Original subtitles

>> THE LAST TIME I WEIGHED

MYSELF, I WEIGHED 337 POUNDS,

AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, "THAT'S

NOT BIG.

THAT'S NOT BAD AT ALL."

AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE SCALE

AND IT SAID 645, I STARTED

CRYING RIGHT THEN AND THERE.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE FACED

WITH THAT NOW.

[ SNIFFLES ]

A DOCTOR TOLD MY MOM THAT I

WOULD GO TO SLEEP AND DIE.

YOU KNOW, IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE

SURGERY, THERE WOULD BE NO LIFE.

>> LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK.

LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK.

THIS IS NOT EASY.

>> COME OVER AND LIFT!

>> HE'S BECOMING INDEPENDENT,

AND I THINK HE'S FRIGHTENED

ABOUT THAT.

>> OUR WHOLE RELATIONSHIP WAS

BASED ON ME BEING FAT.

AND NOW HE SEES ME GETTING MY

LIFE BACK, AND HE'S AFRAID I'M

GONNA LEAVE HIM.

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

IT'S NOT LIKE I SET OUT TO BE

700 POUNDS.

IT JUST HAPPENED.

PEOPLE LOOK AT ME WITH SUCH

DISGUST.

>> [ LAUGHS ]

I FIGURE I CAN EITHER DIE ON THE

OPERATING TABLE TRYING TO GET

HEALTHY OR I CAN DIE BECAUSE I'M

645 POUNDS.

I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE.

>> SHE'S DOING MORE FOR HERSELF

NOW.

SHE'S GETTING HER LIFE BACK.

>> I'M READY TO BE A MOM.

I'M READY TO HAVE A JOB.

OH, MY GOSH.

I GOT JEANS ON.

OH!

YOU WANT TO START MOVING ON

WITH YOUR LIFE, BUT IT'S VERY

HARD ON A RELATIONSHIP.

CHRIS, STOP, PLEASE.

I THINK HONESTLY SOMETIMES YOU

MISS THE FAT ME.

>> YEAH, I KNOW.

>> IT WAS SO MUCH HARDER THAN I

THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE JUST

TO KEEP MY WEIGHT DOWN.

BUT I DID WHAT I HAD TO DO.

THIS PICTURE IS AMAZING.

I DON'T EVEN LOOK LIKE THE SAME

PERSON.

MY FACE LOOKS DIFFERENT.

MY BODY LOOKS DIFFERENT.

WOW.

LOOK HOW FAR I'VE COME.

MY RING SIZE WENT FROM A 13 1/2

TO A 10 1/2.

AND THEN MY ARMS, OF COURSE --

YOU CAN SEE ALL THAT.

BUT I CAN FINALLY CROSS MY LEGS.

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT.

AND WHEN THE SKIN IS GONE, IT'LL

LOOK EVEN BETTER.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THESE PICTURES?

>> I KNOW, MELISSA.

I [SIGHS] I KNOW.

>> MELISSA, HOW ARE YOU?

>> I'M FINE. HOW ARE YOU?

>> ARE YOU WORRIED?

>> NO.

>> ME EITHER.

I'M JUST NOT FOR SOME ODD

REASON.

THE LAST TIME, I CRIED LIKE A

BIG BABY.

I'M JUST NOT WORRIED THIS TIME.

I'M EXCITED FOR IT TO FINALLY

HAPPEN.

[ LAUGHS ]

>> [ LAUGHS ]

>> TAKE YOUR TIME NOW.

>> OKAY. THAT'S FINE.

>> TO ME, THE SAGGING SKIN AND

THE ROLLS LOOKS ALMOST AS BAD AS

THE SKIN FILLED UP WITH FAT.

I HOPE IT WORKS.

ALL MY LIFE, I'VE BEEN FAT.

ALL MY LIFE.

>> OKAY, MELISSA, CAN YOU TURN A

LITTLE BIT THIS WAY FOR ME?

>> FOR ONE TIME IN MY LIFE, I'D

LIKE TO BE NORMAL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> ...FOR TOO LONG, OKAY?

>> YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE

FINISHED.

CAN YOU OPEN YOUR EYES?

>> THE THING ABOUT MY FAMILY IS,

WE'VE ALWAYS HAD TO TAKE CARE OF

SOMEBODY.

I THINK IT'S FROM WHEN MY DAD

GOT HURT.

IN 1981, HE GOT ELECTROCUTED.

HE LOST A HAND, GOT BURNED,

ABOUT 30% TO 40% OF HIS BODY.

AND THEN I MET MELISSA, AND THEN

I ENDED UP TAKING CARE OF HER.

I HAD ACTUALLY RESIGNED MYSELF

TO THE FACT THAT I PROBABLY WAS

GONNA TAKE CARE OF HER AND THEN

I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BURY HER.

I THOUGHT ABOUT IT EVERY DAY,

THAT I'D COME HOME AND FIND HER

DEAD LAYING IN THE BED, SITTING

IN THE CHAIR BECAUSE HER BODY

GAVE OUT.

>> 285.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE

BEEN UNDER 300 FOR A WHILE, HUH?

>> AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

>> ARE YOU DECENT?

LET ME LOOK AT YOU. TURN AROUND.

WOW. YOU LOOK NORMAL.

>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL SEE Y'ALL IN A COUPLE

MONTHS.

[ CHUCKLES ]

>> I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT I

LOOK LIKE.

FIRST I WAS DISAPPOINTED IT WAS

ONLY 30 POUNDS, BUT I'M

SATISFIED WITH THE SURGERY,

THOUGH.

I THINK HE DID A GOOD JOB.

I JUST LIKE BEING HOME.

SURPRISINGLY, IT'S NOT AS

PAINFUL AS I THOUGHT IT WAS

GONNA BE.

I THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE A

LITTLE MORE PAIN.

GONNA BE NICE LETTING ME THROUGH

THE HALL.

