, BUT I HAVE FAITH.
DR. NOW THINKS HOPEFULLY IT'S A NEW BEGINNING AND A NEW LIFE.
♪♪
GOOD JOB.
PROUD OF YOU.
♪♪
I SIGNED UP TO CHANGE MY LIFE,
AND THAT'S MY AWESOME AND COOL.
♪♪
Dr. Nowzaradan: WE HAVE HAD KELLY IN REHAB
FOR AROUND TWO MONTHS NOW.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET HER WEIGHT DOWN, WHICH IS GOOD,
AND SHE'S ALSO BEEN WORKING HARD WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY
TO GET STAMINA UP AND STRENGTHEN HER HEART,
SO I'M PROUD OF HER AND THE PROGRESS SHE'S MAKING,
SO I THINK SHE'S READY NOW TO GO HOME AND CONTINUE
WORKING ON MAKING PROGRESS ON HER OWN TO SHOW US
SHE'S MOTIVATED TO DO THIS ON HER OWN LIKE SHE NEEDS.
♪♪
HI, KELLY. HEY.
SO, ARE YOU READY TO GO HOME TODAY?
YES. ALL RIGHT.
WELL, YOU EARNED IT, SO WE'LL GET YOU GOING HERE SOON.
AND YOU'RE GONNA STAY WITH YOUR COUSIN?
YES. OKAY.
AND YOU'RE GONNA STICK YOUR DIET
AND MAKE SURE YOU STAY ACTIVE AND EXERCISE EVERY DAY?
YES. OKAY, GREAT.
BUT YOU'RE STILL IN HEART FAILURE,
EVEN WITH ALL YOUR PROGRESS, SO IF YOU START TO
GO BACK TO YOUR OLD HABITS,
YOU'RE GOING TO BE RISKING YOUR LIFE.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND? MM-HMM.
OKAY. GOOD.
SO, IN ONE MONTH, I WANT YOU TO COME TO CLINIC,
AND I WANT YOU TO HAVE LOST ANOTHER 40 POUNDS BY THEN.
YOU SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM DOING THAT.
THEN WE'LL DO WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY ON YOU.
OKAY?
BUT IF YOU DON'T, THEN WE'RE NOT,
AND WE MAY HAVE TO ADMIT YOU BACK TO THE HOSPITAL
AND PUT YOU BACK ON A CONTROLLED DIET AGAIN
TO PREVENT YOU FROM DYING.
BUT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO JUST KEEP YOU
IN THE HOSPITAL FOREVER, SO WHAT ULTIMATELY HAPPENS
IS UP TO YOU, SO TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY.
ALL RIGHT.
LET'S GET YOU TO THE SCALE AND SEE HOW THINGS LOOK.
THEN WE'LL GET YOU ON HOME.
♪♪
[ GRUNTS ]
♪♪
THAT'S ZERO.
♪♪
538 POUNDS.
SO YOU LOST 98 POUNDS OVER THE LAST 6 WEEKS.
THAT'S GOOD.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
♪♪
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
ALL RIGHT, KELLY, I'M PROUD OF YOU.
KEEP UP THE HARD WORK, AND LET'S SEE HOW WE DO
IN ONE MONTH, AND BE SURE TO HIT YOUR GOAL BY THEN.
AND STICK WITH IT, OKAY?
OKAY. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
♪♪
Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M HOPEFUL THAT KELLY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD
AND DO WHAT SHE NEEDS TO STAY ON TRACK.
OVER THE LAST MONTH-AND-A-HALF,
SHE'S SHOWN US SHE CAN BE MOTIVATED IF SHE WANTS.
SHE JUST NEEDS TO KEEP THAT MOTIVATION GOING ON HER OWN
AND RESIST THE TEMPTATIONS TO FALL BACK INTO OLD HABITS,
BECAUSE IF SHE DOES, THEN IT'S GONNA BE
A VERY BAD SITUATION FOR HER, BECAUSE OUR ONLY OPTION WILL BE
TO PUT HER BACK IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT TO SAVE HER LIFE.
