Original subtitles

Angel: I'M AT A BREAKING POINT.

MY SON'S GONNA GROW UP WITHOUT A MOM

BECAUSE I WOULDN'T TAKE CHARGE.

Man: I AM LIVING A NIGHTMARE.

I WOULDN'T WISH THIS ON MY WORST ENEMY.

Woman: I HATE THIS LIFE THAT I HAVE.

DON'T YOU DARE PUT IT ALL OFF ON ME!

LISTEN, SHE IS GOING TO DIE. THAT'S ENOUGH!

BOTH OF Y'ALL, STOP.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE'VE GOT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.

OTHERWISE, SURGERY WOULD NOT BE USEFUL FOR YOU.

[ Voice breaking ] I CAN'T DO THIS

WITHOUT SOMEBODY TO HELP ME SAY NO.

WHY IN THE WORLD SHE NEED A FEEDING TUBE?

I'D SAY IT'S VERY ABNORMAL

THAT SHE HAD SURGERY WITHOUT ME KNOWING.

THERE IS SOMETHING NOT RIGHT HERE.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Woman: WHEN YOU MISSED OUT ON SO MUCH OF LIFE,

IT WILL MAKE YOU JUST DESPERATE ENOUGH

TO TRY ANYTHING TO MAKE A CHANGE.

[ WATER RUNS ]

I FEEL LIKE I AM HELPLESS EVERY DAY...

HELD PRISONER IN MY BODY.

IT HURTS.

I HATE IT.

Donnie: OKAY.

'CAUSE I'VE GOTTEN SO BIG,

I CANNOT DO ANYTHING INDEPENDENTLY NOW.

I HATE ALWAYS HAVING TO ASK FOR HELP.

OKAY.

OKAY.

I'M ASHAMED OF IT.

IT'S JUST EMBARRASSING.

OH!

I AM DISGUSTED.

OKAY, NOW THIS HIP.

I SEE MYSELF AS AN OVERSIZED WHALE.

THIS SIDE'S REALLY BAD.

I JUST HATE MY BODY.

OKAY.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE WHO I'M SUPPOSED TO BE.

BUT I AM A HUMAN BEING.

AND I USED TO FEEL BEAUTIFUL.

WHEN I WAS REALLY YOUNG,

I DIDN'T STRUGGLE WITH MY WEIGHT.

I WAS STILL SKINNY AS A CHILD.

BUT WHEN I WAS 14,

I GOT PREGNANT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

MY MOM GAVE ME CHOICES.

"YOU CAN KEEP IT

"AND NOT COME BACK HOME TO MY HOUSE,

"OR YOU CAN GIVE IT UP

AND THEN YOU CAN COME BACK HOME."

[ Voice breaking ] MY ONLY CHOICE WAS

TO GIVE HER UP FOR ADOPTION.

I JUST FELT LOST AFTER THAT.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST PAINFUL EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE.

AND I THINK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

I TURNED TO FOOD FOR COMFORT,

AND THAT'S WHEN I STARTED GAINING THE WEIGHT.

NOW I JUST MOSTLY STAY IN BED,

AND MY BOYFRIEND, DONNIE, TAKES CARE OF ME.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, DONNIE?

MAKING BREAKFAST.

CAN YOU GET ME SOME SODA?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YEAH.

WHEN I MET DON, I WAS 405 POUNDS.

Donnie: I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE WEIGHT.

I GUESS WE WOULD CALL HER BIG-BONED.

WHAT ATTRACTED ME TO ANGEL WAS JUST HER PERSONALITY.

ANGEL WAS CONSTANTLY SMILING BACK IN THOSE DAYS.

I DON'T GET TO SEE MUCH OF THAT ANYMORE.

COME ON, ANDREW.

Angel: ME AND DON HAD BEEN TOGETHER FOR EIGHT YEARS

WHEN I REALIZED I WAS PREGNANT.

Donnie: AFTER ANDREW WAS BORN,

ANGEL WENT INTO A POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION,

AND SHE HAS NEVER COME OUT OF THAT.

ANGEL JUST STOPPED GETTING OUT THE BED.

SHE JUST STOPPED LIVING.

I THINK THEY'RE ON THE WRONG FEET.

Angel: I'VE GAINED ALMOST 200 POUNDS SINCE I HAD ANDREW.

SO, I MOSTLY HELP HIM FROM MY BED.

DON'T YOU KNOW THAT BY NOW?

I LOVE YOU.

HAVE A GOOD DAY.

Donnie: ANGEL DOESN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH SHE EATS A DAY.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE CALORIES ARE,

BUT IT'S A LOT.

IF I COULD PUT IT IN POUNDS,

I WOULD SAY 10, 12 POUNDS A DAY.