I DON'T WANT TO BE TEENY TINY.

I WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF

BUTT AND A LITTLE BIT OF BOOBS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I'M JUST THIS

CLOSE TO 100 NOW.

I'M ONLY 86 POUNDS FROM BEING

DOWN TO 199.

THAT'S GONNA BE A HUGE

MILESTONE.

I'VE BEEN HOOKED UP TO THIS

THING NOW, WHAT -- TWO WEEKS?

>> TWO WEEKS.

>> MY FIRST WEEK, IT'S, "CAN I

GO HOME?

CAN I GO HOME? CAN I GO HOME?"

MY THIRD WEEK, IT WAS, "OKAY,

I'LL STAY UNTIL YOU THINK I'M

BETTER."

>> I THINK MELISSA IS TRYING TOO

HARD TO DIET AND LOSE MORE

WEIGHT.

>> I WASN'T EATING.

LIKE, THREE BITES OFF OF A

CHICKEN LEG WOULD BE A MEAL FOR

ME.

I THOUGHT I WAS DOING GOOD

'CAUSE I WAS LOSING, LIKE, SIX

POUNDS A WEEK.

>> ON JUNE 16th, SHE FAINTED,

AND I'M GONNA HAVE TO CALL

911.

SO I'M LIKE, "WAKE UP! WAKE UP!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

I'M LIKE, "MELISSA! MELISSA!"

>> HELLO. HOW YOU ALL DOING?

>> DOCTOR NOWZARADAN SAID I HAD

TO GET SOMETHING CALLED A WOUND

VAC.

IT JUST SUCKS YOUR SKIN TOGETHER

SO IT WILL HEAL.

>> THE ONLY THING WE NEED TO DO

IN HERE TO CREATE A LITTLE

OPENING FOR THE SUCTION

APPARATUS.

MELISSA HAS PUSHED HER BODY UP

TO THE LIMIT.

SHE'S DONE SOME DAMAGE THAT IS

GOING TO TAKE SOME TIME TO HEAL.

HOW MUCH LONGER MELISSA CAN

EXPECT TO STAY IN THE HOSPITAL

IS UNCERTAIN.

>> [ Voice breaking ] I WANT TO

GO HOME TODAY.

[ SNIFFLES ]

NOT TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

NOT TOMORROW EVENING.

ALL I DO ALL DAY LONG IS SLEEP.

AND I HATE TO SLEEP, 'CAUSE IT

REMINDS ME OF BEFORE, 'CAUSE

BEFORE THAT'S ALL I DID WAS

SLEEP ALL DAY LONG.

AND NOW I'M BACK TO THAT.

>> I HATE TO SEE HER UPSET.

I'M JUST READY FOR LIFE TO GET

BACK TO NORMAL.

>> I'M VERY UPSET.

IT'S GETTING BAD.

I MEAN, IT'S GETTING MENTALLY

BAD.

[ SNIFFLES ]

[ ELEVATOR BELL DINGS ]

>> MELISSA IS STILL WALKING LIKE

SHE'S 650 POUNDS, SO THE SUTURES

PULLED THROUGH AND SOME PART OF

THE INCISION FELL APART.

ALL RIGHT.

MELISSA, WE'RE GONNA CHANGE

YOUR BANDAGES TODAY.

WITH WALKING, SHE JUST

ESSENTIALLY WALKS WITH A SWING.

SHE TORE UP THE INCISION.

>> SHE STILL SEES HERSELF AS A

600-POUND WOMAN.

SHE WILL TURN SIDEWAYS TO GO

INTO THE BATHROOM OR GO INTO

THE BEDROOM.

WHEN I WATCH HER WALK, SHE WOULD

MOVE, SWINGING HER BODY LIKE SHE

WAS STILL MOVING ALL THAT

WEIGHT.

AND SHE THOUGHT, "I CAN'T SHAKE

THAT FAT-PERSON COMPLEX."

>> YOU KNOW, I SPENT MOST OF THE

LAST 10 YEARS BEING DEPRESSED

AND SAD AND IN A CAGE, IT FELT

LIKE.

AND TO GO BACK TO BEING NEGATIVE

INSIDE IS JUST GONNA PUT ME

BACK WHERE I DON'T WANT TO BE.

>> I DON'T THINK SHE REGRETS

HAVING THE SURGERY, BECAUSE, YOU

KNOW, THE SKIN'S GOT TO GO.

BUT I THINK THAT THIS HAS BEEN A

HUGE SETBACK.

>> KNOCK, KNOCK.

>> COME IN.

>> HOW DID YOU KNOW WE WERE

HERE?

>> BECAUSE I HEARD ONE OF THEM

SAY "MELISSA."

>> THIS IS THE WHOLE FAMILY.

>> SHE CALLED ME, AND SHE WAS

CRYING, AND SHE SAID, "MAMA,

I'VE BEEN LYING TO YOU.

I'M NOT DOING VERY GOOD."

AND I SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"

AND SHE SAID, "MOM, I'M TIRED.

I'M DONE. I'M DONE.

I'M NOT GOING TO THE DOCTOR NO

MORE.

I'M DONE."

I SAID, "YOU CANNOT BE DONE."

>> SHE WAS READY TO GIVE UP.

SHE WAS HURTING SO BAD.

AND I HAVEN'T HEARD MY SISTER

WANT TO GIVE UP ON ANYTHING

SINCE SHE'S HAD THE SURGERY.

>> EVERYBODY OUT THERE WAS

PRAYING AND WORRYING ABOUT YOU.

>> TODAY SHE'S GOT HER WILL

BACK.

SHE'S BACK TO THE HAPPY MELISSA

THAT I REMEMBER WAY BEFORE SHE

EVER GAINED THIS WEIGHT.

[ CHUCKLES ] IT'S GOOD.

OH, IT'S BEEN HARD.

>> IT WAS EXTREMELY FUN,

EXTREMELY EXCITING, EXTREMELY

SAD ALL AT THE SAME TIME TO SEE

MY FAMILY.

