Original subtitles

Tracey: I'M NOT LIVING A LIFE.

I FEEL LIKE I'M THIS MONSTER.

**

James: NOT FOR ONE MINUTE

I THOUGHT MY LIFE WOULD END UP LIKE THIS.

OW! MY LEGS!

Ashley: [ Crying ] I'M SO FAR GONE.

Woman: I ABSOLUTELY NEED HELP,

OR I AM GONNA DIE.

-[ Crying ] I CAN'T DO THIS. -IT'S RIGHT UNDER YOU.

-I NEED IT OVER! -SIT DOWN. YOU'RE FINE.

YOU'RE FINE.

Tracey: I FEEL LIKE I LET MY KIDS DOWN.

INSTEAD OF ME TAKING CARE OF THEM,

THEY'VE BEEN TAKING CARE OF ME.

IT'S YOU. YOU ARE THE ONE KILLING HIM.

SHE ATE CHOCOLATE. JUST LAST NIGHT,

THREE BOXES OF CHOCOLATES.

I CAN'T FORCE YOU TO MAKE THE CHOICES

THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

**

Tracey: LIFE WILL ALWAYS BE FULL OF A LOT OF TWISTS AND TURNS,

AND WHEN IT'S A BIG TURN, YOUR BIGGEST STRUGGLE

WILL BE TO EVEN STAY ON THE ROAD.

I CAN'T BELIEVE MY LIFE.

THE PAIN OF WAKING UP EACH DAY IS EXCRUCIATING,

AND IT'S MY LEGS THAT HURT THE MOST...

...BECAUSE MOST OF MY WEIGHT IS IN MY LOWER BODY

AND I DON'T KNOW WHY.

BUT THAT'S WHERE I GAIN.

MY LEGS HAVE LYMPHEDEMA, WHICH IS A CONDITION

WHERE YOUR LYMPHATIC CELLS CLUMP TOGETHER,

AND THEY JUST FORM LARGE MASSES

KIND OF WHERE THEY WANT TO.

AND IT'S MISERABLE,

BECAUSE THE PAIN IS JUST UNBEARABLE.

IT'S LIKE I HAVE THESE TWO HUGE ANCHORS

ATTACHED TO ME

THAT MAKE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE.

-ANTHONY! -YEAH?

MY HUSBAND DOES PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING FOR ME.

AND IF HE DIDN'T HELP ME OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING,

THERE'D BE NO WAY I COULD STAND UP ON MY OWN.

-HUH? -GOT THE DOOR.

-OKAY, I GOT IT, I GOT IT. -YEAH?

[ PANTING ]

EVERY TIME I TAKE A STEP,

I'M JUST TRYING NOT TO FALL OVER.

AND WHEN I WALK, IT FEELS LIKE MY LEGS

ARE BEING PULLED OUT OF MY HIP SOCKETS.

AND I HAVE TO GET WHERE I'M GOING QUICKLY AND SIT DOWN,

BECAUSE I CAN'T STAY UP FOR LONG.

IT'S JUST TOO PAINFUL.

I FEEL TRAPPED IN MY BODY BECAUSE SOMEWHERE IN THERE,

THERE'S A NORMAL PERSON.

AND IT MAKES ME SO SAD,

BECAUSE THIS IS NOT HOW ANYONE SHOULD BE LIVING.

I'M NOT LIVING A LIFE,

BECAUSE I CAN'T DO ANYTHING. I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE.

EVEN TRYING TO SHOWER EVERY DAY IS TOO DIFFICULT.

SO I JUST SHOWER EVERY OTHER DAY.

IF I DON'T HAVE TO DO IT, I TRY NOT TO DO IT,

BECAUSE THE PAIN IS JUST UNBEARABLE.

ON DAYS WHEN I CAN GET IN THE SHOWER,

I HAVE TO SIT IN THE SHOWER CHAIR.

I CANNOT STAND THERE THE WHOLE TIME.

BUT I AT LEAST TRY TO STAY CLEAN.

AND I CAN USUALLY DO MY TOP PART PRETTY GOOD,

BUT MY LEGS ARE SO LARGE,

AND THERE'S SO MANY CREVICES, IT'S JUST DIFFICULT,

AND THEY'RE TOO HEAVY TO EVEN LIFT.

TAKING A SHOWER TOTALLY WIPES ME OUT.

I CAN ONLY STAY IN THERE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES

BEFORE I GET SO EXHAUSTED,

I FEEL LIKE I'LL PASS OUT.

THAT'S ALL I CAN DO FOR THE DAY.

WHEN I'M SITTING IN THE SHOWER, I LOOK AT MY LEGS AND MY BODY,

AND I THINK, "WOW."

YOU KNOW, "HOW DID I GET THIS WAY?"

I FEEL LIKE I'M THIS MONSTER.

YOU NEVER THINK WHEN YOU'RE GROWING UP

THAT THIS IS WHAT YOUR LIFE IS GONNA LOOK LIKE SOMEDAY.

**

GROWING UP, MY CHILDHOOD WAS VERY ROUGH.

THERE WERE A LOT OF BAD THINGS GOING ON AT HOME.

AND BEING THE OLDEST OF THREE KIDS,

I FELT LIKE IT WAS MY JOB

TO PROTECT MY TWO YOUNGER BROTHERS.

MY DAD WAS AN ABUSIVE ALCOHOLIC,

TO PUT IT NICELY.

AND WHEN HE GOT REALLY DRUNK, HE'D HIT MY MOM.

AND WHEN MY MOM GOT FRUSTRATED, SHE'D HIT ME.

I HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL LIKE FOUR OR FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES

WITH BLACK EYES, ALL OF THEM THAT I RECEIVED FROM MY MOTHER.

AND TO MAKE IT WORSE, WE HAD A MALE BABYSITTER

WHO'D WATCH US EVERY NOW AND THEN,

AND WHEN HE DID, HE WOULD MOLEST ME.

THAT STARTED WHEN I WAS 3, 3 1/2 YEARS OLD

TILL I WAS LIKE 6 YEARS OLD.

AND HE WOULD TELL ME THINGS LIKE,

"YOU CAN'T TELL YOUR MOMMY AND DADDY THAT I DO THIS,

BECAUSE IF YOU DO,

I'M GONNA KILL YOUR BABY BROTHER."

SO I NEVER DID.

AND IT WAS AROUND THAT TIME

WHEN I REMEMBER GOING TO FOOD TO FEEL SAFE,

BECAUSE WHEN I ATE SOMETHING THAT TASTED REALLY GOOD,

I COULD ESCAPE.

SO I STARTED GAINING WEIGHT AROUND THE AGE OF 6 OR 7,

AND I WEIGHED ABOUT 70 POUNDS THEN.

AND OVER TIME, THINGS GOT BETTER,

BECAUSE WHEN I WAS 11, ME AND MY BROTHERS

STARTED SPENDING A LOT MORE TIME AT MY GRANDMA'S.

WE WERE STILL LIVING WITH OUR PARENTS,

BUT THEY WERE JUST NEVER THERE.

BUT MY EATING DIDN'T SLOW DOWN,

BECAUSE MY GRANDMA LOVED TO FEED US

AND GIVE US EVERY KIND OF SWEETS,

SO I WAS AROUND 170 POUNDS.

AT GRANDMA'S HOUSE, I DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL

WITH MY DAD'S DRINKING

OR MY DAD AND MY MOM FIGHTING.

BUT THINGS IN OUR HOUSE WERE MORE VIOLENT.

THERE WAS TIMES THAT WINDOWS GOT BROKE OUT AT OUR HOUSE,

AND SHOTGUNS WERE BROUGHT OUT,

AND MY MOM AND ME AND MY BROTHERS

WOULD RUN OUT THE HOUSE FOR OUR LIVES.

Karen: TRACEY DIDN'T HAVE A VERY STABLE CHILDHOOD.

IT WOULD PROBABLY BE VERY SCARY AT TIMES.