I DON'T THINK SHE HAS AN ON-AND-OFF SWITCH

TO KNOW THAT THAT'S ENOUGH.

I WANT TO BE ABLE TO JUST GO ENJOY WHAT I WANT TO DO, EAT,

AND EVERYONE ELSE JUST LEAVE ME ALONE.

IT IS SO HARD TO RESIST ANY KIND OF FOOD.

MY WILLPOWER IS JUST GONE, AND THE FOOD WINS.

AND THEN I FEEL GUILTY LATER.

IT IS THE SAME CYCLE OVER AND OVER.

I HAVE TO BREAK FREE FROM FOOD

OR IT'S GONNA COST ME EVERYTHING.

Donnie: WE'RE HEADED TO THE PARK.

WE'LL BE BACK AFTER WHILE.

TIME TO GO.

I WISH I COULD GO WITH YOU, ANDREW, BUT MAMA'S TIRED.

SHE HAD A LONG DAY.

DO YOU WANT TO GIVE ME A HUG AND KISS?

Angel: I AM NOT WHO I'M SUPPOSED TO BE FOR ANDREW.

I LOVE YOU, ANDREW.

MY SON WANTS ME TO BE ABLE TO GO EVERYWHERE WITH HIM,

DO EVERYTHING WITH HIM.

DON'T COME HOME WITH NO BROKEN BONES.

AND IT HURTS ME,

BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN SO BIG,

I HAVE TO TELL HIM, "NO, I CAN'T."

Donnie: ANDREW IS VERY AWARE OF HIS MOM'S WEIGHT.

IT'S REALLY AFFECTING HIM, TOO.

HE DOESN'T GET TO GO OUTSIDE A LOT

BECAUSE I LITERALLY CANNOT LEAVE THE HOUSE FOR VERY LONG,

BECAUSE SHE'S NOT ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF HERSELF.

Angel: I'M AT A BREAKING POINT.

[ Voice breaking ] BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE ONE MORNING

THAT HE WALKS IN MY ROOM, AND I DON'T ANSWER HIM.

AND MY SON'S GONNA GROW UP WITHOUT A MOM

BECAUSE I WOULDN'T TAKE CHARGE.

Donnie: THIS ISN'T WHAT I SIGNED UP FOR.

I FEEL LIKE A SINGLE DAD ALL THE TIME.

[ LAUGHS ] COME ON.

SHE'S HERE BUT NOT REALLY.

SEE?

I JUST FEEL LIKE SHE JUST QUIT ON ME.

IT'S HARD FOR ME NOT TO BE FRUSTRATED OVER THAT.

ALL RIGHT! I GOT YOU.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

UNLESS EVERYTHING CHANGED,

I'M PROBABLY GONNA TAKE THE KID AND MOVE ON.

Angel: IF I DON'T CHANGE NOW,

I'M GONNA LOSE DONNIE AND ANDREW.

AND I KNOW I WON'T BE ALIVE MUCH LONGER LIKE THIS.

I CANNOT LET THE FOOD WIN NO MORE.

I'VE GOT TO TAKE CHARGE OF MY LIFE.

...TWO...

ALL RIGHT.

MY BIGGEST FEAR IS

THE DOCTOR TELLING ME THERE'S NOTHING HE CAN DO.

Donnie: THIS MEANS EVERYTHING TO ANGEL.

IF SHE GETS THIS DONE,

I THINK ANGEL WILL BE AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PERSON.

[ GRUNTS ]

BUT IF SHE DON'T GET THE SURGERY, DEATH IS IMMINENT.

YOU GOT IT?

Angel: I'M VERY, VERY SCARED, BUT I AM READY.

I'VE GOT TO MAKE A CHANGE IN MY LIFE.

WE'RE ON THE WAY TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE.

I WOULD BE LYING IF I SAID I WASN'T NERVOUS,

'CAUSE I AM.

WHY ARE YOU CRYING? WHAT'S GOING ON?

I DON'T KNOW.

[ SNIFFLES ]

I'M NERVOUS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY

THAT THE DOCTOR MAY THINK I'M TOO FAR GONE.

AND IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN ON A SCALE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

I HOPE I'M NOT TOO HUGE FOR SURGERY

BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN THIS OUT OF CONTROL.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HELLO. HI.

HOW ARE YOU? ALL RIGHT.

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN. I'M ANGEL.

ALL RIGHT.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH YOUR WEIGHT?

SINCE MY EARLY 20s.

WHAT SEEMS TO BE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE WITH EATING HABIT?

I JUST EAT CONSTANTLY.

IN A TYPICAL DAY, WHAT DO YOU EAT?

WHATEVER DON COOKS, I JUST --

HE JUST COOKS IT, AND I GO EAT.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, SODA.

I CAN GO THROUGH LIKE TWO BOTTLES A DAY.

DO YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE?

