Mercedes: AT THIS POINT, I'M KILLING MYSELF
IF I DON'T GET THIS WEIGHT OFF.
I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE MY KIDS BEHIND.
♪♪
Woman #1: 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.
♪♪
Kimoriah: IT'S ON FIRE! TELL THEM TO GET OUT!
OH, MY GOD.
[ SIREN WAILING ]
Mercedes: AAH! THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING!
♪♪
Mercedes: I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'VE LET MY LIFE BECOME.
I'VE GOTTEN SO BIG THAT IT'S HARD TO DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.
AND EVERY DAY, IT GETS WORSE.
SO I'M ALMOST COMPLETELY BED-BOUND NOW.
BUT I HAVE TWO YOUNG KIDS THAT I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF,
SO I HAVE TO RELY A LOT ON MY OLDEST.
MY OLDEST, KIMORIAH, SHE'S 11 NOW
AND HE'S STARTING TO BE ABLE TO HELP IN A LOT OF WAYS.
I ALREADY TURNED THE WATER ON.
WE ONLY HAVE A ONE-BEDROOM PLACE,
SO ME AND THE KIDS SLEEP IN THE SAME BED.
AND WHEN IT'S TIME TO GET UP AND GET READY FOR SCHOOL,
SHE GOES AND GETS HER BROTHER KAU'LIN'S CLOTHES FOR ME,
AND I HELP GET HIM DRESSED.
I HELP MY MOM BY GETTING HER WHAT SHE WANTS
AND WHAT SHE NEEDS,
AND I KNOW IT'S HARD FOR HER BECAUSE...
WELL, ONCE I GET THEM READY,
I'M NOT ABLE TO GET UP AND TAKE THEM TO SCHOOL,
SO MY FRIEND TERRY,
WHO'S KAU'LIN'S BIOLOGICAL FATHER,
COMES OVER AND GETS THEM AND TAKES THEM TO SCHOOL.
HOW YOU DOIN'?
AND HE ALSO PICKS THEM UP AFTERWARDS
AND GETS THEM HOME FOR ME, TOO.
SO WITH EVERYONE GONE,
I HAVE TO A HAVE A CARE ASSISTANT, BRITTNEY,
COME OVER TO HELP ME USE THE RESTROOM AND GET CLEANED UP.
♪♪
BUT GETTING UP TO DO THIS
IS THE MOST MISERABLE PART OF MY DAY.
MY BACK HURTS, KNEES HURT, MUSCLES HURT.
EVERYTHING HURTS.
I'M BARELY ABLE TO DO THIS, BUT I HAVE TO.
♪♪
BECAUSE I HAVE TO TRY AND STAY AS CLEAN AS I CAN.
IF I DON'T, I COULD HAVE ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS.
♪♪
AND THEN I HAVE TO TRY AND STAND LONG ENOUGH
SO BRITTNEY CAN GET ALL THE AREAS I CAN'T.
IT'S MISERABLE, AND IT'S SO HUMILIATING.
LOSING MY ABILITY TO SHOWER ON MY OWN IS EMBARRASSING.
♪♪
BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE.
ONCE I'M ABLE TO SIT DOWN,
I CAN TRY AND DO SOME OF MY WASHING MYSELF.
BUT IT'S NOT EASY, AND I'M SO EXHAUSTED AT THIS POINT
I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA PASS OUT.
♪♪
MY BACK, MY LEGS, ARE HURTING.
[ GRUNTING, GROANING ]
♪♪
AND I JUST WANT TO GET TO MY BED.
BUT I STILL HAVE TO TRY AND STAND BACK UP
AND WALK ALL THE WAY BACK,
AND THEN DRY OFF BEFORE I'M ABLE TO REST.
♪♪
AND DURING ALL THAT IS THE MOST PAINFUL PART
OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS,
BECAUSE EVERY PART OF MY BODY IS ON FIRE AT THIS POINT.
I'M JUST IN SO MUCH PAIN,
AND ALL I WANT IS FOR IT TO BE OVER.
ONCE BRITTNEY HELPS ME GET DRESSED, I CAN FINALLY EAT,
AND I CAN'T WAIT.
FOR BREAKFAST, USUALLY TERRY WILL COME BACK OVER
AFTER HE DROPS OFF THE KIDS AT SCHOOL,
AND HE'LL MAKE ME SOMETHING.
[ DOOR OPENS ]
-WHO IS IT? -TERRY!
HI, TERRY.
Terry: HOW YOU FEELIN'?
FEELIN' ALL RIGHT.
OKAY.
I'VE COME TO FIX YOU BREAKFAST, AS USUAL.
-MM-HMM. -ALL RIGHT.
SO HE TAKES CARE OF ME FOR THE MORNING,
AND HE KNOWS WHAT I LIKE.
MY FAVORITE IS THE SAUSAGE AND BACON.
Terry: FOOD MAKES MERCEDES HAPPY.
SHE GETS WHAT SHE WANTS W--
WITH OR WITHOUT YOU. [ CHUCKLES ]
Mercedes: I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN FROM GETTING UP
THAT I NEED SOMETHING
TO HELP ME START TO FEEL BETTER, AND EATING DOES THAT.
IT TAKES ALL THE MISERY THAT I HAVE AND PUSHES IT AWAY.
SO ONCE I FINALLY START,
I JUST WANT TO KEEP GOING AND EAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER, OKAY?
ALL RIGHT.
SO, SHORTLY AFTER TERRY LEAVES,
MY SISTER TONICA WILL COME BY AND CHECK ON ME
AND BRING ME LUNCH.
♪♪
Hi, TONICA.
I GOT YOUR FOOD.
EVERYTHING YOU WANTED.
-THANK YOU. -YOU'RE WELCOME.
AND SHE KNOWS WHAT I LIKE, TOO,
SO SHE ALWAYS BRINGS ME SOMETHING GOOD,
AND I CAN NEVER REALLY GET FULL, SO I JUST KEEP EATING.
BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN LIFE
THAT WE ARE NOT MEANT TO TRY AND HANDLE,
AND I DON'T HAVE TO WHEN I HAVE FOOD.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO.
♪♪
VERY EARLY IN MY LIFE, THINGS WERE GOOD FOR ME.
I GREW UP WITH THREE BROTHERS AND THREE SISTERS.
♪♪
AND WE ALL GOT ALONG PRETTY WELL.
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, I WAS FUN, HAPPY,
FULL OF ENERGY, LIKED TO DANCE, SING.
BUT THAT DIDN'T LAST.
BECAUSE WHEN I WAS AROUND 5 OR 6,
IT WAS MY FATHER THAT STARTED TO CHANGE THINGS IN MY FAMILY.
HE STARTED TO GET ABUSIVE.
EVENTUALLY, IT GOT SO BAD THAT MY MOM HAD ENOUGH.
SHE GOT FED UP AND TOOK US AND LEFT.
SO THEN, IT WAS HER AND THE SEVEN OF US KIDS
THAT HE HAD TO RAISE ON HER OWN.
AND MY MOM DIDN'T HAVE TIME FOR ALL OF US ANYMORE,
SO THAT'S WHEN I STARTED TO BE ON MY OWN FOR WHAT I WAS EATING
AND HOW MUCH I WAS EATING.
AND I GOT UP TO ABOUT 100 POUNDS WHEN I WAS AROUND 9,
BUT THAT WAS ABOUT THE AGE OUR DAD
WAS TRYING TO BE A PART OF OUR LIVES
AND HE STARTED COMING AROUND TO SEE US.
WHEN MY MOM AND HIM SEPARATED, HE WASN'T AS ANGRY,
SO IT WASN'T BAD SPENDING TIME WITH HIM THEN.
BUT WHEN I WAS 11, EVERYTHING BEGAN TO GET WORSE.
BECAUSE THAT WAS THE AGE
WHEN MY FATHER STARTED SEXUALLY ABUSING ME.
IT STARTED WITH TOUCHING,
AND THEN IT WAS MORE, UNTIL IT WAS INTERCOURSE.
AND IT WASN'T JUST ME.
IT WAS MY SISTERS, TOO.
BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT AT THE TIME.
[ CRYING ]
THE ABUSE MADE ME FEEL ROBBED OF MY INNOCENCE.
IT MADE ME FEEL SAD, MADE ME FEEL DIRTY.
AND AS A CHILD WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING,
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT,
BECAUSE ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO'S SUPPOSED TO PROTECT YOU
THE MOST IS THE ONE HURTING YOU.
SO I JUST WENT TO FOOD
AND STARTED EATING A LOT TO FEEL GOOD.
AND I DOUBLED IN WEIGHT BY THE TIME I WAS 13,
AND WAS OVER 200 POUNDS BY THEN.
MERCEDES GAINED THE WEIGHT.
IT REALLY WASN'T A BIG DEAL TO ME.
BUT MAYBE IT SHOULD'VE BEEN.
AT THE TIME, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT SEXUAL ABUSE
WAS GOING ON WITH OUR CHILDREN.
I MEAN, IT'S LIKE, RIGHT UNDER MY NOSE.
I MEAN, WHY DIDN'T I KNOW?
IF I KNEW, I BELIEVE I COULD HAVE KILLED HIM.
BUT HE FINALLY STOPPED WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER
BECAUSE HE STARTED SEEING SOMEONE,
AND ONCE HAD A GIRLFRIEND, HE LEFT ME ALONE.
BUT ALL THE FEAR AND PAIN DIDN'T GO AWAY,
SO I KEPT GOING TO FOOD.
AND I GOT TO ALMOST 300 BY THE TIME I WAS 15.
AND STARTING HIGH SCHOOL LIKE THAT IS HARD,
BECAUSE I WANTED TO FIT IN, BUT I WAS MADE FUN OF A LOT.
AND IT GOT WORSE AS I GOT BIGGER AND GAINED EVEN MORE,
SO I JUST STARTED SKIPPING SCHOOL A LOT.
AND WHEN I WAS 16, I DROPPED OUT.
I WAS OVER 400 POUNDS AT THAT POINT.
BUT WHEN I WAS 19, I PASSED MY STATE TESTING
TO GET MY NURSING ASSISTANCE CERTIFICATE,
AND I STARTED WORKING IN A NURSING HOME,
WHERE I ALSO LIVED.
AND THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH MY LIFE FOR AROUND SIX YEARS.
BUT WHEN I WAS 25, I HAD TO GET AN EASIER JOB.
I WAS UP TO ABOUT 450 THEN.
SO I GOT A JOB AT A LIBRARY
BECAUSE I COULD SIT MOST OF THE TIME.
AND WHILE I WAS DOING THAT,
THAT'S HOW I MET MY FIRST BOYFRIEND.
AND I GOT PREGNANT WITH MY FIRST CHILD.
BUT ABOUT SIX MONTHS BEFORE I HAD KIMORIAH, HE LEFT ME.
AND WHAT WAS WORSE, I HAD TO HAVE A C-SECTION,
BUT THE INCISION GOT INFECTED
AND I ENDED UP HAVING A FLESH-EATING BACTERIA, MRSA.
IT GOT REALLY BAD AND IT ALMOST KILLED ME, BUT WITH THAT,
I ENDED UP ON BED REST FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.
SO THAT WAS JUST REALLY HARD, AND A REALLY DARK,
DEPRESSING TIME IN MY LIFE.
I WAS AROUND 550 POUNDS THEN, AND I WAS ALMOST 30,
BUT I WAS STILL ABLE TO PULL MYSELF
TOGETHER ENOUGH TO GET TO WORK.
I GOT A JOB HELPING PREPARE TAXES.
AND WHEN I WAS 32, WAS WHEN I RECONNECTED WITH TERRY.