THERE WAS A LOT OF ABUSE BETWEEN HER FATHER AND MYSELF,

SO IT WAS A LOT OF EMOTIONAL UPHEAVAL

IN HER LIFE THAT JUST CAUSES HER TO EAT

WITHOUT REALLY REALIZING HOW MUCH SHE'S EATING.

Tracey: FOOD WAS WHAT MADE ME FEEL SAFE.

WHEN I ATE, I WASN'T WORRYING.

SO MIDDLE SCHOOL AND JUNIOR HIGH,

MY WEIGHT GOT UP ALL THE WAY TO THE 200s.

AND I PUT ON ANOTHER 50 POUNDS

BY THE TIME I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

SO I GOT UP TO LIKE 270 POUNDS BY THE TIME I GRADUATED.

BUT I STARTED SEEING SOMEONE,

AND I GOT PREGNANT WHEN I WAS 20.

AND MY MOM KICKED ME OUT, BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T THINK

I WAS GONNA BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THE BABY LIKE I NEEDED.

SO I MOVED IN WITH MY GRANDMOTHER.

I HAD MY FIRST CHILD WHEN I WAS 21 YEARS OLD,

AND I GAINED ABOUT 70 POUNDS

WHEN I WAS PREGNANT WITH BRANDON.

WHEN I WAS 23, I GOT PREGNANT AGAIN.

AND I REMEMBER GOING TO MY VERY LAST DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT,

'CAUSE IT WAS A WEEK BEFORE SHE WAS DUE,

AND THEM TELLING ME,

"TRACEY, WE CAN'T FIND THE BABY'S HEARTBEAT."

AND I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL TO HAVE A C-SECTION,

AND SHE WAS STILLBORN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AFTER THEY INDUCED MY LABOR,

BUT THEY SAID FROM HER BEING DEAD

FOR LIKE FOUR OR FIVE DAYS,

IT, LIKE, POISONED MY BODY, AND I ALMOST DIED.

THEY GAVE ME MY LAST RITES. THEY HAD TO SHOCK ME.

YOU KNOW, I WENT UNCONSCIOUS.

I HAD NO HEARTBEAT FOR THREE MINUTES.

ALL I KNOW IS I WOKE UP FOUR DAYS LATER IN I.C.U.

AND I ATE A LOT DURING THAT TIME.

SO, ONCE AGAIN, FOOD WAS THERE FOR ME

TO HELP TAKE THE PAIN AND TO DEAL WITH LIFE.

AND WHEN IT CAME TIME TO DELIVER MY SECOND CHILD, TIERRA,

I NEARLY DIED DURING THE BIRTH.

AND THEN WHEN I GAVE BIRTH TO MY SON RYAN,

I HAD TO BE BEDRIDDEN,

SO IT WAS ANOTHER HARD PREGNANCY

WHERE I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BUT STAY IN BED AND EAT.

AND I WAS WELL OVER 400 POUNDS BY THAT TIME.

BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO BE A PARENT THAT WASN'T INVOLVED,

LIKE MY PARENTS,

AND I STARTED GOING TO ALL THE EVENTS AT SCHOOL.

AND I GOT MARRIED TO MY BOYFRIEND AT THE SAME TIME,

AND WE WERE A GOOD FAMILY.

Ryan: I WAS CLOSE TO MY MOM. SHE WAS A GOOD MOM.

SHE ALWAYS DID WHAT SHE HAD TO DO

TO GET US WHAT WE NEEDED AND MORE.

IN MY OLD SCHOOL, SHE WOULD ALWAYS COME IN, VOLUNTEER.

WHEN I WAS AROUND 13 YEARS OLD,

SHE STARTED NOT BEING ABLE TO DO AS MUCH AS SHE USED TO.

Tracey: THAT'S WHEN I STARTED TO DEVELOP LYMPHEDEMA,

AND I NOTICED MY LEGS STARTING TO SWELL

AND THEN GET MORE AND MORE DEFORMED.

AND WHEN I WAS 38, I GOT A CELLULITIS INFECTION,

AND I BECAME BEDRIDDEN AGAIN.

AND THEN I GOT TO 500 AND THEN JUST KEPT GAINING.

THEY EVENTUALLY PUT ME IN A NURSING HOME,

BECAUSE I JUST COULDN'T STAY IN A HOSPITAL ANY LONGER,

AND ALL I DID WAS JUST SIT AND EAT.

AND THINGS AT HOME JUST FELL APART.

MY HUSBAND HAD LOST HIS JOB

AND STARTED TO GET VIOLENT WITH THE KIDS.

AND THEN I FOUND OUT HE CHEATED ON ME,

SO I WENT AND FILED FOR A DIVORCE

THE DAY AFTER I FOUND OUT HE CHEATED.

**

BUT WHILE I WAS STAYING IN THE NURSING HOME,

I MET ANTHONY ONLINE,

AND WE JUST HAD A CONNECTION.

I NEVER REALLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH TRACEY'S WEIGHT.

IT WAS THE INSIDE THAT ATTRACTED ME TO TRACEY,

'CAUSE SHE ACCEPTED ME FOR ME.

AND I HAVE A PASSION FOR TAKING CARE OF PEOPLE,

SO WHAT REALLY ATTRACTED ME OUTSIDE OF HER GOOD PERSONALITY

WAS THE NEED -- SOMEONE TO NEED ME THERE.

Tracey: WHEN I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY LEAVE THE NURSING HOME

A FEW YEARS AGO, HE TOLD ME --

HE WAS LIKE, "WELL, WHEN YOU GET OUT,

I WANT TO COME HELP YOU."

SO WE GOT MARRIED, AND NOW ANTHONY'S THE ONE

WHO HAS TO HELP ME TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.

IF I DIDN'T HAVE MY HUSBAND, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO.

I CAN'T EVEN GET BACK INTO BED ON MY OWN,

BECAUSE MY LEGS ARE JUST TOO HEAVY FOR ME TO LIFT.

-TELL ME WHEN YOU'RE READY. -I'M READY.

UP. [ GRUNTS ]

MM-HMM.

SO RIGHT NOW, I'M PROBABLY OVER 600 POUNDS

AND CONDEMNED TO LIVE IN THIS BED ALMOST ALL DAY LONG.

I HAVE CUTS AND SORES ON MY LEGS,

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS CLEAN

SO I DON'T GET MORE INFECTIONS

AND WIND UP BACK IN THE HOSPITAL.

I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS SINCE I WAS 29.

LIKE, I'VE LOST ALREADY ALL OF MY 30s

AND HALF MY 40s

TO THIS DISEASE THAT'S TAKEN OVER MY BODY.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO EAT?

I WANT EGGS AND BACON.

EGGS AND BACON. IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT.

-THANK YOU. -ALL RIGHT.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL FOR MY HUSBAND,

BECAUSE HE'S MY CARETAKER.

HE COOKS FOR ME AND DOES ALL THE SHOPPING

AND BRINGS ME FOOD.

-THANKS. -YEAH.

EATING IS ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS I STILL GET TO DO THAT I ENJOY.

IT'S WHAT I LOOK FORWARD TO EVERY DAY, ALL DAY.

I HAVE NO CLUE HOW MANY CALORIES I EAT IN A DAY.

PROBABLY WAY, WAY, WAY, WAY HIGHER

THAN WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

BUT IT'S HARD TO STOP EATING, BECAUSE IT TASTES SO GOOD.

-THANK YOU. -YEAH.

DRINK YOUR JUICE. SINCE WE'VE BEEN MARRIED,

I'VE BEEN HER PRIMARY CARETAKER.

I COOK, I CLEAN,

AND I DO BASICALLY EVERYTHING

THAT TRACEY NEEDS IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

IN THE PAST, TRACEY USED TO GO TO THE GROCERY STORE WITH ME,

BUT LATELY, SHE HAS GOTTEN WORSE,

SO SHE DOESN'T GO ANYMORE.

SHE MAKES THE GROCERY LIST, AND I DO THE SHOPPING.

I THINK I DO ENABLE TRACEY A LOT,

'CAUSE I GIVE IN TO WHAT SHE WANTS.

