Original subtitles

Dottie: I'M JUST GROTESQUE.

I'M HUGE.

I'M SICKENING LOOKING.

THAT'S HOW I SEE IT.

Man: MY WEIGHT HAS GIVEN ME A DEATH SENTENCE.

Woman: THE THING I RELIED ON ALL THESE YEARS

IS WHAT'S KILLING ME.

-IT'S BROKEN! -WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?

I DON'T KNOW. I CAN'T GET OFF.

DON'T LET ME GO, PLEASE. -I'M NOT.

Man: IT'S HARD TO BE A FATHER FROM A CHAIR.

[ GRUNTS ] THANK YOU, HONEY.

I SEE THAT UNWILLINGNESS.

IF YOU'RE SERIOUS, YOU'LL MAKE CHANGES.

Delacy: AND I KNOW YOU'VE GAINED WEIGHT.

IS THAT TRUE?

THAT'S KILLING YOU.

THAT'S KILLING YOU.

THIS HAS TO STOP.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Dottie: LIFE HAS A WAY

OF BRINGING OUT THE THINGS YOU FEAR THE MOST.

WHEN YOU GIVE IN TO THAT FEAR, YOU OPEN THE DOOR

TO ALL SORTS OF THINGS YOU NEVER EXPECTED.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

Dottie: WHEN YOU'RE MY SIZE, IT HURTS LIKE HELL

EVERY DAY TO GET UP AND DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO.

[ CHILD CRYING ]

I GOT TO GO GET YOUR BROTHER UP.

IT'S JUST MISERABLE.

ON MY BODY, PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING

FROM THE WAIST DOWN HURTS.

[ CRYING CONTINUES ]

I'M SORRY.

JUST GIVE MAMA A MINUTE.

BUT EVEN THOUGH I AM AS OVERWEIGHT AS I AM,

I HAVE TO GET UP EVERY DAY

BECAUSE I HAVE TWO KIDS THAT DEPEND ON ME.

HI, PUMPKIN.

DANIEL, WHO IS 12 AND HAS CEREBRAL PALSY,

AND LANDON, WHO IS 1.

I HAVE TO BE HERE TO TAKE CARE OF THESE BOYS.

THEY NEED THEIR MAMA.

IT'S OKAY.

[ SMOOCHES ]

AND THEY'RE MY PRIORITY WHEN I START EACH DAY.

MY HUSBAND'S ABLE TO HELP SOMETIMES IN THE MORNING,

BUT HE USUALLY HAS TO GET UP REAL EARLY TO GET TO WORK,

SO THEY COMPLETELY DEPEND ON ME.

BUT I CAN BARELY GET AROUND.

AND IT MAKES IT SO HARD TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

I'M NOT ABLE TO TAKE BIG STEPS.

I HAVE TO TAKE SMALL STEPS IN FEAR THAT I MIGHT FALL.

BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE.

DANIEL CAN'T SURVIVE WITHOUT HIS MEDICINE

AND EVERYTHING ELSE HE NEEDS.

[ SMOOCHES ]

YOU'RE ALL SET.

ONCE I GET DANIEL COMFORTABLE, I CAN TRY AND TEND TO MYSELF.

BUT IT'S SO HARD TO EVEN DO THAT.

I'M JUST NOT ABLE TO STAND FOR LONG PERIODS.

SO WHEN I'M SHOWERING,

I HAVE TO SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE TUB AND BATHE.

I JUST CLEAN AS MUCH AS I CAN,

AND I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYBODY

TO HELP ME WIPE MYSELF OR CLEAN MYSELF.

THAT'S JUST WAY TOO EMBARRASSING TO ME.

THE IDEA OF MY HUSBAND WIPING MY ASS LITERALLY MAKES ME SICK.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE WHAT MY BODY LOOKS LIKE

OR LET ANYBODY ELSE SEE ME NAKED.

I'M JUST GROTESQUE.

I'M HUGE.

I'M SICKENING LOOKING.

THAT'S HOW I SEE IT.

I FEEL LIKE I'M REPULSIVE.

AND I'VE FELT THAT WAY FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.

AS A KID, I LOVED ANY KIND OF FOOD,

BUT ESPECIALLY SWEETS.

I WAS IN GIRL SCOUTS.

WE WOULD JUST HAVE THIS WALL OF CASES OF COOKIES.

THERE'S TIMES THAT I WOULD SNEAK

A BOX OF THE COOKIES TO MY BEDROOM.

I WOULD HIDE IT UNDERNEATH MY DRESSER,

AND I WOULD EAT AT LEAST ONE BOX A DAY.

Delacy: DOTTIE'S BEEN OVERWEIGHT SINCE I CAN REMEMBER.

WHEN WE WERE LITTLE, FOOD DISAPPEARED A LOT.

DOTTIE WOULD SNEAK FOOD, AND DOTTIE WOULD HIDE FOOD.

Dottie: THAT WAS MY WAY OF DEALING

WITH NOT HAVING MY MOTHER AROUND.

SHE WANTED TO SPEND TIME WITH MY SISTER,

SO ME AND MY MOM WEREN'T REALLY CLOSE.