BUT THE SOLUTION CAN'T BE TO KEEP HER
IN THE HOSPITAL FOREVER, SO AT SOME POINT,
WE'LL BE JUST DELAYING THE INEVITABLE UNTIL SHE DECIDES
TO DO THIS ON HER OWN.
BUT HOPEFULLY SHE DOES WHAT SHE NEEDS NOW
AND HITS HER GOAL AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.
♪♪
Kelly: I HAVE FAMILY IN KATY, TEXAS --
A COUSIN NAMED GARY.
HE'S HELPED ME OUT WITH A LOT OF THINGS,
AND HE HAS OFFERED TO OPEN HIS HOUSE UP TO ME.
[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]
COME IN.
-HEY. -HEY.
ALL RIGHT. YOU ALL READY?
YEP.
SOON AS I GET THE CHAIR OUT OF THAT DOOR.
OKAY. [ SIGHS ]
♪♪
GARY LIVES WITH A DAUGHTER AND HIS WIFE,
AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING IN WITH THEM.
I LOVE GARY, AND I'M THANKFUL THAT HE'S WILLING TO HELP ME
DURING THIS JOURNEY IN MY LIFE.
IT FEELS GREAT TO KNOW THAT I HAVE FAMILY THAT
I CAN STAY WITH...
AND NOT BEING BY MYSELF.
GARY'S FAMILY CAN BE SUPPORTIVE DURING A WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEY.
[ BREATHES HEAVILY ]
-CAN YOU GET DOWN? -YEAH.
I WILL NEED THAT EXTRA HELP, BECAUSE LOSING THIS WEIGHT
IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH FOR ME.
I'M NOT SO MUCH WORRIED ABOUT THE DIET
AS I AM WORRIED ABOUT WANTING TO GET UP AND MOVE.
MY HEART PROBLEMS DO SCARE ME.
-WOW. NICE. -ALL RIGHT.
[ LAUGHS ] THANK YOU.
REALLY NICE.
ALL RIGHT.
SO, I'LL SHOW YOU YOUR BEDROOM.
WE'LL KIND OF MAKE IT MORE COZY-IER.
OH, NICE. I LIKE IT.
NOW I FEEL LIKE I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY OF MY LIFE,
AND I'M GONNA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.
♪♪
Kelly: I'VE BEEN AT MY COUSIN GARY'S FOR ABOUT A MONTH,
AND GARY IS BRINGING ME TO DR. NOW'S OFFICE TODAY.
I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD AND STICKING TO THE DIET.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SCALE'S GONNA SAY,
SO I'M ACTUALLY, LIKE, WALKING IN VERY BLINDLY.
KELLY.
Kelly: I DON'T KNOW IF I HIT DR. NOW'S 40-POUND GOAL,
BUT I HOPE I DID.
TODAY I SHOULD BE UNDER 500.
[ CHUCKLES ]
♪♪
EVEN THOUGH THAT'S NOT MY TARGET WEIGHT,
I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.
I KNOW THERE'S THINGS THAT I PROBABLY COULD HAVE DONE.
ONCE I GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND WAS FEELING BETTER,
I COULD HAVE EXERCISED, BUT I CHOSE NOT TO.
SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT DR. NOW IS GOING TO SAY TODAY.
BUT I AM FEELING HAPPY.
I'VE LOST 33 POUNDS.
Dr. Nowzaradan: HELLO.
HI.HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?
GOOD.
I'M DR. NOWZARADAN. I DON'T THINK I'VE MET YOU.
NO. I'M GARY -- GARY MASON.
GOOD TO MEET YOU. ALL RIGHT.
SHE'D TALK ABOUT YOU A LOT, SO IT'S GOOD TO MEET YOU.
HOW ARE WE DOING?GOOD, GOOD.
GREAT.
SO, KELLY, LET'S DISCUSS WHERE YOU'RE AT TODAY.