FOODS THAT WE MUST HAVE AROUND IN THE HOUSE

IS, LIKE, ALL THE JUNK FOOD, LIKE BROWNIES, DOUGHNUTS,

CHOCOLATE CAKE, ICE CREAM.

IF I DON'T GET WHAT TRACEY WANTS,

SHE LETS ME KNOW. [ CHUCKLES ]

SHE LETS ME KNOW I DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING,

AND I'M GOING BACK TO THE STORE.

I BELIEVE THAT TRACEY IS IN DENIAL

ABOUT HOW MUCH SHE EATS.

IT MAKES ME WORRY ABOUT HER A WHOLE LOT.

Tracey: I USUALLY ONLY GET UP ONCE DURING THE DAY TO TAKE A SHOWER.

BUT ON DAYS WHEN MY MOM AND KIDS COME OVER

TO HAVE DINNER WITH US,

I TRY TO GET UP TO BE WITH THEM.

-OKAY. -OKAY.

MOVING AROUND THE HOUSE IS VERY HARD,

BUT I WANT TO HAVE A SIT-DOWN DINNER WITH MY HUSBAND

AND MY THREE KIDS AND MY GRANDKIDS,

AND SO I TRY TO GET UP TO BE WITH THEM.

BUT I NEVER TAKE A SHOWER

AND TRY TO MAKE DINNER IN THE SAME DAY.

SO I JUST HOPE I'M NOT PUSHING MYSELF TOO HARD.

KNOCK, KNOCK! WHAT YOU DOING UP?

ATTEMPTING TO COOK IN THIS HOT HEAT.

I WOULD PICK THE HOTTEST DAY.

TRACEY USED TO DO EVERYTHING WITH HER KIDS,

BUT NOW, JUST FOR HER TO GET UP OUT OF HER BED

PHYSICALLY IS PUTTING SUCH A MAJOR STRAIN

ON HER BODY ORGANS.

I DON'T THINK THEY CAN CONTINUE TO KEEP LASTING.

WELL, YOUR FACE IS GETTING RED. MAYBE PUT SOME COLD WATER ON IT.

Tracey: IT'S JUST SO HOT THAT IF I STAY OUT THERE ANY LONGER,

I'M GONNA END UP ON THE FLOOR.

[ GRUNTS ]

I JUST CAN'T DO IT.

SO I LAY DOWN.

Ryan: GOOD. YOU'RE GOOD.

[ GRUNTING, PANTING ]

OH, GOD.

[ GRUNTS ]

Ryan: WE SEE HER GETTING WORSE AND WORSE.

AND, YOU KNOW, HER LEGS KEEP GETTING BIGGER.

AND IT'S HARDER FOR HER TO WALK.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THOUGHTS GOING THROUGH OUR MIND,

LIKE, YOU KNOW, SHE COULD DIE ONE OF THESE DAYS,

AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO.

Tracey: I FEEL LIKE I LET MY KIDS DOWN,

BECAUSE INSTEAD OF ME TAKING CARE OF THEM,

THEY'VE BEEN TAKING CARE OF ME

SINCE THEY WERE IN SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE.

OH, THIS IS WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

I'M GONNA MAKE HER A PLATE. Y'ALL CAN GO AHEAD AND EAT.

-NO! -YOU WANT TO EAT?

Tracey: I KNOW MY BODY IS GETTING TO A BREAKING POINT.

AND I'VE GOTTEN SO BIG

THAT I AM COMPLETELY MISSING OUT ON LIFE.

-IT'S HOT. -IT'S OKAY.

-IT'S HOT. -IT'S ALL RIGHT, MOM.

HERE.

MY FAMILY IS OUT IN THE KITCHEN, EATING.

I WISH I COULD BE OUT THERE WITH THEM.

THIS IS LIKE THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME

THAT I'VE HAD EVEN ALL THREE OF MY KIDS

SITTING TOGETHER, EATING DINNER.

BUT I'M NOT GONNA RISK WALKING BACK OUT THERE.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

THIS IS A LOT OF FOOD.

NO, NO, NOT REALLY.

I'M JUST SLOWLY EATING MYSELF TO DEATH, AND I CAN'T STOP.

AND I KNOW I'M CHOOSING FOOD OVER MY FAMILY RIGHT NOW,

AND THAT BREAKS MY HEART.

I KNOW I HAVE A PURPOSE IN LIFE

OTHER THAN JUST BEING THIS WOMAN

TRAPPED IN THIS SHELL.

[ Crying ] I MISSED A WHOLE LOT WITH MY KIDS.

THE WORST THING IS...

...NOW I HAVE MY GRANDKIDS.

I JUST WANT TO BE A GRANDMA TO THEM.

WANT TO GET YOUR MOOSE?

COME HERE.

THERE'S PLENTY OF TIMES THAT WE WAKE UP,

AND I DON'T KNOW IF TRACEY'S STILL BREATHING OR NOT.

SO IT'S VERY SCARY. IT'S VERY SCARY.

-BYE, BABY. -BYE, MOM.

-BYE. -LOVE YOU.

LOVE YOU, TOO.

I KNOW MY BODY CAN'T GO ON MUCH LONGER LIKE THIS,

BUT IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME

BEFORE I GO TO BED AND JUST DON'T WAKE UP.

Tracey: I KNOW I HAVE TO GET HELP WITH MY WEIGHT,

AND I HAVE TO DO IT NOW,

ESPECIALLY FOR MY LEGS

AND MY LYMPHEDEMA.

BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO FIND A DOCTOR TO HELP ME AT ALL.

SO I'M REALLY HOPING DR. NOWZARADAN CAN HELP ME,

BECAUSE HE MAY BE MY ONLY HELP AT THIS POINT.

WE SET AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE HIM IN A FEW DAYS,

AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE JOURNEY THERE TODAY.

I'VE PUT THIS MUCH STRESS ON MY BODY

AND LET IT GET THIS OUT OF CONTROL

THAT I DEFINITELY NEED SOME KIND OF HELP.

**

FOR ME, IT TAKES A LOT OUT OF ME JUST TO WALK A FEW STEPS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER I WILL EVEN BE ABLE TO STAND UP.

AND IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE BEEN IN A CAR,

AND NOW I'M GOING TO BE IN ONE

FOR AT LEAST 20 HOURS.

SO I'M REALLY NERVOUS,

BUT I KNOW I CAN'T KEEP GOING ON LIKE THIS FOR MUCH LONGER.

AND I CAN'T EVEN FIT IN A NORMAL SEAT ANYMORE,

SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO RIDE IN THE BACK,

AND I'M A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT BEING UNCOMFORTABLE FOR SO LONG.

Anthony: TRACEY REALLY NEEDS THIS,

SO WE'RE WILLING TO TAKE THIS RISK,

THIS CHANCE OF GOING WAY DOWN THERE AND BEING REJECTED,

JUST TO KNOW IF IT MEANS THAT WE COULD GET OUR LIFE BACK.

Tracey: OH, DAMN IT. THIS IS NOT GOOD.

EVERY DAY THAT PASSES,

MY LYMPHEDEMA GETS WORSE AND WORSE.

OH [BLEEP]

HERE.

I HAVE TO TRY AND DO THIS,

AND I'M REALLY GLAD MY MOM IS GOING WITH US

SO WE HAVE AN EXTRA SET OF HANDS TO HELP.

-READY? -ALL RIGHT, WE GOT IT.

**

IT'S REALLY HARD SITTING BACK HERE

WITH NO PLACE TO REALLY LEAN BACK

OR LET MY LEGS STRETCH,

AND THEY'RE STARTING TO HURT REALLY BAD.

**

ANTHONY, I NEED TO STRETCH.

Anthony: OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, GET THIS LEG OUT.

WHEN MY LEGS START TO REALLY HURT,

ANTHONY HAS TO RUB THEM AND HELP ME MOVE THEM AROUND,

BECAUSE I CAN'T JUST GET UP AND WALK.

Anthony: YOU WANT TO TRY TO STAND UP?