MY MOM'S THING WITH HER WAS BEAUTY PAGEANTS.

Delacy: MY MOM'S ATTENTION WAS ALL BASED AROUND ME

WINNING THAT PAGEANT, AND THAT LEFT DOTTIE

PRETTY MUCH OUT OF THE PICTURE.

Dottie: TO ME, WHAT THAT MEANT WAS MY SISTER

WAS THE BEAUTIFUL ONE, AND I WASN'T.

Delacy: EVERY CHILD HAS THAT WANT AND THAT NEED

TO BE LOVED BY THEIR MOTHER.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT DOTTIE JUST DIDN'T GROW UP WITH.

Dottie: IT HURT A LOT, AND FOOD IS WHAT COMFORTED ME.

AT ONE POINT, I WAS PUTTING ON A COUPLE OF POUNDS EVERY WEEK.

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 18, I WAS WELL OVER 300 POUNDS.

AND I REMEMBER JUST EATING AND EATING AND EATING SO MUCH.

AND I'VE JUST NEVER BEEN ABLE TO STOP.

Delacy: YOU HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT CHOOSE ALCOHOL

TO BURY A FEELING OR ANGER OR SADNESS.

DOTTIE JUST CHOSE FOOD.

THAT WAS WHAT GAVE HER COMFORT.

Dottie: YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE DRUGS EVERY DAY.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ALCOHOL EVERY DAY.

BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE FOOD TO LIVE EVERY DAY.

CAN I GET A DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER AND FRIES

AND A 10-PIECE CHICKEN NUGGET?

Woman: FIRST WINDOW, PLEASE.

PEOPLE DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND.

WHEN YOU HAVE AN ADDICTION TO FOOD,

IT'S THE WORST KIND OF ADDICTION YOU CAN HAVE.

'CAUSE YOU HAVE TO HAVE IT.

AND I HAVE A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD.

I LOVE TO EAT IT, BUT I HATE WHAT IT DOES TO ME.

I'VE NEVER HAD CHICKEN NUGGETS THAT TASTED THAT GOOD.

THEY WERE DELICIOUS.

I'VE JUST NEVER BEEN ABLE TO STOP,

EVEN WHEN I KNEW I WAS GETTING TOO BIG.

I JUST KEPT PUTTING ON THE WEIGHT,

AND WHEN I HAD MY FIRST CHILD, DANIEL,

I WAS OVER 350 POUNDS.

HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERE CEREBRAL PALSY,

AND HIS FATHER DIDN'T WANT TO STAY.

SO I WAS LEFT TAKING CARE OF HIM BY MYSELF.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE HOSPITAL WORRYING, YOU KNOW,

IF I WAS GONNA GET TO BRING HIM HOME OR NOT.

THEY WEREN'T SURE HE WAS GONNA SURVIVE,

SO I PRACTICALLY LIVED IN THAT HOSPITAL FOR A YEAR,

AND I ONLY HAD TWO THINGS TO DO --

BE WITH MY SON AND EAT.

Delacy: DOTTIE'S WEIGHT SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL

AFTER SHE HAD DANIEL.

HE NEEDED ONE-ON-ONE CARE, AND SHE JUST KIND OF CONFINED

HERSELF INTO THIS HOUSE AND TAKING CARE OF HIM.

Dottie: THEY DID NOT EXPECT DANIEL TO LIVE PAST FIVE YEARS OLD.

EATING HELPED ME DEAL WITH THE STRESS OF NOT KNOWING

IF HE WAS GONNA LIVE THE NEXT DAY.

AND AFTER A YEAR, I HAVE REACHED WELL OVER 500 POUNDS.

BEING A SINGLE MOM WITH A CHILD

THAT IS SUFFERING SO MUCH WAS HARD.

BUT A FEW YEARS AGO, I MET CHRIS,

AND WE GOT MARRIED AND HAD LANDON.

THE LAST TIME I WAS WEIGHED IS WHEN I GAVE BIRTH

A YEAR AGO, AND MY WEIGHT WAS 554.

AND NOW I'M NOT SURE WHAT I WEIGH.

AT THIS POINT, I SHOULDN'T EVEN BE ABLE

TO MAKE IT OUT OF THE HOUSE,

BUT I HAVE TO, TO CARE OF MY KIDS.

SO, WE NEED HAMBURGERS, MASHED POTATOES.

WE GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING SWEET -- CAKE.

I DON'T GO SHOPPING MUCH UNLESS IT'S SOMETHING FOR THEM.

Dottie: WELL, HOWDY THERE.

HOW ARE YOU? -GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?

OH, FINE.

SOMETIMES IF I HAVE SOMEBODY HERE TO WATCH DANIEL,

THAT'S WHEN I'LL GO TO THE STORE.

[ GROANS ]

BAD.

GOING TO THE STORE IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME

BECAUSE AT THIS WEIGHT,

THERE ARE THINGS THAT I CAN'T DO NOW.

SO CHRIS HAS TO COME WITH ME TO HELP.

IT'S JUST HARD TO BE UP FOR SO LONG.