DON GOES AND DOES ALL THE SHOPPING.

SO, YOU'RE THE ENABLER.

HE'S THE BIGGEST ENABLER THAT I HAVE.

OKAY. SO WE CAN BLAME EVERYTHING ON HIM, RIGHT?

Donnie: [ LAUGHS ]

NO, IT'S NOT ALL HIM,

BECAUSE HE DOESN'T MAKE ME EAT IT.

BUT IF HE DOESN'T GET IT, YOU'RE NOT GONNA EAT IT, RIGHT?

RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

SO, WE SEE BOTH SIDES OF THE PROBLEM HERE.

THIS IS UNHEALTHY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ANGEL'S HUSBAND

IS WILLING TO TAKE HER AROUND WITH THE WHEELCHAIR

SO SHE DOESN'T NEED TO WALK.

HE BRINGS HER ALL THE FOOD SHE EATS.

HE ENABLES HER,

AND SHE DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE CHOICES THAT SHE NEED TO.

SO, WE NEED TO GET YOU BACK ON THE TRACK.

WE NEED TO CHANGE THE DIET

SO HE'S NOT GONNA HAVE TO BUY YOU ALL THIS STUFF.

THERE WILL BE NO SODA FOR YOU TO DRINK.

THERE IS NO JUICE.

NO CANDY, NO POTATOES.

NOW, LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT, AS FAR AS JUICES.

DOES THAT ALSO MEAN ORANGE JUICE?

SHE CAN'T DRINK ORANGE JUICE, EITHER?

NO. CUP OF ORANGE JUICE

HAS GOT LIKE 17 PACKETS OF SUGAR IN IT.

REALLY? YEAH.

YOU NEED TO WORK ON YOUR EATING HABIT,

BECAUSE I NEED YOU TO LOSE 50 POUNDS

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS

BEFORE CONSIDERATION OF SURGERY.

IT'S NOT GONNA COME EASY.

SO, WE HAVE TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE HOUSE ENVIRONMENT.

SO SHE'S BASICALLY DETOXING NOW. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND YOU HAVE TO NOT HAVE FALSE HOPE

THAT SURGERY'S GOING TO DO ANYTHING MAGICALLY.

OKAY?

THIS IS CLEARLY NOT A GOOD DYNAMIC AT HOME.

WE NEED TO SEE HOW SHE DOES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.

YOU THINK WE CAN DO ALL THOSE THINGS?

YES, I'M PRETTY SURE I CAN.

ALL RIGHT. I APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS, DOC.

WOW. THAT IS SOMETHING. I'M SERIOUS.

THAT MEANS THERE'S REALLY NOTHING AT THE HOUSE

THAT WE CAN EAT, EXCEPT FOR THE EGGS.

THAT'S SOMETHING SERIOUS TO THINK ABOUT.

YEAH.

NO, I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT IT. I'M DOING IT.

THAT'S WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR.

YOU READY TO GO?

YES. COME ON, ANDREW.

Angel: I DON'T WANT ANDREW GROWING UP WITHOUT A MOTHER.

I DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON HIS LIFE.

I HAVE TO DO WHAT THE DOCTOR NEEDS

AND GET THE SURGERY OR I'M GONNA DIE.

THIS PAST MONTH HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HARDEST OF MY LIFE.

AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO RESIST TEMPTATION.

I'M DETERMINED TO DO THIS.

IT'S JUST A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT.

I JUST KEEP REMINDING MYSELF, "I'M DOING THIS FOR ANDREW."

I'M GONNA DO WHATEVER IT TAKES

TO LOSE THE WEIGHT AND GET THE SURGERY.

I'M GETTING MY LIFE BACK.

ARE YOU GETTING A LITTLE NERVOUS?

OKAY.

I FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT

THAT I'VE DONE REAL WELL OVER THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS.

MS. PARRISH?

BUT I HAVE TO HAVE LOST AT LEAST 50 POUNDS

TO QUALIFY FOR THIS SURGERY.

MY LIFE DEPENDS ON THIS WEIGH-IN.

Nurse: 405.

[ BOTH LAUGH ] Donnie: AWESOME!

YOU LOST SOME WEIGHT, HUH? YES, SIR.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?

Donnie: THAT'S AMAZING.

ANGEL HAS MADE GOOD PROGRESS OVER THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR SOMEBODY THIS LARGE

TO LOSE 100 TO 200 POUNDS IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME,

BECAUSE IT TAKES A LOT OF CALORIES

TO MAINTAIN SUCH EXCESSIVE WEIGHT.

NOW I'M GONNA APPROVE YOU FOR SURGERY, OKAY?

OKAY. ALL RIGHT. YES.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: AFTER THE INITIAL DROP IN THE WEIGHT,

THEY WILL STABILIZE AND LOSE WEIGHT MORE SLOWLY.