NO, 'CAUSE IT'S GONNA BE TOO HARD FOR ME TO GET BACK IN HERE,

'CAUSE THIS IS UP REALLY HIGH. I CAN FEEL THAT ALREADY.

ALL RIGHT, YOU WANT ME TO STROKE YOUR LEGS?

YEAH.

OHH!

[ GRUNTS ]

BUT THEY CAN GET SO SORE THAT THE PAIN IS JUST EXCRUCIATING.

OOH. THIS HELPED, JUST MOVING THEM.

BUT IT'S HURTING AGAIN, SO I'M GONNA GET THEM BACK IN.

-AAH! DAMN! -I KNOW.

-I HEARD THAT CRACK, TOO. -[ GROANING ]

THIS IS A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT.

I WANTED TO JUST DRIVE STRAIGHT THERE

TO GET THERE AS FAST AS I CAN,

BUT I NEED TO STOP SOMEWHERE

AND GET INTO A BED AND GET SOMETHING TO EAT.

WE'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT EIGHT HOURS,

AND WE'VE MADE IT TO LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO BE

THIS BAD AND THIS ROUGH,

TRYING TO SIT BACK THERE AND STAY IN THE CAR THIS LONG.

THIS IS HURTING MY FEET. I KNOW THAT.

AND I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN RIGHT NOW, I NEED A BREAK.

I'M HUNGRY RIGHT NOW, SO ANTHONY WENT

TO GO GET US SOMETHING FOR DINNER.

I HAVEN'T REALLY EATEN ALL DAY,

'CAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO THROW UP,

AND I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE TO USE THE BATHROOM,

SO I JUST DIDN'T EAT.

THEM PEOPLE DID NOT WASH THEIR HANDS AT ALL.

-GO. -OH [BLEEP]

OH.

-OKAY, HOLD THAT A SECOND. -UP TO THE TOP.

I DON'T REGRET TAKING THIS TRIP, BECAUSE I STILL NEED TO

AND WANT TO GO SEE THE DOCTOR IN HOUSTON,

BUT THIS IS A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

**

MY BODY IS OVERWHELMED,

AND IT'S HURTING ON EVERY PART OF IT RIGHT NOW.

I FEEL VERY MISERABLE, DRAINED.

MY STUFF'S GOOD.

MAYBE IT'S JUST 'CAUSE I'M SO HUNGRY,

BUT IT'S GOOD.

FOOD ALWAYS MAKES ME FEEL BETTER.

AND RIGHT NOW, I JUST NEED TO REST

AND HAVE SOMETHING THAT TASTES GOOD

TO TAKE MY MIND OFF THE PAIN.

TOMORROW, WE HAVE ABOUT SEVEN HOURS TO GO,

AND I'M GONNA PUSH MYSELF TO GET THERE.

AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT HOW HARD

AND PAINFUL IT'S GOING TO BE.

BUT WHATEVER IT TAKES, I HAVE TO DO THIS.

**

TODAY IS THE DAY WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT TO HOUSTON,

AND I FEEL READY TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD.

BUT I'M STILL NOT LOOKING FORWARD

TO HOW MUCH IT'S GONNA HURT.

Anthony: I'M READY FOR YOU.

TRACEY HAS BEEN IN TREMENDOUS PAIN.

SEEING MY WIFE IN PAIN IS UNDESCRIBABLE.

SO I REALLY WANT TO MEET THE DOCTOR

MORE THAN EVER RIGHT NOW AND SEE IF HE CAN'T HELP US.

Tracey: OH [BLEEP]

THIS HAS BEEN A VERY LONG TRIP,

SO I JUST WANT TO START DRIVING

AND TRY AND GET THERE.

AND MY WHOLE BODY HURTS.

SO, TO DO ANOTHER DAY OF DRIVING

IS JUST MAKING ME FEEL ANXIOUS.

I'M, LIKE, KIND OF WONDERING, LIKE,

"OKAY, AM I GOING TO MAKE IT TO SEE THE DOCTOR BY TOMORROW?"

BUT HOPEFULLY, THE PAIN WILL BE WORTH IT.

WE'RE ALMOST TO HOUSTON.

AND I'M STARTING TO GET BUTTERFLIES IN MY STOMACH,

BECAUSE AS WE GET CLOSER,

I KNOW I'M GONNA SEE THE DOCTOR SOON,

AND I'M REALLY NERVOUS TO FIND OUT WHAT HE'S GONNA SAY.

THIS DRIVE HAS BEEN SO INCREDIBLY HARD,

AND I'M SO GLAD TO FINALLY BE HERE.

-IS THE ROOM CLOSE? -NO.

OKAY.

LET'S SEE IF I CAN MAKE THIS JOURNEY.

RIGHT NOW, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING INTO A BED

SO I CAN REST

AND THEN GO SEE DR. NOWZARADAN IN THE MORNING.

I'M TIRED OF LIVING LIKE THIS.

I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME,

AND I'M SCARED THAT DR. NOW ISN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO.

BUT I KNOW HE'S MY LAST HOPE.

IF HE CAN'T HELP ME, NO ONE CAN.

**

I'M HEADED TO DR. NOW'S OFFICE FOR MY FIRST APPOINTMENT,

AND I'M DEFINITELY NERVOUS.

I'M FEELING BUTTERFLIES,

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS IS MY LAST OPPORTUNITY

TO GET SOME HELP.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME THAT THIS APPOINTMENT GOES WELL,

BECAUSE I'VE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO GETTING OUT HERE.

Woman: MS. MATTHEWS?

IT'S ABOUT TO BE THE MOMENT OF TRUTH

WHERE I MEET DR. NOWZARADAN,

AND HE TELLS ME IF HE CAN HELP ME.

AND I'M EXTREMELY NERVOUS TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH I WEIGH,

BECAUSE I KNOW EVERYTHING IS RIDING

ON WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN.

OKAY.

OKAY.

I'M REALLY AFRAID,

BECAUSE I KNOW EVERYTHING IS RIDING

ON HOW MUCH I WEIGH RIGHT NOW.

OH, DAMN.

I WAS REALLY HOPING I WAS UNDER 600.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY LIKE SMACK IN THE FACE.

**

BUT I'VE GOTTEN THAT BIG,

AND IT'S HARD FOR ME TO BELIEVE, BUT I JUST HOPE DR. NOW

CAN HELP ME TURN ALL THIS AROUND.

THIS IS MY CHANCE TO GET SOME HELP.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO. -HELLO.

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN. AND YOU ARE TRACEY, HUH?

-YES, SIR. -ALL RIGHT.

-WHERE ARE YOU COMING FROM? -OHIO.

SO, TELL ME ABOUT YOUR EATING HABITS.

MY DIET IS PROBABLY BAD.

EVEN THOUGH WE PRETTY MUCH ONLY EAT

TWO OR THREE TIMES A DAY, THEY'RE HUGE PORTIONS,

AND IT'S A LOT OF PASTA

AND FATTENING STUFF.

AND WHO BRINGS THE FOOD FOR YOU?

I USUALLY HAVE MY HUSBAND DO THE GROCERY SHOPPING.

I GIVE HIM A LIST, AND HE USUALLY BRINGS BACK

WHAT'S ON THE LIST.

OKAY. SO, THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE NOW.

YOU DON'T MAKE THE LIST ANYMORE,

AND HE DOESN'T BRING IT TO YOU.

-I'M GONNA GIVE YOU A NEW LIST. -MM-HMM.

YOU'RE GONNA STICK TO THAT, ANTHONY.

OKAY. WITH HOW SWOLLEN YOUR LEGS ARE,

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE SEVERE LYMPHEDEMA IN THERE.

WHEN DID YOU DEVELOP THIS LYMPHEDEMA?

I STARTED NOTICING IT LIKE 2001.

I JUST STARTED GETTING THESE CLUMPS IN MY LEGS.

OKAY.

TRACEY SEEMS TO BE A VERY UNIQUE CASE,

BECAUSE SHE HAS DEVELOPED SUCH SEVERE LYMPHEDEMA,

AND HER EXCESSIVE WEIGHT GAIN IS THE CAUSE OF THIS.