IT LOOKS LIKE YOU MADE SOME PROGRESS OVER THE LAST ONE,
BUT NOT AS MUCH AS YOU SHOULD HAVE.
YOU ONLY LOST 33 POUNDS, SO YOU'RE STILL IN THE 500s.
BUT YOU ARE MAKING SOME PROGRESS,
SO I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
AND IT SHOWS THAT YOU'RE MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES.
YES -- THE ONLY FOOD I HAD OUT WAS WHEN I WAS IN
THE HOSPITAL, SO THAT WAS IT.
THAT'S GREAT.
WELL, I'M PROUD OF YOU, BECAUSE OVERALL YOU LOST
MORE THAN 200 POUNDS SO FAR.
AND WITH YOUR RECENT PROGRESS YOU MADE ON YOUR OWN,
IT SHOWS ME YOU'RE TRYING AND THE WILLINGNESS TO WORK HARD
IS THERE NOW.
SO WE'RE GONNA APPROVE YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,
PENDING YOUR TEST RESULTS SHOWING US THAT
YOUR HEART IS HEALTHY ENOUGH FOR YOU TO
SURVIVE AN OPERATION.
SO WHAT I'M GONNA DO IS ADMIT YOU TO REHAB AGAIN
TO HELP YOU LOSE WEIGHT FASTER SINCE YOU ARE ON
A TICKING CLOCK, AND WE'LL CHECK YOUR HEART
EVERY FEW DAYS AND DO CARDIAC WORK UP AS YOU LOSE MORE,
AND THE SECOND THE TEST SHOW YOUR RISK FACTOR
ARE ACCEPTABLE, THEN WE'LL MOVE AHEAD
AND DO WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY ON YOU.
DOES THAT WORK?
OKAY.
OKAY, THEN I'LL GO AHEAD AND ADMIT YOU TODAY
SO WE CAN START DOING THAT IMMEDIATELY.
KEEP WORKING HARD, AND WE'LL BE ABLE
TO DO SURGERY ON YOU VERY SOON.
BUT YOU'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD.
YEAH.
ALL RIGHT. DO YOU THINK SO, TOO?
Gary: DOING BETTER.
DOING BETTER?YEAH, SHE'S DOING BETTER.
ALL RIGHT.
I'LL SEE YOU AT REHAB.
SO WE'RE GONNA GET YOU IN BETTER SHAPE, OKAY?
OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, SO I'M GLAD THIS VISIT
IS MUCH MORE PLEASANT THAN THE LAST ONE YOU HAD HERE.
[ LAUGHING ]
WELL, IT WASN'T THE VISIT. IT WAS THE OUTSIDE PART.
[ LAUGHS ]
WELL --
IT WAS -- LEAVING THE FACILITY WAS THE ISSUE.
IT WAS A STRUGGLE, BUT YOU'RE --
BUT I GOT TO MEET HOUSTON'S BRAVEST.
IS IT "BRAVEST"?
BRAVEST -- HOUSTON'S BRAVEST -- NICE FIREFIGHTERS.
ALL RIGHT, IF YOU NEED ANYTHING GIVE ME A CALL,
AND I'LL SEE YOU SOON.
AND NICE TO MEET YOU.
YOU TOO.ALL RIGHT, SEE YOU ALL LATER.
♪♪
Dr. Nowzaradan: EVEN THOUGH SHE DIDN'T HIT HER GOAL,
I'M HAPPY TO SEE THAT KELLY STILL MADE SOME DECENT PROGRESS
THIS PAST MONTH.
MY BIG CONCERN WAS THAT SHE WOULD GO HOME
AND FALL BACK INTO OLD HABITS AND START TO GAIN AGAIN
WHEN SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TIME TO WASTE LOSING MORE WEIGHT.
SO I THINK SHE'S DONE WELL ENOUGH TO SHOW ME SHE'S TRYING
AND READY TO TAKE THE NEXT BIG STEP OF GETTING
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, WHICH WILL BE AN IMPORTANT TOOL
FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO LOSE WEIGHT
AND KEEP IT OFF FOR THE LONG TERM.