HE'S A FRIEND NOW, BUT I KNEW HIM
WHEN I WAS A CHILD, AND WE STARTED DATING.
AND WHEN I WAS 33, I GOT PREGNANT
WITH MY SON KAU'LIN, BUT I FOUND OUT
TERRY CHEATED ON ME, SO I BROKE UP WITH HIM.
WE'RE STILL FRIENDS,
AND HE'S A GOOD FATHER TO KAU'LIN,
BUT THERE'S NEVER GONNA BE ANYTHING MORE
TO OUR RELATIONSHIP.
WHEN I HAD MY SON KAU'LIN, I HAD A C-SECTION AGAIN
AND I GOT THE SAME INFECTION AGAIN.
SO IT WAS ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF BEING STUCK IN A BED.
SO THAT LED ME TO BEING OVER 650 POUNDS BY THE TIME I WAS 35.
AND ONCE I GOT TO THAT POINT, MY LEGS AND MY BODY
JUST CAN'T HANDLE MY WEIGHT ANYMORE.
ABOUT A YEAR AGO, MY DAD CALLED ME,
AND HIS DIALYSIS HAD STOPPED WORKING
AND HIS KIDNEYS WERE FAILING, SO HE KNEW HE WAS GONNA DIE.
AND HE WAS JUST ASKING FOR TO FORGIVE HIM.
AND I FORGAVE HIM, BEFORE MY DAD DIED.
BUT THE PAINS OF EVERYTHING HE DID TO ME, IT'S STILL THERE.
AND NOW I'M 37 AND PROBABLY WELL OVER 700 POUNDS.
♪♪
SO, THAT'S WHERE MY LIFE IS NOW --
EATING ALL DAY TO FORGET AND FEEL GOOD.
IN THE AFTERNOON, MY MOM AND MY TWIN BROTHER MARLON
WILL COME OVER AND BRING ME SOME GROCERIES
AND SOME SNACKS TO HOLD ME OVER TILL DINNER.
I KNOW MY EATING IS OUT OF HAND NOW,
AND MY BODY DOESN'T HAVE A LOT MORE IT COULD TAKE LIKE THIS,
BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS ALL ANY DIFFERENT,
SO I JUST KEEP GETTING WORSE.
MER, PUT DOWN THE DOUGHNUTS.
♪♪
Diane: MERCEDES AT THIS SIZE? SHE COULD DIE.
ONE NIGHT, SHE COULD GO TO SLEEP AND NOT WAKE UP.
AND I-I THINK I...
I-I CA-- I... I CAN'T.
HEY, YOU KNOW, I AIN'T WANT TO COME OVER HERE,
'CAUSE I AIN'T LIKE SEEING YOU LIKE THIS.
-YEAH. -AND I JUST LIKE...
I CAN'T SEE YOU LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW?
♪♪
I LOVE YOU.
MY WORST FEAR RIGHT NOW
IS MERCEDES DOESN'T GET THE HELP THAT SHE TRULY NEEDS...
AND SHE KEEPS GOING ON AND ON LIKE THIS.
I DON'T THINK SHE CAN KEEP IT UP VERY LONG.
-LOVE YOU. -I LOVE YOU TOO, MA.
-OKAY, SEE YA. -ALL RIGHT, MARLON.
Marlon: ALL RIGHT, MER.
Mercedes: IN THE AFTERNOON, TERRY GETS THE KIDS FROM SCHOOL
AND DROPS THEM OFF, AND THEN KIMORIAH WILL START
TO MAKE DINNER FOR ALL OF US.
Kimoriah: MY MOM'S WEIGHT HAS REALLY AFFECTED ME
BECAUSE I HAVE TO DO ALL THE WORK NOW,
AND SHE -- SHE JUST SITS THERE, AND I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING.
AND IT'S HARD ME FOR, AND IT'S HARD FOR HER.
I WISH I COULD HELP, BUT I CAN'T DO MUCH FROM MY BED.
BUT I LOVE MY TIME WITH THEM IN THE EVENINGS
BECAUSE WE HAVE DINNER AS A FAMILY IN THE BEDROOM,
AND I GET TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH THEM.
OKAY, Y'ALL NEED TO START GETTING READY TO GET INTO BED.
KIMORIAH, GO GET THE ICE CREAM AND THE BOWLS AND THE SPOONS.
Kimoriah: OKAY.
Kau'lin: IS THAT YOGURT?
Mercedes: COME ON, KIMORIAH. Y'ALL NEED TO HURRY UP.
I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE THE LIFE I'M GIVING MY KIDS,
AND I KNOW I HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO CHANGE AND STOP
BEFORE IT GETS ANY WORSE AND TAKES MY LIFE.
I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
AT THIS POINT, I'M KILLING MYSELF
IF I DON'T GET THIS WEIGHT OFF.
I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE MY KIDS BEHIND.
I NEED TO BE HERE FOR THEM, SO I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.
I HAVE TO FIND HELP AND TRY EVEN IF IT'S A LOSING BATTLE,
BECAUSE I'M NOT READY TO GIVE UP AND I'M NOT READY TO DIE.
♪♪
Mercedes: A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, I DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT MY SITUATION,
SO I CALLED DR. NOW IN HOUSTON.
HE'S THE ONLY DOCTOR I KNOW OF THAT
DOES WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY ON PEOPLE MY SIZE,
SO I WAS READY TO TRY AND MAKE A TRIP TO SEE HIM,
BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN'T KEEP GOING LIKE THIS,
BUT I COULDN'T MAKE MY APPOINTMENT
BECAUSE WE HAD SOME BAD RAINS AND WE HAD A MUDSLIDE
THAT DESTROYED THE WHOLE BACK SIDE OF OUR PLACE,
SO ME AND THE KIDS HAD TO RELOCATE TO A NEW APARTMENT.
I HAD TO UPROOT MY WHOLE LIFE.
AND TO MAKE THINGS EVEN WORSE,
TERRY WAS THE ONE WHO WAS GONNA TAKE ME DOWN TO HOUSTON.
SO I'M TRYING TO DO MY BEST TO FIND SOMEONE WHO COULD TAKE ME,
BUT I'M NOT FINDING ANY OPTIONS.
SO I'M FEELING A LITTLE HOPELESS.
BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO DO THIS FOR ME AND MY KIDS.
AND IF I DON'T, I'M NOT GONNA BE AROUND FOR THEM MUCH LONGER.
♪♪
HM, GOOD. READY TO START THIS JOURNEY.
HOW YOU FEEL?
UH, GOOD.
I CAN'T WAIT.
IT'LL BE A BIG CHANGE.
-MM-HMM. -BIG CHANGE.
WE'RE GONNA GET THERE.
I'M READY.
ME TOO.
I LOVE YOU, MA.
I LOVE YOU TOO. [ CHUCKLES ]
♪♪
I KNOW MY KIDS ARE WORRIED ABOUT ME.
I'M THEIR ONLY PARENT, SO I CAN'T LEAVE THEM LIKE THIS.
SO NO MATTER WHAT, I'M NOT GONNA GIVE UP.
AND I'M GONNA DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FIGURE THIS OUT
AND MAKE IT TO HOUSTON.
♪♪
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS,
I CALLED EVERYONE WHO COULD HELP ME TO SEE
IF THEY COULD TAKE ME DOWN TO HOUSTON,
BECAUSE TERRY NEVER CAME BACK
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HIM.
HE'S NOT EVEN HELPING WITH THE KIDS RIGHT NOW.
BUT THANKFULLY, MY COUSIN SAID HE CAN HELP ME DO THIS.
SO HE'S MY GODSEND TO ME RIGHT NOW.
Brandon: HEY, KIMORIAH. WHAT'S UP?
Y'ALL READY FOR THE BIG OL' RIDE?
I'M HERE TO MAKE SURE MERCEDES
MAKES IT DOWN TO TEXAS
TO SEE DR. NOW, SAFE.
MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT SHE DOESN'T FALL,
BECAUSE IT'S HARD FOR ME TO HELP HER UP.
BUT WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT WORK.
[ GRUNTING ]
MNH.
WELL, I'M GONNA GO GET THE VAN.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
Mercedes: THE PLAN IS TO RIDE DOWN THERE
IN THE BACK OF BRANDON'S VAN.
I JUST HOPE I CAN HANDLE IT.
Brandon: IT'S COLD OUT THERE, BABY GIRL.
Mercedes: I CALLED DR. NOW'S OFFICE
AND GOT ANOTHER APPOINTMENT SET FOR A FEW DAYS FROM NOW,
BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GONNA TAKE TO GET THERE.
THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE A 16-HOUR DRIVE,
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MY BODY IS GONNA HANDLE IT.
AND I'M SCARED OUT OF MY MIND BECAUSE OF THAT.
OKAY. I THINK THAT'S IT.
LET'S GET YOU IN.
♪♪
WE TAKING YOUR CHAIR TOO?
I NEED TO.
-WHEW. -RIGHT THERE. COOL.
RIGHT THERE. COOL.
♪♪
LITTLE SHOCK OVER THAT HILL.
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!
DO YOU FEEL THAT HANDLE?
-I SEE IT. -OKAY.
[ GRUNTS ]
I GOTTA PUSH. I GOTTA PUSH ON YOU.
-HOLD ON. -OKAY, OKAY.
HOLD ON. DON'T PUSH NOTHIN' YET.
CAN THESE SEAT COME OUT SO I CAN HAVE SOME MORE ROOM TO MOVE?
-YEAH. -OH. I GOT TO FIX IT.
I'M ALREADY FEELING RUN DOWN.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THE KIDS IN THE SEATS.
KAU'LIN HAS TO BE IN HIS CAR SEAT.
HE CAN'T RIDE WITHOUT BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE.
SO FIGURING OUT HOW ALL THIS IS GONNA WORK ISN'T GONNA BE EASY.
-PUT IT DOWN. -OKAY.
HERE. HOLD THAT.
♪♪
OH, MAN.
IS THAT FAR ENOUGH?
I THINK SO.
THERE WE GO.
GET ON UP THERE, KAU'LIN. COME ON, GET ON UP HERE.
MIGHT WANT TO CLOSE THE BACK.
-WE GOT TO PUT THE STUFF BACK. -YEAH, WE'RE GONNA GET IT.
YOU GOT TO GET IN THE SEATBELT.
-ALL RIGHT? -NO!
-WHAT? -MY COAT.
OKAY. YOU'LL BE OKAY.
AH, SHOOT. MY FINGERS.
COME ON. YOU FORGOT WHO YOU CALL.
PUSH THAT BUTTON.
RIGHT THERE. PUSH.
WE GOTTA GET SOME SNACKS. WE GOT THEM ON THE WAY,
'CAUSE I CAN'T...
THERE WE GO.
♪♪
THIS IS GONNA BE AN ADVENTURE FOR US ALL.
BUT HOW LONG I'M ABLE TO GO TODAY
WILL TELL US HOW LONG IT'S GONNA TAKE AND WHAT MY LIMITS ARE,
BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THERE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
♪♪
WE'RE OFF.
♪♪
OHH.
HEY, LET'S STOP FOR THE NIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. YOU BET.
I'M READY TO PUT MY LEGS UP AND GET COMFORTABLE.
OKAY.
AND SO I CAN TAKE SOME PAIN MEDICINE.
I'M REALLY WORRIED IF THIS IS HOW I FEEL
JUST AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS, HOW BAD IT'S GONNA GET FOR ME.
[ GROANS ] MY LEG, MY LEG.
I CAN'T SPEND EIGHT DAYS ON THE ROAD.
I WON'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT, AND I'LL MISS MY APPOINTMENT.