HER UPPER BODY SEEMS TO BE SOMEWHAT NORMAL,

BUT RIGHT NOW, THE FLUID AND THE SWELLING IN HER LEGS

MAY WEIGH AS MUCH AS 300 TO 400 POUNDS.

THIS IS A SEVERE CONDITION SHE HAS,

AND IF IT GETS ANY WORSE,

HER OVERALL HEALTH WILL START DETERIORATING RAPIDLY,

AND SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE ALIVE IN A FEW YEARS.

YOUR LYMPHEDEMA IS SO SEVERE

BECAUSE OF YOUR LIFETIME OF WEIGHT GAIN.

SO THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS TO GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN.

-MM-HMM. -AND THE FIRST STEP

WILL BE CORRECT YOUR EATING HABIT.

-OKAY. -OKAY? SO I'M GOING TO PUT YOU

ON A HIGH-PROTEIN, LOW-CARB,

1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET,

STARTING NOW, OKAY?

SO YOU EAT THREE TIMES A DAY, NO SNACKING IN BETWEEN.

OKAY.

SO, I WANT YOU TO LOSE 50 POUNDS

-OVER THE NEXT MONTH. -OKAY.

AT THIS POINT, YOU'RE NOT A CANDIDATE FOR SURGERY.

-OKAY. -BUT IF WE CORRECT

YOUR EATING HABIT

AND GET YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ISSUES ARE,

THEN YOU CAN BE A CANDIDATE FOR SURGERY.

-FINE. -ALL RIGHT?

-THANK YOU. -OKAY.

IT MAY TAKE SEVERAL SURGERIES

TO FIX THE DAMAGE DONE TO TRACEY'S BODY,

SO THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A QUICK AND EASY PROCESS.

BUT WE NEED TO START

BY GETTING HER WEIGHT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

AND THEN DEVELOP A GAME PLAN

ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS ALL OF HER ISSUES,

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO FIX THIS AS FAST AS WE CAN.

Tracey: THIS IS DEFINITELY GONNA BE A BIG CHANGE, A BIG CHALLENGE.

BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO DO THIS,

BECAUSE I'M NOT READY TO GIVE UP,

AND I DON'T WANT TO DIE LIKE THIS.

NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT IT IS OR HOW MUCH I STRUGGLE...

OH, COME ON, BABY.

...I HAVE TO TRY AS HARD AS I CAN.

MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.

**

AFTER I GOT HOME FROM SEEING THE DOCTOR, MY LEGS FLARED UP,

AND I GOT A CELLULITIS INFECTION,

WHICH CAN BECOME DEADLY.

IT'S A BACTERIA INFECTION OF THE SKIN

THAT CAN SPREAD THROUGH MY LYMPH NODES.

SO I'VE BEEN ON A LOT OF MEDICINE TO ADDRESS IT,

AND I'VE BEEN STUCK RECOVERING IN THIS BED.

HEY, ANTHONY,

CAN YOU BRING ME SOME CHICKEN BROTH OR SOMETHING?

I JUST CAN'T MOVE MUCH RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE I FEEL AWFUL.

AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO STICK TO THE DIET,

BUT I DON'T EVEN HAVE AN APPETITE RIGHT NOW.

EVERYTHING MAKES ME NAUSEOUS,

SO I'M HARDLY EATING.

[ SIGHS ]

AND I FIGURE I'M LOSING WEIGHT,

BUT I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH.

ANTHONY,

YOU CAN COME GET THIS NOW.

YOU DIDN'T EAT IT ALL.

I ATE MOST OF THAT. TWO CRACKERS.

BUT I THINK IT'S A BIGGER DEAL FOR ANTHONY RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE HE'S NOT GETTING TO EAT ANYTHING HE WANTS.

I JUST HATE THIS,

AND I DON'T THINK I'M GONNA BE WELL ENOUGH

TO TRAVEL DOWN TO HOUSTON ANYTIME SOON.

I'M SUPPOSED TO GO SEE DR. NOW IN A COUPLE WEEKS,

BUT I JUST DON'T SEE HOW,

'CAUSE I'M TOO SICK TO TRAVEL LIKE THIS RIGHT NOW,

SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

**

OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS,

MY CELLULITIS HASN'T GOTTEN ANY BETTER.

IT STARTS TO GO AWAY, AND THEN IT FLARES UP AGAIN,

AND MY LEGS ARE JUST IN SO MUCH PAIN.

HEY. I DON'T FEEL GOOD AT ALL.

I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA THROW UP.

THIS PART OF MY LEG HURTS THE MOST,

AND IT'S STILL RED AND HOT.

IT HURTS.

I CAN'T GO SEE DR. NOW

FOR MY FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENT RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M WORRIED I MAY BE OUT OF TIME.

THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT MY LEGS WERE GOING TO GET SO BAD SOON

THAT I WOULD BECOME BEDRIDDEN

AND THAT IT WOULD GET WORSE FROM THERE,

SO I'M SO SCARED THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

WANT SOME TEA?

YEAH, THAT MIGHT BE GOOD.

-HERBAL TEA OR -- -I'LL GET YOU SOMETHING.

-HOT. -HMM?

Anthony: I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT TRACEY.

SHE'S GOTTEN CELLULITIS BEFORE,

BUT IT'S NEVER BEEN THIS BAD AND LASTED THIS LONG.

SO I JUST HOPE I CAN NURSE HER BACK TO HEALTH

AND THAT SHE'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

I'M STICKING TO THE DIET TO TRY TO KEEP MAKING PROGRESS,

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MESS UP MY CHANCE TO GET HELP.

AND EVEN THOUGH I CAN'T MAKE IT BACK TO SEE DR. NOW,

HE'S BEEN CALLING TO CHECK ON ME WHILE I'VE BEEN RECOVERING,

SO HE KNOWS WHAT I'M DEALING WITH.

[ CELLPHONE RINGING ]

-HELLO. -This is Dr. Nowzaradan.

I GOT TRACEY RIGHT HERE. HOLD ON A SECOND.

HI, DR. NOW. HOW ARE YOU?

I'm doing okay. How about you?

I GOT CELLULITIS IN MY LEGS AGAIN.

How are we doing with your diet?

THE DIET IS -- WELL, BEFORE I GOT SICK,

I WAS DOING REALLY GOOD ON THE DIET.

I WAS, LIKE, FOLLOWING IT TO A TEE.

AND, THEN, I GOT SICK

AND JUST REALLY COULDN'T EAT NOTHING OR DRINK ANYTHING.

You can't eat nothing.

You need to eat protein.

If you don't, it's going to make the situation worse and worse.

OKAY.

And if your legs keep getting worse,

then you would likely not survive this situation.

-OKAY. -But if you're not eating,

lack of protein will cause it to flare back up worse.

-Do you understand? -YEAH.

Okay, stick with the diet completely,

and try to do any activity you can.

OKAY.

And we'll see when you can come down here again.

Okay? Bye.

BYE-BYE.

AFTER TALKING WITH THE DOCTOR, I'M REALLY SCARED,

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN WORRIED THIS COULD LEAD

TO THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO, LIKE HE SAID,

THAT NO MATTER WHAT I DO, I'M OUT OF TIME.

Tracey: AFTER TALKING TO DR. NOW A FEW WEEKS AGO,

I WAS REALLY SCARED ABOUT HOW I WAS EATING.

SO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO EAT MORE.

BUT I WON'T LIE, I'VE ALSO BEEN CHEATING.

I'M EATING BAKED JERK CHICKEN

AND CABBAGE, CARROTS,

AND RICE,

AND THEN, I THREW HOT SAUCE ON TOP OF IT,

JUST FOR GOOD MEASURE.

I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO EAT RICE ON MY DIET,

BUT WE GET THE RICE THAT'S NATURAL

AND HAS LESS CARBS.

SO I THINK I'M DOING BETTER WITH MY EATING,

AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL MEAN MY CELLULITIS INFECTION

WILL CLEAR UP SOON, LIKE THE DOCTOR SAID.