BUT WE WON'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT UNTIL WE GET KELLY'S HEART
TO A HEALTHY ENOUGH PLACE WHERE HOPEFULLY BY PUTTING HER
BACK ON A CONTROLLED DIET.
AND BY INCREASING HER LEVEL OF PHYSICAL THERAPY, TOO,
WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET HER TO THAT POINT SOON.
BECAUSE UNTIL WE GET HER TO A MUCH BETTER PLACE PHYSICALLY,
SHE'S STILL ON A TICKING CLOCK, AND AT THE RISK OF
RUNNING OUT OF TIME AT ANY MOMENT UNTIL THEN.
Kelly: THE DOCTOR SAID I WAS APPROVED FOR SURGERY.
SO I'M, LIKE, HAVING AN OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE,
KIND OF LIKE, "IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING?
IT'S REALLY HAPPENING."
OH, SNAP, I MIGHT BE REALLY GETTING MY LIFE BACK!
I MEAN, OF COURSE I NEED STILL NEED TO INCREASE MY ACTIVITY,
I STILL NEED TO FOLLOW HIS PLAN, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THIS,
I JUST WANT MY LIFE BACK.
♪♪
[ TRAIN HORN BLARES ]
♪♪
Kelly: TODAY I'M GETTING GASTRIC SLEEVE SURGERY.
I'M FEELING VERY NERVOUS AND SCARED.
MY COUSIN GARY CAN'T BE HERE TODAY, BECAUSE HE'S ON
A BUSINESS TRIP, BUT MY UNCLE AND GARY'S DAUGHTER
ARE ON THEIR WAY.
[ DOOR OPENS ]
HEY!
HOW ARE YOU?
FINE, AND YOU?
YOU HAIR, IT LOOKS SO PRETTY.
AWW, THANK YOU.
EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY.
MM!
EVERYTHING WILL BE OKAY.ALL RIGHT.
OKAY.
[ LAUGHS ] BEHAVE.
BYE.
LOVE YOU, GUYS.
OKAY, MISS MASON.
I REALLY NEED THIS SURGERY TO MOVE FORWARD IN MY LIFE,
BUT I'M REALLY NERVOUS.
I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT GOING TO SLEEP AND NOT WAKING UP.
I DON'T WANT TO DIE.
I'M RISKING EVERYTHING FOR THE CHANCE TO HAVE A FUTURE,
SO I HOPE I'M DOING THE RIGHT THING.
Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY WE'RE ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM
A GASTRIC SLEEVE ON KELLY.
WE HAVE HAD HER IN THE REHAB FACILITY FOR THE PAST MONTH,
WORKING TO GET HER HEART TO A HEALTHY ENOUGH PLACE
FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO TOLERATE SURGERY
AND SURVIVE UNDERGOING AN OPERATION.
ALL RIGHT, TURN THE ROOM LIGHT OFF.
WE HAVE HER WEIGHT DOWN TO 453, AND WITH OVER 270 POUNDS
OFF OF HER BODY NOW FROM HER HIGHEST WEIGHT,
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO REDUCE THE STRAIN ON HER BODY AND HEART
ENOUGH TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THIS OPERATION TODAY.
BUT THIS SURGERY IS STILL EXTREMELY HIGH-RISK,
BECAUSE KELLY'S HEART HAS SUSTAINED A LOT OF DAMAGE
FROM HER WEIGHT FOR SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME
THAT IT MAY NEVER FULLY RECOVER, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO GET HER TO A MUCH BETTER PLACE PHYSICALLY.
[ MONITOR BEEPS ]
SO SHE STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO TO GET HER HEART
TO WHERE IT NEEDS LONG TERM, AND THE ONLY WAY SHE HAS
A CHANCE TO DO THAT IS TO CONTINUE LOSING
THE REST OF THE WEIGHT SHE NEEDS.