ALL RIGHT.

>> GO.

>> I'M GOING.

>> I'M NOT TRYING TO RUSH YOU

INTO THE CAR.

I'M TRYING TO --

>> AAH!

AFTER THE COMPLICATIONS WITH

THE SKIN SURGERY, I REALIZED I

NEEDED TO BE HOME WITH MY

FAMILY.

I JUST NEEDED MY FAMILY.

I'M REALLY, REALLY READY TO BE

HOME.

WE ALWAYS DROVE BACK TO OHIO.

WE NORMALLY TRAVELED AT NIGHT

BECAUSE I WAS EMBARRASSED OF

MYSELF.

I GAVE HIM THE OPTION ALL THE

TIME OF, "YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO

THIS."

I KNEW IT WAS HARD ON HIM.

>> THE WORD "QUIT" FOR ME, AS

FAR AS MELISSA GOES AND AS

FAR AS TAKING CARE OF HER, I

DON'T KNOW THE MEANING OF THE

WORD.

>> BUT YOU HAVE TO ADMIT, WE

HAD HARD TIMES.

>> I'M NOT SAYING IT HASN'T BEEN

ALL PEACHES AND CREAM.

>> WHEN WE WAS IN SCHOOL, HE

USED TO TALK TO OTHER WOMEN.

BE HONEST ABOUT IT.

>> WHY WOULD YOU EVEN BRING THAT

UP?

>> IT'S THE TRUTH.

>> WHY WOULD YOU --

WHY WOULD YOU EVEN BRING IT UP?

>> IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF ME

BEING THE WEIGHT I WAS AT.

>> YEAH, IT WAS, OKAY?

AND I REGRET IT.

>> I MEAN, YOU NEVER WENT

THROUGH WITH IT, BUT YOU THOUGHT

ABOUT IT.

>> NOTHING EVER HAPPENED, AND I

REALLY WISH YOU WOULDN'T HAVE

BROUGHT THAT UP.

>> OHH.

HEY, MOM.

>> THAT'S WHEN SHE WAS HOME LAST

TIME.

THAT'S WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK

SHE LOOKS LIKE.

>> HELLO, BEAUTIFUL.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

>> POOR BABY.

>> POOR BABY?

WHY YOU SAY POOR BABY?

DON'T CRY.

LOOK HOW SKINNY I AM.

YOU CAN GET YOUR ARMS ALL THE

WAY AROUND ME.

FEEL.

>> [ LAUGHS ]

>> IT'S ALWAYS A BIG DEAL TO GO

BACK AND SEE MY FAMILY.

IT WAS EVERYTHING I NEEDED.

>> LOOK AT YOU. HI.

>> MY FAMILY IS MY SOURCE OF

STRENGTH.

IT'S EXCITING FOR THEM BECAUSE

THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW THIN I

WAS.

WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME LIKE

I'M WEIRD?

>> 'CAUSE YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE

YOURSELF.

>> HOW YOU FEELING?

>> I'M ALL RIGHT.

JUST A LITTLE SORE, BUT I'M ALL

RIGHT.

IT WAS HARD FOR THEM TO SEE THE

CHANGES HAPPENING.

THIS TIME, I HAD OPEN WOUNDS

THAT NEEDED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

THIS ONE'S BEEN THE HARDEST

SURGERY.

BUT WOULD I CHANGE MY MIND AND

NOT DO IT AGAIN?

I'D DO IT EVERY TIME.

>> WE MATCH NOW, DON'T WE, BABY?

>> [ LAUGHS ]

>> I WISH I WAS THAT SKINNY.

WE WOULDN'T BE GOING THROUGH ALL

THIS, NOW, WOULD WE?

ONCE I WENT HOME AND SEEN MY

FAMILY AND EVERYBODY'S REACTION

TO THE SIZE I WAS, IT WAS REALLY

ENCOURAGING.

WHEN YOU BECOME SEMI-NORMAL,

THAT'S WHEN IT GOT EASIER.

TO GIVE IN TO, "OH, I'M HUNGRY.

I NEED TO EAT SOMETHING."

JUST A VERY LITTLE BIT 'CAUSE I

WANT TO SAVE ROOM FOR EVERYTHING

ELSE.

CHRIS, JUST A LITTLE.

>> IT IS A LITTLE.

>> THAT'S NOT A LITTLE.

AND I SAID A LITTLE BOWL.

THEN YOU WASTED THIS.

I COULD EASILY BE RIGHT BACK UP

THERE WHERE I WAS.

AND I'M DETERMINED TO KEEP IT IN

CHECK.

>> HI, MELISSA.

>> I DON'T EVER REMEMBER BEING

THIS SMALL.

I LITERALLY DON'T REMEMBER EVER

BEING 220.

ALL MY CLOTHES ARE TOO BIG.

EVEN MY SMALLEST PAIR OF PANTS

ARE TOO BIG.

BUT NOW IT'S NOT EVEN ABOUT THE

NUMBER ANYMORE.

IT'S ABOUT THE LIFE AFTER.

>> HOW ARE YOU?

>> I'M DOING REALLY GOOD.

I FEEL GOOD.

FIRST GOAL IS A JOB.

SECOND GOAL IS GETTING PREGNANT.

THAT IS SO MY GOAL.

>> THIS IS COMPLETELY HEALED.

AND EVENTUALLY, WE'RE GONNA BE

ABLE TO TAKE THAT SCAR THEN

CLOSE THAT.

ALMOST HEALED UP ON YOUR

INCISION.

YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THEY'LL TAKE THE SCARS OFF.

I DON'T WORRY ABOUT SCARS AT

THIS POINT.

I REALLY THOUGHT THE SURGERY WAS

JUST GONNA BE LIKE A MAGIC

PILL.

I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA HAVE THE

SURGERY, THE WEIGHT WAS GONNA

FALL OFF, IT WAS ALL GONNA BE

HUNKY DORY.