BUT I HAVE MY NEXT CALL WITH DR. NOW LATER ON TODAY,

AND I'M HOPING HE'S MUCH HAPPIER

WITH HOW I'VE BEEN EATING THIS MONTH.

[ VIDEO CHAT RINGING ]

Hi, Tracey. You doing okay?

I'M DOING BETTER THAN THE LAST TIME

I TALKED TO YOU, SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.

So, your cellulitis is better now?

NO, IT STILL HURTS PRETTY BAD,

BUT I'M WORKING ON MY DIET, TRYING TO MAKE PROGRESS.

HOW HAS YOUR DIET BEEN DOING?

Well, when I had the cellulitis,

I WAS, LIKE, THROWING UP, AND I REALLY COULDN'T EAT,

AND THEN I ATE APPLESAUCE AND BANANAS AND RICE --

STUFF I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO EAT, BUT AT LEAST I WAS, LIKE,

KEEPING IT DOWN AND COULD EAT IT.

I ATE RICE TODAY. I AIN'T GONNA LIE TO YOU.

-I DID. -SO YOU'RE EATING MORE,

BUT YOU'RE STILL NOT EATING WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO,

AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANY BETTER.

AND THIS IS A VERY BAD SITUATION.

YOU HAVE HAD CELLULITIS INFECTION FOR TWO MONTHS

AND THE ANTIBIOTIC HELPS,

BUT IF YOU DON'T CHANGE YOUR DIET LIKE YOU SHOULD,

YOUR LYMPHEDEMA IS GOING TO KEEP GETTING WORSE,

AND CELLULITIS WILL COME BACK WORSE AND WORSE

UNTIL IT KILLS YOU.

So you need to control your eating habit,

And we need to make a plan

to get your weight down

to the point that you're gonna be a candidate

for doing any kind of weight-loss surgery.

You know, everything starts from you.

Everybody is taking care of you,

but you're not doing your part from your dieting

and your weight loss.

-TRUE. -Okay?

So the only way we can help you

if you make the move and come to Texas

so we can monitor your progress,

change your eating habits, and do whatever it takes

to get you to have weight-loss surgery

so the weight comes off of your legs

and gets you to be a functional person.

TRACEY, ANY DAY NOW, SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN,

AND WE NEED TO INTERVENE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

SO I WANT YOU TO START A PLAN TO MOVE HERE

IF YOU WANT HELP.

OKAY. YEP.

All right, I'll talk to you later.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

Okay, bye-bye.

DR. NOW TELLING ME THAT MY ONLY CHANCE NOW

IS TO MOVE TO TEXAS IS VERY SCARY.

I GOT ALL THIS STUFF SPINNING THROUGH MY HEAD LIKE,

"OKAY, HOW IS THIS GONNA GO, AND HOW IS THIS GONNA GO,

AND HOW IS THAT GONNA GO?" I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE I SHOULD STOP THINKING ABOUT IT SO MUCH.

WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, AND EVERYBODY'S WAY UP HERE?

**

I WORRY ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, SO,

BUT ONE OF THEM WOULD BASICALLY JUST BE DYING.

SO, IF THIS IS WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE TO LIVE,

THEN WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO DO IT AND MOVE TO TEXAS.

**

TODAY, WE'RE PACKING TO MOVE TO HOUSTON.

IT TOOK US A WHILE TO TRY TO FIND A PLACE TO LIVE,

AND WE FINALLY FOUND ONE OF THOSE EXTENDED-LIVING HOTELS

YOU CAN RENT BY THE MONTH.

IT'S GOING TO BE AT LEAST EIGHT MONTHS DOWN THERE,

SO I HOPE WE CAN LIVE THAT LONG IN SUCH A TIGHT SPACE.

I'VE PRETTY MUCH BEEN SICK,

SO I HAD TO KIND OF CHEAT ON MY DIET.

AND I'M SURE WHEN I SEE DR. NOW, I'M PROBABLY GAINING WEIGHT.

BUT HOPEFULLY I CAN GET BACK ON MY DIET

AND START ALL OVER FROM SCRATCH AGAIN.

WE'RE LEAVING BEHIND THE HOUSE AND EVERYTHING IN IT,

AND MY SON,

HE'LL BE STAYING HERE WHILE WE'RE GONE,

TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS.

THE HARDEST PART OF DOING THIS IS LEAVING MY GRANDKIDS,

BECAUSE MY KIDS ARE GROWN, AND I CAN STILL CALL THEM

AND TEXT THEM AND, YOU KNOW, PRAY FOR THEM.

[ Crying ] BUT...

MY GRANDKIDS IS WHAT'S GONNA BE HARD,

BECAUSE THEY'RE SO CLOSE TO ME.

AND THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THIS IS A HUGE STEP FOR ME,

BECAUSE I'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS,

AND IT IS REALLY SCARY.

I THINK ABOUT IF I HAVE THE SURGERY

THAT THERE'S A RISK THAT SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT IF I DIE BEFOREHAND?

WHAT IF I DIE ON THE TABLE?

WHAT IF I DIE, YOU KNOW, AFTER IT?

BUT THEN, I ALSO THINK ABOUT WHAT IF IT WORKS?

WHAT IF IT DOES HELP ME?

WHAT IF THIS IS SOMETHING

THAT IS WHAT I'VE NEEDED FOR THE LAST 16, 17 YEARS?

SO THAT'S THE ONE THING THAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO.

KNOWING THAT I COULD GET THE HELP

THAT I NEED TO BE ABLE TO WALK ON MY OWN

AND BE MORE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE ON MY OWN, IT'S ACTUALLY A JOY,

AND IT'S A COMFORT JUST TO THINK THAT, OKAY,

MAYBE IN A FEW MONTHS, I COULD BE OUT DOING THIS STUFF,

AND MY HUSBAND COULD BE ABLE TO GO AND DO WHAT HE WANTS

INSTEAD OF HAVING TO SIT HERE AND WORRY ABOUT ME,

AND WE COULD BE OUT THERE DOING IT TOGETHER.

I MEAN, IT IS SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

SO, I'M SO THANKFUL I HAVE ANTHONY TO DO THIS WITH ME,

BECAUSE WITHOUT HIM, I'D BE LOST.

BUT TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY.

WE ARE GOING TO HIT THE ROAD AND MAKE THE MOVE TO HOUSTON.

AND I JUST HOPE IT ALL GOES OKAY.

**

TODAY IS THE DAY ANTHONY AND I ARE LEAVING FOR HOUSTON,

AND I HAVE A LOT OF MIXED EMOTIONS

GOING THROUGH MY HEAD RIGHT NOW.

IT'S GONNA BE A WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE.

I'VE NEVER EVEN LIVED OUT OF THIS COUNTY,

LET ALONE OUT OF THIS STATE.

BUT I'M NERVOUS ABOUT HOW I'M GOING TO DO, THOUGH,

BECAUSE LAST TIME, IT WAS REALLY HARD ON ME.

IT'S ANOTHER 20-HOUR DRIVE DOWN TO HOUSTON,

AND THIS TIME, WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DRIVE STRAIGHT THERE.

BUT FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO MY MOM'S HOUSE

AND SAYING GOODBYE TO MY FAMILY,

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO BE

BEFORE I SEE EVERYONE AGAIN.

AND IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG, I KNOW IN THE BACK OF MY MIND

THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THIS MAY BE THE LAST TIME I SEE THEM.

I'VE NEVER HAD TO LEAVE ANYBODY I CARE ABOUT FOR THIS LONG.

BUT HOPEFULLY I'LL COME BACK AND BE BETTER,

GET TO DO MORE, HAVE A NORMAL LIFE.

BUT I JUST HOPE THIS IS ALL WORTH IT

AND THAT I'M NOT DOING THIS ALL FOR NOTHING.

AND I JUST REALLY HOPE THAT I'M NOT GOING TO HOUSTON

JUST TO FAIL AND END UP DYING IN TEXAS,

BECAUSE THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN DYING BEFORE MY TIME

IS DYING WITHOUT MY FAMILY AROUND ME.