♪♪
BUT THE BIGGER ISSUE FOR ME RIGHT NOW IS,
SEEING IF I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO DO WHAT I NEED IN THIS ROOM.
COME ON, LET'S GO.
-STIFF NOW? -YEAH.
I AIN'T GOT NOTHIN' TO GRAB ON.
[ GRUNTING ]
♪♪
[ GRUNTING ]
♪♪
MY BIGGEST WORRY IS WHETHER I CAN USE A TOILET,
AND IF THE BED CAN HOLD ME.
WHICH WAY?
I DON'T HAVE MY HEALTHCARE ASSISTANT BRITTNEY WITH ME,
SO I'M HOPING I CAN JUST MAKE THIS WORK.
UNBRAKE YOURSELF.
-RIGHT HERE. -YEAH.
OKAY.
THAT'S IT. WE'RE GONNA SCOOT YOU UP,
IF I CAN GET THE WALKER IN.
♪♪
I THINK...
[ GRUNTING ]
YOU SEE THE -- IT'S A COUCH RIGHT THERE.
I GOT TO PEE.
TURN THE LIGHT ON, OR NO?
[BLEEP] THAT. I GOT TO PEE.
OKAY.
HEY! GET SETTLED IN.
GET UP IN THERE.
I GOT YOU, MER.
GIVE ME THAT.
THIS?
THE BATHROOM FACILITIES HERE ARE PAINFUL TO USE.
[ SIGHS ] I CAN'T RINSE.
I'M THANKFUL I MANAGED,
BUT I JUST WANT TO GET IN BED NOW AND SLEEP,
BECAUSE MY WHOLE BODY IS JUST IN SO MUCH PAIN.
YOU OKAY?
-YEAH. -OKAY.
GOT YOU TOGETHER, BABY GIRL.
PUT THEM PADS ON THERE.
OKAY. HOW MANY?
TWO OF THEM.
WHEN I SLEEP, I HAVE TO HAD A BED PAD TO LAY ON
IN CASE I HAVE TO USE THE BATHROOM
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.
I'M SO EXHAUSTED AND I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN, I'M MISERABLE.
AND IF I'M ALREADY LIKE THIS AND IN THIS MUCH PAIN,
I'M SCARED I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.
YOU GOOD?
-OH, MY BACK. -THAT AIN'T IT?
[ Crying ] AND THAT'LL BE THE END FOR ME.
I'LL BE BASICALLY JUST GOING BACK HOME TO DIE.
AND I'LL EAT MYSELF TO DEATH, AND LEAVE MY KIDS.
[ CRYING ]
IT'S OKAY TO CRY. I'LL SIT WITH YOU.
BUT I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.
♪♪
Mercedes: I DON'T FEEL AS READY AS I'D LIKE
TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD.
I DIDN'T GET MUCH SLEEP BECAUSE I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE ALL NIGHT.
IT'S JUST NOT THE SAME NOT HAVING A BED LIKE I NEED.
THIS ONE DIDN'T GIVE ME MUCH SUPPORT,
AND I STILL FEEL REALLY SORE.
BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING,
BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET TO HOUSTON.
AND I'M HOPING I'M ABLE TO GO LONGER THIS TIME,
BECAUSE GOING AT THE RATE I DID YESTERDAY,
IT WOULD TAKE US EIGHT DAYS TO FINISH THIS TRIP.
AND NOT GONNA LAST THAT LONG ON THE ROAD.
♪♪
I'M JUST ABOUT DONE FOR THE DAY, BUT I'M PROUD OF MYSELF
BECAUSE WE'VE MADE IT ABOUT HALFWAY TO HOUSTON NOW.
BUT I'M PAYING THE PRICE OF THAT ON MY BODY
BECAUSE I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN.
BRANDON, I'M DONE FOR THE DAY.
LET'S STOP FOR THE NIGHT.
Brandon: ALL RIGHT.
♪♪
RIGHT NOW, I JUST NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS CAR
AND BED SOON BEFORE MY BODY GIVES OUT.
I'M SO PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTED AT THIS POINT,
AND WE STILL HAVE HALFWAY TO GO TO GET TO HOUSTON.
THERE YOU GO.
-IT'S COMIN' OUT. -IT'S COMIN' OUT?
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. LET IT GO.
LET IT FLOW.
I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL THOUGH.
SEE? IT'S LOW.
IT'S LOW.
GOTTA LIFT. YOU GOTTA LIFT.
[ CRYING ]
COME ON, COME ON. DON'T CRY, BABY.
LET'S JUST GET THIS UP OUT OF HERE, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'?
HUH? YOU NEED MY HAND?
COME ON. ONE, TWO, THREE.
OKAY, OKAY, ONE MORE TIME.
ONE, TWO, THREE.
LET'S GO, BABY. LET'S GO.
GET TO WALKING. COME ON.
[BLEEP]
IT'S ALL GOOD, BABY. YOU DID GOOD.
IT'S OKAY.
[BLEEP] HAPPENS.
I'LL GET BEHIND YOU. GO AHEAD.
KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING. I'LL GET BEHIND YOU.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT NOTHIN'.
WE OUT, WE GOOD. WE GOOD.
GET THE CART.
I'M JUST IRRITATED, TIRED, AND MY LEGS HURT.
I WILL GET CLEANED UP, AND I'M JUST TIRED.
I'M READY FOR THIS PART TO BE OVER WITH.
♪♪
[ GROANING ]
KIMORIAH, I'M GONNA NEED YOUR HELP.
♪♪
YOU WANT TO EAT?
YOU WANT ME TO MAKE SOME PLATES?
THIS TRIP HAS TAKEN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING OUT OF ME.
AND RIGHT NOW, FOOD IS THE ONLY THING GETTING ME THROUGH THIS.
♪♪
I KNOW I'M GOING TO HOUSTON TO TRY AND LOSE THE WEIGHT,
BUT I JUST NEED WHAT I NEED TO GET THROUGH THIS,
SO I DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A CHOICE RIGHT NOW,
BECAUSE IF I DON'T HAVE THAT TO KEEP ME GOING,
THEN I'M NOT GONNA MAKE IT.
♪♪
IT'S DAY FOUR OF BEING ON THE ROAD.
I COULDN'T MAKE IT AS FAR AS I WANTED YESTERDAY.
I JUST TOO WORN OUT AND MY BODY COULDN'T TAKE IT.
I WAS HOPING TO BE ABLE TO REST,
BUT SINCE MY APPOINTMENT IS TODAY
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET THERE.
BUT THANKFULLY, I'M GONNA BE AT DR. NOW'S SOON,
AND I JUST HOPE THAT ALL ISN'T FOR NOTHING
AND THAT I'M ABLE TO GET THE HELP THAT I NEED,
BECAUSE I'M DESPERATE TO TURN MY LIFE AROUND.
♪♪
LOOK, KAU'LIN. WE'RE IN THE CITY. LOOK.
Brandon: HOUSTON, TEXAS, NOW, YOU SEE THAT?
HOUSTON! LET'S GO!
♪♪
MY WHOLE LIFE IS DEPENDING ON GETTING THIS HELP WITH DR. NOW,
AND HEARING HIM SAY THAT HE CAN TREAT ME.
BECAUSE IF HE DOESN'T, THEN I KNOW
I WON'T HAVE MUCH LONGER TO LIVE.
AND THERE'S NOWHERE LEFT FOR ME TO TURN.
AH [BLEEP]
[ GROANING ]
♪♪
MERCEDES?
♪♪
[ GRUNTS ]
YOU THINK YOU'D BE ABLE TO STAND,
OR DO YOU FEEL BETTER WITH ONE WITH BARS?
THE ONE WITH THE BARS.
-THE ONE WITH THE BARS? -YEAH.
ALL RIGHT. GIVE ME A MINUTE.
♪♪
THIS IS MY LAST HOPE.
OKAY.
SO, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
AND IF I DON'T GET THIS HELP,
THEN THE ONLY OPTION I HAVE LEFT
WILL BE JUST TO WAIT FOR DEATH,
BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S COMING.
SO I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW,
BECAUSE MY LIFE IS HANGING IN THE BALANCE.
♪♪
Mercedes: ME AND MY FAMILY FINALLY MADE IT TO DR. NOW'S,
BUT I'M NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT THE SCALE IS GOING TO SAY.
THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE I'M OVER 700 NOW,
SO I'M HOPING MY WEIGHT ISN'T TOO HIGH
AND DR. NOW SAYS HE CAN HELP ME.
♪♪
[ WINCES ]
IT'S UPSETTING TO SEE JUST HOW BAD MY WEIGHT IS.
I'M SCARED RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I KNOW I DON'T HAVE A LOT MORE I CAN GAIN
BEFORE IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE TO GET ANY BIGGER,
BECAUSE MY BODY JUST WON'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT.
SO I HAVE TO TURN THAT AROUND BEFORE IT GETS TO THAT POINT.
SO IF I DON'T GET THE HELP,
I PROBABLY WON'T BE HERE NO MORE.
SO I'M HOPING THAT I QUALIFY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LOSE WEIGHT BY MYSELF
IF I DON'T HAVE HELP.
♪♪
[ KNOCKS ON DOOR ]
-HELLO. -HELLO.
I'M DR. NOWZARADAN. HOW Y'ALL DOIN'?
-GOOD. -FINE. HOW ARE YOU?
AND YOU ARE MERCEDES?
YEAH.
-NICE TO MEET YOU. -NICE TO MEET YOU.
AND THIS YOUNG MAN IS?
BRANDON.
THAT'S MY COUSIN.
YOU'RE BRANDON. COUSIN.
AND THE TWO YOUNG ONES?
OH, THAT'S KIMORIAH AND KAU'LIN.
THAT'S MY TWO KIDS.
-TWO KIDS. -MM-HMM.
ALL RIGHT, YOU GOT SOME FAMILY WITH YOU TO SUPPORT YOU, RIGHT?
-YEAH. -THAT'S GREAT.
AND YOU'RE COMING FROM CINCINNATI, OHIO?
YEP.
HOW WAS YOUR TRIP FROM CINCINNATI?
IT WAS A ROUGH ONE.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO GET DOWN HERE?
FOUR DAYS.
FOUR DAYS TO GET DOWN HERE.
YEAH.
THAT'S A LOT OF STRAIN
FOR SOMEONE WHO'S OVER 700 POUNDS.
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW YOU GOT THIS WEIGHT.
TELL ME, HOW DO YOU THINK YOU GOT TO THIS POINT?
I DON'T KNOW.
SOME EATING, BUT, BEING SICK IN THE H-- FROM SURGERIES
AND NOT BEING ABLE TO WALK AROUND AND DO MUCH.
SO YOU THINK MOSTLY BEING SICK AND LACK OF ACTIVITY
CAUSED YOU TO GAIN 600 POUNDS OF EXTRA WEIGHT?
YEAH.
SO IF WE GET YOU TO WALK AROUND AND IF YOU RAN A MARATHON,
YOU'RE GONNA BE 150 POUNDS, RIGHT?
YEAH.
THAT'S NOT REALITY, OKAY?
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR ACTIVITY.
HOW MUCH CAN YOU GET UP AND WALK?
I CAN GO TO THE BATHROOM.
I USE THE WALKER.
SO IF THAT'S THE LIMIT OF YOUR DAILY ACTIVITY,
THEN WHO BRINGS YOU ALL YOUR FOOD?
EVERYBODY. FAMILY.
EVERYBODY BECAUSE THEY BRING IT?
OR BECAUSE YOU ASK THEM TO BRING YOU?
WELL, I ASK THEM TO BRING IT.
I ENABLE MYSELF BECAUSE I TELL THEM TO GET IT
AND THEY GET IT FOR ME.
DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT YOU'RE 37
AND YOU'RE ALMOST 800 POUNDS?
SO, AT THIS POINT, YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIVE THAT LONG.
I'M COMING TO REALIZE THAT.
AND I HAVE MY KIDS TO LIVE FOR, SO...
I'M TIRED OF BEING LIKE THIS.
SO, WHY DO YOU THINK NOTHING HAS WORKED
TO HELP YOU STOP OVER-EATING?
I DON'T REALLY OVER-EAT.
I JUST EAT STUFF THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR ME, LIKE SNACKS AND...
WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T OVER-EAT?
YOU'RE 700 POUNDS.
YOU DON'T THINK YOU'RE OVER-EATING?
NO. WELL...
YEAH, I EAT, BUT I DON'T EAT, LIKE...
LIKE, ALL THE TIME.
I JUST EAT NOT THE RIGHT STUFF.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T EAT ALL THE TIME?
YOU KNOW, FOR YOUR HEIGHT, YOU SHOULD BE 150,
SO YOU HAVE OVER 600 POUNDS OF EXCESS WEIGHT.
IF YOU DO THE MATH, YOU'RE EATING FOUR TIMES
MORE THAN YOU SHOULD EAT,
AND YOU DON'T THINK YOU'RE EATING AS MUCH?
LIKE, WHEN I EAT, I EAT, LIKE, ONE BIG MEAL...
AND, YEAH, THAT'S A LOT.
MERCEDES, DON'T PLAY THIS GAME WITH ME.
YOU DON'T STOP, AND YOU KNOW THAT.
THIS IS JUST SOMETHING YOU'RE USED TO SAYING TO PEOPLE
WHEN YOU LIE TO THEM AND PRETEND IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.
BUT THAT ISN'T GONNA WORK WITH ME, YOU GOT IT?
-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.
SO, GIVE ME A STRAIGHT, HONEST ANSWER
ABOUT WHAT YOU EAT IN A REGULAR DAY.
I DON'T EAT BREAKFAST.
MAYBE AROUND...
MAYBE AROUND THE TIME THE KIDS GET OUT OF SCHOOL,
PROBABLY ORDER SOMETHING.
WHEN THEY GET HOME, IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 3:00,
SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE TIME WHEN I EAT.
SO YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU DON'T EAT UNTIL 3:00?
MM-HMM.
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP LYING TO ME, THIS ISN'T GONNA WORK.
SO TELL ME ALL THE BAD STUFF YOU EAT
THAT YOU KNOW YOU SHOULDN'T.
PROBABLY COOKIES, CAKES, CANDY...
CHIPS AND COOKIES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
-AND SOMETIMES I... -AND WHAT ARE YOU DRINKING?
SODA.
HOW MUCH SODA DO YOU DRINK IN ONE DAY?
UH, I COULD DRINK ABOUT A 2-LITER IN ONE DAY,
TWO OR THREE 2-LITERS.
SO UP TO SIX LITERS OF SODA A DAY.
AT LEAST YOU'RE GIVING ME ONE HONEST ANSWER,
BECAUSE I CAN BELIEVE THAT.
ALL RIGHT, GOOD.
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SOLUTION IS
TO GET THE WEIGHT OFF?
STOP EATING.
JUST, YOU KNOW...
NOBODY WANTS YOU TO STOP EATING.
NOT STOP COMPLETELY, BUT...
I NEED HELP, LIKE, TO SHOW ME HOW TO EAT RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CHANGES TO MAKE NOW
IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS, MERCEDES.
YES. I'M READY.
I'M READY.
YOU NEED TO GIVE UP ALL OF THE COOKIES, CANDY,
AND SODA AND CHIPS, OKAY?
AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET,
HIGH-PROTEIN, LOW-CARB, FOR YOU TO START IMMEDIATELY.
AND IF YOU DO THAT, IN A MONTH,
YOU SHOULD LOSE 80 POINTS, AT LEAST.
AND IF YOU HIT THAT GOAL AND YOUR MEDICAL TESTS ARE GOOD,
THEN WE'LL APPROVE YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, OKAY?
OKAY.
THIS IS SOMETHING YOU NEED TO DO NOW,
OR YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ALIVE MUCH LONGER.
Dr. Nowzaradan: FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR,
I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MERCEDES' CONDITION
AND OVERALL SITUATION.
AT CLOSE TO 800 POUNDS AND ALMOST COMPLETELY IMMOBILE,
SHE HAS A VERY LOW PROBABILITY OF SURVIVAL RIGHT NOW,
AND MAY ALREADY BE FACING
ANY NUMBER OF LIFE-THREATENING ISSUES
THAT WE NEED TO CHECK FOR RIGHT NOW.
THEN THE NEXT STEP WILL BE TO ADMIT HER
TO A HOSPITAL TO START FEEDING HER.
BUT IF SHE DOESN'T, THEN THE NEXT STEP
WILL BE FOR HER TO SHOW ME SHE'S READY TO WORK TO TRY
AND SAVE HER LIFE BY HITTING HER WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL.
BUT WITH HOW SHE'S LYING TO ME ABOUT HER EATING HABITS,
I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW CLEARLY
SHE REALLY SEES HER SITUATION.
BUT HOPEFULLY, SHE'S SERIOUS
WHEN SHE SAYS SHE'S READY TO DO THIS,
AND SHE REALIZES HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO START LOSING WEIGHT
AND GET ACTIVE AGAIN,
BECAUSE SHE'S NOT GONNA BE AROUND MUCH LONGER
IF SHE DOESN'T.
ALL RIGHT, MERCEDES, IN ADDITION TO YOUR DIET,
I WANT YOU TO START DOING DAILY EXERCISES
SO WE CAN GET YOU WALKING.
BUT THIS IS GONNA BE ALL UP TO YOU.
YOU GOT IT?
YEAH, I KNOW.
OKAY?
ALL RIGHT.
BEFORE YOU GO BACK,
I WANT TO RUN SOME TESTS ON YOU
TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN HANDLE THE CAR RIDE HOME.
IF NOT, WE MAY NEED TO KEEP YOU HERE LONGER.
BUT ULTIMATELY, GOING BACK AND FORTH THAT FAR
ISN'T GONNA BE GOOD FOR YOU.
SO IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS PROGRAM,
THEN YOU NEED TO MOVE DOWN HERE TO HOUSTON,
BECAUSE YOUR BODY IS NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT
WITH THE STATE YOU'RE IN.
SO YOU NEED TO DECIDE IF YOU ULTIMATELY WANT TO DO THIS
AND HOW COMMITTED YOU ARE.
SO, YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT?
YES.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
NO.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
ALL RIGHT. NICE TO MEET YOU GUYS.
-NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO. -NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. SEE Y'ALL LATER.
ALL RIGHT.
♪♪
I'M WORRIED ABOUT GETTING THESE TESTS RUN RIGHT NOW
AND WHAT THEY'LL FIND.
I'M ALSO WORRIED ABOUT GETTING TO THE GOAL
THAT DR. NOW GAVE ME.
HE TOLD ME I HAD TO LOSE 80 POUNDS.
IF I COULD DO THAT ON MY OWN,
I WOULDN'T BE HERE FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,
BUT YOU KNOW I'M READY TO WORK AS HARD AS I NEED.
I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT MY KIDS.
I'M LIVING FOR THEM.
BUT FOR RIGHT NOW, I HAVE TO FOCUS ON GETTING HOME,
BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE A LONG JOURNEY BACK.
SO I CAN'T START TO DIET NOW
BECAUSE FOOD WAS A BIG PART OF WHAT GOT ME HERE,
AND I'LL NEED THAT SAME HELP AND THAT SAME BOOST TO GET ME BACK.
♪♪
AFTER MY APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW,
HE DID A BUNCH OF TESTS ON ME,
AND TOLD ME THAT HE'S NOT HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS.
BECAUSE HE SAID MY OVERALL HEALTH WAS PRETTY BAD.
THANKFULLY, IT WASN'T BAD ENOUGH
TO WHERE I HAVE TO GO BE IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A WHILE.
THEY SAID IT'S BAD ENOUGH THAT I WON'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE
THE ROAD TRIPS BACK AND FORTH FROM HERE TO HOUSTON,
SO DR. NOW TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO MOVE DOWN NOW
IF I WAS GONNA TRY TO DO THIS PROGRAM.
AND HE SAID I NEED SOMEONE TO COME WITH ME
FOR SUPPORT AND HELP.
TERRY HASN'T BEEN AROUND MUCH
SINCE I STARTED TRYING TO DO THIS,
SO I KNOW HE'S NOT AN OPTION TO COME TO HOUSTON WITH ME.
BUT I TALKED TO BRANDON AND HE'S GONNA DO IT,
AND I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.
Brandon: DO YOU WANT TO GET A LIST TOGETHER?
AND I'LL GET THE KIDS HOME, TOO?
-YEAH. -GET EVERYBODY HOME?
-A SALAD SOUNDS GOOD. -SALAD.
YOU'VE BEEN DOIN' GOOD WITH THAT, THOUGH.
NOT EATING A LOT IN ONE SITTING.
-YEAH. -YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'?
I'M PROUD OF YOU. I'M PROUD OF YOU.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'?
I'M STICKING TO ONLY FOODS THAT ARE ON THE DIET,
AND I'M GETTING UP EVERY DAY LIKE HE WANTS.
I'M SUPPOSED TO SEE DR. NOW
AND BE BACK DOWN IN HOUSTON IN TWO WEEKS.
BUT I TOLD DR. NOW IT'S GONNA TAKE MORE TIME.
BUT I WANT TO GET MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,
TO GET MY LIFE BACK FOR ME AND MY KIDS,
NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES.
♪♪
Mercedes: WE'RE FINALLY MOVING TO HOUSTON TODAY.
IT'S TAKEN A LOT FOR US TO GET TO THIS POINT.
BRANDON'S BACK WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND TEMEKA,
AND THEY'RE BOTH TAKING CARE OF EVERYTHING WE NEED TO LEAVE.
AND EVERYONE IS EXCITED TO FINALLY BE DOING THIS.
BUT I'M HAVING A HARD TIME BECAUSE I'M NOT FEELING WELL,
AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT BEING ON THE ROAD
AS LONG AS I WAS THE LAST TIME WE WENT DOWN.
I GOT FUEL. I GOT THE TRUCK.
I GOT THE RENTAL.
-GOT SOME FOOD! -GOT SOME FOOD FOR THE MOVE,
YOU HEAR ME?
WE'RE GETTIN' UP OUT OF HERE TODAY.
WHAT'S WRONG? YOU OKAY?
YEAH, I KEEP FEELING A PAIN IN MY CHEST.
YOU THINK IT'S ANXIETY?
I DON'T KNOW.
YOU MIGHT HAVE TO BURP OR BREAK WIND?
WELL, LOOK, WE ABOUT TO START LOADING.
-ALL RIGHT. -ALL RIGHT. READY?
WE UP OUT HERE, BABY.
OKAY.
NO MATTER WHAT OR HOW HARD IT'S GONNA BE,
I KNOW IT'S TIME,
BECAUSE DR. NOW ISN'T TOO HAPPY IT'S TAKEN US SO LONG.
SO WE NEED TO GET THERE AND I NEED TO GO BACK TO SEE HIM,
BUT I'M HOPING WHEN I DO, HE'LL BE HAPPY WITH MY PROGRESS.
I KNOW THIS IS GONNA TAKE A LOT OUT OF ME,
BUT I'M HOPING IT'S AT LEAST A LITTLE EASIER NOW THAT
I LOST SOME WEIGHT AND BEEN EXERCISING,
AND THAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE IT IN LESS TIME.