I CAN'T WALK VERY FAR WITHOUT SOMETHING TO SIT ON.

WHERE'S YOUR MOTORIZED CART AT?

YOUR MOTORIZED CART?

AND IT'S HARD BEING OUT IN PUBLIC.

PEOPLE ALWAYS STARE AT ME.

OKAY, YOU CAN GO AHEAD. I'M OKAY.

I HATE IT, BUT I DO IT FOR MY KIDS.

LOOK, LET'S GET A BIG BAG OF THESE POTATOES

BECAUSE THEY'RE ON SALE.

YEAH, THAT WORKS.

GET THAT GERMAN CHOCOLATE.

ALL RIGHT.

Chris: WHEN SHE ASKS FOR A CANDY BAR OR CAKE,

I GO GET IT TO MAKE HER HAPPY.

YOU WANT TO GET A 12-PACK OF DRINKS?

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THEY'RE ON SALE -- THREE FOR $12.

GET THREE.

I'M READY TO GET OUT OF THIS STORE.

[ BEEP ]

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT DAY.

-YOU TOO. -YOU TOO.

[ GRUNTS ]

MY HIP IS STUCK.

[ CART BEEPING ]

[ GRUNTS ]

I HAVE TO MOVE THIS.

I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A SITUATION

WHERE I COULD NOT GET THROUGH A DOOR.

I AM JUST SO EMBARRASSED.

IT'S WHY I DON'T LIKE TO GO TO THE STORE.

I DON'T LIKE GOING TO THE STORE EITHER, BUT...

YEAH, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT LIKE I DO.

IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.

I'M JUST READY TO GO HOME.

I KNOW, BABE.

**

SHE DOES EVERYTHING FOR THE KIDS.

Dottie: I DON'T WANT TO GET TO THE POINT

THAT I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF MY CHILDREN

BECAUSE CHRIS IS NOT ABLE

TO PROVIDE THE CARE FOR DANIEL LIKE I DO.

BUT I PUT MYSELF IN A POSITION

THAT I COULD VERY WELL NOT BE THERE FOR HIM.

AND I DON'T WANT MY BABY TO GRIEVE FOR ME.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME, THE DOCTORS HAVE TOLD ME

THAT DANIEL WOULD GRIEVE HIS SELF TO DEATH

LOOKING FOR HIS MAMA.

AND I COULD NOT EVEN REMOTELY IMAGINE THAT.

SHE'S THE LOVE OF MY LIFE,

BUT I THINK SHE'S KILLING HERSELF.

THEY GO EAT SOME HAMBURGER MEAT TONIGHT.

I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

BUT I KNOW I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT.

MY BODY IS JUST GONNA GIVE OUT.

Chris: IT FEELS GOOD.

Dottie: WHAT?

...TAKE MY BREATH AND GIVE IT TO HER.

SOME CAKE.

IF I DON'T CHANGE, I'M NOT GONNA HAVE A FUTURE.

AND MY CHILDREN ARE NOT GONNA HAVE ME.

[ LAUGHS ]

THE PROBLEM IS ME.

UNLESS I CAN CHANGE MY WAYS, THEN NOTHING IS GONNA WORK.

**

-YOU READY TO GO? -YES.

Dottie: ME AND CHRIS ARE HEADING TO HOUSTON TO SEE A DOCTOR

WHO DOES SURGERY ON PEOPLE MY SIZE.

I FIGURE IF HE CAN GIVE ME GASTRIC BYPASS,

THAT MAY BE MY ONLY HOPE TO LOSE WEIGHT

AND STOP WHAT I KNOW IS COMING.

I WOULDN'T BE DOING THIS IF I HAD ANY OTHER OPTION.

BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO HAVE HELP

OR I'M GONNA END UP BEDRIDDEN, THEN DIE.

I'D RATHER BE DEAD THAN TO GET TO A PLACE

WHERE I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF MY KIDS.

SO I HAVE TO DO THIS.

I JUST HOPE I'M NOT BEYOND HELP.

Nurse: 641.

THAT'S SHOCKING TO SEE.

JUST THE LARGEST I'VE EVER BEEN.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE GOTTEN TO THIS POINT.

I FEEL LIKE I HAVE LET MYSELF DOWN,

MY HUSBAND DOWN, MY KIDS DOWN.

I REALLY AM HOPING DR. NOW CAN HELP ME.

-HELLO. -HEY.

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.

I'M DOTTIE.

OKAY, YOU'RE 640 POUND.

HOW DO YOU THINK YOU GOT HERE?

IT'S FROM HAVING TWO KIDS.

MY OLDEST SON, HE'S DISABLED.

HOW OLD IS HE?

-HE'S 12. -12?

-OKAY. -AND HE REQUIRES 24-HOUR CARE.

HE HAS CEREBRAL PALSY.

SO, YOU STAY HOME AND YOU TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN?

OKAY, BUT WHAT DO YOUR EATING HABITS LOOK LIKE?

WHAT KIND OF FOOD DO YOU EAT?

-PIZZA. -PIZZA?

-PIZZA. -OKAY.