Tracey: IT'S BEEN A REALLY LONG TRIP,

BUT WE FINALLY MADE IT TO HOUSTON.

**

AND WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE STRAIGHT HERE.

OW! GOD.

OHH.

IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO BE IN HOUSTON

TO BE VERY CLOSE TO DR. NOW SO HE CAN HELP ME.

AND THE WHOLE, BIG, EMOTIONAL THING

IS, YOU KNOW, TO PACK UP, LEAVE,

COME HERE, COME TO SOMETHING NEW.

ALSO, I KNOW PLACES CAN BE REALLY HARD TO GET AROUND IN

BECAUSE THEY AREN'T BUILT FOR PEOPLE MY SIZE,

AND EVEN JUST TRYING TO WALK TO OUR ROOM

DOWN A LONG HALLWAY IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ME.

I GET WINDED AND CAN'T BREATHE,

AND THEN EVERYTHING JUST STARTS HURTING.

TO ME, IT'S VERY HARD.

OH, THIS IS CRAZY HIGH.

-ALL RIGHT. -[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

[ Panting ] OH, GOD.

THIS IS THE HIGHEST ONE WE'VE EVER BEEN IN.

-[ LAUGHS ] -YOU'LL BREAK YOUR BACK.

-[ LAUGHS ] -NO, YOU'RE NOT,

'CAUSE I AIN'T STAYING IN HERE MYSELF.

I'M REALLY GLAD WE MADE IT TO HOUSTON.

SO, I'M GOING TO TRY TO TAKE IT EASY

FOR THE REST OF THE DAY

AND GET MY STRENGTH UP TO SEE DR. NOW.

AND I'M HOPING IT GOES WELL,

BUT IT WILL ALL DEPEND ON HOW MUCH WEIGHT I LOST.

**

I'M ON MY WAY TO SEE DR. NOW AGAIN

FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT.

BUT THIS IS ONLY MY SECOND TIME SEEING HIM IN PERSON.

AND I'M REALLY NERVOUS, BECAUSE HE GAVE ME

A WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL OF 50 POUNDS IN A MONTH,

AND I'VE BEEN GONE FOR THREE MONTHS.

SO I HAVE NO IDEA IF HE'S GONNA WANT

TO SEE ME DOWN 50 POUNDS OR MORE.

BUT LAST TIME I WAS HERE, I WAS 605 POUNDS.

SO I JUST HOPE THE SCALE SAYS I'M A LOT LESS NOW.

-517. -OKAY.

I'M HAPPY WITH THAT.

HOPEFULLY, THIS IS ENOUGH TO SHOW DR. NOW I CAN DO THIS

AND THAT I'M READY FOR THE NEXT STEP WITH HIM.

AND I HOPE THAT'S SURGERY.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO. -HELLO.

-HOW ARE YOU? -I'M DOING OKAY.

-AND HOW YOU DOING? -I'M DOING OKAY.

WELL, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

SO, YOU ARE 517 POUNDS TODAY.

YOU HAD SOME GOOD WEIGHT LOSS, AND I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

ACTUALLY, I WAS KIND OF SCARED TO COME HERE,

'CAUSE I WAS LIKE -- I THOUGHT MY LEGS WAS SWELLED MORE,

SO I THOUGHT I'D GAINED WEIGHT.

YOU STILL HAVE A LOT OF SWELLING IN YOUR FEET AND YOUR LEGS.

LET ME SEE HOW THEY LOOK.

YEAH, THEY'RE -- I CAN'T, LIKE, LIFT THEM.

I CAN'T DO NOTHING WITH THEM.

THEY'RE SO BIG, I CAN'T, LIKE,

EXERCISE THEM OR MOVE THEM OR --

OKAY. HAVE YOU MADE ANY CHANGES TO YOUR EATING HABIT?

I'VE BEEN MOSTLY EATING RIGHT, BUT DURING THAT FIRST MONTH,

I PROBABLY LOST A LOT

BECAUSE I WASN'T EATING AT ALL.

AND THEN WE WAS TRYING TO EAT GRILLED CHICKEN

AND GRILLED FISH AND, YOU KNOW, NO PASTA AND STUFF FOR A WHILE.

BUT LATELY, I HAVE ATE PASTA AND STUFF,

SO I CHEATED A LITTLE.

YOU ARE EATING MORE,

BUT NOT THAT MUCH PROTEIN AND HIGH CARBS STILL,

AND MY CONCERN IS THAT IT HAS BEEN MAKING YOUR LEGS WORSE.

TRACEY LOST A GOOD AMOUNT OF WEIGHT,

BUT HER LEGS DON'T LOOK ANY BETTER.

IF SHE'S NOT ABLE TO DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THEM SMALLER,

THEN WE MAY NEED TO FOCUS ON SKIN SURGERY FOR HER

TO REMOVE AS MUCH OF HER LYMPHEDEMA AS POSSIBLE.

BUT SHE'S NOT READY RIGHT NOW.

IN FACT, SURGERY MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE

IF WE DON'T GET HER CELLULITIS UNDER CONTROL.

WE NEED TO GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN

AND FOCUS ON THE SKIN REMOVAL ON YOUR LEGS,

SO WE CAN TRY TO REDUCE THIS LYMPHEDEMA.

I NEED YOU TO KEEP GOING AND LOSE 30 POUNDS A MONTH.

AND IF YOU GET DOWN BELOW 450 POUNDS,

THAT MAY BE ENOUGH FOR US TO BE ABLE

TO GET YOUR LEGS ON THE TABLE

TO DO YOUR FIRST SKIN REMOVAL.

OKAY.

IT MAY TAKE TRACEY MANY SKIN REMOVAL SURGERY

TO FULLY ADDRESS HER LYMPHEDEMA.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT PROCESS FOR HER,

AND SHE HAS TO START RIGHT NOW

IF SHE'S GOING TO HAVE ANY CHANCE

TO SURVIVE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

TRACEY, YOU NEED TO STAY ON A HIGH-PROTEIN DIET

AND REDUCE YOUR CARBS SIGNIFICANTLY,

OR YOU WON'T GET YOUR CELLULITIS UNDER CONTROL,

AND THAT COULD KILL YOU ANYTIME.

-RIGHT. -SO LET'S GET YOUR HEALTH

AND EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL LIKE WE NEED.

-OKAY. THANK YOU, DR. NOW. -ALL RIGHT.

**

Tracey: I'M VERY HAPPY JUST TO KNOW

THAT HE'S WILLING TO DO SOMETHING WITH MY LEGS,

AND THE THOUGHT OF FINALLY GETTING SOME OF THESE MASSES OFF

AND BEING ABLE TO, LIKE, EVEN PICK MY LEGS UP

OR WALK BETTER IS SUCH A BLESSING

THAT THERE'S HOPE THAT THEY CAN COME OFF,

BUT IT WAS REALLY SCARY

TO HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT MY CELLULITIS AGAIN

AND HOW DANGEROUS THAT IS.

SO I KNOW MY PRIORITY IS GETTING THAT UNDER CONTROL,

BECAUSE IF I DON'T,

I COULD BE FACING AN EARLY DEATH.

Tracey: I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO STAY ON MY DIET,

AND ANTHONY AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET OUT

AND STAY ACTIVE WHILE I'M HERE,

BECAUSE I WANT TO GET OUT MORE

AND NOT JUST STAY IN MY BED ALL DAY.

BUT THE BIGGEST STRUGGLE HAS BEEN THAT

WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A GOOD KITCHEN IN OUR PLACE.

Anthony: YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT?

THEY GOT A YOGURT PARFAIT.

WELL, GIVE ME THAT AND THEN THE NUGGETS.

TWO NUMBER 6's.

TWO FRESH LEMONADES.

AND SO WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF FAST FOOD.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

BUT I'M TRYING TO MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES WHEREVER WE GO.