I WAS GONNA BE THIS HAPPY,

WONDERFUL, GO-LUCKY PERSON.

THE SURGERY IS NOT GONNA GIVE

YOU HAPPINESS.

YOU HAVE TO GET THE HAPPINESS

FROM YOURSELF.

>> I KNEW WHAT A BLESSING THIS

SURGERY WAS.

I HAD A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.

AND I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT

THE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE LIKE

ME HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITY I

HAD.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THIS

SURGERY AND YOU'RE GONNA BE

SKINNY TOMORROW.

IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN LIKE THAT.

IT'S HARD. IT'S HARD.

IT'S HARD TO DO IT ON YOUR OWN.

I WOULD HIT, LIKE, UPS AND

DOWNS.

BUT LOOKING BACK ON IT NOW, ALL

WORTH IT.

EVERY BIT OF IT WORTH IT.

EXCUSE ME.

I KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT I WANTED

TO WORK FOR DR. NOWZARADAN.

I KNEW I WANTED TO CHANGE

PEOPLE'S LIVES.

>> THIS IS BILLIE, MELISSA.

I'M BARBARA, BILLIE'S MOM.

>> IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> HI, BILLIE. NICE TO MEET YOU.

I WAS 653 POUNDS.

THIS IS ACTUALLY TWO DAYS BEFORE

THE SURGERY.

YOU'RE ONLY 18.

YOU HAVE A WHOLE LIFE AHEAD OF

YOU.

I DO A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING,

HELPING OTHER PATIENTS.

HI. HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> OH, I'M OKAY. A LITTLE SORE.

>> A LITTLE SORE? JUST A LITTLE?

I TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR

SURGERIES BEFORE AND AFTER.

YOUR POUCH IS THIS BIG, AND YOU

STICK THIS MUCH LETTUCE IN IT,

THEN YOU ONLY HAVE THAT MUCH

ROOM FOR PROTEIN.

I WAKE UP EVERY DAY KNOWING I

LOVE MY JOB.

CONGRATULATIONS.

I TRULY BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT I

WAS MEANT TO DO.

HI, EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS MELISSA MORRIS.

DR. NOWZARADAN DID MY SURGERY.

THIS IS MY "BEFORE" PICTURE.

IF GROCERY SHOPPING TOOK YOU A

HALF AN HOUR BEFORE SURGERY,

IT'S GONNA TAKE YOU AN HOUR

AFTER SURGERY, BECAUSE YOU NEED

TO READ THE LABELS.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A LOT OF

PROBLEMS IF YOU KEEP THINKING,

"WE CAN'T HAVE."

YOU'VE GOT TO TURN THAT SWITCH

IN YOUR MIND.

THIS IS MY SKIRT.

FOUR YARDS OF MATERIAL.

THERE IS NOT ONE PIECE OF

CHICKEN, NOT ONE POTATO CHIP

THAT FEELS AS GOOD...

AS THIS DOES.

>> WOW.

>> THANK YOU.

>> WHOO!

>> I CAN'T BELIEVE NOW THAT I'M

DOING WHAT I DO.

I GET THIS NATURAL HIGH.

I CAN FEEL IT RIGHT HERE IN MY

CHEST, AND IT JUST...

I MEAN, I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW

BLESSED I AM.

>> TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO, I

WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT SHE

WOULD BE DOING THIS.

EVER.

IT'S JUST LIKE, WOW.

>> I FEEL EXCITED.

IF MY FEET DIDN'T HURT, I'D WANT

TO DO SOMETHING.

>> GOT A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGES IN

JUST A LITTLE SHORT TIME FRAME.

SEE YOU LATER.

I MEAN, ONE DAY WE JUST KIND OF

BOTH LOOKED UP AND WAS LIKE,

"GOD, YOU'RE JUST SUPER THIN."

>> [ SIGHS ]

IT SAYS SIZE 42.

WATCH THIS.

I HAVE TO ZIP THE ZIPPER FIRST.

THIS BEAUTIFUL DRESS IS MY PROM

DRESS.

IT'S A LITTLE BIG.

WHEN I LOOK AT MYSELF IN THE

MIRROR, I AM SURPRISED BECAUSE I

CAN'T BELIEVE HOW THIN I AM.

I'VE NEVER BEEN THIS SIZE.

NEVER IN MY LIFE.

I'M REALLY OKAY IN CLOTHING.

IT'S OUT OF CLOTHING THAT

BOTHERS ME.

LIKE, THIS BOTHERS ME.

ALL THIS.

AND THEN THERE'S LOTS AND LOTS

OF SKIN.

MENTALLY, I'M GOING THROUGH A

STAGE WHERE NOW I FINALLY HAVE

EVERYTHING I WANTED, SO WHY

DON'T I FEEL LIKE I HAVE

EVERYTHING I WANTED?

A PART OF ME STILL IS AFRAID OF

GETTING FAT.

I'M TERRIFIED OF GAINING WEIGHT.

I'M TERRIFIED OF BEING FAT

AGAIN.

[ Voice breaking ] I KNOW IT'S

STUPID, AND I KNOW EVERYBODY

SEES ME AS SKINNY, BUT

I REMEMBER BEING FAT.

>> YOU WEIGHED 157 POUNDS TODAY.

RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE PROBABLY FIVE,

10 POUNDS UNDERWEIGHT.

YOUR BODY MASS NEEDS TO

INCREASE.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU STICK WITH

THE PROTEIN.

>> OKAY.

OH, MY GOSH.

NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THE

DAY THAT I COULD GET OUT OF A

CAR WITH THIS MUCH SPACE.

I CAN'T EXPLAIN WHAT IT'S LIKE

TO HAVE A LIFE.

BEFORE, SOMEONE HAD TO TAKE CARE

OF ME ALL THE TIME.

BEFORE MY SURGERY, CHRIS WAS MY

CARETAKER.