FROM HERE, SHE NEEDS TO BE CAREFUL

NOT TO LOSE WEIGHT TOO FAST.

Angel: I'M REALLY EXCITED.

WITH THE TEMPTATION I FACED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS,

I KNOW I CAN'T KEEP DOING IT WITHOUT HELP.

I NEED THE SURGERY.

AND THIS IS GONNA BE A NEW START FOR ME.

I'M READY FOR IT.

I NEVER THOUGHT ANYONE WOULD EVER HELP ME.

IT'S LIKE A MIRACLE THAT'S GONNA GIVE ME MY LIFE BACK.

I WANT TO BREAK FREE OF THIS ADDICTION.

AND I KNOW THE SURGERY'S GONNA DO THAT.

IT'S MY SECOND CHANCE.

NICE, DEEP BREATHS FOR ME.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD

AND DO GASTRIC BYPASS ON ANGEL.

ANGEL'S SURGERY'S GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING.

ACCORDING TO HER CHART,

SHE HAD PREVIOUS ABDOMINAL SURGERIES.

THERE MAY BE ANOTHER SCAR TISSUE AS A RESULT,

AND IF IT IS EXCESSIVE,

THAT CAN PREVENT ME FROM SAFELY DOING THE PROCEDURE.

THEN I WILL HAVE TO CALL OFF THE SURGERY.

GO AHEAD AND TURN THE ROOM LIGHTS OFF.

THIS IS GONNA GIVE A SMALL CAPACITY TO EAT,

AND ANGEL CAN GET FULL REAL QUICK

AND CONTINUE MAKING MORE PROGRESS.

THESE ARE ALL THE SCAR TISSUE.

I'M REALLY CONCERNED WITH WHAT I'M SEEING.

[ MONITORS BEEPING ]

IF I TRY TO PUSH THROUGH, IT COULD RUPTURE THE BOWEL,

AND THAT COULD KILL HER.

THIS IS NOT LOOKING GOOD.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CALL OFF THE SURGERY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE MY PLAN FOR SURGERY TODAY.

THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN DO THE BYPASS SURGERY ON ANGEL

BECAUSE ALL THE SCAR TISSUE FROM PREVIOUS SURGERIES.

SO I'M GOING TO ATTEMPT TO REMOVE IT ALL,

IF SHE'S GOING TO HAVE ANY HOPE

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY IN THE FUTURE.

Woman: ...3...4...

SO WE JUST STOP AT THIS POINT.

AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE BYPASS,

BUT SHE HAD A LOT OF CORRECTIVE SURGERY,

AND THAT'S GONNA BE A POSITIVE THING FOR ANGEL.

...2...3.

[ GROANS ]

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M HOPING,

WITH THE REMOVAL OF ALL THE SCAR TISSUE,

THAT SHE WILL HEAL IN A COUPLE MONTHS,

AND WE CAN TRY AGAIN AND SEE IF IT'S POSSIBLE.

IF NOT, I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY HOPE

FOR ANGEL TO HAVE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

Woman: A LITTLE BIT, A FEW MINUTES.

WE WILL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

Angel: IT WAS REALLY DEMOTIVATING

TO WAKE UP AND REALIZE I DIDN'T HAVE THE BYPASS.

IT SHATTERED ME.

RIGHT. YOU HAVE A LOT OF PAIN STILL?

Angel: RIGHT NOW, YEAH, I'M IN PAIN.

ON A SCALE FROM 1 TO 10, HOW MUCH IS THE PAIN?

ABOUT A 7.

THE PAIN HAS BEEN SO BAD.

BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET THE SURGERY,

THE CRAVINGS HAVEN'T GONE AWAY.

IF HE CAN'T DO THE BYPASS WHEN HE GOES BACK IN,

THEN I'M GONNA LOSE EVERYTHING.

THIS SURGERY WAS MY LAST CHANCE TO SAVE MY FAMILY.

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M LOSING IT.

ARE YOU READY FOR SCHOOL?

YEAH.

THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE MY NEW START.

I LOVE YOU.

HEY, HEY.

HAVE A GOOD DAY AND STAY OUT OF TROUBLE.

BUT I'M MISSING ANOTHER MILESTONE IN ANDREW'S LIFE.

HE'S STARTING THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL,

AND I'M MISSING IT.

I'M STILL MISSING OUT ON EVERYTHING.

NOTHING HAS GONE LIKE I THOUGHT.

I HOPE I'M ABLE TO GET THE SURGERY.

BUT I'M SCARED I'M TRULY BEYOND HOPE.

I'M SO SCARED.

LAST TIME, I WAS PRETTY CONFIDENT,

BUT THIS TIME, I HAVE NO IDEA IF I'M GONNA WAKE UP

AND FIND OUT THE SAME THING AGAIN.

THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE,

AND IF IT FAILS, I'LL LOSE EVERYTHING.

OKAY, DEEP BREATHS HERE.

I MIGHT AS WELL NOT WAKE UP.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO DO BYPASS ON ANGEL.

LAST TIME, WE HAD TO ENCOUNTER SOME DIFFICULTY

WITH SCAR TISSUE.

HAVING THE SCAR TISSUE CAN MAKE SURGERY VERY DIFFICULT.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO EXPECT.

I HAVE TO GET INSIDE TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

I'M HOPING SHE HEALED AND SURGERY WILL BE POSSIBLE.

IF WE CAN'T DO HER WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY TODAY,

I AM CONCERNED THAT

SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY AT ALL.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, I'M GONNA ATTEMPT TO DO

WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY ON ANGEL AGAIN,

AND I'M HOPING THAT EVERYTHING IS HEALED ENOUGH

THAT WE CAN TRY AGAIN.

Donnie: I'M WORRIED. IT'S STRESSFUL WAITING.

I'M JUST HOPING THAT THERE ARE NO MORE COMPLICATIONS.

WATER HERE. MAKE SURE IT'S OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SCAR TISSUE THAT I REMOVED HAS HELPED A LOT.

SHE'S HEALED WELL, AND EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.

SO WE CAN MOVE AHEAD.

ALL RIGHT, SO, NOW WE STARTED DOING THE BYPASS.

WE'LL GET THIS DONE SO ANGEL CAN CONTINUE LOSING WEIGHT

AND START MAKING MORE PROGRESS.

OKAY, WE'RE GOOD.

ALL RIGHT, ANGEL'S SURGERY IS DONE.

EVERYTHING WENT VERY WELL.

SHE SHOULD BE RECOVERING IN A COUPLE DAYS,

AND WE'LL GET HER BACK HOME AND SEE HOW SHE DOES.

[ GROANS ]

ANDREW?

AREN'T YOU GLAD MAMA COULD COME TO THE GAME?

MM-HMM.

Angel: IT'S BEEN ABOUT TWO WEEKS SINCE THE SURGERY.

I WAS REALLY HAPPY WHEN I WOKE UP AND FOUND OUT THAT THE DOCTOR

WAS ABLE TO DO THE SURGERY THIS TIME.

I'M STILL NOT FEELING 100%,

BUT I DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON ANY MORE OF ANDREW'S LIFE.

HE'S STARTING FOOTBALL, AND I WANT TO BE THERE FOR IT.

I'M DONE MISSING OUT.

THIS IS A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT.

WHEN I LOST ALL THE WEIGHT TO GET THE BYPASS,

I PRETTY MUCH DID IT BY STARVING MYSELF.

I DIDN'T FOCUS MUCH ON BEING MORE ACTIVE.

SO IT'S STILL HARD FOR ME TO MOVE AROUND AND WALK.

BUT I HAVE TO DO IT FOR ANDREW.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

EVERYBODY CHEERING FOR YOU.

I SPENT SO LONG MISSING OUT ON SO MUCH.

ANDREW'S NUMBER 12.

IT FEELS REALLY GOOD BEING PART OF THIS TODAY

AND BEING A PART OF MY FAMILY RIGHT NOW.

I FEEL LIKE I'M STARTING TO LIVE AGAIN.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, I STARTED FEELING REALLY NAUSEOUS,

AND DONNIE TOOK ME TO THE HOSPITAL HERE IN KERRVILLE.

THE DOCTORS THERE TOLD ME THEY THINK I'M MALNOURISHED

AND TOLD ME I NEEDED A FEEDING TUBE,

SO I HAD TO GO BACK INTO SURGERY FOR THAT.

I DIDN'T HAVE TIME

TO CALL DR. NOWZARADAN WHILE I WAS THERE.

SO I TOLD HIM AFTERWARDS.

HE WAS PRETTY UPSET.

AND HE WANTS ME TO COME TO HOUSTON IMMEDIATELY.

DONNIE AND I ARE GOING TO HEAD TO HOUSTON

FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.

I FEEL LIKE I KEEP GETTING CLOSE TO GETTING MY LIFE BACK.

THEN SOMETHING HAPPENS.

I JUST WANT TO KEEP MAKING PROGRESS

AND GET BACK TO LIVING AGAIN.

I'M NERVOUS ABOUT SEEING THE DOCTOR.

I'M HOPING I DIDN'T MAKE THE WRONG DECISION

AND WILL REGRET IT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

IT'S ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME, ISN'T IT?

YEP.

I GUESS I'M JUST DISAPPOINTED.

I FEEL LIKE I'M JUST FAILING.

HOW Y'ALL DOING?

