Original subtitles

Marla: I'M MISERABLE.

MY WEIGHT HAS TRAPPED ME IN THIS BED,

AND IT'S KILLING ME.

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.

BOTH OF Y'ALL, STOP! JUST STOP!

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE 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.

Man: GET UP AND WALK. PUSH!

WHOA! AAH!

AAH! I'M FALLING!

WHEN SHE ACTS LIKE A KID, YOU TREAT HER LIKE A KID.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Marla: YOUR WHOLE LIFE CAN CHANGE IN AN INSTANT.

YOU CAN EITHER ACCEPT IT

OR TRY AND WORK HARD TO GET BACK WHAT YOU LOST.

Adele: READY? Marla: YEAH.

1, 2.

1, 2, 3.

Marla: I HAVE NO LIFE.

MY LEGS CAN'T EVEN HOLD MY WEIGHT ANYMORE.

I CAN'T GET UP. I CAN'T WALK.

I'M TRAPPED.

MY WEIGHT HAS CONDEMNED ME TO THIS BED.

I CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

I CAN'T EVEN BATHE MYSELF.

MY KIDS HAVE TO DO THAT FOR ME.

I HAVE THREE DAUGHTERS,

AND I DEPEND ON THEM FOR EVERYTHING.

IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A BURDEN TO THEM.

Adele: I'M 24,

AND I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOM.

I WIPE HER, BATHE HER, MAKE SURE SHE'S CLEAN.

AND I DO GET TIRED.

Marla: IT'S EMBARRASSING,

BUT I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE WHEN I'M THIS BIG.

I HATE LIVING LIKE THIS.

I HAVE ARTHRITIS, GOUT, LYMPHEDEMA, DIABETES...

I'LL CHECK MY SUGAR LEVEL.

152 -- THAT'S HIGH.

...AND I AM ON OXYGEN AT NIGHT,

OR I'LL STOP BREATHING.

MY BODY IS JUST BREAKING DOWN.

I HATE THIS.

I HATE LIVING LIKE THIS.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU THINK YOUR LIFE IS GOING,

YOU NEVER IMAGINE IT BEING THIS BAD.

AS A KID, I WAS NEVER OVERWEIGHT.

IT WASN'T UNTIL MY EARLY 20s

THAT MY WEIGHT STARTED TO BE A PROBLEM.

SOMETHING DRASTIC HAPPENED, AND THIS IS THE OUTCOME.

I TRIED TO BREAK UP WITH MY BOYFRIEND AT THE TIME.

HE LOST IT, AND HE TOOK ME HOSTAGE.

HE HELD ME AT GUNPOINT,

AND I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE.

WHEN THE POLICE TRIED TO RESCUE ME,

HE SHOT TWO OFFICERS AND ESCAPED.

KNOWING THAT HE WAS STILL OUT THERE

AND THAT HE WANTED TO KILL ME,

I WAS TOO SCARED TO LEAVE THE HOUSE.

AND I LIVED IN CONSTANT FEAR, AND I JUST ATE.

Sierra: AFTER THE INCIDENT, SHE WAS NOT THE SAME.

MY MOM -- SHE JUST STOPPED CARING.

SHE JUST STARTED EATING MORE. SHE DIDN'T GO OUTSIDE.

SHE DIDN'T DO NOTHING. SHE CLOSED HERSELF UP.

Marla: EVENTUALLY, THEY CAUGHT HIM.

BY THEN, MY LIFE WAS ALREADY RUINED.

I WAS ALREADY OVER 700 POUNDS.

THE FOOD MADE ME HAPPY,

AND THAT JUST WASN'T GONNA CHANGE.

I COULDN'T GO BACK,

SO I KEPT EATING AND I KEPT GAINING.

THE KIDNAP CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER,

AND I WISH I COULD TAKE THAT DAY BACK.

Marla: YOU MADE IT, BABY.

MM-HMM.

WHAT DID YOU GET ME?

I LOVE FOOD.

I'M A JUNK-FOOD JUNKIE.

Adele: WHEN YOU GO SHOPPING FOR HER,

IT'S NOT WHAT SHE NEEDS TO BE EATING

OR WHAT SHE SHOULD BE EATING,

IT'S ABOUT WHAT SHE WANTS TO EAT.

AND IF YOU AIN'T GOT WHAT SHE WANTS, SHE'S MAD.

GO AND COOK ME TWO BOXES. YOU WANT ONE, BABY?

YES.

I BRING HER STUFF

'CAUSE I KNOW THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA MAKE HER HAPPY.