SOMETIMES CHRIS WILL PICK UP BURGERS.

BASICALLY YOU LIVE ON FAST FOOD AND ALL THAT.

YES.

DOTTIE'S ANSWER TO WHY SHE GAINED WEIGHT

IS TO TELL ME ABOUT HER KIDS.

THEY ARE HER EXCUSE TO EAT.

HER SITUATION AT HOME IS TOUGH,

BUT SHE CAN'T USE IT AS AN EXCUSE,

OR SHE'S GONNA KILL HERSELF.

SO, YOU'RE 34 YEARS OLD?

-YES. -OKAY.

YOU THINK YOU'RE GONNA MAKE IT TO 40?

-NO. -I HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU.

Dr. Nowzaradan: AT HER WEIGHT AND WITH THE FACT

THAT SHE HAS GAINED AROUND 100 POUNDS IN A YEAR,

SHE HAS TO BE EATING AROUND 30,000 CALORIE A DAY.

THERE'S NO SITUATION THAT JUSTIFY EATING THAT.

YOU GUYS NEED TO REALIZE THAT FIRST,

YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD THE KID,

AND THEN YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO YOUR HEALTH.

SO, TO BE QUALIFY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE.

I WANT YOU TO LOSE 40 POUNDS OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.

FROM THIS POINT ON, EVERY DAY,

MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT IN YOUR EATING HABIT.

EAT HEALTHY FOOD, NO SNACK IN BETWEEN THE MEAL.

THIS IS NOT GONNA BE EASY TO MAKE THE CHANGES,

BUT YOU CAN DO IT.

DOTTIE HAS A LOT TO DEAL WITH AT HOME,

BUT I'M GIVING HER TWO MONTHS FOR THIS.

SHE SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM REDUCING WHAT SHE EATS

AND LOSING THIS WEIGHT.

SHE HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW

TO JUGGLE THE STRESS OF HER MIND,

OR SHE'S GONNA KILL HERSELF.

NEXT TIME I SEE YOU, I WANT YOU UNDER 600 POUNDS.

OKAY.

THIS IS GONNA BE HARD ON BOTH OF US, BUT WE CAN DO IT.

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.

NICE TO MEET YOU GUYS.

NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.

Dottie: THAT WAS HARD TO HEAR.

I KNEW HE'D WANT ME TO WORK ON MY DIET,

BUT 40 POUNDS IS A LOT TO HAVE TO LOSE.

I KNOW I HAVE TO DO THIS.

BUT THAT JUST SEEMS LIKE TOO MUCH WEIGHT.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

SINCE GOING TO THE DOCTOR,

I'VE BEEN STUDYING HIS MEAL PLANS.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO CHANGE MY EATING HABITS AS BEST I CAN.

I THINK I'VE BEEN STICKING TO IT WELL.

BUT IT'S HARD 'CAUSE LANDON AND CHRIS HAVE TO EAT, TOO.

AND THEY HAVE CERTAIN FOODS THEY WANT TO EAT.

I'M GONNA PUT SOME EXTRA GREEN BEANS ON HERE.

I'M GONNA SEE IF I CAN GET LANDON TO EAT THEM.

SOME OF THE FOOD DOESN'T TASTE GREAT,

BUT IT'S JUST THE PORTION SIZES I DON'T REALLY AGREE WITH.

SO I'M FOCUSING ON EATING HEALTHIER CHOICES

AND NOT SO MUCH THE AMOUNTS.

WILL YOU BRING ME SOME OF THEM CHIPS?

YEAH.

HOW MUCH YOU WANT?

BUT I HAVE CHEATED A LITTLE BIT.

BUT I'VE BEEN DOING ALL THE OTHER STUFF ON MY DIET,

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

**

I'VE TRIED REALLY HARD THESE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

I KNOW THIS SURGERY IS MY LAST HOPE TO CHANGE.

AND EVERYTHING IS RIDING ON WHAT THE SCALE SAYS RIGHT NOW.

I HAVE TO HAVE THIS.

DR. NOW SAID I NEEDED TO BE UNDER 600 POUNDS,

AND I HAVE NO IDEA IF I MADE IT CLOSE TO THAT OR NOT.

I JUST HOPE I'VE DONE ENOUGH.

I THOUGHT I WOULD'VE LOST A LOT MORE,

BUT IT'S POSITIVE TO ME.

I JUST HOPE HE UNDERSTANDS.

OKAY, DOTTIE, YOUR GOAL WAS TO GET UNDER 600 POUND.

AND YOU'RE AT 635 POUND.

SO WHAT'S GOING ON?

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU DON'T KNOW?

LET'S FIGURE IT OUT.

WHAT DO YOU EAT FOR LUNCH?

I MEAN, I'M NOT EATING AS MUCH.

I USUALLY EAT, LIKE, A COUPLE OF BALD EGGS.

THAT'S IT?

YES, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TIME TO EAT.

FOR DINNER?

FOR DINNER I EAT A SALAD, AND I EAT GREEN BEANS.

ANY SNACK IN BETWEEN?

NO, NO SNACKS IN BETWEEN.