BECAUSE EVEN GETTING THERE IN THREE DAYS
INSTEAD OF FOUR WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE ON MY BODY.
BUT WE JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW IT GOES.
BUT WHAT HELPED ME GET THROUGH ALL THE PAIN AND MISERY
OF DOING IT LAST TIME WAS FOOD.
AND I'M GONNA TRY NOT TO USE FOOD LIKE THAT THIS TIME
SO I DON'T MESS UP MY DIET.
I JUST HOPE IT DOESN'T GET SO HARD
TO WHERE THE TEMPTATION GETS TO BE TOO MUCH FOR ME
AND I GIVE IN.
MY PLAN IS TO RESIST THAT AND STAY FOCUSED,
BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MESS UP ALL MY PROGRESS.
AT LEAST THIS TIME, I KNOW HOW I NEED TO FIT AND WHAT TO DO
SINCE I ALREADY DID IT BEFORE.
I'M HOPING THE RIDE IS EASIER ON ME.
♪♪
BEING AROUND FAST FOOD FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS
AND NOT EATING IT ISN'T GONNA BE EASY.
I JUST GOT TO REMIND MYSELF OF THE KIDS.
I'M DOING THIS FOR ME, AND FOR THEM,
TO BE THERE FOR THEM, SO I'M GONNA STICK TO MY DIET.
♪♪
WE'VE ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR,
AND SO FAR, EVERYTHING'S FINE.
IT'S SMOKING.
-WHAT'S SMOKING? -THE TRUCK BRANDON'S DRIVING.
OH, IT'S JUST THE WHEELS.
THEY'RE STOPPING.
Kimoriah: IT'S ON FIRE! OH, MY GOD.
GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT!
MAMA, TELL THEM TO GET OUT.
HE STOPPED! WHAT AM I GONNA DO?
TELL THEM TO GET OUT.
Y'ALL ON FIRE!
-IT'S ON FIRE! -IT'S ON FIRE!
-THE CAR! -THE CAR IS?
-NO, THE PULLEY! -IT'S ON FIRE.
IT'S ON FIRE!
GET OUT, GET OUT!
CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
-OH, MY GOD. -AIN'T NO EXTINGUISHER IN THERE?
-NO. -MY GOD!
IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING! THE DEVIL'S ALWAYS BUSY.
IN THE NAME OF JESUS...
♪♪
[ SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE ]
[ FIRE CRACKLING ]
♪♪
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
IT FEELS LIKE NO MATTER WHAT,
THERE'S GONNA BE SETBACKS TO MAKE IT HARDER.
BECAUSE THIS DELAY MEANS
IT'S PROBABLY GONNA TAKE US LONGER NOW,
SO I'M DISAPPOINTED RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M GLAD NO ONE WAS HURT.
♪♪
WE LOST A WHOLE DAY TO THIS.
BRANDON WAS SEEING IF WE COULD GET A NEW TIRE ON THE TRAILER,
BUT IT'S TOO DAMAGED, SO WE HAVE TO GET THE TRAILER
TOWED BACK TO THE RENTAL PLACE.
SO IT'S JUST BEEN TAKING FOREVER.
AND I'VE BEEN IN THIS CAR WAY TOO LONG AT THIS POINT,
SO WE JUST NEED TO GET A HOTEL AND CALL IT A DAY.
BUT IT'S HARD NOT TO FEEL LIKE THE WORLD IS JUST AGAINST YOU.
AND WHEN WE TRY TO STAND UP TO IT,
IT JUST PUSHES YOU BACK DOWN.
BUT I'M HOPING I COULD JUST GET SOME REST,
AND ONCE I DO, I WON'T BE TOO SORE
AND WE CAN JUST GET BACK ON THE ROAD
AND KEEP GOING WITHOUT ANY MORE ISSUES.
I'M NOT GIVING UP EASILY,
BUT SO FAR, THIS ISN'T GOING WELL,
AND I HOPE THE WORST IS BEHIND US.
♪♪
THANK GOD WE MADE IT HERE.
BUT IT TOOK LONGER TO DO THIS TRIP THIS TIME
AND I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN, AND I FEEL MISERABLE.
FOR MOST OF THE TRIP, I DIDN'T GIVE INTO TEMPTATION,
SO I HAVEN'T HAD ANYTHING TO HELP ME DEAL
WITH ALL THE MISERY OF DOING THIS.
Temeka: HOME SWEET HOME! NOW EVERYBODY GET OUT.
SO I JUST WANT TO GET OUT AND GET UNLOADED
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO I CAN REST.
WELL, WE RENTED THIS PLACE ONLINE,
AND NONE OF US HAVE EVEN SEEN IT,
SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO EXPECT.
HEY, MER, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO WALK OVER TO HERE
BECAUSE THE CHAIR CAN'T FIT.
NO. GET MY WHEELCHAIR INSIDE.
I'M GONNA TRY TO WALK.
THE ONLY THING I KNOW IS, I GOT A UNIT THAT IS A CLOSE
TO THE CAR AS POSSIBLE,
AND ON THE FIRST FLOOR SO I DON'T HAVE TO WALK MUCH
TO GET IN OR OUT.
HOW EVERYTHING ELSE IS GONNA WORK FOR ME
IS A MYSTERY RIGHT NOW.
I JUST HOPE ALL THE ROOMS ARE AS BIG AS THEY SAID,
BECAUSE I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FIT EVERYWHERE.
THAT [BLEEP] HURT.
Brandon: THIS IS NICE.
[ PANTING ]
IT'S TOO TIGHT IN HERE, AIN'T IT?
THERE AIN'T NO [BLEEP] ROOM.
[ GROANS ]
ALL RIGHT.
[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]
LITTLE BITTY KITCHEN.
YEP.
JUST TEMPORARY, THOUGH.
AND A FRIDGE.
I AM COMPLETELY WIPED,
BUT I'M PROUD OF MYSELF FOR MAKING IT AND NOT GIVING UP,
NO MATTER WHAT I FACED.
ALL RIGHT, START GRABBIN'.
START GRABBIN' STUFF. COME ON, Y'ALL.
SO I'M GONNA CALL DR. NOW AND TELL HIM I'M HERE
AND SET UP MY APPOINTMENT TO GO SEE HIM.
AND I'M CONFIDENT I'M GONNA HAVE GOOD PROGRESS,
AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE ENOUGH TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
AND ONCE I GET THAT, THINGS WILL START TO GET EVEN EASIER,
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
AND THE NEW LIFE I'M GONNA HAVE SOON
ONCE I LOSE THE WEIGHT.
♪♪
Mercedes: IT'S BEEN A COUPLE DAYS
SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON,
AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON GETTING SETTLED IN.
BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SHOWING DR. NOW
MY PROGRESS,
AND THEN HOPEFULLY GETTING APPROVED
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY TODAY.
MERCEDES?
MY LAST APPOINTMENT WAS A LITTLE WHILE AGO,
AND I WAS UP TO 773 POUNDS.
THAT SHOCKED ME.
BUT DR. NOW TOLD ME TO LOSE 80 POUNDS IN ONE MONTH,
AND IF I DO THAT, I'LL BE AT 693 TODAY.
♪♪
Brandon: [ CLAPPING ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
YOU LOST SOME, BABY!
YEAH, BUDDY. HOLD ON.
THE LOSS ISN'T AS MUCH AS IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GONNA BE,
BUT IT'S MORE WEIGHT THAN I'VE EVER LOST.
I THINK IT'S PROOF OF HOW HARD I'M WORKING,
ESPECIALLY WITH EVERYTHING I HAD TO DEAL WITH
WITH MOVING AND GETTING DOWN HERE,
AND HOW MUCH TEMPTATION I RESISTED DURING ALL THAT.
IT'S IMPRESSIVE,
EVEN IF IT'S NOT AS MUCH AS DR. NOW SAID.
AND I THINK DR. NOW WILL APPRECIATE
THAT PROGRESS AND APPROVE ME.
♪♪
[ SIGHS ]
HELLO. HOW Y'ALL DOIN'?
ALL RIGHT. HOW YOU DOIN' TODAY?
I'M DOING FINE, THANK YOU.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU FINALLY MADE IT BACK
AND YOU MOVED DOWN HERE NOW,
AND I SEE YOU MADE SOME PROGRESS, MERCEDES,
BUT NOT A LOT.
YOU ONLY LOST 45 POUNDS.
I WAS EXPECTING 80 POUNDS IN ONE MONTH.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S BEEN OVER FOUR MONTHS.
RIGHT.
AND IF YOU WERE STICKING TO THE DIET,
THEN YOU WOULD'VE LOST OVER 220 POUNDS IN THAT TIME.
SO WHAT HAPPENED?
I CUT OUT A LOT OF STUFF, BUT...
BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE TO GO?
YEAH, A LOT MORE TO GO.
AT LEAST THAT'S A BIT OF AN HONEST ANSWER,
BUT WE STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM,
THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME TO WASTE.
AND IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY
AND GET MORE MOBILE, YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT.
YOUR CONDITION, ESPECIALLY YOUR HEART,
IS ALREADY IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.
AND YOU'RE NOWHERE NEAR WHERE YOU NEED
TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,
BECAUSE WITH YOUR HEIGHT AND YOUR BMI,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA SURVIVE SURGERY.
-OKAY. -OKAY?
SO WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO.
OKAY.
AND FROM EXPERIENCE WITH SURGERY,
WE KNOW YOU GET THE STAPH INFECTION ALL THE TIME,
SO, THAT'S A PRODUCT OF BEING OVERWEIGHT,
AND WE NEED TO CORRECT THAT.
RIGHT.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY ISSUES BREATHING,
OR ANY PAIN ANYWHERE THAT'S NEW?
-NO. -THAT'S GOOD.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES,
LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY,
BECAUSE IF YOU IGNORE AN ISSUE,
IT COULD QUICKLY BECOME LIFE-THREATENING FOR YOU.
SO DON'T TAKE ANY CHANCES, OKAY?
OKAY.
ASIDE FROM LOSING WEIGHT,
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU
TO STRENGTHEN YOUR PULMONARY SYSTEM
AND YOUR FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY.
SO YOU NEED TO GET AS ACTIVE AS POSSIBLE.
SO, HOW IS YOUR EXERCISE?
I'M WALKING BETTER.
I'M NOT USING A WALKER.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THAT'S GOOD PROGRESS.
SO, KEEP DOING THE EXERCISES.
BUT THAT'S NOT GONNA BE ENOUGH
IF YOU DON'T START LOSING THE WEIGHT YOU NEED.
AND, 45 POUNDS IN FOUR MONTHS,
I KNOW YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT,
SO I'M GONNA GIVE THE SAME GOAL.
I WANT YOU TO LOSE 80 POUNDS FOR NEXT MONTH, OKAY?
OKAY.
YOU ALREADY WASTED FAR MORE TIME THAN YOU SHOULD,
SO DO THIS NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
OKAY.
Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MERCEDES,
AND WHETHER OR NOT SHE'S GONNA DO
WHAT SHE NEEDS BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
AND IF HER CONDITION DETERIORATES ANY FURTHER,
WE MAY HAVE TO INTERVENE
AND START TAKING DRASTIC MEASURES TO SAVE HER LIFE.
BECAUSE SHE CAN'T AFFORD TO LET HER HEALTH GET ANY WORSE.
SHE WON'T BE ALIVE MUCH LONGER IF SHE DOES.
SO IT'S VITAL THAT SHE STARTS TO DO WHAT SHE NEEDS RIGHT NOW
IF SHE WANTS TO HAVE ANY CHANCE AT SURVIVING.