>> OUR RELATIONSHIP STARTED OUT

LIKE ANY OTHER RELATIONSHIP

DOES.

AT SOME POINT, I BECAME HER

CARETAKER.

>> A CARETAKER -- IS THAT WHAT

YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE?

>> IT'S WHAT I WAS.

IT'S NOT WHAT I THOUGHT.

IT'S WHAT I WAS.

>> HE MARRIED ME BECAUSE HE FELT

LIKE IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE

HAD TO DO.

AND I MARRIED HIM BECAUSE I

DIDN'T WANT TO BE ALONE.

WE WERE NEVER HUSBAND AND WIFE.

ONCE THE BIG AMOUNTS OF WEIGHT

CAME OFF, I WANTED TO DO THINGS

FOR MYSELF.

>> IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO LET GO

OF BEING HER CARETAKER.

>> IT WAS HARD.

WE FOUGHT A LOT.

>> I MEAN, IT WAS JUST -- WE

WERE DONE.

>> THING THAT CHANGED US, HE

CALLED ME FROM WORK AND ASKED ME

ON A DATE, AND THEN WE

STARTED --

>> JUST TALKING MORE.

>> I'M A PERSON WHO NEEDS TO BE

TALKED TO.

THE LOVE NOW HAS JUST BEEN

RECENT.

>> NOW OUR ROLE IS A HUSBAND AND

A WIFE, A REAL HUSBAND AND WIFE.

>> AFTER EVERYTHING THAT I HAD

BEEN THROUGH AND EVERYTHING I

HAD LOST, THERE WAS STILL

SOMETHING MISSING.

THERE WAS SOMETHING I WANTED

EVEN MORE THAN WEIGHT LOSS.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

CHRIS AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO

GET PREGNANT FOR...

>> 12 YEARS.

>> 12 YEARS.

I TOOK A PREGNANCY TEST, AND IT

CAME BACK POSITIVE.

>> AND THERE, SHE'S PREGNANT.

>> I'M SO EXCITED, I CAN BARELY

STAND MYSELF.

>> TWINS, TWINS, TWINS.

I FEEL SO BLESSED.

I WOULD HAVE NEVER GOT PREGNANT

IF I HADN'T HAD THE BYPASS

SURGERY AND LOST THE WEIGHT.

I WOULD HAVE NEVER HAVE GOTTEN.

AND IF I HAD GOTTEN PREGNANT, I

WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO CARRY IT.

>> LOOK, THAT'S OUR BABY RIGHT

NOW.

>> IT WILL BE EVEN CUTER WHEN IT

HAS A LITTLE HEAD.

>> HAS A LITTLE HEAD AND HANDS

AND FEET.

>> MOM.

>> What?

>> THEY WERE TWINS.

>> All right.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

>> OKAY. IT WASN'T TWINS.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S TWINS OR

NOT.

THEY WEREN'T BIG ENOUGH TO SEE.

THE BABY'S HEALTH IS WAY MORE

IMPORTANT THAN MY HEALTH AT THIS

POINT.

I WILL ADD A LITTLE BIT OF

RED MEAT TO MY DIET NOW, BUT I'M

NOT GONNA GO CRAZY ON POTATO

CHIPS AND BREAD AND PASTA.

CHRIS.

>> YEAH?

>> YOU DON'T NEED ANY OF THOSE.

>> IT'S JUST ONE FREAKING CANDY

CANE.

>> ONE IS GONNA LEAD TO ONE MORE

POUND, AND ONE MORE POUND IS

GONNA LEAD TO YOU HAVING THE

SURGERY.

DO I NEED ANYTHING ELSE?

>> NO. YOU JUST NEED TO COME ON.

LET'S GO.

>> [ SHUDDERS ]

IN TWO WEEKS, WE DID ANOTHER

ULTRASOUND, AND THEY FINALLY

SEEN THE BABY, BUT THERE WAS NO

HEARTBEAT.

SO TODAY WE ARE GOING TO THE

HOSPITAL TO HAVE A D&C.

>> I KNOW.

>> IT FELT LIKE MY WHOLE WORLD

WAS FALLING APART.

>> THE FACT THAT WE HAD BEEN

TRYING FOR SO LONG AND THEN JUST

TO HAVE IT TAKEN AWAY, IT WAS

LIKE SOMEBODY JUST BALLED UP

THEIR FIST AND JUST PUNCHED ME

IN THE GUT.

>> TAKE EVERYTHING OFF.

EVERYTHING BACK INTO THE BAG.

>> [ Voice breaking ] THIS IS

NOT WHAT I WANT TO BE DOING.

>> READY TO GO?

>> NO, NOT REALLY.

>> YOU'RE GONNA DO ALL RIGHT.

>> THERE'S NOT GONNA BE ONE?

>> NO.

>> OKAY.

THAT'S ALL I NEEDED TO HEAR FROM

YOU.

IT'S THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER

DID IN MY LIFE.

>> HEY.

YOU ALL RIGHT?

>> THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY

QUICK.

>> YEAH?

>> PLEASE, CAN WE JUST GET IN

THE CAR?

[ SOBS ]

>> WE'RE ALMOST HOME.

WE'LL BE HOME IN LESS THAN FIVE

MINUTES, OKAY?

>> [ SHOUTS ]

PLEASE LET ME --

>> WE'RE ALMOST --

>> PLEASE LET ME OUT OF HERE.

I CAN'T. I CAN'T TAKE IT.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO BE PATIENT,

OKAY?

>> [ SOBS ]

PLEASE, CHRIS. PLEASE.

>> GO LAY IN BED.

>> [ SOBS ]

I WAS GOING THROUGH THIS LOSS,

AND I FELT LIKE I WAS DOING IT

ALONE.

AND WHEN YOU WANT SOMETHING SO

BAD, SO, SO, SO BAD...

OH, GOD!