AND THIS SURGERY WILL GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING HER DO THAT,
BECAUSE WHAT THIS OPERATION DOES IS REDUCE THE STOMACH BY 90%,
LEAVING A SMALL, NARROW TUBE THAT LOOKS SIMILAR
TO A SLEEVE SO A THE PATIENT'S FOOD INTAKE IS PHYSICALLY
LIMITED FROM OVEREATING AND THE PATIENT IS LESS HUNGRY.
SO THIS OPERATION WILL GIVE THEM
AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOSE EVEN MORE WEIGHT.
Bernard: KELLY'S HAVING WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
I'M REALLY NERVOUS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW
IT'S GONNA COME OUT.
Dr. Nowzaradan: OKAY, I HAVE THE STOMACH.
ALL RIGHT, LOOKS GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, ROOM LIGHT ON.
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE DONE.
KELLY'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.
WE COMPLETED THE GASTRIC SLEEVE AND REMOVED ABOUT 90%
OF HER STOMACH, SO THIS WILL GREATLY REDUCE
HER ABILITY TO OVEREAT.
SO WE'LL GET HER TO RECOVERY NOW SO SHE CAN REST.
IF THERE ARE ANY COMPLICATIONS WITH SURGERY,
THEY HAPPEN IN THE FIRST 72 HOURS AFTER THE OPERATION,
AND WITH HER HEART, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ADDRESS
ANYTHING THAT GOES ON WITH HER IMMEDIATELY,
SO WE'RE GONNA KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON HER DURING THAT TIME,
AND THEN AFTER A WEEK OR SO, I'M GONNA SEND HER BACK TO REHAB
AND CONTINUE WITH HER PHYSICAL THERAPY AND GET HER STAMINA
BACK UP, BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE
KELLY DOESN'T USE THIS RECOVERY TIME AS AN EXCUSE
TO STOP GETTING UP AND EXERCISING LIKE SHE NEEDS.
SO WE WILL SEND HER HOME IN A FEW WEEKS, BUT UNTIL THEN,
KELLY WILL NEED TO STAY ON A LIQUID DIET,
AND SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE 30 TO 40 POUNDS
HER FIRST MONTH AND AT LEAST 20 POUNDS EACH MONTH AFTER THAT.
BUT FOR NOW, WE NEED TO FOCUS ON HER RECOVERY
AND MAKING SURE SHE DOES WHAT SHE NEEDS
TO KEEP HER HEART STRONG.
♪♪
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]
Kelly: IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE SURGERY,
AND I'VE BEEN IN A REHAB SINCE I WAS DISCHARGED
FROM THE HOSPITAL.
SINCE SURGERY, MY BODY HAS BEEN IMPROVING.
HELLO.
HERE'S YOUR LUNCH, DARLING.
OH, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ENJOY.
THANKS.ALL RIGHT.
RIGHT NOW I'M THE FULL LIQUID STAGE OF THE DIET,
SO IT'S LIKE SOUPS AND RUNNY EGGS, ICE POPS.
SOME DAYS ARE EASIER THAN OTHERS.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS I'VE BEEN READY TO GO HOME,
BUT MY COUSIN GARY JUST BASICALLY KICKED ME OUT.
HE TOLD ME, LIKE, "WE DEFINITELY LOVE YOU,"
BUT I COULDN'T STAY WITH THEM ANYMORE.
I FEEL LIKE THIS IS ME BEING ABANDONED AGAIN.
NOW I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A PLACE TO LIVE,
BECAUSE I CAN'T STAY AT REHAB MUCH LONGER.
IF NOT, UNFORTUNATELY, I'LL HAVE TO GO BACK TO GREENSBORO.
[ SIGHS ] I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.
BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO STAY.
I KIND OF JUST FELT LIKE TEXAS MIGHT BE A NEW LIFE FOR ME.
BUT RIGHT NOW IT JUST FEELS LIKE I'M STUCK,
AND THAT IT'S GONNA BE FINAL ONE DAY.