ALL RIGHT, MERCEDES, I WANT TO GET SOME TESTS ON YOU
TO MAKE SURE NO NEW ISSUES DEVELOPED
THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.
OKAY.
AND IF EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD,
WE'LL SEND YOU HOME.
BUT IF YOU NEED ANYTHING,
OR YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL ISSUES, EVEN A COLD,
YOU NEED TO LET ME KNOW, OKAY?
-OKAY. -OKAY, GOOD.
SIT TIGHT. WE'LL DO THE TESTS SHORTLY.
-AND, NICE TO SEE YOU. -ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
-NICE SEEING YOU, TOO. -GOOD SEEING YOU, DOC.
♪♪
I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED.
I WANT TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,
BUT I CAN UNDERSTAND DR. NOW'S PERSPECTIVE,
AND I CAN'T ARGUE WITH NEEDING TO GET MY HEALTH
IN A BETTER PLACE TO DO THAT.
DR. NOW'S GOALS ARE BIG.
LOSING 80 POUNDS A MONTH? IT'S A HUGE NUMBER.
BUT IT'S POSSIBLE. I'M SURE I CAN DO IT.
♪♪
READY, SET, GO.
OOH, MY SOCKS IS OFF. [ GRUNTING ]
REST.
COME ALL THE WAY UP. COME ON.
THIS IS MY LAST APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW.
I'VE BEEN WORKING ON WAYS TO DO BETTER THIS TIME.
I'M MAKING SURE I GET UP EVERY DAY WITHOUT AN EXCUSE.
AND I FEEL LIKE I'M MAKING MORE PROGRESS
WITH HOW FAR I CAN WALK,
BECAUSE I CAN WALK ALL THE WAY FROM MY ROOM TO THE OUTSIDE
WITHOUT HAVING TO SIT DOWN.
SO I'M ABLE TO GO FARTHER THAN I HAVE IN A REALLY LONG TIME.
AND IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO GET OUTSIDE
TO DO THINGS WITH MY KIDS.
AND I LIKE BEING ABLE TO WATCH THEM PLAY.
SEEING THAT GIVES ME MOTIVATION TO KEEP WORKING HARD AT THIS
SO I CAN SUCCEED.
-MAMA, I'M FASTER THAN HER. -'CAUSE YOU CHEATED.
'CAUSE I GOT THIS, AND HE GOT THAT.
[ Chuckling ] OOH, PLEASE, DON'T RUN OVER MY TOE.
MOM, LOOK, LOOK! LOOK HOW FAST I MADE IT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
COME ON, WE GOT TO GO BACK IN.
BRANDON AND TEMEKA HAD TO GO OUT OF TOWN FOR THIS PAST WEEK
TO TAKE CARE OF SOME THINGS BACK HOME,
SO WE'VE BEEN ON OUR OWN.
SO THIS HAS BEEN THE HARDEST WEEK TO STICK TO THE DIET,
BECAUSE I CAN'T GO OUT AND GET STUFF.
SO MY ONLY OPTION IS FOR KIMORIAH TO GO DOWN THE STREET
AND GET SOME FOOD FOR US.
I HAVE TWO MORE WEEKS UNTIL MY NEXT APPOINTMENT
WITH DR. NOW.
AND I THINK I'M GONNA HAVE BETTER RESULTS
THIS TIME THAN LAST TIME,
AND THAT I'LL BE WHERE DR. NOW WANTS ME TO BE,
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT
AND SEEING HOW MUCH PROGRESS I MADE, THEN.
♪♪
TODAY, I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE MY NEXT APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW.
BRANDON IS BACK WITH ME IN HOUSTON,
AND WE WAS GONNA TAKE ME TODAY, BUT I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO.
THE PROBLEM IS, I'M HAVING A REALLY BAD PERIOD,
AND WHEN YOU'RE MY SIZE, YOU'RE TOO BIG TO USE ANY PRODUCTS
TO HELP YOU WITH THAT.
SO TO BE JUST BLUNT ABOUT IT,
I CAN'T MANAGE IT AND I'VE SOILED ALL MY UNDERGARMENTS.
SO, FOR ONE, I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR.
AND THE SECOND ISSUE IS, I STILL HAVE A LOT OF BLEEDING
THAT I CAN'T CONTROL, SO I HAVE NO CHOICE.
I CAN'T GO OUT.
I'LL JUST HAVE TO RESCHEDULE WITH DR. NOW.
I DON'T WANT ANY DELAYS
BECAUSE I WANT TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,
AND I'M CONFIDENT IN MY PROGRESS IN WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE,
BUT I JUST HOPE DR. NOW ISN'T TOO UPSET
OR THINKS I'M PLAYING GAMES, LIKE HE SAID.
BECAUSE I'M NOT.
BUT THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS LIFE'S THROWING AT ME,
AND I WON'T LET IT KEEP ME DOWN.
'CAUSE I'M GONNA GET TO WHERE I NEED
AND DO THIS NO MATTER THE SETBACKS I FACE.
BUT RIGHT NOW, I JUST NEED A LITTLE MORE TIME.
♪♪
LET'S...
CAN YOU GO UP THROUGH THE DOOR WITH THE CHAIR?
Mercedes: RIGHT NOW, ME, BRANDON, AND MY FRIEND CHRISTINA
ARE AT DR. NOW'S FOR MY THIRD APPOINTMENT.
CHRISTINA IS AN OLD FRIEND OF MINE I KNEW GROWING UP,
AND SHE WOULD CHECK ON ME FROM TIME TO TIME.
AND WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS I WAS HAVING LAST MONTH,
SHE CAME TO HELP OUT.
BECAUSE TEMEKA HAD TO GO BACK HOME TO DEAL WITH SOME THINGS.
MERCEDES?
AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT, I HAD MADE IT DOWN TO 728,
AND DR. NOW GAVE ME THE SAME GOAL
OF LOSING 80 POUNDS IN A MONTH,
AND IF I DID THAT, IT HAD ME AT 648.
BUT SINCE IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS,
I'M HOPING TO SEE THAT I MADE IT IN THE LOW 600s,
TO SHOW DR. NOW I KEPT WORKING HARD.
♪♪
[ SIGHS ]
Christina: IT'S OKAY. JUST TAKE YOUR TIME.
♪♪
RIGHT HERE. RIGHT BEHIND YOU.
-OW! -WHAT? WHAT? WHAT?
COME BACK. LET'S COME BACK.
[ Crying ] I CAN'T. MY KNEE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. SIT BACK.
JUST SIT BACK.
YEAH, I DON'T...
I KNOW. JUST GO ON BACK.
JUST AHEAD AND FALL BACK.
JUST GO ON BACK.
GO ON BACK.
♪♪
I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
THAT NUMBER CAN'T BE RIGHT,
BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REFLECT ALL THE HARD WORK
I KNOW I DID AND THE PROGRESS I CAN FEEL IN MY BODY.
♪♪
THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF IS THE WEEK
BRANDON HAD TO GO, AND WHAT I HAD TO EAT THEN.
BUT I KNOW DR. NOW'S NOT GONNA BE HAPPY.
AND NO MATTER WHAT I SAY OR TELL HIM,
HE'S NOT GONNA BELIEVE THAT I WORKED AS HARD
AS I KNOW I DID.
♪♪
[ KNOCKS ON DOOR ]
-HELLO. -HEY.
HOW Y'ALL DOIN'?
-ALL RIGHT. -ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, MERCEDES, YOUR SITUATION JUST SEEMS TO BE
GETTING MORE AND MORE SERIOUS.
AND NOW YOU SHOW UP AND NOT ONLY DID YOU NOT LOSE ANYTHING,
YOU GAINED EIGHT POUNDS.
SO YOU WANT TO TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON?
I KNOW THERE'S NO EXCUSE, BUT MY COUSIN, HE LEFT,
AND WE DIDN'T GET TO GET FOOD BEFORE HE LEFT,
SO I HAD TO ORDER IN.
WHY DIDN'T YOU ORDER HEALTHY FOOD THEN?
THE AREA THAT I'M IN,
THEY DON'T DELIVER AFTER A CERTAIN TIME, SO...
YOU SPENT TWO MONTHS COMING UP WITH EXCUSES,
AND THE BEST YOU CAN COME UP WITH
IS YOU LIVE IN A NO-SALAD ZONE I DON'T KNOW ABOUT?
YEAH.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN "YES"?
DON'T GIVE ME THAT.
RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE 736 POUNDS.
SO, YOU'RE DANGEROUSLY OVERWEIGHT.
AND YOU'RE VERY CLOSE TO ONE THING GOING WRONG WITH YOU
AND YOUR BODY GIVING OUT.
AND ONCE THAT HAPPENS, YOU'RE NOT GONNA PULL THROUGH.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA SURVIVE THAT.
AND WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE TO TAKE A DRASTIC STEP
BY PUTTING YOU IN THE HOSPITAL FOR MONTHS
ON A CONTROLLED DIET TO SAVE YOUR LIFE.
NO. THAT'S NOT AN OPTION FOR ME.
THEN YOU CAN EITHER WAKE UP AND DO WHAT YOU NEED NOW,
OR THAT'S IT FOR YOU.
BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT WE DO, IT'S GONNA BE ALL UP TO YOU.
RIGHT.
SO, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO --
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU ONE MORE CHANCE.
WE'RE GONNA RUN SOME TESTS ON YOU AGAIN BEFORE YOU GO,
THEN WE'LL SEND YOU HOME.
AND I WANT YOU TO START GOING TO PSYCHOTHERAPY
THAT WE'RE GONNA SET UP FOR YOU.
BUT I'M NOT SETTING ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH YOU HERE.
SETTING AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOU DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK
BECAUSE YOU COME BACK WHENEVER.
SO YOU CALL AND SET AN APPOINTMENT WHEN YOU'RE READY,
WITH THESE TWO CONDITIONS -- FOR THE FIRST MONTH FROM TODAY,
I WANT YOU TO LOSE 80 POUNDS,
AND THEN FOR EVERY MONTH AFTER THAT,
I WANT YOU TO LOSE ANOTHER 40 POUNDS.
AND THE SECOND CONDITION IS --
YOU CAN'T TAKE MORE THAN THREE MONTHS.
BECAUSE BEYOND THAT IS TOO LONG TO GO
WITHOUT US GETTING A CHECK-UP ON YOU.
-DO YOU UNDERSTAND? -YES. I UNDERSTAND.
GREAT. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T DO ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS,
THERE IS NOTHING MORE WE CAN DO FOR YOU.
BUT EVERYTHING IS GONNA BE UP TO YOU
TO GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
SO, NO MORE SAYING YOU'RE GONNA DO IT LATER.
YOU HAVE TO DO THIS NOW.
BECAUSE SOME TIME LATER, IT MAY NEVER COME.
-NAH, IT'S GONNA COME. -OKAY.
SO, GET SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR DIET, OKAY?
-I KNOW. -NO BREAD.
-NO CARBS. -ALL RIGHT?
WE'LL GET THE TESTS STARTED AND SEE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE.
ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED?
NO. THAT'S IT.
ALL RIGHT. SEE Y'ALL LATER.
ALL RIGHT.
THANKS AGAIN.
MM-HMM.
♪♪
Dr. Nowzaradan: MERCEDES IS PLAYING A VERY RISKY GAME,
BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY HER BODY
IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT MUCH LONGER LIKE THIS.
SO WE'RE GETTING TO A POINT WHERE WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE
MANY OPTIONS FOR HER, IF SHE DOESN'T START TO DO
WHAT SHE SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING.
YOU NEVER EXPECT A PATIENT TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS
ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT A NUMBER OF TOOLS,
BUT THE FIRST STEP IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO DO.