SHE LOVES FOOD.

FROM MY BABY. THANK YOU.

THAT'S HER BEEN HER BIGGEST ISSUE, PERIOD.

SHE LOVES FOOD.

Marla: WHEN I START EATING THOSE FOODS,

I CAN'T STOP.

MMM.

I LOVE THE WAY IT ALL TASTES.

I LOVE THE WAY IT MAKES ME FEEL.

IT'S MY COMFORT,

BUT I KNOW THE FOOD IS KILLING ME...

...AND THAT IT'S KEEPING ME

FROM BEING A PART OF MY KIDS' LIVES.

Adele: IF SHE DON'T LOSE THE WEIGHT,

I'M AFRAID THAT SHE'LL PASS.

I'M AFRAID THAT I'M GONNA LOSE MY MOM.

Marla: I'M WORRIED MY KIDS ARE GONNA COME HERE

AND FIND ME DEAD ONE DAY.

THE IDEA OF THAT HORRIFIES ME.

I NEED TO DO SOMETHING FAST,

OR THAT'S WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

I NEED TO CHANGE...

...OR I'M GONNA DIE.

WHEN YOU GET TO MY SIZE,

THERE'S NO GETTING UP OR DOING ANYTHING WITHOUT HELP.

I CAN'T WALK,

SO WE CALLED THE E.M.S.

TO TRY TO HELP ME GET INTO THE VAN.

I'M NOT SURE HOW THIS IS GONNA GO.

DO YOU WANT TO DO IT ALL IN ONE?

LET'S GO. 1, 2, 3.

I DON'T LEAVE MY HOUSE.

BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO DO THIS

IF I WANT TO GET A CHANCE TO GET MY LIFE BACK.

ALL I'VE KNOWN IS MY BED FOR SO MANY YEARS.

EVERYBODY READY? 1, 2, 3.

Britney: ALL RIGHT, MAMA.

Marla: THIS IS A WHOLE NEW WORLD FOR ME.

OKAY.

I'M REALLY CONCERNED

ABOUT HOW LONG I'M GONNA HAVE TO BE IN THIS CAR.

IT'S A 13-HOUR DRIVE,

AND I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A CAR THAT LONG.

AND I'M ANXIOUS ABOUT WHAT THE DOCTOR'S GONNA SAY.

WHAT IF HE CAN'T HELP ME?

I KNOW THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE,

AND I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

Marla: WHEN YOU LET YOUR LIFE GET COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL,

IT CAN SEEM LIKE AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK TO GET IT BACK,

BUT YOU HAVE TO TRY.

I'M REALLY NERVOUS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF TOLL

THIS TRIP IS GONNA TAKE ON MY BODY.

I'M MOVING AROUND A LOT FROM THE ROAD.

I HAVE TO SIT UPRIGHT TO BREATHE,

AND IT'S HARD TO DO THAT IN THIS VAN.

I JUST HOPE THIS ALL ISN'T TOO MUCH FOR ME.

OH, ME CAREFUL, MAMA.

OHH!

Girl: OW!

I CAN'T DO THIS MUCH LONGER.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE'RE EXPECTING THE ARRIVAL OF MARLA McCANTS.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, SHE MAY BE CLOSE TO 800 POUNDS.

IF SHE'S THAT BIG,

THEN SHE SHOULD HAVE USED BARIATRIC AMBULANCE

WITH MEDICAL CARE TO GO WITH HER.

SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE COME TO HOUSTON ON HER OWN.

SHE SHOULD HAVE WAITED FOR A SAFER OPTION.

WHEN SHE GETS HERE,

WE SHOULD GET HER OUT OF THE CAR,

GET HER INSIDE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

AND QUICKLY ASSESS HOW SHE'S DOING.

Marla: I GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE NOW.

Dr. Nowzaradan: HELLO, MARLA.

HI, DR. NOW. HOW ARE YOU?

WE'RE GONNA GET YOU IN, OKAY?

Dr. Nowzaradan: MARLA IS NOT LOOKING GOOD.

YOU ALL READY? 1, 2, 3.

I CAN ALREADY SEE

THAT SHE IS ONE OF THE WORST CONDITIONS HEALTH-WISE

I HAVE EVER SEEN.

Man: 1, 2, 3.

AND SHE HAD A LONG TRIP,

AND THAT HAS TAKEN ITS TOLL ON HER.

THANKS, GUYS. YOU'RE WELCOME.

Marla: SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT.