...IT'S LIKE THE WORST HURT YOU

EVER CAN IMAGINE.

REALLY HARD.

I WANT A TWO-PIECE, BUT NOT NO

ITSY BITSY TWO PIECE.

I WANT A FULL TWO-PIECE...

SO, THE DOCTOR SAID I COULD

STILL GET PREGNANT.

AND MAN, WE TRIED REALLY HARD

FOR A GOOD SOLID THREE MONTHS,

MAYBE FOUR.

THEN WE STOPPED TRYING

ALTOGETHER.

HOW ABOUT THIS ONE?

DON'T I HAVE THE BODY FOR THAT?

DON'T YOU THINK THE WRINKLES

WILL LOOK CUTE IN THAT?

>> THEY'RE ALL THE ONE-PIECE.

>> MNH.

I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF ONE-PIECES.

I WANT TWO PIECES.

[ SNIFFLES ]

[ SNIFFLES ]

>> [ CHUCKLES ]

>> I'M NOT A SUCCESS STORY YET.

I'M STILL WORKING IT.

EVERY DAY, I WORK IT.

I CAN'T TALK TO CHRIS ABOUT IT.

WITH ALL MY HEART, I LOVE CHRIS.

BUT THINGS HAVE DEFINITELY TAKEN

A TURN FOR THE WORSE.

I JUST FOUND OUT WHEN I WAS IN

THE HOSPITAL HAVING MY

GASTRIC-BYPASS SURGERY, THINKING

I WAS GONNA DIE, ALMOST HOPING I

WAS GONNA DIE, CHRIS WAS TALKING

TO ANOTHER LADY, SETTING UP THIS

PLAN TO MEET...TO HAVE SEX.

I SHOULD HAVE NEVER LET MYSELF

GET THAT BIG.

CHRIS, FOR YEARS NOW, HAS BEEN

TALKING TO WOMEN ON THE

INTERNET, TALKING TO THEM ON THE

PHONE, EXCHANGING E-MAILS,

PHOTOS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MORE.

I WOULD REALLY, REALLY RATHER

CHRIS COME TO ME AND SAY, "I

WANT SOMETHING ELSE," THAN TO

START CHEATING ON ME.

WHY DO THAT? WHY DO THAT?

WHY STAY AND DO IT?

WHY NOT JUST SAY, "I CAN'T BE IN

THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU

ANYMORE"?

>> I WAS ABOUT TO GIVE UP HOPE

WHEN MY WORLD TURNED UPSIDE

DOWN.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT LIFE'S GONNA

BRING.

I'M VERY AFRAID OF BAD NEWS.

I WANT THIS SO BAD.

[ ELEVATOR BELL DINGS ]

>> HI. HOW ARE YOU?

>> I'M FINE. HOW ARE YOU?

>> GOOD.

WHAT TIME IS YOUR APPOINTMENT?

>> 9:00.

>> 9:00?

>> MY CONCERNS AND MY WORRIES

ARE GONNA BE THE SAME THING AS

LAST TIME -- NO HEARTBEAT OR

SOMETHING WRONG.

>> I'M NERVOUS.

LAST TIME WAS A HUGE LET-DOWN.

HOPEFULLY THIS WILL WORK OUT

LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> YES, IT SAYS 211.

>> NOPE, THAT'S ACTUALLY 206.

>> 206.

>> LOTS OF PRESSURE.

COLD, COLD GEL, OKAY?

AND THERE'S YOUR KID.

AND THERE'S THE HEARTBEAT.

THAT FLICKER, FLICKER, FLICKER,

FLICKER, FLICKER IS YOUR KIDDO.

>> THERE IS A HEARTBEAT.

[ SNIFFLES ]

YAY.

OH, MY GOSH.

YOU ARE MY FAVORITE PERSON RIGHT

NOW, I SWEAR.

>> I'M ACTUALLY GONNA BE A

FATHER.

>> [ CHUCKLES ] CONGRATULATIONS.

IT HAD A HEARTBEAT.

>> I KNOW. I'M HAPPY.

>> ARE YOU SURE?

>> YEAH.

>> BECAUSE OF YOUR BYPASS AND

BECAUSE OF YOUR PREGNANCY, THE

REALLY BEST THING TO DO IS TO

PUT A LITTLE, TINY BIT OF FOOD

IN YOUR STOMACH EVERY HOUR OR

TWO.

>> LET ME SHOW YOU MY

ORIGINAL -- THIS WAS THREE DAYS

BEFORE MY BYPASS.

I STILL DEAL WITH THAT PERSON.

SO WHEN YOU SAY EAT EVERY HOUR,

THAT SCARES ME.

>> THAT STRESSES YOU OUT?

YOU'RE A FABULOUS, BEAUTIFUL

LADY.

HERE, TOO.

BUT I UNDERSTAND THE STRESS THAT

YOU CAN GET IN YOUR MIND, SO

WE'LL TRY THAT FIRST.

AND IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, YOU

CAN CALL US.

>> OKAY.

THINK THAT ONE'S READY TO GO.

>> CHRIS?

>> I'M NOT TYING IT THAT TIGHT!

>> KEEP CALLING IT A BABY

SHOWER, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S A

BABY SHOWER.

I THINK IT'S MORE OF A PARTY, A

CELEBRATION.

FIRST THING MY MOM SAID TO ME.

>> WHAT?

>> "BOY, YOU ARE BIG."

I DON'T THINK SHE WAS TALKING

ABOUT MY BELLY.

I WAS BRACING MYSELF FOR THEM.

>> HI, BEAUTIFUL.

>> HELLO, BABY.

>> BE CAREFUL.

SHE MIGHT KICK YOU.

>> AND IS IT ALLONA?

>> ALLONA.

>> ALLONA. OKAY.

>> IT'S ALMOST SURREAL.

I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE HERE.

I REALLY HONESTLY GAVE UP EVEN

HAVING KIDS.

>> AND TO SEE HOW BIG YOU GOT!