FROM WHAT YOU TELL ME, YOU SHOULD HAVE LOST 50 POUNDS.

NO, I KNOW, BUT SOMETIMES AT NIGHT I EAT, LIKE, POPCORN.

Dr. Nowzaradan: MY CONCERN IS THAT DOTTIE

DOES NOT UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH SHE'S EATING.

SHE JUSTIFIES THE FOOD SHE WANTS,

AND SHE THINK WHAT SHE'S EATING IS NORMAL.

AND WHEN YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU'RE EATING VERY MUCH,

THAT'S NOT REALITY BECAUSE YOUR IDEAL BODY WEIGHT IS 200.

YOUR CALORIE INTAKE IS SUPPORTING AROUND 600 POUND.

THAT MEANS THAT YOU'RE EATING THREE TIME MORE MATHEMATICALLY

THAN YOU SHOULD REALLY EAT.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST REALLY HARD TO TRY TO STAY FOCUSED.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEED NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.

SO THE ONLY SOLUTION I CAN SEE RIGHT NOW IN ORDER

TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF YOUR TREATMENT,

I'M ADMITTING YOU TO THE HOSPITAL

TO START A CONTROLLED DIET ALL NEXT MONTH.

IF DOTTIE GOES HOME, SHE WILL CONTINUE

TO JUSTIFY HOW MUCH SHE EATS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO START THE PROCESS FOR HER.

HOPEFULLY IF WE CONTROL HER PORTIONS,

SHE WILL START TO LEARN IT.

I HAVE TO ARRANGE CARE FOR MY KIDS.

SO YOU DO THAT, AND I WANT YOU TO REPORT TO THE HOSPITAL

WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS TO BE ADMITTED.

DOTTIE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TIME TO WASTE WITH THIS PROCESS.

SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE KIDS

IF SHE'S IMMOBILE OR DEAD SOON.

[ GRUNTS ]

IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE I CAN'T JUST

GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND LEAVE MY BOYS.

NO ONE CAN CARE FOR THEM LIKE I DO.

[ GRUNTS ]

AND IT'S NOT SIMPLE TO SET UP CARE FOR THEM.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GONNA DO THIS.

[ MONITOR BEEPING ]

WHEN I GOT HOME FROM THE DOCTOR'S,

DANIEL WAS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING,

SO HE HAD TO BE RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.

HE'S ON A BREATHING TUBE RIGHT NOW,

AND THEY'RE MONITORING HIM TO SEE IF HE IMPROVES.

HE'S JUST SWOLLEN.

I KIND OF FREAKED OUT ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW MUCH WORSE THAT COULD GET.

IT'S HARD NOT TO BLAME MYSELF.

I SHOULD NOT HAVE LEFT HIM FOR SO LONG.

THE THOUGHT OF LOSING HIM TERRIFIES ME.

I JUST CAN'T HANDLE IT.

THAT'S WHY I NEVER WANT TO LEAVE HIM.

THIS MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I DID WHEN HE WAS FIRST BORN

AND SPENT A YEAR IN THE HOSPITAL.

I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING AGAIN.

[ MONITOR BEEPING ]

I'VE NOT LEFT THE HOSPITAL ROOM SINCE DANIEL GOT HERE.

I CAN'T STAND TO SEE HIM LIKE THIS.

AND I'M VERY OVERWHELMED, AND I'VE BEEN SO STRESSED OUT

THAT I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHAT I'VE BEEN EATING.

I KNOW THERE WAS PIZZA AND BURGERS

AND PIE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

IT'S THAT SAME WORRY THAT I JUST

DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO HIM.

AND THE FOOD IS THE ONLY THING HELPING ME

DEAL WITH EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW.

HEY, GOOD MORNING. UM...

SO, WE'RE GONNA TRY TO COME DOWN

ON SOME OF THE SEDATION MEDICINES TODAY

SO THAT WE CAN COME DOWN ON THE BREATHING MACHINE.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I THINK, YOU KNOW, HE'S IMPROVING.

YOU NEED TO GO HOME AND TAKE CARE

OF YOURSELF FOR A LITTLE BIT,

AND YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA TAKE GOOD CARE OF HIM HERE.

KNOWING THAT MY CHILD IS THIS SICK,

I'M ALWAYS SCARED AND I'M ALWAYS WORRIED.

I KNOW THERE'S NURSES EVERYWHERE, BUT,

YOU KNOW, SOMETHING COULD ALWAYS HAPPEN.

MAMA'S GONNA GO HOME AND REST, AND SHE'LL BE BACK, OKAY?

I JUST CAN'T WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S BEEN THE WORST MONTH THAT I CAN EVER REMEMBER.

AND IT JUST FEELS LIKE I CAN NEVER GET AHEAD.

IT'S NOT THAT LOSING THE WEIGHT IS NOT IMPORTANT TO ME.

IT'S JUST THAT WHEN MY FAMILY NEEDS ME,

I HAVE TO MAKE MYSELF A LOWER PRIORITY.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOU WANT.

OH, NO, WAIT, I WANT SOME OF THE WHITE MEAT OUT OF THERE.