IT'S GETTING HARD TO BREATHE.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

I THOUGHT WHEN I CAME IN, I WAS GONNA BE FINE,

BUT I'M NOT.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

I CAN'T MOVE MY LEGS.

YOUR LEG HURT?

[ GROANS ]

YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT OF SWELLING, HUH?

MM-HMM.

OKAY, MARLA, WE'RE GONNA RUN SOME TESTS

TO FIND OUT WHAT MAY BE GOING ON WITH YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

MARLA'S IN EXTREMELY BAD SHAPE RIGHT NOW.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

AS MUCH AS MAKING SURE THAT SHE WILL SURVIVE THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

THIS IS A VERY A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

SHE IS AT THE END OF HER LIFE IF WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING.

[ MONITOR BEEPING ]

YEAH, THIS IS DR. NOWZARADAN. WHO IS THIS?

I'M CALLING YOU ABOUT MARLA'S CONDITION.

HER CONDITION WORSENED,

AND EARLY THIS MORNING, SHE STOPPED BREATHING.

AND WE MOVED HER TO I.C.U.

MARLA'S HEALTH HAS CONTINUED TO DECLINE.

WE PUT HER ON A BREATHING MACHINE,

AND WE HAVE HER STABLE RIGHT NOW.

MARLA POTENTIALLY HAS DEVELOPED A BLOOD CLOT IN HER LEG

FROM BEING IMMOBILE FOR SO LONG,

AND ALL THE TRAVELING MAY HAVE DISLODGED IT.

ONCE THAT HAPPENS,

THE CLOT WILL TRAVEL TO THE LUNG,

AND THE SITUATION WILL BECOME DEADLY.

SHE PUSHED HER BODY TO THE LIMIT FOR YEARS,

AND THE CAR RIDE DOWN

WAS JUST TOO MUCH FOR HER TO HANDLE.

PUT HER ON A DRIP. OKAY.

HER BODY IS SHUTTING DOWN.

IF MARLA WASN'T IN THE HOSPITAL WHEN THAT HAPPENED,

SHE WOULD HAVE DIED.

WE NEED TO GET HER TO SURGERY IMMEDIATELY

TO PUT A FILTER IN HER

AND PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

IF ANOTHER CLOT DISLODGES AND GOES TO HER LUNG,

SHE WON'T BE ABLE TO SURVIVE A SECOND TIME.

IT'S A RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE GOT MARLA STABILIZED

AND HEALTHY NOW FOR FILTER SURGERY.

WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH MARLA RIGHT NOW.

HER BODY CANNOT TAKE ANY FURTHER STRAIN.

IN HER CONDITION,

IT'S VERY EASY FOR A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION

TO DEVELOP DURING THE SURGERY.

WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SAVE HER, AND SHE'LL DIE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: OKAY, NOW GO UP A LITTLE BIT,

JUST RIGHT THERE.

THE PROCEDURE IS GOING WELL.

THIS IS A DELICATE OPERATION,

SO WE HAVE TO DO THIS VERY CAREFULLY,

BUT IT WILL HELP SAVE MARLA'S LIFE.

NOW HOLD IT RIGHT THERE.

ALL RIGHT, WE GOT THE VENA CAVA FILTER IN,

AND THAT WENT VERY SMOOTH.

WE'RE DONE WITH THAT.

1, 2, 3, GO.

NOW WE GET MARLA TO RECOVERY

AND START HER ON A RESTRICTIVE DIET

BECAUSE SHE NEEDS TO START LOSING WEIGHT RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GET HER UP AND WALKING

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THIS IS GONNA BE A VERY DRASTIC CHANGE FOR HER,

AND WE'LL SEE HOW SHE DOES.

MARLA IS LUCKY SHE'S IN THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW.

SHE WAS MONTHS OR EVEN WEEKS FROM DEATH.

SHE COULDN'T EVEN PHYSICALLY HANDLE THE CAR RIDE DOWN HERE.

SHE HAS TO CHANGE NOW.

SHE HAS TO DO THIS IF SHE WANTS TO LIVE.

Marla: THIS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY TOUGH.

I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH I HAD ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE.

AND GETTING HERE, IT DAMN NEAR KILLED ME.

SO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET HEALTHY.

I HAVE YOUR DINNER FOR YOU, OKAY?

OH, THANK YOU.

COME ON, SIERRA.

GOT YOU. YOU GOT IT?

YES.

AND THAT'S YOUR YOGURT.

EW.

Marla: I'VE BEEN EATING LIKE THIS FOR A MONTH NOW,

BUT I DON'T REALLY LIKE IT.