♪♪
Kelly: MY SURGERY WAS ALMOST TWO MONTHS AGO,
AND I'M IN REHAB JUST CHILLING ON THIS DIET.
I'VE BEEN READY TO GO HOME, BUT I HAVE NO WHERE TO GO.
DR. NOW SAID I WASN'T READY TO LEAVE, BUT I DO HAVE GOOD NEWS.
MY COUSIN GARY JUST CALLED ME,
AND HE SAID IT'S OKAY TO COME BACK.
HE CHANGED HIS MIND AND SAW -- I'M FEELING HAPPY,
BECAUSE I'M GETTING DISCHARGED TODAY.
Dr. Nowzaradan: IT'S BEEN A COUPLE MONTHS SINCE WE DID
KELLY'S WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, AND WE KEPT HER HERE IN REHAB
DURING THAT TIME, BECAUSE SHE SAID HER COUSIN
WASN'T LETTING HER MOVE BACK WITH HIM,
SO SHE'S HAD NO PLACE TO GO.
BUT FORTUNATELY, SHE SAYS HE'S HAD A CHANGE OF HEART NOW,
AND THAT SHE CAN GO BACK TO STAY WITH HIM.
HI, KELLY.
HEY.
HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
I'M OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, SO I THINK YOU'RE READY TO GO HOME.
OKAY.THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
IS GONNA BE WHEN YOU GO HOME
YOUR DIET IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PEOPLE.
BUT YOUR STOMACH WON'T BE ABLE TO HOLD MUCH NOW,
'CAUSE YOUR STOMACH IS RIGHT NOW SO SMALL.
UH-HUH.YOUR STOMACH IS LIKE
THE SHAPE OF A BANANA...OKAY.
...AND THAT'S GONNA BE SMALL CAPACITY.
SO STICK WITH YOUR OWN DIET AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE EATING.
NOPE, I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THEM.
ALL RIGHT.THEY'RE SKINNY ALREADY.
ALL RIGHT. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOSE
100 POUNDS IN THREE MONTHS.
OKAY. I'M GONNA HOLD YOU TO THAT.
SO --I'M GONNA FOLLOW THIS
COMPLETELY -- EXACTLY THE WAY YOU SAID.
YOU'RE GONNA BE --
AND I'M GONNA MAKE SU-- I'M GONNA HOLD YOU TO IT.
YOU CAN DO THAT.
BUT REMEMBER, THIS IS ALL STILL UP TO YOU.
SO STICK TO THE DIET, BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL IN HEART FAILURE.
OKAY.
AND WE DON'T KNOW AT WHAT POINT THAT WILL CHANGE
BECAUSE OF ALL THE DAMAGE YOUR HEART HAS.
BUT YOUR ONLY CHANCE FOR ANY MORE IMPROVEMENT
IS TO CONTINUE LOSING AND DOING YOUR EXERCISES.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
OKAY. GOT YOU. OKAY.
IF YOU START GAINING AGAIN, WE HAVE TO PUT YOU BACK
IN THE HOSPITAL TO SAVE YOUR LIFE,
AND I DON'T THINK YOU WANT THAT.
YEAH.
GREAT. IF YOU STAY ON TRACK,
IN SIX MONTHS, WE'RE GONNA TAKE SOME SKIN OFF YOU.
WITH ALL THE WEIGHT YOU LOST, YOU ALREADY HAVE AROUND
20 TO 30 POUNDS OF EXTRA SKIN STARTING TO HANG
ON YOUR STOMACH, AND HAVING THAT REMOVED
WILL BE A BIG HELP FOR YOU.
OKAY.
BUT THAT'S DOWN THE ROAD, ONLY IF YOU STAY ON TRACK.
OKAY, LET'S BRING THE SCALE AND SEE HOW MUCH YOU LOST.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT?
ALL RIGHT.
♪♪
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]
♪♪
OKAY, YOU'RE AT 401.
THAT'S FANTASTIC -- TWO POUNDS FROM 300.