UNTIL DANIEL GETS BETTER, I CAN'T WORRY ABOUT MY WEIGHT.

SO A DOCTOR IS GONNA HAVE TO WAIT.

**

COME ON. HERE YOU GO.

HELLO!

Dottie: AFTER ABOUT FIVE WEEKS IN THE HOSPITAL,

DANIEL STARTED GETTING BETTER,

SO WE WERE ABLE TO BRING HIM HOME.

SINCE THEN, HE'S BEEN DOING WELL.

BUT I'VE BEEN REALLY WORRIED

THAT SOMETHING COULD GO WRONG AGAIN.

WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON,

MY SISTER'S COME TO VISIT ME AND HELP WITH THE KIDS.

BUT SHE REALLY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND

WHAT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVERY DAY.

I DON'T COME OVER HERE AS OFTEN BECAUSE IT'S HARD

TO COME BY AND NOT BE ABLE TO SAY SOMETHING.

AND I KNOW YOU'VE GAINED WEIGHT.

IS THAT TRUE?

THERE'S REASONS BEHIND THE WAY THINGS ARE.

DOTTIE, THERE'S REASON --

I'VE GOT THINGS THAT'S WENT ON IN MY LIFE.

AND YOU HAVE DIFFERENT COPING MECHANISMS THAN WHAT I HAVE.

AND THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE IN US.

YOU ARE NOT ME.

Dottie: INSTEAD OF HELPING ME, I FEEL LIKE SHE JUST

CRITICIZES AND JUDGES ME ALL THE TIME.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

OH, PIZZA'S HERE.

-YEAH. -I'LL TAKE IT.

Chris: HERE, LET ME GET THIS OUT OF YOUR WAY.

YOU GONNA EAT SOME PIZZA?

I'M NOT, DOTTIE.

AND I COULD TAKE THAT PIZZA

AND THROW IT OUT THAT DOOR RIGHT NOW.

I'M SO MAD.

WELL, WE HAD TO HAVE SOME SUPPER TONIGHT.

SO HAVING SUPPER CONSISTS

OF THREE MEDIUM PIZZAS AND A CHOCOLATE CHIP PIE.

I THINK YOU'RE KILLING YOURSELF.

[ LANDON CRYING ] THAT'S KILLING YOU.

THAT'S KILLING YOU.

THAT'S KILLING YOU.

THIS HAS TO STOP.

WELL, I GOT TO FEED LANDON.

HE NEEDS TO LEARN HEALTHY EATING HABITS, DOTTIE.

IT'S NOT JUST YOUR LIFE.

IT'S EVERYBODY'S LIFE.

AFTER YOU GET FINISHED EATING, THAT PROBLEM IS STILL THERE.

IT'S NOT GOING NOWHERE, AND UNTIL YOU DEAL WITH IT,

IT'S NOT GONNA GET ANY BETTER.

AND ALL THE SURGERIES IN THE WORLD --

IT'S NOT GONNA FIX IF YOU DON'T MAKE A DECISION TO FIX IT.

AND I CAN'T WATCH YOU KILL YOURSELF NO MORE.

I DON'T THINK I CAN HANDLE IT.

**

Dottie: MY SISTER JUST DOESN'T UNDERSTAND

WHAT I HAVE TO DEAL WITH AND WHAT HELPS ME DO THAT.

**

I KNOW.

IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS SINCE I'VE SEEN THE DOCTOR.

WHEN DANIEL HAD TO GO INTO THE HOSPITAL,

I CALLED HIM AND TOLD HIM I COULDN'T GO BACK TO HOUSTON.

HE UNDERSTOOD MY SITUATION

BUT WANTED ME TO STILL WATCH MY DIET.

SINCE THEN, I'VE MISSED THE LAST COUPLE OF APPOINTMENTS

BECAUSE I'VE HAD TOO MUCH GOING ON,

SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT HE'S GONNA SAY.

I HOPE HE STILL UNDERSTANDS

AND THAT HE'LL STILL TREAT ME AFTER ALL THIS TIME.

THIS IS THE HIGHEST I'VE EVER BEEN.

I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT WHAT DR. NOW IS GOING TO SAY.

-HEY, DOTTIE. -HEY.

OKAY, AFTER YOUR LAST VISIT, YOU DIDN'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL

TO BE ADMITTED BECAUSE YOU HAD AN EMERGENCY WITH YOUR SON,

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT THAT DIDN'T MEAN THAT YOU

HAD TO GAIN 30 POUNDS OVER THAT TIME.

YOU WENT 70 POUNDS IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

SO, WHAT IS GOING ON?

I WAS STRESSED OUT DURING THAT TIME,

AND I'VE MADE SOME POOR CHOICES EATING.

AND I'M READY TO PUT MY HEALTH FORWARD THIS TIME,

AND FOR ME --

NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

YOU SAY YOU'RE READY, BUT YOU'RE NOT.

YOU'RE STILL BLAMING STRESS

AND TAKING CARE OF YOUR KIDS AS AN EXCUSE TO EAT.

HOW IS THAT GOING TO CHANGE LONG-TERM WITH THE SURGERY?