SO IF WE INTERVENE TO GET HER HEALTH TO A SAFE PLACE,
IT'S ONLY GONNA BE A TEMPORARY SOLUTION TO SAVE HER LIFE.
BECAUSE SHE WILL JUST GO BACK TO GAINING AGAIN,
UNLESS HE CHOOSES TO START MAKING THE CHANGES
SHE NEEDS HERSELF.
OTHERWISE, NOTHING WE DO WILL MAKE ANY LASTING DIFFERENCE.
SO, RIGHT NOW, I PLAN TO PLAN TO SEND HER TO LOLA,
STARTING IMMEDIATELY,
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA KEEP HER GOING EVERY TWO WEEKS,
TO SEE IF SHE CAN HELP TO WAKE UP MERCEDES.
BECAUSE IF SHE DOESN'T START DOING WHAT SHE NEEDS NOW,
THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE DOWN TO VERY LIMITED OPTIONS WITH HER
TO TRY TO SAVE HER LIFE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY, BECAUSE I KNOW I'M WORKING HARD.
SO I GUESS I GOT TO WORK HARDER.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO.
♪♪
TODAY, THE THERAPIST DR. NOW WANTS ME TO SEE
IS COMING OVER SO I CAN START THAT.
HE WANTS ME TO DO THIS EVERY TWO WEEKS,
AND I AGREED TO THAT.
BUT I DON'T THINK DOING THERAPY LIKE THIS IS GONNA MAKE
MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF MY WEIGHT LOSS RIGHT NOW,
BECAUSE I KNOW I'M WORKING HARD
AND I'M DETERMINED TO DO WHAT I NEED.
SO DEALING WITH MY EMOTIONAL STUFF
IS SOMETHING SEPARATE FROM THAT.
BUT I KNOW OVER THE LONG TERM, IT COULD BE GOOD TO DEAL
WITH A LOT OF THIS STUFF FOR MY EMOTIONAL PROGRESS.
BUT THAT'S WHY I'M OKAY WITH IT AND I'M WILLING TO DO IT.
♪♪
[ KNOCKS ON DOOR ]
HEY. I'M BACK HERE.
-HI. -HI.
IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, MERCEDES.
-YOU TOO. -WHERE WOULD YOU HAVE ME?
RIGHT THERE'S THE CHAIR. YOU CAN PULL IT UP.
OKAY.
IS ABOUT HERE FINE FOR YOU?
YEAH.
OKAY.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
WHO'D YOU GROW UP WITH?
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
IT'S SEVEN OF US ALTOGETHER.
OH, WOW. THAT'S A LARGE FAMILY.
YEAH.
WERE THERE EVERY TIMES WHEN YOU FELT LOST
IN THE SHUFFLE OF SUCH A LARGE FAMILY?
UH...YEAH.
LIKE, MY MOM PAID MORE ATTENTION TO MY OTHER SISTERS THAN ME.
THAT MUST'VE BEEN DIFFICULT FOR YOU.
WHAT ABOUT WITH THE DAD?
UH...
I WAS SEXUALLY ABUSED BY MY DAD.
I'M SORRY THAT HAPPENED TO YOU.
THAT MUST'VE BEEN REALLY TOUGH FOR YOU.
YEAH.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU HAVING TO BE AROUND YOUR FATHER,
BUT KNOWING THAT THOSE THINGS WOULD HAPPEN?
I DON'T KNOW.
I LOVED MY DAD. I STILL DO.
HE PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR.
I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.
AND I DIDN'T GET TO GO TO THE FUNERAL.
BUT HE CALLED ME AND HE ASKED ME TO FORGIVE HIM.
AND WERE YOU ABLE TO FORGIVE HIM, MERCEDES?
YEAH, I FORGAVE MY DAD.
I FORGAVE MY DAD.
WHEN A YOUNG CHILD IS SEXUALLY ABUSED,
ESPECIALLY BY A PARENT, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR YOU
TO LOVE YOUR FATHER AND TO FORGIVE HIM.
BUT WHAT YOUR DAD DID WAS AWFUL AND IT WAS WRONG.
AND NOBODY'S JUDGING HIM. BUT HE HURT YOU.
MM-HMM.
YOU DIDN'T DESERVE THAT.
[ SNIFFLING ]
THAT'S A COMPLEX TRAUMA.
AND SO, FOR A LOT OF SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE,
IT'S COMMON TO FALL INTO DIFFERENT TYPES OF ADDICTION.
SO, YOU IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU FIND YOURSELF TURNING TO FOOD
TO SELF-SOOTH AS A COPING MECHANISM.
YEAH. BASICALLY. I'M PAYING FOR IT NOW.
'CAUSE I CAN'T REALLY DO WHAT I WANT TO DO
AND BE THERE FOR MY KIDS.
AND THEY HAVE TO BE TAKING CARE OF ME.
AND I KNOW IT'S TAKING A TOLL ON MY DAUGHTER.
AND SHE'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO,
BE A KID.
IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF ME.
YOU KNOW, MERCEDES, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SOME GUILT
OVER HOW MUCH YOUR DAUGHTER HAS TO DO TO HELP CARE FOR YOU,
AND SO I WANT YOU TO TAKE A MINUTE
AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD WANT TO SAY TO YOUR DAUGHTER
IF SHE WERE SITTING HERE RIGHT NOW.
I WOULD SAY I'M SORRY
FOR HER HAVING TO HELP ME
AND TAKE CARE OF ME INSTEAD OF ME TAKING CARE OF HER.
AND I'D SAY, THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME.
AND I WANT YOU TO BE A KID.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF ME.
I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY LIFE.
SO, MERCEDES, I WANT YOU TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH HER.
THAT'S GONNA MEAN SO MUCH TO HER.
AND YOUR HOMEWORK PERTAINING TO YOUR DAD?
I WANT YOU TO TAKE SMALL BITS OF TISSUE,
AND I WANT TO WRITE ON THAT TISSUE THE THINGS
THAT HE TOOK AWAY FROM YOU, OKAY?
AND THEN FLUSH IT, THROW IT AWAY, WHATEVER.
YOU RELEASE IT.
WELL, MERCEDES, IT WAS SO NICE MEETING YOU.
YOU TOO.
AND I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.
YOU TOO.
I ENJOYED TALKING TO LOLA.
SHE'S INSIGHTFUL, BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT
SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF, LIKE HOMEWORK,
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I NEED TO STAY FOCUSED ON MY PHYSICAL PROGRESS
AND MY WORRY IS DOING ANYTHING
TO CAUSE ME EMOTIONAL STRESS WILL MAKE ME STRUGGLE.
BUT I'M NOT GONNA IGNORE OR DISCOUNT WHAT SHE SAID.
I'M JUST SAYING, I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET OFF TRACK.
THIS NEXT APPOINTMENT, I HAVE TO MAKE GOOD AND HIT MY GOAL,
SO THAT'S WHAT I PLAN TO DO.
♪♪
[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]
♪♪
IT'S BEEN MONTHS SINCE MY LAST APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW,
AND I FEEL LIKE MY PROGRESS IS BETTER THAN EVER.
I'VE HAD TWO APPOINTMENTS WITH LOLA,
BUT I HAVEN'T FOUND A WAY OR A RIGHT TIME
TO DO ANY OF HER HOMEWORK.
MY FOCUS HAS BEEN ON MAKING MORE CHANGES,
TO EAT HEALTHIER AND GET MY EXERCISES.
LIKE FOR BACON THIS MORNING.
WE'RE GOIN' TURKEY BACON,
WHICH IS A LOT BETTER FOR YOU AND LESS CALORIES,
AND THEN I'M JUST FOCUSING ON HIGH-PROTEIN OPTIONS.
AND THE KIDS AND BRANDON LIKE IT.
AND FOR MY EXERCISES, I'M MAKING SURE I SPEND
MOST OF THE DAY OUT OF BED
AND TAKING CARE OF THE KIDS AS MUCH AS I CAN.
YES, INDEEDY.
I DO HAVE BUTTER ON IT. EXCUSE ME.
KIMORIAH?
-KIMORIAH. -MIGHT AS WELL COME ON.
YOU READY TO EAT?
♪♪
I WAS WORRIED IT WOULD WEAR ME OUT TOO QUICKLY
IF I WAS UP TOO MUCH, BUT IT'S BEEN NICE.
AND I KNOW THE KIDS ENJOY HAVING ME AROUND THEM MORE.
AND MY PLAN IS TO KEEP WORKING HARD LIKE THIS
FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS TO MAKE AS MUCH PROGRESS AS I CAN,
THEN GO BACK TO DR. NOW
AND IMPRESS HIM WITH HOW MUCH I LOST
AND WHAT I'M ABLE TO DO NOW,
AND FINALLY GET MY APPROVAL FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.
♪♪
OVER THE PAST MONTH, I FELT LIKE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO STAY FOCUSED
BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO STAY ON MY DIET.
AND I'VE ALSO BEEN KEEPING MY APPOINTMENTS WITH LOLA.
I HAVEN'T DONE ANY OF THE HOMEWORK SHE GAVE ME,
BUT I TOLD LOLA I CONSIDERED AT DOING ONE OF THOSE THINGS
AND THEN SEE ABOUT DOING OTHERS.
BECAUSE THE THING THAT SHE TOLD ME DO THAT
I REALLY WANT TO DO
IS TELLING KIMORIAH HOW I FEEL
AND THAT I'M SORRY FOR TAKING UP PART OF HER CHILDHOOD
WITH ALL THE STUFF SHE HAD TO DO FOR ME AND KAU'LIN.
SO I WANT HER TO KNOW HOW THANKFUL I AM FOR HER,
SO I'M WRITING EVERYTHING I WANT TO SAY DOWN.
AND THEN I'M GONNA SHARE IT WITH HER.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHAT I TOLD YOU TO DO?
MM-HMM.
YEAH, YOU NEED SOMETHING?
NO. I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.
WHAT?
I GOT TO READ THIS THING.
IT'S A LETTER THAT I WROTE.
OKAY.
IT SAYS, "TO MY BABY GIRL...
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR HELPING ME THROUGH THIS HARD TIME.
SECOND OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
I'M SORRY FOR TAKING YOUR FREEDOM AWAY TO HELP ME.
I DON'T WANT YOU TAKING CARE OF ME.
I'M THE MOTHER. THAT'S MY JOB, NOT YOURS.
I JUST WANT YOU TO BE A KID AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE,
NOT HAVE TO STOP BECAUSE OF ME.
THAT'S NOT FAIR TO YOU.
AND I WANTED TO SAY I'M SORRY AGAIN,
AND I LOVE YOU, AND IT'S ALMOST OVER.
HUGS AND KISSES."
MOM...
I LOVE YOU.
♪♪
DANG.
YOU'RE ALWAYS CRYING.
YOU DID IT.
YOU DID.
YOU STARTED IT.
NUH-UNH.
YES, YOU DID.
♪♪
I WAS NERVOUS AT FIRST, BUT ONCE I STARTED,
IT JUST KINDA FLOWED OUT.
AND I FEEL REALLY GOOD RIGHT NOW BECAUSE I LOVE KIMORIAH SO MUCH.
AND SO PROUD OF HER FOR ALL SHE DOES AND HOW SHE HELPS ME,
SO I'M REALLY GLAD I DID THIS
'CAUSE THESE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN ON MY HEART
FOR A WHILE THAT I WANTED TO SHARE.
SO WITH HOW THIS WENT AND HOW GOOD I FEEL RIGHT NOW,
I'M WILLING TO CONSIDER SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF
LOLA TOLD ME TO DO TO FREE ME UP TO LOSE MY WEIGHT
AS I BREAK MY FOOD ADDICTION.