SO, WHEN YOU WENT HOME ON GASTRIC BYPASS,

WE GIVE YOU INSTRUCTION LIKE THAT.

IS THAT FAMILIAR FOR YOU?

YOU WANT TO READ THAT

AND TELL ME WHAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING WITH THAT IS?

"CONTACT YOUR SURGEON IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING OCCUR --

VOMITING THAT LASTS MORE THAN 12 HOURS."

DID YOU CONTACT ME?

NOT RIGHT AWAY, NO, I DIDN'T,

BECAUSE IT WASN'T PAST THE 12 HOURS.

OKAY, BUT IT WAS BAD ENOUGH

THAT YOU WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM, RIGHT?

I THOUGHT SHE WAS JUST SICK, YOU KNOW, THROWING UP AND VOMITING

AND SHE WAS GONNA COME BACK HOME.

YOU DIDN'T CALL ME, TELL ME --

I DIDN'T HAVE A PHONE ON ME TO --

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A PHONE. EVERY HOSPITAL HAS A PHONE.

I JUST REALLY HAVE A FEELING THAT SHE REALLY DIDN'T KNOW

WHAT EXACTLY WAS GOING ON.

I'D SAY IT'S VERY ABNORMAL THAT SHE GO TO A HOSPITAL

AND THEN SHE HAD SURGERY WITHOUT ME KNOWING.

THERE IS SOMETHING NOT RIGHT IN HERE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF MISTAKES.

YOU KNOW, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

YOU READ THOSE INSTRUCTIONS, AS WELL,

WHILE I'M LOOKING AT HER STOMACH.

WHAT ARE THESE TUBES DOING DOWN THERE?

CAN YOU TAKE THEM OUT?

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS?

THAT'S THE FEEDING TUBE.

WHY IN THE WORLD SHE NEED A FEEDING TUBE?

Dr. Nowzaradan: RIGHT NOW, SHE GOT TUBES IN HER STOMACH

THAT DON'T NEED TO BE THERE.

THIS IS NOT A GOOD SITUATION.

SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED OTHER DOCTORS TO DO THIS.

Angel: THEY SAID I WAS MALNUTRITION.

THAT'S JUST NOT GOOD.

THIS IS REALLY BAD.

HER SYMPTOM WERE NOT OF MALNUTRITION.

WHAT LIKELY HAPPENED --

SHE WAS ASKED ABOUT RECENT WEIGHT LOSS,

AND SHE TOLD THEM SHE LOST THE WEIGHT SHE DID.

THEN THEY JUMPED TO THE CONCLUSION

THAT SHE'S MALNOURISHED.

THERE IS NO REASON TO PUT TUBE FEEDING.

THERE'S NO REASON TO PUT STRAIN IN THE ABDOMEN.

THIS IS ALL A BIG MISTAKE.

IT SHOWED THAT THERE IS STILL LACK OF UNDERSTANDING

REGARDING A PATIENT THIS SIZE IN SOME AREA OF MEDICAL COMMUNITY.

HERE'S THE SITUATION.

RIGHT NOW, I NEED TO SEND YOU TO A HOSPITAL, GET A C.A.T. SCAN,

AND WE'RE GONNA FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR TUBES, OKAY?

OKAY. I'LL SEE YOU OVER.

I HAD TO PICK THIS SITUATION

OR ANGEL IS GOING TO HAVE SERIOUS PROBLEM ON HER HANDS.

Angel: I'M JUST REALLY DISCOURAGED RIGHT NOW.

I JUST WANT TO GET THIS ALL OVER WITH.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I ADMITTED ANGEL TO THE HOSPITAL AND HAD A C.A.T. SCAN DONE.

THIS IS A VERY UNFORTUNATE SITUATION.

SHE HAS ALLOWED A FEEDING TUBE TO BE PLACED IN BY OTHER DOCTORS

THAT HAS ESSENTIALLY UNDONE THE EFFECT OF THE BYPASS.

BECAUSE OF THIS, SHE HAS HAD NO PROGRESS OVER THE PAST MONTH.

THIS IS A TUBE THAT IS PUT IN IN HER STOMACH.

BUT IT LOOKED LIKE IT'S GONNA BE

IMPOSSIBLE TO TAKE IT OUT AT THIS TIME.

SHE HASN'T HEALED ENOUGH FROM SURGERY

FOR ME TO REMOVE THE FEEDING TUBE.

BUT WE CAN TAKE THE DRAINAGE TUBE OUT

AND WE'RE GONNA CLOSE OFF THE FEEDING TUBE

AND DISCONTINUE USING IT SO SHE CAN START LOSING WEIGHT AGAIN.

Angel: I WISH I HAD DONE THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I JUST WANT TO GET BACK ON TRACK

AND START LOSING WEIGHT AGAIN.

NICE, SLOW, DEEP BREATH.