SO YOU EFFECTIVELY LOST OVER 320 POUNDS AT THIS POINT.
GREAT.THAT'S GOOD PROGRESS FOR YOU.
YAY.
ALL RIGHT, KELLY, I'M PROUD OF YOUR PROGRESS.
OKAY?
ALL RIGHT, CAN YOU TELL THAT YOU'RE ABLE
TO WALK AND HOW BETTER IT IS?
YES AND NO.
WELL, IF YOU START WORKING AND DOING MORE EXERCISE,
YOU'RE GONNA GET BETTER STAMINA.
ALL RIGHT.
IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE TO THINK WHEN I WALK NOW.
I GUESS I'M TRYING TO WADDLE.
WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE WHEN YOU WERE, LIKE, 700 POUNDS,
YOU COULDN'T MOVE, SO YOU HAVE TO
SWING YOUR BODY TO TAKE THE STEP.
YEAH, SO NOW IT'S LIKE --
NOW YOU HAVE TO --
SO NOW I HAVE TO REMEMBER, LIKE, TO LIFT MY KNEES
AND SO I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.
THINK ABOUT WALKING --
I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.
YOU GOT TO LEARN TO WALK WITH YOUR NEW TWO FEET.
YEAH, IT'S LIKE -- IT'S LIKE RE-TRAINING A BABY,
LIKE TRAINING A BABY AGAIN. [ LAUGHS ]
YEAH.
YEAH, SO --
WELL, I'M SURE YOU'RE GONNA LEARN THAT REAL QUICK.
YEAH. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, KELLY, YOU TAKE CARE.
ALL RIGHT. YOU TOO.
♪♪
[ DOOR CLOSES ]
Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M REALLY PROUD OF KELLY.
SHE'S BEEN STAYING DETERMINED
AND DOING WHAT SHE NEEDS AND HAS COME A LONG WAY SO FAR.
BUT SHE HAS TO MAKE SURE SHE STAYS ON TRACK STILL
AND DOESN'T GET TOO COMFORTABLE AND ALLOW HER PROGRESS
TO SLOW DOWN, BECAUSE SHE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE ANY TIME --
GETTING MORE STRAIN OFF OF HER BODY AND HEART
BUT LOSING MORE WEIGHT AND IMPROVING HER STAMINA.
Kelly: IT FEELS LIKE THE FIRST DAY OF, LIKE,
A NEW LIFE, ACTUALLY, AND I'M EXCITED.
MY PLAN IS TO, YOU KNOW, STICK TO THE DIET,
DO PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY,
TO WALK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
DO WHAT DR. NOW EXPECTS ME TO DO.
WITH MY HEART NOT FUNCTIONING THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO,
THIS BREATH COULD BE MY LAST BREATH.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO DIE.
♪♪
THE LAST MONTH HAS BEEN GREAT.
IT'S NICE WITHOUT BEING IN THE HOSPITAL.
I'M FOLLOWING THE DIET,
AND I'VE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH MY PHYSICAL THERAPY.
MY MOBILITY IS INCREASING.
I FEEL LIKE I CAN DO MORE THINGS --
KIND OF WORKING ON MY STAMINA.
I'M LESS OUT OF BREATH.
I DON'T WANT TO FALL BACK TO FOOD, BECAUSE I ACTUALLY,
HONESTLY, WANT TO LOSE THE WEIGHT AND KEEP IT OFF.
MY NEXT DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT IS IN A WEEK AND A HALF.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE HOW FAR MY WEIGHT LOSS HAS GOTTEN.
I SIGNED UP TO CHANGE MY LIFE,
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, I SEE A FUTURE.
WOMAN: Hello. Admissions.
HI, I WAS CALLING TO FIND OUT INFORMATION
ABOUT SUMMER CLASSES.
I HAVE TWO CLASSES THAT I NEED TO TAKE IN ORDER TO GET
MY DEGREE A COLLEGE IN NORTH CAROLINA,
AND I PLAN ON GRADUATING FROM THAT COLLEGE.