DOTTIE HAS HAD A ROUGH COUPLE MONTHS,

AND I FEEL BAD FOR WHAT SHE HAS TO DEAL WITH.

BUT THERE IS NO EVENT IN LIFE WHERE

SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR IS JUSTIFIABLE.

DOTTIE, YOU'RE NOT GETTING HOW SERIOUS YOUR SITUATION IS.

YOU HAVE EXTRA 500 POUNDS OF WEIGHT ON YOUR BODY,

AND EVERY DAY, THEY'RE BRINGING YOU CLOSER AND CLOSER TO DEATH.

YOU CANNOT TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY

IF YOU'RE NOT HERE ANYMORE.

SO, YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE READY TO MAKE A CHANGE?

YES.

OKAY, THEN IT'S TIME TO PROVE IT TO ME.

YOU'RE GOING TO A HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW

TO BE ADMITTED AND START YOUR CONTROLLED DIET.

I GET WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH AT HOME,

BUT EXCUSES HAVE TO STOP NOW.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

DOTTIE STILL NEEDS HELP TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HEALTHY DIET IS.

SO SHE NEEDS TO GO TO A HOSPITAL

AND COMPLY WITH A CONTROLLED DIET FOR A MONTH

TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN WHAT SHE EATS AND WHAT SHE SHOULD EAT.

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET HER TO MAKE PROGRESS.

HE WAS MEAN, BUT HE WAS RIGHT.

HE WAS HONEST.

Dottie: I DON'T FEEL LIKE THE DOCTOR

REALLY UNDERSTANDS MY SITUATION.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO LOSE HIS HELP.

I WASN'T SURE HE WAS EVEN GONNA CONSIDER ME FOR SURGERY.

SO I KNOW I HAVE TO DO THIS NOW.

BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN AWAY FROM MY BOYS FOR A MONTH.

THEY NEED ME.

MY MOTHER WAS NEVER THERE FOR ME,

BUT I VOW TO ALWAYS BE THERE FOR MY KIDS.

DOING THIS -- BEING AWAY FROM THEM FOR SO LONG --

IS THE HARDEST THING I'VE EVER BEEN ASKED TO DO.

BUT IF I DON'T SUCCEED AT THIS,

I WON'T BE THERE FOR THEM MUCH LONGER.

**

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ] Dottie: COME IN.

ROOM SERVICE. HOW YOU DOING?

HEY, HOW ARE YOU?

IT'S BEEN A BIT OF AN ADJUSTMENT

SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE IN THE HOSPITAL.

AT FIRST,

I COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW LITTLE THEY WERE FEEDING ME.

IT WAS LIKE NOTHING.

I USUALLY EAT THREE OR FOUR TIMES THESE AMOUNTS.

BUT I'M SLOWLY ADJUSTING

AND TRYING TO LEARN MORE OF WHAT I SHOULD BE DOING.

IT'S BEEN REALLY HARD TO BE AWAY FROM MY FAMILY SO LONG,

BUT I KEEP REMINDING MYSELF I'M DOING THIS FOR THEM.

**

-HEY. -HI, BABY.

HOW YOU DOING?

I'M OKAY. READY TO GO HOME.

Dr. Nowzaradan: DOTTIE HAS BEEN

ON A CONTROLLED DIET FOR A MONTH NOW,

AND TODAY, WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW MUCH PROGRESS SHE HAS MADE

WHILE SHE'S BEEN HERE.

Dottie: THE DOCTOR TODAY IS ACTUALLY COMING IN

AND LETTING ME KNOW HOW MUCH WEIGHT I'VE LOST

AND IF I'M GONNA BE APPROVED FOR SURGERY OR NOT.

AND I'M VERY ANXIOUS.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

I'M OKAY.

WELL, WE'RE GONNA WEIGH YOU TODAY AND SEE HOW MUCH YOU LOST.

SO, LET'S BRING THIS SCALE.

I'M GONNA WEIGH YOU AND THEN SEE WHAT PROGRESS YOU MADE.

ALL RIGHT.

I HAVE WORKED VERY HARD TO GET TO THIS POINT.

IF I'M NOT APPROVED, I'D BE VERY DISAPPOINTED.

OKAY, YOU LOST ALMOST 70 POUNDS THIS MONTH.

SO I'M GONNA SET YOU UP FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, OKAY?

-YAY! YAY! -OKAY?

HERE'S THE DEAL, THOUGH.

THE BIG TEST COMING --

IF YOU GO HOME AND START GAINING WEIGHT,

WE'RE NOT GONNA PUT YOU ON A SURGERY SCHEDULE, OKAY?

-IT'S NOT. -OKAY.

IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

DOTTIE HAS DONE VERY WELL.

CAN I HAVE A HUG?

ALL RIGHT, OKAY.

-[ LAUGHS ] -ALL RIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SO, I'LL SCHEDULE THE OPERATION

FOR A MONTH FROM NOW.

IF SHE SHOWS UP FOR SURGERY AND HAS GAINED WEIGHT,

I'LL CANCEL IT AND SEND HER HOME.