Dr. Nowzaradan: THIS FEEDING TUBE IS ALLOWING ANGEL TO EAT MORE.

SHE'S LUCKY THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE DODGING A BULLET TODAY.

PIECE OF TAPE. YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT, ALL FINISHED UP.

THE PROCEDURE WAS MODERATE AND WENT WELL.

ANGEL, OPEN YOUR EYES. WE'RE ALL DONE, OKAY?

SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO START LOSING WEIGHT AGAIN,

AS LONG AS SHE STICKS TO HER DIET.

HOPEFULLY, FROM HERE ON OUT,

IF SHE HAS ANY TROUBLE, SHE WILL CALL ME FIRST.

WE'LL SEE.

CAN YOU SEE IF I GOT A JELL-O IN THE ICEBOX?

HERE.

THANK YOU.

I'VE BEEN HOME A COUPLE OF MONTHS,

TRYING TO RECOVER AND GET BACK ON MY DIET.

BUT I DON'T FEEL LIKE THINGS ARE GETTING ANY BETTER.

YOU KNOW, BEFORE ANDREW WAKE UP,

WE SHOULD TRY TO WALK THE BREEZEWAY AFTER YOU EAT.

OKAY.

YOU WANT ME TO HELP YOU UP, OR ARE YOU GONNA DO IT YOURSELF?

I'LL DO IT MYSELF. OKAY.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET UP AND WALK MORE,

BUT IT'S BEEN A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT.

Donnie: CAN YOU MAKE IT TO THE GRASS?

NO. HUH?

NO. MY SIDE HURTS. WELL, OKAY.

WE'RE GONNA ASK IF YOU CAN MAKE IT,

'CAUSE THAT PUTS LIMITS ON YOUR MIND.

I WANT TO PUSH MYSELF, BUT I CAN'T.

I'M REALLY SCARED RIGHT NOW.

I JUST FEEL SO SAD ALL THE TIME AND I DON'T KNOW WHY.

I CAN'T GO BACK TO THE WAY I WAS.

WE NEED TO START THINKING

POSITIVE-REINFORCEMENT-TYPE THINGS.

YOU'RE JUST AFFIRMING TO YOURSELF THAT

"THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT I WANT TO DO."

THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

TODAY, I'M GOING TO SEE A THERAPIST.

I WANT TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT WHY I'M SAD ALL THE TIME.

I THOUGHT THAT STARTING TO GET MY LIFE BACK WOULD CHANGE THAT.

BUT, IN A LOT OF WAYS, IT'S GOTTEN WORSE.

I KNOW I HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT IF I WANT TO GET BETTER.

HI, ANGEL. HI.

I'M PAMELA.

COME IN AND TAKE A SEAT.

ALL RIGHT?

MM-HMM.

SO, WHY DO YOU THINK YOU GAINED ALL THIS WEIGHT?

UM, WHEN I WAS 14, I GOT PREGNANT.

AND WHEN MY MOM FOUND OUT I WAS PREGNANT,

SHE GAVE ME THREE CHOICES.

I COULD HAVE AN ABORTION, I CAN GIVE THE BABY UP,

OR I COULD KEEP THE BABY AND NOT COME BACK HOME.

MY ONLY CHOICE WAS TO GIVE THE BABY UP.

AND WHAT DID YOU HAVE?

I HAD A LITTLE GIRL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE HER UP,

BUT I GAVE HER UP SO THAT SHE COULD HAVE A BETTER LIFE.

I HOPE THAT SHE CAN FORGIVE ME.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT TODAY?

I HAVE -- I HAVE AWFUL FEELINGS.

I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE HATES ME FOR DOING WHAT I DID.

I DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE,

'CAUSE IF I'D HAVE KEPT HER, I'D HAVE BEEN HOMELESS.

THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE TRAUMA.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? YEAH.

WITHOUT CLOSURE,

WITHOUT HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN TO HER,

WE NEED TO CREATE A SAFE PLACE IN YOUR MIND

WHERE YOU CAN THINK OF HER AND SOMEHOW NOT BLAME YOURSELF.

I DON'T THINK YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO FORGIVE.

YOU HAD NO CHOICE.

YOU HAD NO CHOICE.

WOULD YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT THAT'S SOMETHING

TO REALLY WORK ON AS YOU GO FORWARD?

I'VE GOT TO REALIZE THAT...IT WASN'T MY CHOICE.

I HAD NO CHOICE.

SO I'VE GOT TO STOP BLAMING MYSELF.

HERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO.

I WANT SO DESPERATELY TO START LIVING LIFE AGAIN.

BUT I THINK THERE'S BEEN MORE HOLDING ME BACK THAN I REALIZE.

I THINK IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO, SOME DAY, MOVE BEYOND THE GUILT.