Your credits transferred, and all you have to do
is sign up, pay the tuition,
and then come out to the classes.
OKAY, NO PROBLEM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Okay. No problem. Have a nice day.
BYE. YOU TOO.
NOW THAT I'M LOSING MORE WEIGHT, IT'S LIKE A NEW WORLD --
'CAUSE I WANT TO LIVE.
♪♪
Dr. Nowzaradan: SO, THERE WAS NO TRAUMA OR INJURY?
IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS A CARDIAC ARREST?
MAN: That's what it seems.
WELL, KELLY WAS BATTLING WITH HER HEART CONDITION
FOR A LONG TIME.
WHAT TIME DID IT HAPPEN?
At the time, nobody was there, so we don't know exactly
what the time of death was, but it seems like it was
of natural cause of her heart condition.
I JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
TO INFORM ME THAT LATE LAST NIGHT,
IT APPEARS KELLY'S HEART GAVE OUT.
OKAY, THANK YOU.
CONSIDERING THE CONDITION THAT KELLY'S HEART HAS BEEN IN,
THIS NEWS IS NOT COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED.
I WAS STILL VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE
TO GET HER OUT OF A STATE OF HEART FAILURE,
SO I'M VERY SADDENED TO HEAR THIS NEWS.
AT KELLY'S LAST APPOINTMENT WITH ME A FEW WEEKS AGO,
HER WEIGHT LOSS WAS ON TRACK, SO THIS IS NOT A RESULT
OF HER STARTING TO GO BACK TO HER OLD HABITS.
SHE WAS WORKING HARD AND DOING WHAT SHE NEEDED.
BUT DESPITE THAT, THE DAMAGE TO HER HEART
UP TO THIS POINT WAS JUST TOO SEVERE.
HELLO.
YEAH, THIS IS DR. NOWZARADAN.
WHEN A PATIENT IS OVER 600 OR 700 POUNDS LIKE KELLY WAS
AT HER HIGHEST, IT TAKES A TOLL ON THE WHOLE BODY
AND CERTAINLY SHORTEN THEIR LIFE-SPAN.
BUT AS DOCTORS, WHEN WE HAVE A PATIENT LIKE KELLY,
WE WANT TO TRY AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP GIVE THEM
A NORMAL LIFE BACK BY UNDOING
THE DAMAGE FROM YEARS OF UNHEALTHY CHOICES.
SOMETIMES IN THE END THE DAMAGE WAS JUST TOO GREAT,
AND WHAT WE DO ONLY ENDS UP HAVING A MINIMAL EFFECT.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE OUTCOMES LIKE THIS ANY EASIER TO ACCEPT,
ESPECIALLY WHEN KELLY WAS WORKING SO HARD
AND MAKING SUCH GOOD PROGRESS.
I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT KELLY TRIED VERY HARD
AND FOUGHT ALL THE WAY TO THE END.
I'M VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS,
AND CONDOLENCE TO EVERYBODY IN THE FAMILY.
YOU KNOW, IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, GIVE US A CALL.
BYE.
KELLY NEVER GAVE UP.
SHE WAS FIGHTING FOR HER LIFE, AND I'M PROUD OF HER FOR THAT.
AND I THINK THE FIGHT SHE MADE FOR HER LIFE IS AN INSPIRATION,
BECAUSE EVEN WHEN THE OUTCOME LOOKED BLEAK
OR EVEN HOPELESS AT TIMES,
YOUR LIFE IS ALWAYS WORTH TRYING YOUR HARDEST TO SAVE.
AND AS DOCTORS, WE WILL NEVER STOP DOING EVERYTHING
IN OUR POWER TO GIVE ALL PATIENTS
THE GREATEST CHANCE TO DO THAT.
AND WE'LL NEVER GIVE UP THE HOPE THAT,
NO MATTER THE ODDS, THEY CAN DO IT IF THEY TRY.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT HURT
ANY LESS WHEN THEY DON'T MAKE IT.
♪♪