AFTER I EAT, I'M STILL HUNGRY.

HERE YOU GO. MM-HMM.

SHE SAID, "THE FISH'S NASTY."

THE FISH IS NASTY?

Sierra: MY MOM HASN'T BEEN LIKING

THE FOOD THEY'VE BEEN GIVING HER,

BUT I THINK THAT'S GOOD THAT THEY'RE PUSHING HER.

Marla: I'VE BEEN EATING JUNK FOOD MY ENTIRE LIFE,

AND THIS IS GONNA TAKE A LOT OF GETTING USED TO.

I HOPE I CAN DO THIS.

IT'S BEEN A ROUGH COUPLE OF MONTHS IN THIS HOSPITAL.

OUTSIDE OF HAVING TO ADJUST TO A CONTROLLED DIET,

THEY'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET ME UP TO WALK.

I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PUSHING ME TOO HARD.

THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND NOTHING.

HEY, MISS McCANTS. HOW ARE YOU?

OH, I'M FINE.

GOOD MORNING.

Woman: ALL RIGHTY,

SO WE'RE GONNA NEED TO DO SOME PHYSICAL THERAPY.

ARE YOU READY FOR US?

NO? WHAT THAT A YES OR A NO?

NOT YET?

Marla: THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND

THAT IT HAS TO HAPPEN IN MY OWN TIME.

ALL RIGHT, MISS MARLA, I'LL SEE YOU LATER, OKAY?

BYE.

OKAY.

SKIPPING PHYSICAL THERAPY.

MAMA, WHAT DID I SAY?

Sierra: I JUST STARTED NOTICING TODAY

THAT MY MAMA'S REALLY NOT TRYING HER HARDEST.

IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING FOR ME TO WATCH HER BEING LIKE THIS.

I CAME DOWN HERE TO HELP HER AND TO BETTER OUR RELATIONSHIP.

THESE LAST TWO MONTHS, IT'S BEEN HELL, SIERRA.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ON THIS WITH ME.

...SHE'S NOT CHANGING AT ALL.

YOU NEED TO WORK ON YOUR ATTITUDE.

I JUST FEEL LIKE IF SHE DON'T PUT FORWARD THE EFFORT,

I HAVE NO MORE HELP FOR MY MOM.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE HAVE A SITUATION

THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPING WITH MARLA.

SHE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET UP AND STAND,

AND SHE HAS BEEN REFUSING TO DO PHYSICAL THERAPY.

WE HAVE TO GET MARLA UP AND WALKING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SHE DOESN'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND

JUST HOW SERIOUS THE SITUATION IS.

HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?

Marla: ALL RIGHT.

SO, HOW WAS YOUR DAY WITH THE PHYSICAL THERAPY?

WE STILL DIDN'T STAND,

AND WE'RE GONNA TRY TO STAND HE SAID SUNDAY.

WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE ISSUE WITH STANDING UP?

THE PAIN.

WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN SUNDAY WITH YOUR PAIN?

UM...

OKAY.

SO, NOTHING IS GONNA HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND SUNDAY.

TOMORROW, PHYSICAL THERAPY IS COMING BACK HERE TO SEE YOU.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET TODAY TO FEEL BAD,

AND THEY'RE GONNA HELP YOU TO STAND UP.

YOU GOT IT?

ALL RIGHT.

Marla: I DON'T APPRECIATE THE DOCTOR'S ATTITUDE.

HE JUST -- HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND I JUST CAN'T DO IT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: MARLA'S CONVINCED HERSELF

THAT SHE CANNOT WALK.

THE REALITY IS THAT SHE DOESN'T WANT TO WALK.

IF SHE WANTS TO BE HERE, SHE HAS TO TRY.

IT IS THAT SIMPLE.

AND THERE IS NO REASON

SHE SHOULDN'T BE UP AND WALKING BY NOW.

HI. HI.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WHEN SOMEONE'S BECOMES IMMOBILE,

THEY GET USED TO OTHERS DOING EVERYTHING FOR THEM.

ALL RIGHT, ARE WE READY?

THAT CAN BE A TOUGH DYNAMIC TO CHANGE...

YOU READY? YEAH.

OKAY, I'M GONNA BRING THIS ONE FIRST.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ...BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO TRY.

YOU READY? ALL RIGHT.

THE REST WILL BE UP TO MARLA.

THERE YOU GO.

VERY GOOD.

THE LAST TIME I SAW MY MAMA WALK WAS A YEAR AGO.