I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO GROW IF I WANT TO MAKE THIS CHANGE LAST.

BECAUSE IF I START GAINING AGAIN, MY LIFE WOULD BE OVER.

Angel: THE ROAD TO RECOVERY CAN BE A LOT HARDER THAN YOU THOUGHT.

BUT THAT'S WHAT WILL MAKE THE CHANGE MORE SIGNIFICANT

IF YOU KEEP GOING.

Donnie: OH, DO YOU WANT TO USE YOUR WALKER, OR DO YOU WANT TO...

I'LL HANG ON TO YOU.

ALL RIGHT. COME ON.

IT'S BEEN A GOOD COUPLE OF MONTHS.

THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER.

I'M STILL SEEING A THERAPIST, AND I'M STICKING TO MY DIET.

FEW MORE STEPS. YOU'RE ALMOST THERE.

I MADE IT TO THE GAZEBO, AND THAT WAS A REALLY GOOD FEELING.

IT'S STILL HARD FOR ME TO WALK,

BUT I'M GONNA KEEP GOING AND PUSHING TO DO MORE.

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO USE THE WALKER

OR THE WHEELCHAIR NO MORE.

I'M STARTING TO MAKE PROGRESS AGAIN,

AND IT'S A REALLY GOOD FEELING.

I STARTED GOING OUT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,

GOING TO ALL OF ANDREW'S GAMES.

I DON'T WANT TO MISS A SINGLE THING FROM HERE ON OUT,

SO I'M GOING TO DO AS MUCH AS I CAN.

SHOOT! SHOOT IT!

Man: YOU GOT TO SHOOT, ANDREW!

ALL RIGHT!

Angel: I'M DOING AS MUCH AS I CAN AROUND THE HOUSE.

I WANT TO START BEARING SOME OF THE LOAD,

TAKING CARE OF THE FAMILY.

I WANT TO SHARE THAT RESPONSIBILITY WITH DONNIE.

YOU LOOK SO FLY.

ANDREW HAS TWO FULL-TIME PARENTS NOW,

AND ANDREW LOVES EVERY MINUTE.

Angel: I WAKE UP, AND IT'S NOT TO EAT.

IT'S TO GET ANDREW READY FOR SCHOOL.

IT'S TOTALLY DIFFERENT,

'CAUSE NOW I CAN SAY I AM BACK TO NORMAL.

I SEE THE DOCTOR NEXT MONTH,

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE HOW MUCH WEIGHT I'VE LOST.

I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD ABOUT HOW FAR I'VE COME.

I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD

AND I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THAT NUMBER'S AT.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. [ LAUGHS ]

GOOD JOB, BABY. GIVE ME FIVE.

I HAVEN'T BEEN AT THIS WEIGHT IN A LONG TIME.

SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.

SO, YOU ARE 260 NOW, HUH?

YES, SIR.

HOW YOU FEEL AFTER LOSING ALL THAT WEIGHT?

I FEEL WONDERFUL.

ANGEL HAS HAD GREAT SUCCESS OVER THE PAST YEAR.

THERE WERE MOMENTS WHERE THINGS DID NOT LOOK GOOD FOR ANGEL,

BUT SHE KEPT AT IT AND SHE HAS DONE VERY WELL.

I DIDN'T THINK I COULD GET THIS LOW.

WELL, YOU DID IT.

I DID. ALL RIGHT.

Donnie: ANGEL HAS CHANGED A LOT IN THE PAST YEAR.

I'M NO LONGER A CAREGIVER ANYMORE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO GROWING OLD WITH ANGEL.

Angel: THIS PAST YEAR HAS BEEN A ROLLER-COASTER RIDE,

BUT IT'S ALL WORTH IT,

BECAUSE I'M NOT JUST DOING IT FOR MYSELF,

I'M DOING IT FOR MY FAMILY.

TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING

THAT I HAVEN'T DONE IN A LONG TIME.

I'M GOING TO GET SOME NEW OUTFITS.

I NEVER WANTED TO SHOP BECAUSE I JUST FELT UGLY.

WITH ALL THE WEIGHT I'VE LOST,

I'M READY FOR NEW CLOTHES.

WOW.

THAT'S THE WOMAN THAT I MET.

A YEAR AGO, I'D REACHED MY BREAKING POINT.

I DIDN'T WANT TO SEE HER JUST LAY THERE AND DIE.

ANGEL'S WEIGHT LOSS HAS TOTALLY SAVED OUR RELATIONSHIP.

YOU LOOK GREAT.

NICE.

THIS COLOR BLENDS REALLY, REALLY WELL.

THOSE NICE, THICK LASHES.

READY TO SEE?

MM-HMM.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I CAN LOOK AT MYSELF

AND SEE SOMEONE I THOUGHT WAS BEAUTIFUL.