OH, YOU'RE GETTING TO BE PRETTY

BIG.

THIS IS ALL BABY.

IT'LL BE GONE IN NO TIME.

>> WHEN MELISSA COME HOME THIS

TIME AND I SAW HOW MUCH WEIGHT

SHE HAD GAINED, IT WORRIES ME.

IT REALLY WORRIES ME.

I THINK SHE BLAMES A LOT OF

THINGS ON HER PREGNANCY.

I REALLY DO.

I THINK SHE THINKS, "IT'S OKAY

'CAUSE I'M PREGNANT."

>> I CAN FULLY SAY THAT I'M

HEAVIER NOW THAN I WANT TO BE,

AND IT'S BECAUSE I KNOW EXACTLY

WHAT I'M DOING WRONG.

I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HABITS I

SHOULDN'T BE DOING.

>> WE HAVE BOTH REALLY

REGRESSED.

I MEAN, IT'S HARD.

WE BOTH SLIP BACK INTO OLD

HABITS, EATING OUT, YOU KNOW,

DRINKING SODAS AND THINGS LIKE

THAT.

WE BOTH KNOW WE NEED TO CUT THAT

OUT.

>> SHE WAS SO MUCH MORE ALIVE

WHEN SHE WAS THINNER, SO I'M

HOPING SHE GOES BACK TO THAT AND

ALL THREE CAN LIVE A HEALTHIER

LIFE.

>> EVERY DAY I'M AFRAID

SOMETHING'S GONNA HAPPEN.

EVERY DAY, I'M AFRAID I'M GONNA

HAVE HER AND I'M GONNA GAIN MY

WEIGHT BACK OR I'M GONNA GAIN

TOO MUCH WEIGHT AND NOT BE ABLE

TO LOSE IT.

[ SNIFFLES ] EVERY DAY.

EVERY DAY IS A HARD DAY.

[ MONITOR BEEPING ]

>> IT'S 2:00.

WE'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 6:00 LAST

NIGHT.

>> I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU.

EVEN UP UNTIL A YEAR AGO, I

STILL DIDN'T THINK I WAS GONNA

BE HERE.

I NEVER THOUGHT I WAS GONNA

GIVE BIRTH TO MY OWN CHILD.

I HAVE DEFINITELY GAINED WAY

MORE WEIGHT THAN I WANTED TO

WITH THIS PREGNANCY.

DR. NOWZARADAN HAS SAID

SOMETHING TO ME ABOUT MY WEIGHT

AND ABOUT "THIS IS HOW BIG THE

BABY IS" AND "THIS IS HOW MUCH

WEIGHT YOU'VE GAINED."

THAT HAS BEEN VERY HARD.

[ GROANS ]

>> I MEAN, LITERALLY, NURSE JUST

WALKED OUT.

>> HI.

>> IS THIS MY BABY?

[ ALL GASPING ]

>> SHE'S SO TINY!

FIVE POUNDS, SEVEN OUNCES.

I WAS SO PROUD.

THAT'S ALL WE EVER TALKED ABOUT.

"I WANT TO HAVE A BABY.

I WANT TO HAVE A BABY."

THAT'S THE ONE THING I'M

PROUDEST OF FOR HER IS GIVING ME

A DAUGHTER.

I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE HOW TINY

SHE IS.

[ MONITOR BEEPING ]

>> I KNOW. OH, YES. OH, YES.

>> MY GOAL, FROM THE BEGINNING,

WAS TO HAVE A CHILD.

BUT NOW THAT I HAVE HER, IT'S,

LIKE, A MILLION TIMES BETTER

THAN THE EXPECTATION THAT I HAD.

>> [ COUGHS, SOBS ]

>> YEAH.

NO FAST FOOD FOR YOU. NO.

>> YOU HAVE TO STAY HERE.

YOU HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL.

GO TO MOMMY.

MWAH. I LOVE YOU.

>> BYE.

>> BYE.

>> MY WHOLE LIFE IS ABOUT BEING

A MOM.

SHE'S MY EVERYTHING.

SHE'S MY WHOLE REASON FOR

LIVING.

I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT LIFE WOULD

BE LIKE NOT BEING A MOM.

YOU WANT BREAKFAST?

GOOD JOB.

BUT I HAVE FEARED SINCE THE DAY

SHE WAS BORN OF HER BEING

OVERWEIGHT.

I CAN SEE THAT SHE'S GOT THE

BUILD FOR IT AND SHE'S GOT THE

GENES FOR BEING OVERWEIGHT.

NO. MAMA'S HUNGRY.

PULL YOUR SHIRT UP.

LET MAMA HAVE A BITE.

BUT MY NUMBER-ONE PLAN IS TO

PROTECT MY DAUGHTER, 'CAUSE I

WANT BETTER FOR HER.

WANT TO DO RING AROUND THE

ROSEY?

[ LAUGHS ]

I'VE BEEN MARRIED NOW 11 YEARS.

FIRST 10, WE'RE GOOD.

LAST ONE'S BEEN A ROUGH ONE.

IN THE BEGINNING, IT WAS EASY

BECAUSE I WAS FAT.

SO I DEDICATED MY LIFE TO HIM.

BUT NOW IT'S VERY HARD.

>> ARMS UP. ARMS UP.

>> CHRIS SAYS HE LOVES ME ALL

THE TIME, BUT YOU GOT TO MEASURE

WHAT LOVE REALLY MEANS.

TWO YEARS AFTER CHEATING ON ME,

I FIND THAT HE'S NOW TALKING TO

SOME OTHER LADY ON THE COMPUTER.

AND THEN THE THIRD ONE I FOUND

OUT WAS WHEN ALLONA WAS TWO

MONTHS OLD.

WHEN SHE WAS TWO MONTHS OLD.

FOR THE LONGEST TIME, I FELT

LIKE I WAS IN THE WRONG.