♪♪
ME AND MY FAMILY ARE HEADED TO DR. NOW'S
FOR AN APPOINTMENT, AND TO FIND OUT MY PROGRESS.
AND I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS BUT ONLY BECAUSE I KNOW
DR. NOW ISN'T TOO HAPPY RIGHT NOW.
'CAUSE IT'S BEEN FOUR MONTHS SINCE I'VE BEEN BACK,
AND THAT I'M A MONTH PAST THE DEADLINE HE GAVE ME.
BUT DR. NOW CALLED ME AND TOLD ME IF I DON'T COME IN NOW,
I'LL BE DONE WITH THE PROGRAM, SO HE WASN'T HAPPY.
BUT I'M GOING IN LIKE HE SAID BECAUSE I NEED THIS PROGRAM
AND I WANT TO STAY A PART OF IT.
BUT I FEEL LIKE TODAY WILL GO WELL.
MERCEDES?
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING
HOW MUCH I'VE LOST IN TOTAL DURING THIS TIME.
AND I WANTED MY KIDS AND EVERYONE TO BE HERE WITH ME,
TO SEE IT AND CELEBRATE WITH ME
SO I'M ABLE TO GET APPROVED FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY TODAY.
SO EVEN THOUGH I'M NERVOUS,
I'M EVEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT HOW MY LIFE IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.
♪♪
AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT, FOUR MONTHS AGO, I WAS 736.
AND DR. NOW GAVE ME A FEW RANGES OF WEIGHT-LOSS GOALS
I NEEDED TO MEET DEPENDING,
AND HE THE BIGGEST RANGE HE GAVE ME
WAS 160 POUNDS IN THREE MONTHS.
SO THAT'S THE GOAL I'M HOPING TO HIT.
AND IF I DID THAT, I'LL BE UNDER 576.
♪♪
I'M A LITTLE SHOCKED THAT MY WEIGHT LOSS ISN'T BIGGER,
BUT I'M REALLY PROUD TO SEE I'M LOSING AGAIN.
THAT FEELS AWESOME.
BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW DR. NOW'S GONNA REACT.
THIS IS NOT THE GOAL HE GAVE ME.
BUT ALL COMBINED, I LOST 80 POUNDS SINCE I STARTED,
SO THAT'S A LOT.
AND I'M HOPING THAT'S WHAT DR. NOW FOCUSES ON AND SEES,
BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD.
AND I'M PROUD OF THAT, AND THAT I DO HAVE PROGRESS THIS TIME.
BUT I'M STILL SCARED BECAUSE I KNOW DR. NOW
IS GETTING TO HIS LIMITS WITH ME.
AND I DON'T WANT HIM TO GIVE UP ON ME AND TELL ME
I'M DONE WITH THE PROGRAM.
[ KNOCKS ON DOOR ]
-COME IN. -COME IN.
-HELLO. -HEY.
-HOW Y'ALL DOIN'? -ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, MERCEDES, I GAVE YOU SOME REQUIREMENTS LAST TIME
ON WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO
IF YOU WANTED TO BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM.
ONE WAS TO START GOING TO PSYCHOTHERAPY,
AND YOU MADE IT TO MOST OF YOUR APPOINTMENTS WITH LOLA,
BUT THAT'S THE ONLY ONE YOU EVEN GOT CLOSE TO DOING
BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T COME BACK WITHIN THREE MONTHS.
IT'S BEEN FOUR AND WE HAD TO CALL YOU
AND GIVE YOU AN ULTIMATUM OF BEING OUT OF THE PROGRAM
TO EVEN GET YOU HERE TODAY.
AND THEN YOU ONLY LOST 44 POUNDS,
NOT EVEN CLOSE TO HITTING YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL FOR ONE MONTH.
THE ONLY POSITIVE IS THAT YOU'RE FINALLY UNDER 700,
BUT JUST BARELY.
SO AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE CAN GO FROM HERE.
WE'RE GIVEN YOU EVERY TOOL IN A YEAR TO DO THIS,
AND YOU ONLY LOST 80 POUNDS AT THAT TIME.
SO AT THIS RATE,
EVEN IF YOU'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THIS LEVEL OF PROGRESS,
IT WILL TAKE YOU 67 YEARS TO GET YOU TO YOUR TARGET WEIGHT,
AND YOU'LL BE DEAD BY THEN.
MM-HMM.
I DON'T WANT YOUR KIDS TO HAVE TO HEAR THAT,
BUT THIS IS THE REALITY OF YOUR SITUATION.
AND NO MATTER WHAT WE DO,
WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET THROUGH TO YOU.
AT YOUR LAST APPOINTMENT, THE TEST WE RAN SHOWED
THAT YOUR CONDITION WAS DETERIORATING,
SHOWING THAT YOU'RE IN SOME DEGREE OF HEART FAILURE.
THAT'S WHY I LIMITED YOU TO THREE MONTHS MAXIMUM
TO GET YOU BACK HERE TO FOLLOW-UP,
AND YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO THAT EITHER.
BUT IF WE HAD DONE THE TESTS ON YOU,
IT'S GONNA BE EVEN WORSE NOW.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO YOU
IS TO GET YOU TO LOSE WEIGHT PROPERLY RIGHT NOW,
OR YOU WON'T MAKE IT.
OKAY.
SO, THE ONLY OPTION I SEE AT THIS POINT
IS TO PUT YOU ON A CONTROLLED DIET IN THE HOSPITAL.
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT DOING THAT ON YOUR OWN.
SO WE NEED TO DO THIS NOW.
WE CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.
OKAY?
HOW LONG WILL SHE BE IN THE HOSPITAL?
SHE MAY BE THERE FOR A WHILE. AT LEAST A FEW MONTHS.
BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF WEIGHT TO GET OFF HER,
AND IT'S GONNA BE THE ONLY WAY WE CAN SAVE HER LIFE,
BECAUSE HER HEART IS IN FAILURE.
AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THAT IS TO ADMIT YOU TO A HOSPITAL.
YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT, MERCEDES?
-YEAH. -GOOD.
WELL, I KNOW YOU HAVE KIDS,
SO GOING RIGHT NOW IS NOT A SIMPLE THING.
SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THREE DAYS TO GET WHAT YOU CAN IN ORDER
AND REPORT TO THE HOSPITAL TO BE ADMITTED.
OKAY.
THIS IS NOT GONNA BE QUICK OR EASY.
BUT YOU WASTED A YEAR, AND WE CAN'T LET YOU GO ON LIKE THIS.
AT THIS POINT, WITH YOUR HEART FAILURE,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO SURVIVE MUCH LONGER AT ALL,
SO THE ONLY WAY WE CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE
IS TO GET YOU IN THE HOSPITAL AND CONTROL YOUR DIET
AND GET YOU TO LOSE AT LEAST A COUPLE HUNDRED POUNDS.
AND THAT'S GONNA BE THE ONLY OPTION WE HAVE FOR YOU
TO SAVE YOUR LIFE, OKAY?
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
MM-HMM.
GOOD. BECAUSE WE CAN'T CONSIDER
ANY SORT OF EMERGENCY-SURGERY OPTIONS FOR YOU.
BECAUSE ANY KIND OF PROCURE ON YOU IS GONNA BE HIGHLY RISKY,
AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA SURVIVE THE OPERATION.
SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
OKAY?
BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO WAIT FOR YOU
TO DO IT ON YOUR OWN, OKAY?
-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.
LET ME LISTEN TO YOUR HEART AND SEE HOW IT SOUNDS.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH.
IT'S NOT SOUNDING GOOD.
YOUR PULMONARY SYSTEM SEEMS WEAKER NOW.
HAVE YOU BEEN KEEPING UP WITH YOUR ACTIVITY?
UM...
DOING A LITTLE UPPER-BODY EXERCISE.
AND TRY TO WALK A LITTLE BIT EVERY DAY.
SO MUCH CAN YOU WALK? HOW MANY STEPS?
UM...
LIKE, FROM HERE TO THE EXIT.
SO YOU GET VERY SHORT OF BREATH WHEN YOU DO THAT?
-MM-HMM. -YEAH.
YOUR CONDITION IS DECLINING, AND YOU'RE DOING EVEN LESS NOW,
SO THIS IS NOT A GOOD SITUATION AT ALL.
AND WE NEED TO TURN IT AROUND NOW.
SO I'LL GIVE YOU THREE DAYS TO GET EVERYTHING IN ORDER.
IT'S NOT A LOT OF TIME BUT THE PROBLEM IS,
YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.
YOU'RE ABOUT TO RUN OUT.
SO I EXPECT TO SEE YOU AT THE HOSPITAL THEN.
OKAY.
IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES BEFORE THEN, CALL ME IMMEDIATELY.
OKAY.
OKAY, I'LL SEE YOU SOON.
-ALL RIGHT. -THANK YOU.
-AND, SEE YOU LATER. -THANK YOU, DOC.
NICE TO SEE YOU. BYE.
♪♪
Dr. Nowzaradan: WE'RE DOWN TO OUR FINAL OPTIONS WITH MERCEDES,
SO THE PRIORITY RIGHT NOW IS PREVENTING HER FROM DYING,
BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, HER CONDITION IS WORSE
TO WHERE IF WE DON'T INTERVENE,
SHE'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO LIVE MUCH LONGER.
SO THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION
WE HAVE WITH HER RIGHT NOW.
BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS SHE RISKING HER LIFE WITH HER BEHAVIOR
AND ME HAVING TO INTERVENE TO STOP WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN,
BUT AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW,
TURNING HER SITUATION AROUND
IS ONLY GONNA BE A TEMPORARY FIX.
AND UNLESS WE FIND A WAY TO BREAK THROUGH TO MERCEDES
AND GET HER TO START MAKING THE CHOICES SHE NEEDS,
SHE WILL JUST GO BACK HOME AND GAIN AGAIN
UNTIL HER BODY CAN'T HANDLE IT AND SHE DIES.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO WITH MERCEDES
OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS TO TRY AND SAVE HER LIFE,
BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP ON MERCEDES YET.
EVEN THOUGH RIGHT NOW THE ODDS DON'T LOOK GOOD FOR HER,
BECAUSE LOW ODDS HAS NEVER STOPPED US
FROM DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRY AND SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,
TO NOT ONLY TRY AND TURN HER SITUATION AROUND,
BUT TO GET THROUGH TO HER LIKE WE NEED
SO SHE'LL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER CHOICES
AND HER LIFE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
♪♪
Mercedes: I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO
GETTING APPROVED FOR SOMETHING,
BUT THIS NEWS WASN'T GOOD NEWS TO HEAR.
IT IS HEARTBREAKING. IT'S SAD.
AND VERY SCARED FOR MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.
MY LIFE EXPECTANCY IS GETTING SHORTER BY THE DAY.
I HAVE MY KIDS HERE.
THEY NEED ME, SO...
I CAN'T LEAVE MY KIDS.
[ GRUNTING ]
IT'S JUST NOT GONNA BE EASY,
BUT WE'VE ALL RISEN TO EVERY CHALLENGE.
AND I'M GONNA KEEP FIGHTING TO MAKE IT TO WHERE I NEED.
I WANT TO DO THIS, AND I WANT TO WORK AS HARD AS I CAN
TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LOSE A LOT OF WEIGHT
AND TRY TO GET THE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
SO I CAN KEEP ALIVE.
AND THEN I'M GONNA MAKE IT TO THE LIFE I WANT.
BECAUSE NO MATTER THE SETBACK,
I'M NOT STOPPING UNTIL I GET THERE.
--Captions by VITAC-- www.vitac.com