[ SIGHS ]

Sierra: I'M REALLY GLAD MY MAMA'S AT LEAST TRYING TODAY.

1, 2, 3.

PUSH! WHOA! AAH!

AAH! I'M FALLING! PLEASE!

IT'S OKAY. WE GOT YOU. OH! AH!

ALL RIGHT.

PUSH ME BACK, PLEASE. IT'S OKAY. WE GOT YOU.

YOU OKAY, MISS McCANTS?

READY FOR US TO GET YOU INTO BED?

IF MARLA WON'T GET UP, THEN WE CAN'T TREAT HER.

SHE CANNOT CONTINUE LIKE THIS.

THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION.

Dr. Nowzaradan: MARLA HAS TO START LOSING MORE WEIGHT

AND NEEDS TO GET UP AND WALK.

IF SHE DOESN'T, SHE'S GOING TO DIE SOON.

SO WE HAVE TO SOMETHING, AND AT THIS POINT,

I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PERFORM WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

BECAUSE OUTSIDE OF THIS, SHE HAS NO HOPE.

ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY TODAY?

YES, I AM.

HOPEFULLY, WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU UP AND WALKING...

MM-HMM.

...IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

RIGHT. OKAY?

DON'T YOU START CRYING.

SINCE SHE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO STAND UP AND WALK,

WE STILL DON'T HAVE A WEIGHT ON HER.

SO WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HER PROGRESS MAY BE.

HER RECOVERY WILL BE A LOT MORE RISKY

IF SHE DOESN'T GET UP

AND PREVENT MORE BLOOD CLOTS FROM FORMING.

ALL RIGHT.

BUT SHE'S RUNNING OUT OF TIME,

AND WE HAVE TO GET HER WEIGHT DOWN.

[ SOBBING ]

Dr. Nowzaradan: SOME SORT OF MEDICAL INTERVENTION LIKE THIS

IS HER LAST HOPE.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

1, 2, 3.

JUST RELAX YOUR HEAD BACK.

Dr. Nowzaradan: MARLA IS ONE OF THE LARGER PATIENTS

WE HAVE DONE GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY.

WE ESTIMATED PROBABLY MARLA IS AROUND 700 TO 800 POUNDS.

GO AHEAD AND TURN THE ROOM LIGHTS OFF.

WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL

NOT TO PUT TOO MUCH STRAIN ON THEIR BODIES.

ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE STARTED DOING THE BYPASS.

THE STOMACH IS AS BIG AS A WATERMELON.

THIS WILL GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY

FOR THE PERSON TO EAT SMALL AMOUNTS

AND START LOSING WEIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, THAT LOOKS GOOD.

ROOM LIGHT ON, PLEASE.

CLOSE HER UP.

EVERYTHING LOOK GOOD?

MARLA'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

THERE WERE NO COMPLICATIONS,

AND MARLA IS GOING TO RECOVERY RIGHT NOW.

THIS BYPASS SHOULD HELP HER TO LOSE WEIGHT

SO SHE CAN GET UP AND WALK.

WE'RE IN RECOVERY HERE, OKAY?

SHE'S GONNA HAVE TO MOVE AROUND AFTER SURGERY

WHETHER SHE WANTS OR NOT.

WHAT IS THE PAIN LEVEL 1 TO 10, 10 IS THE HIGHEST.

WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER?

HUH?

AT THIS POINT, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT MARLA.

RECOVERING, BUT SHE STILL WON'T GET UP AND WALK.

THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION,

AND SHE'S NOT EVEN TRYING.

SHE EXPECTS EVERYONE TO DO WHAT SHE NEEDS,

SO WE ARE HAVING TO DO IT FOR HER.

LET ME RAISE YOUR LEG.

WE CAN'T LET HER RISK HER LIFE LIKE THIS.

THE PHYSICAL THERAPISTS WILL HAVE TO MOVE HER LEG AROUND

SO SHE WILL NOT DEVELOP ANY MORE CLOTS.

BUT IF THIS IS HOW MARLA WANTS TO BEHAVE,

THEN THERE IS NO REASON TO KEEP HER HERE.

4...

ONCE SHE'S FULLY RECOVERED FROM SURGERY,

SHE HAS TO GET UP AND TRY TO WALK.

IF SHE DOESN'T WANT TO COOPERATE WITH THE PROGRAM,

I'M GOING TO REMOVE HER FROM THE HOSPITAL

AND SEND HER HOME

BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NOTHING MORE WE CAN DO FOR HER HERE.