I MEAN, AT 700 POUNDS, WHAT DO

YOU EXPECT?

BUT HE DID IT EVEN AFTER I LOST

WEIGHT, SO IT'S NOT BECAUSE I

WAS FAT.

HE DID IT JUST RECENTLY.

NOW I WANT HIM TO GET HELP.

AND HE SAYS, "I DON'T NEED TO

GET HELP.

I'LL JUST STOP DOING IT."

DID YOU CHECK THAT MEAT FOR ME?

>> NOT YET.

>> YOU GOING TO THIS YEAR?

>> YES, I AM.

>> YOU LIKE BEING MARRIED?

>> YES.

I NEVER HAVE NOT LIKED BEING

MARRIED.

>> OUR LEASE IS ABOUT UP ON OUR

NEW APARTMENT, AND I KEEP

THINKING WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO

HAVE SEPARATION PAPERS DRAWN UP.

>> NIGHT, NIGHT.

>> I TRULY LOVE HIM WITH ALL MY

HEART, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT I

NEED TO DO.

[ BABY CRYING ]

I DON'T KNOW.

>> I DON'T WANT TO SEPARATE.

I DON'T WANT A DIVORCE.

>> GOOD MORNING, MISS JACKIE.

THIS IS MELISSA FROM

DR. NOWZARADAN'S.

HOW ARE YOU?

I'M ON MY WAY TO COME AND SEE

YOU.

WE'RE GONNA MEET WITH A

PATIENT WHO IS ABOUT TO HAVE HER

SURGERY.

THIS IS WHAT I LOVE.

HONESTLY, THIS IS WHAT I LOVE TO

DO.

LET'S GO IN YOUR KITCHEN.

I'M GONNA SHOW YOU SOME STUFF

THAT, AFTER THE SURGERY, I

REALLY PREFER YOU NOT TO HAVE IN

YOUR HOUSE.

NO MALT-O-MEAL.

NO WAFFLES.

REALLY NEED TO AVOID THE NOODLES

AT ALL COSTS.

>> THANK YOU, BABY.

I LOVE YOU, MELISSA.

I LOVE YOU, BABY.

>> I LOVE WAKING UP AND GOING TO

WORK, DOING SOMETHING THAT I

LOVE.

IT JUST KEEPS ME GROUNDED.

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY,

EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE THEIR

CHANCE.

>> I USED TO TELL HER ALL THE

TIME I WANTED TO GROW OLD WITH

HER BECAUSE I REALLY DO LOVE

HER.

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED HER.

I'M NOT PROUD OF WHAT I'VE DONE.

I'M ASHAMED OF IT.

SHE'S TOLD ME ONE OF THE MAIN

STIPULATIONS OF WHY SHE'S STILL

WITH ME IS THAT SHE SAID THAT IF

OUR MARRIAGE IS TO CONTINUE, I

HAVE TO GET SOME COUNSELING.

>> WANT TO GO HAVE A DAY WITH

MOM AND DAD?

HMM?

>> YEAH.

I'M REALLY -- I'M SORRY.

[ Voice breaking ] I REALLY MEAN

THAT.

I WILL MAKE THIS WORK.

>> THANK YOU.

ULTIMATELY, WITH ALL MY HEART, I

LOVE CHRIS.

I WANT TO BE WITH HIM, AND I

THINK THAT MY MARRIAGE IS WORTH

FIGHTING FOR.

IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF TALKING,

AND NOT ONLY TALKING BUT

LISTENING -- LISTENING ON BOTH

ENDS.

WHEN I WAS LOSING WEIGHT, I

REALLY WASN'T TAKING CHRIS IN

ACCOUNT.

I KNOW THIS JOURNEY WASN'T EASY

FOR HIM EITHER, BUT HE STUCK

AROUND THROUGH EVERYTHING, WHICH

MEANS A LOT.

SUCKING IN MY STOMACH'S NOT

GONNA HELP, IS IT?

I'M SO GRATEFUL.

LIFE IS SO MUCH BETTER.

>> 214.

>> THAT'S A BIG NUMBER.

>> IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT HARD

TO LOSE WEIGHT AFTER PREGNANCY,

BUT YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

YOU'RE ALMOST 88% OF YOUR EXCESS

BODY WEIGHT.

440 POUNDS.

YOU'VE DONE EXCELLENT.

I'M PROUD OF YOU.

>> THANKS. I APPRECIATE THAT.

YOU MAKE ME CRY.

>> CHECK A COUPLE THINGS AND SEE

HOW YOU'RE DOING.

>> SOMETIMES I LOOK IN THE

MIRROR AND I THINK, "WOW."

'CAUSE I CAN SEE THAT MY WAIST

IS, LIKE, THIS BIG.

BUT THEN SOMETIMES I LOOK IN THE

MIRROR AND I STILL THINK THAT

I'M FAT, SO I STILL HAVE ISSUES.

>> YOU HAVE DONE MARVELOUS.

>> THANK YOU.

I COULD TELL YOU THIS WHOLE

JOURNEY WAS EASY, BUT THAT WOULD

BE A LIE, BUT IT WOULDN'T BE A

LIE TO TELL YOU IT WAS WORTH IT.

NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S

LIKE TO GO FROM WHERE I WAS TO

WHERE I AM TODAY.

I'M LIVING THE DREAM THAT I'VE

ALWAYS WANTED AND NEVER KNEW I

DID.

YOU READY TO GO TO THE NEW

HOUSE?

>> [ LAUGHS ]

>> IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE

WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, I WOULDN'T

STILL BE HERE.

OH. THANK YOU.

I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF

EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE.

PACK UP YOUR BOOKS.

I LOVE LIFE.

>> YOU READY TO GO?

>> LIFE IS MEANT TO BE LIVED TO

ITS FULLEST, AND THAT'S MY FULL

INTENTIONS OF DOING IT -- LIVING

IT TO ITS FULLEST.

ARE YOU HOME, MAMA?