SHE NEEDS TO SHOW ME THAT SHE CAN DO THIS.

Dottie: I FEEL LIKE I'M ON ABOUT CLOUD NINE RIGHT NOW.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S REALLY HAPPENING --

TO HEAR THAT I HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR SURGERY.

I HAVE WAITED YEARS TO HEAR THEM WORDS

COME OUT OF SOMEBODY'S MOUTH, SO I'M VERY EXCITED.

AND I FEEL LIKE DR. NOW HAS GIVEN ME

THIS AWESOME CHANCE TO GET MY LIFE BACK.

**

THIS PAST MONTH, I KIND OF FELT SORRY FOR MYSELF

BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN THROUGH A LOT.

BUT AFTER I HAVE SURGERY,

THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT I'LL GO THROUGH.

I CAN'T ALWAYS USE THAT AS AN EXCUSE.

THERE'S NO MORE EXCUSES FOR ANYTHING.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WHILE DOTTIE HAS BEEN AT HOME FOR A MONTH...

THAT'S ENOUGH TO SHOW ME

THAT SHE'S MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SO I'M MOVING AHEAD WITH HER GASTRECTOMY TODAY.

SHE'S STILL EXTREMELY HEAVY.

GASTRIC SLEEVE CAN BE DONE MORE RAPIDLY THAN GASTRIC BYPASS.

TURN THE ROOM LIGHT OFF.

WE TAKE 80% TO 90% OF THE STOMACH OUT...

THIS PROCEDURE WILL LIMIT

THE AMOUNT THAT PATIENT CAN EAT IN ONE SITTING,

AND THEY'LL BE ABLE TO LOSE WEIGHT.

Chris: I'M VERY NERVOUS.

I KNOW SHE'S IN GOOD HANDS,

BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.

ANYTHING COULD GO WRONG.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ROOM LIGHT ON.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE DONE.

Man: TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

DOTTIE'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

THERE WILL BE SOME UPS AND DOWNS WITH HER SOON, I'M SURE.

BUT SHE'S ON THE RIGHT TRACK FOR NOW.

Dottie: FEAR CAN BE ONE OF THE MOST

DESTRUCTIVE THINGS IN A PERSON'S LIFE

IF THEY CHOOSE TO GIVE IN TO IT.

**

SINCE SURGERY, A LOT HAS CHANGED.

I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD EVER GET USED TO EATING SMALLER PORTIONS.

BUT I CAN EAT A LITTLE AND GET FULL RIGHT AWAY.

SO I'VE BEEN ABLE TO STICK TO IT.

WANT A BITE?

[ SQUEALS ]

ALL MY LIFE, I'VE HAD PEOPLE TELL ME

I'M EATING TOO MUCH AND CRITICIZE ME FOR THAT.

BUT NO ONE HAD GIVEN ME ANY HELP TO DO IT.

I FINALLY HAVE THAT NOW.

THIS IS MY CABINET.

WE'RE CLEANING OUT THE STUFF THAT WE JUST DON'T EAT.

AS FAR AS MY FREEZER...

[ SIGHS ]

IT'S RATHER EMPTY.

IT'S MAINLY JUST VEGETABLES.

NO MORE ICE CREAM.

MNH-MNH.

COME ON, LANDON, YOU WANT TO GO?

Chris: YOU GONNA WALK?

COME ON, YOU WANT TO GO FOR MOMMY?

WANT TO GO FOR A WALK? COME ON.

JUST HAVING THAT HELP AND SUPPORT

IS A HUGE ENCOURAGEMENT.

AND SEEING THE PROGRESS I'M MAKING

MAKES ME EXCITED TO DO MORE.

AND I HAVE NO DOUBT I CAN DO THIS NOW.

**

THIS YEAR HAS BEEN REALLY ROUGH.

THERE WERE SO MANY TIMES THAT I WANTED TO GIVE UP,

BUT I THOUGHT OF MY KIDS AND THOUGHT WHERE

WOULD THEY BE WITHOUT THEIR MAMA.

AND THAT REALLY PUSHED ME ON FORWARD.

I STILL DON'T LIKE HOW HIGH THE NUMBER IS ON THE SCALE,

BUT I LOVE THAT IT KEEPS GOING DOWN.

ALL RIGHT, DOTTIE, YOU'RE DOING VERY GOOD.

YOU'RE DOWN ANOTHER 35 POUNDS OVER THE LAST MONTH.

THAT'S GREAT.

DOTTIE IS MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

SHE NO LONGER IS USING HER KIDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES AS AN EXCUSE.

AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT SHE'LL BE ABLE

TO GET TO HER TARGET WEIGHT IN A YEAR OR SO.

Dottie: CAN I GIVE YOU A HUG, DR. NOWZARADAN?

ALL RIGHT.

[ LAUGHS ] THANK YOU SO MUCH.

-YOU'RE WELCOME, YOU'RE WELCOME. -THANK YOU.

Dottie: I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME THAT I FELT THIS GOOD.

I KNOW I STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO

AND A LOT OF WEIGHT TO LOSE.

BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME,

I'M NOT AFRAID OF WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.