THERE IS NO REASON FOR MARLA TO CHOOSE

NOT GET UP FROM HER BED RIGHT NOW.

IF SHE DOESN'T WANT TO GET UP AND WALK,

THEN WE WILL HAVE TO SEND HER HOME.

THE CHOICE IS HERS.

MARLA, CAN YOU SIT UP?

YOU HAVE TO MAKE PROGRESS,

AND THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR YOU NOT TO BE ABLE TO WALK.

HUH? NO.

WHY NOT? 'CAUSE I DON'T FEEL GOOD.

WHY ARE YOU NOT FEELING GOOD?

WHERE IN YOUR LEG HURTS?

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND,

AND I DON'T WANT TO ARGUE WITH YOU.

I HEARD A LOT OF THINGS BUT NOT THIS KIND OF EXCUSE.

YOU NEED TO BE PROACTIVE FOR YOURSELF,

AND YOU NEED TO GET UP AND WALK.

Dr. Nowzaradan: MARLA IS DEMONSTRATING VERY POOR ATTITUDE

AND VERY POOR RESPONSE.

THIS IS A VERY DYSFUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR,

BUT THIS IS TYPICAL FOR MARLA.

DON'T GIVE US ATTITUDE.

WE'RE TRYING TO HELP YOU,

AND YOU DIDN'T RESPOND TO IT, OKAY?

SO, THIS IS THE LAST TIME I'M TELLING YOU.

[ SIGHS ]

WHY ARE YOU GIVING US ATTITUDE?

WE'RE TRYING HERE TO HELP YOU.

GET UP AND GET ON THERE

AND DO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO WALK.

Sierra: ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS STAND UP.

YOU'RE SITTING THERE SAYING DON'T TOUCH YOU.

DON'T TOUCH YOU FOR WHAT, MAMA?

DON'T TOUCH ME.

MAMA.

IS SHE ALWAYS LIKE THAT AT HOME?

YES.

IF SHE'S STUBBORN LIKE THAT AND SHE ACTS LIKE A KID,

YOU TREAT HER LIKE A KID.

DON'T BRING HER ANYTHING.

IF SHE WANTS WATER, GET UP AND GET IT YOURSELF.

SHE WANTS FOOD, GET IT YOURSELF.

THIS IS A VERY BAD BEHAVIOR, AND YOU SHOULDN'T REWARD IT.

IF YOU DO THAT TO YOUR KID A COUPLE TIMES,

THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RULES ARE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: DID YOU HEAR THAT?

MARLA, YOU'RE JUST PLAYING A GAME WITH US.

I'M GLAD YOU THINK I'M PLAYING A GAME.

YEAH, YOU ARE. OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: MARLA IS THROWING A TANTRUM RIGHT NOW.

BAD BEHAVIOR -- YOU NEED TO HAVE REPERCUSSIONS.

AT THIS POINT,

THERE IS NO REASON FOR MARLA TO BE HERE ANY LONGER.

SHE HAS MADE HER CHOICE,

AND HER CHOICE IS TO STAY IN BED.

UNFORTUNATELY, SHE CAN'T SURVIVE MUCH LONGER LIKE THIS.

MAMA, WHAT DID YOU COME DOWN HERE FOR?

WHAT DID YOU COME DOWN HERE FOR, MA?

Sierra: I'M REALLY IRRITATED WITH MY MOM RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T THINK OUR RELATIONSHIP IS GONNA GET BETTER AFTER TODAY.

SHE DIDN'T EVEN TRY.

ONLY WAY SHE CAN FIX THIS, IF SHE GETS UP AND WALK.

OTHERWISE, I'M NOT GONNA COME BACK.

WE DON'T HAVE NO RELATIONSHIP ANYMORE.

IT'S JUST A WASTE OF MY TIME.

[ SNIFFLES ]

IT'S A WASTE OF MY TIME COMING DOWN HERE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: MARLA HAS LEARNED

HOW TO MANIPULATE THE SYSTEM AROUND HER

AND GET EVERYBODY TO DO EVERYTHING FOR HER.

HELLO.

I'M HOPING THAT SENDING HER HOME WILL BE A WAKE-UP CALL.

BUT THAT WILL ALL DEPEND ON SIERRA.

IF SHE KEEPS DOING EVERYTHING FOR HER MOTHER AT HOME,

THEN NOTHING WILL CHANGE.

SHE HAS TO LEARN TO TELL HER MOTHER NO

SO THAT SHE WILL START TO REALIZE

PEOPLE WILL NO LONGER DO EVERYTHING FOR HER.

HOPEFULLY, SHE WILL START TO HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

ON THINGS SOON.

Marla: I HAVE BEEN PUSHED FOR FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS,

AND I'M READY FOR A BREAK.

SIERRA MOVED INTO AN APARTMENT WHEN WE CAME TO HOUSTON,

SO I'M GONNA MOVE IN WITH HER WHILE I'M RECOVERING.

I JUST NEED MY OWN SPACE AND MY OWN TIME.

WE GOT IT.

ALL RIGHT? YEP.

WATCH HER ELBOWS 'CAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO GET CLOSE.

I CAN MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES ON MY OWN.

THANK YOU.

I CAN THIS MUCH BETTER

WITHOUT EVERYONE ALWAYS PUSHING ME

TO DO THINGS BEFORE I'M READY.

HOME SWEET HOME.

I KNOW I'LL DO A LOT BETTER ON MY OWN.

IT'S BEEN A HARD COUPLE OF MONTHS.

I REALLY HAVEN'T HAD THE ENERGY TO GET UP AND TRY TO WALK.

MY LEGS HAVE BEEN HURTING A WHOLE LOT.

I KNOW MY LIMITS, AND I'M NOT READY.

Sierra: IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD.

MY MOM STILL ASKS ME FOR EVERYTHING.

WHAT?

SHE DOESN'T PUT ANY EFFORT INTO TRYING TO WALK.

I'M JUST REALLY CONCERNED RIGHT NOW.

HERE YOU ARE.

MM, THANKS.

MAMA.

MNH-MNH.

YEAH.

[ LAUGHS ]

BACK UP.

Sierra: I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I THOUGHT THE SURGERY WAS GONNA CHANGE

HER WHOLE MIND-SET AND EVERYTHING.

I THOUGHT SHE WAS GONNA BE A WHOLE NEW PERSON,

BUT I FEEL LIKE SHE'S NOT CHANGING AT ALL.

HER LIFE DEPENDS ON THIS,

AND I FEEL LIKE SHE'S THROWING IT ALL AWAY RIGHT NOW.

MY MOM CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS.

I KNOW SHE'S GONNA DIE SOON IF THAT'S THE CASE.

HEY, IS THIS DR. NOW'S OFFICE?

YES, CAN I LEAVE HIM A MESSAGE?

HEY, DR. NOW, THIS IS SIERRA, MARLA'S DAUGHTER.

SHE REALLY HASN'T BEEN FOLLOWING THE ORDERS YOU GAVE HER

ONCE SHE LEFT THE HOSPITAL.

SHE'S NOT MAKING AN EFFORT TO STAND UP,

SO I'M JUST REALLY, REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT HER.

CAN YOU PLEASE TALK TO HER WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE?

THANK YOU.

I'M REALLY SCARED MY MOM DOESN'T HAVE MUCH MORE TIME.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ACCORDING TO MARLA'S DAUGHTER,

MARLA HASN'T BEEN GETTING UP AND WALKING

AND SHE HAS BEEN STAYING IN BED FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS.

SIERRA IS CONCERNED THAT HER MOTHER IS RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

I'M NOT BRINGING MARLA BACK TO THE HOSPITAL

UNTIL I KNOW THAT SHE'S COOPERATING.

SO MY ONLY OPTION IS TO GO TO HER

AND TRY TO GET HER UP AND WALKING.

SIERRA IS RIGHT --

MARLA IS RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

SHE NEEDS TO DO THIS NOW.

HELLO. HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING?

GOOD.

SO, IT SEEMS LIKE SINCE YOU LEFT THE HOSPITAL,

YOU HAVEN'T LOST MUCH WEIGHT, HUH?

I'VE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHT.

BUT NOT SINCE YOU LEFT THE HOSPITAL.

SO IF WE GET A COUPLE OF E.M.T., WE CAN HELP YOU TO STAND UP?

YEAH. I'LL TRY.

THIS IS DR. NOWZARADAN.

I WONDER IF YOU CAN COME HELP TO GET MARLA UP.

MAN: Okay. ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

ALL RIGHT, SO I CALLED THE E.M.T.

THEY'RE COMING TO HELP US WITH THAT.

Marla: I HATE THIS.

I REALLY FEEL LIKE I'M BEING PUSHED

TO DO SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT READY TO DO.

Dr. Nowzaradan: THIS IS MARLA'S LAST CHANCE.

IF SHE DOESN'T GET UP RIGHT NOW, THEN SHE HAS FAILED

AND THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR HER.

HEY, THANKS FOR COMING BY.

SO, WE WANT TO GET HER UP.

IF YOU JUST SLIDE THIS LEG...

OKAY, BRING THAT LEG.

OH!

AAAH!

MY LEGS ARE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS.

THERE IS NO WAY I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: THIS IS MARLA'S LAST CHANCE.

IF SHE DOESN'T STAND UP NOW,

SHE'LL BE IN THIS BED UNTIL SHE DIES.

1, 2, 3.

THERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT.

KEEP PUSHING YOUR WEIGHT ON IT.

OH. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY.

GOOD JOB, MARLA.

YEAH.

I DIDN'T THINK I COULD GET UP.

YOU WANT TO TRY IT AGAIN?

YEAH, WE CAN.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WHEN A PATIENT CONVINCES THEMSELVES

THEY CANNOT DO SOMETHING, THEY ARE SCARED TO EVEN TRY.

PUT YOUR WEIGHT IN MORE.

BUT IF YOU SHOW THEM THEY CAN,

THEY WILL USUALLY START DOING IT ON THEIR OWN.

OKAY.

YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

PUT YOUR WEIGHT ON YOUR ARMS.

OKAY.

PUT YOUR WEIGHT ON YOUR ARMS.

I'M TRYING, SIERRA. I'M TRYING.

Dr. Nowzaradan: YOU JUST HAVE TO GET THEM TO TRY ONCE

AND SHOW THEM THAT THEY ARE ABLE.

Marla: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG WHILE,

I STOOD ON MY OWN TWO FEET AGAIN.

I'M GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU'RE TRYING.

I'M PROUD OF YOU YOU'RE GIVING IT A SHOT.

I DIDN'T THINK I COULD GET UP.

I DIDN'T THINK MY LEGS WERE GONNA HOLD UP, BUT THEY DID.

Sierra: FOR HER TO GET UP TODAY AND TO STAND,

THAT MADE ME FEEL REALLY GOOD.

LIKE, SHE'S TRYING.

ONCE YOU GET ON YOUR FEET, NOBODY CAN STOP YOU.

[ LAUGHS ]

Marla: THIS IS HUGE FOR ME. I'M REALLY EXCITED RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU ALL LATER.

I'M ENCOURAGED TO SEE HER TRYING FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET HER IN THE HOSPITAL SOON

AND TRY TO GET HER WEIGHED TO SEE HOW MUCH PROGRESS SHE MADE.

Marla: HERE I'M GET READY TO DO MY LEG EXERCISES.

2...

GETTING UP AND STANDING

IS ONE OF THE MOST ENCOURAGING THINGS I'VE DONE.

AND NOW I DON'T WANT TO STOP.

I'M GONNA KEEP WORKING AND DOING THIS

AND MAKE AS MUCH PROGRESS AS I CAN.

I THINK I'VE COME A LONG WAY.

DESPITE ALL THE SETBACKS I HAVE,

I'M STILL GONNA CONTINUE TO DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO.

I SEE THE DOCTOR SOON,

AND I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE WHAT I WEIGH.

Woman: SO, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

THERE YOU GO. KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING.

KEEP GOING. YOU'RE ALMOST THERE.

KEEP GOING. YOU'RE ALMOST THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

THERE YOU GO!

GOOD JOB! [ APPLAUSE ]

Marla: I'M SO PROUD OF MYSELF.

MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I CAN DO ANYTHING.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ABOUT 300 POUNDS LESS, HUH?

CAN YOU TELL THE DIFFERENCE?

YEAH.

JUST A LITTLE BIT, HUH?

Dr. Nowzaradan: MARLA IS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,

AND I'M CONFIDENT SHE'LL BE ABLE TO KEEP MAKING PROGRESS.

WONDERFUL.

Woman: SHE DID REALLY GOOD.

YOU'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.

Marla: I REALIZED THAT NO ONE WAS GONNA THIS FOR ME.

I HAD TO DO IT MYSELF.

I GOT MYSELF IN IT. I CAN GET MYSELF OUT OF IT.

IT'S A WONDERFUL FEELING.

Sierra: I'M ENCOURAGED THAT SHE'S LOSING WEIGHT,

AND I'M HAPPY FOR HER.

I'M HOPEFUL, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD

TO HAVING A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH HER.

Marla: IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET HERE,

BUT NOW NOTHING'S GONNA STOP ME.

AND I'M TRULY SO THANKFUL.