**

STICKING TO THE DIET, IT'S NOT EASY,

BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF TEMPTATION,

AND IT'S HARD FOR ME NOT TO CHEAT A LITTLE HERE AND THERE.

AND I DON'T THINK ANTHONY REALLY QUITE UNDERSTANDS

HOW HARD IT IS TO RESIST TEMPTATION.

YOU GONNA HAVE TO START EATING MORE VEGETABLES.

I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE IT, BUT START EATING THAT.

MM-HMM.

Anthony: I TRY TO MAKE SURE MY WIFE

DOESN'T EAT THE THINGS THAT SHE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO EAT

IN ORDER TO HELP HER GET HER WEIGHT DOWN.

RIGHT. IT WOULD BE NICE.

Tracey: AS A COUPLE, I THINK MY WEIGHT-LOSS JOURNEY AT TIMES

IS MAKING US CLOSER,

AND THERE'S OTHER THINGS WHERE IT KIND OF SEEMS LIKE

IT'S PUSHING US APART.

HIS BACK HURTS NOW FROM LIFTING UP MY LEGS.

THAT'S THE PART THAT MAKES HIM FRUSTRATED.

AND I KNOW IT TAKES A TOLL ON HIM,

SO I'M PUSHING MYSELF TO DO THIS FOR ME AND FOR US.

**

I'M HERE AT DR. NOW'S OFFICE FOR MY NEXT APPOINTMENT,

AND WE'RE A LITTLE EARLY,

SO ANTHONY RAN AND GOT US SOME FOOD.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO EAT RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I'M ABOUT TO GET WEIGHED.

UNH-UNH.

BUT IT IS HARD WHEN HE EATS IN FRONT OF ME.

HOPEFULLY, I MADE GOOD PROGRESS, THOUGH,

AND MY DIETING IS PAYING OFF.

BUT I'M ABOUT TO FIND OUT.

MY GOAL WAS TO LOSE AT LEAST 30 POUNDS A MONTH.

SO THAT SHOULD PUT ME UNDER 487 POUNDS.

I'M DISAPPOINTED.

I THOUGHT I WAS DOING BETTER,

BUT I BACKTRACKED SOME.

HE'S PROBABLY GONNA BE MAD 'CAUSE THERE WAS A WEIGHT GAIN,

BUT I'M NOT GONNA STRESS MYSELF OUT OVER IT.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HI, DR. NOW. HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING OKAY. HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?

OKAY.

OKAY, YOU GAINED WEIGHT THIS PAST MONTH.

DO YOU WANT TO TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON?

I'M ALWAYS LIGHTER IN THE MORNING

THAN I AM IN THE EVENINGS, SO I DON'T KNOW

IF IT'S WATER SWELLING OR WHAT.

SO YOU'RE THINKING THAT YOUR WEIGHT GAIN

IS FROM YOUR LEGS SWELLING?

DON'T KNOW.

OKAY, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR LEGS, THEN.

OH, GOODNESS.

OOH. [ GROANING ]

SO YOUR CELLULITIS HAS GOTTEN BAD AGAIN.

SO HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND.

IF YOUR CELLULITIS IS GETTING WORSE,

IT IS AN INDICATION

THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO.

YEAH, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

MY EATING HABITS -- I'M EATING A LOT LESS THAN I DID,

AND I'M NOT DRINKING THE POP AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THE REALITY IS THAT THE SCALE DOESN'T LIE.

-PEOPLE DO. -OKAY.

AND IF YOU DON'T FOLLOW THE DIET,

YOU'RE GONNA GAIN WEIGHT INSTEAD OF LOSING WEIGHT.

I DO EAT --

I EAT A LOT OF PROTEIN AND MEAT, LIKE YOU SAY.

Anthony: SHE HAD CHOCOLATE.

SHE ATE CHOCOLATE.

THIS IS JUST LAST NIGHT -- THREE BOXES OF CHOCOLATES.

-THREE BOXES OF CHOC-- -NO, THEY COME WITH FOUR

LITTLE, BITTY CHOCOLATES IN IT. IT'S 160 CALORIES.

TRACEY HAS GAINED WEIGHT BECAUSE SHE IS OVEREATING.

AND SHE'S LYING TO ME,

BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T THINK

THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION FOR HER.

BUT IF SHE DOESN'T WAKE UP

AND TAKE THIS SITUATION SERIOUSLY,

SHE'S NOT GOING TO LIVE MUCH LONGER.

OKAY, IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR EATING UNDER CONTROL,

YOUR INFECTION GET OUT OF HAND, AND YOU WILL DIE.

I CAN'T FORCE YOU TO MAKE THE CHOICES

THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE.

SO I THINK THE NEXT STEP IS,

I'M GOING TO SEND A NUTRITIONIST,

AND I'M GOING TO SCHEDULE YOU

TO MEET WITH A LYMPHEDEMA SPECIALIST,

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET YOUR INFECTION UNDER CONTROL.

BECAUSE AS SOON AS THIS INFECTION

GET IN YOUR BLOODSTREAM, YOU'RE GOING TO DIE.

SO MAKE THE DECISION IF YOU WANT TO LIVE.

-MM-HMM. -OKAY, SO NEXT MONTH,

I WANT TO SEE YOU DOWN AT LEAST 30 POUNDS.

OKAY.

OKAY, SEE YOU SOON.

**

TRACEY DOESN'T REALIZE THAT SHE'S PLAYING WITH FIRE,

AND THIS IS NOT GOING TO END WELL

IF SHE DOESN'T STICK WITH THE PROGRAM

AND DOES WHAT SHE NEEDS.

Tracey: ANTHONY COULD CALL ME OUT ABOUT MY CHEATING, BUT...

HE REALLY DOESN'T WANT ME ON A DIET.

HE DOES ALL THE GROCERY SHOPPING.

AND I CAN HAVE 20 THINGS WROTE ON THE LIST,

AND HE'LL COME BACK WITH TWO OF THEM IF I'M LUCKY.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF HE REALLY

DOESN'T WANT ME TO LOSE THE WEIGHT...

...OR IF HE'S JUST SICK OF EATING HEALTHY.

I FEEL LIKE I REALLY AM TRYING.

BUT I GUESS I'LL TRY HARDER.

**

ARE YOU READY TO SEE THE NUTRITIONIST TODAY?

I DON'T NEED A NUTRITIONIST.

TODAY, THE NUTRITIONIST THAT DR. NOW IS SENDING IS COMING BY.

I'M HOPING SHE DOESN'T TAKE AWAY TOO MANY THINGS FROM ME

BECAUSE I WANT TO STAY ON THE DIET,

BUT I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO EAT SOMETHING THAT TASTES GOOD

EVERY NOW AND THEN.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HOW ARE YOU? -ALL RIGHT.

-I'M VICKI ROBICHAUX, DIETICIAN. -ANTHONY.

ANTHONY, NICE TO MEET YOU.

-HI. I'M VICKI. -HI. HOW ARE YOU?

-TRACEY? -YES.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

SO TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY SO FAR.

WE'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON FOR THE LAST 2 1/2 MONTHS NOW.

-AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM? -OHIO.

-OHIO? -YEAH.

WE LIVE ABOUT 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM CLEVELAND.

OKAY. SO WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE

HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE SO FAR?

CHOCOLATE.

CHOCOLATE WAS ONE OF YOUR BIG THINGS?

RIGHT, RIGHT, IT'S GOT ALL KINDS OF HIDDEN CALORIES

-OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IN IT. -SURE.

SO IF YOU GET THAT DARK CHOCOLATE POWDER

THAT HAS NO SUGAR IN IT,

-IT'S JUST THE COCOA POWDER... -MM-HMM.

...YOU CAN MIX THAT INTO GREEK YOGURT

AND FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GETTING CHOCOLATE YOGURT

WITHOUT ADDING ANY SUGAR,

AND YOU'RE STILL GETTING THE HEALTHY BENEFITS

-FROM THE DARK CHOCOLATE. -OKAY.

IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE.

-IT'S GOOD FOR YOUR HEART. -OKAY.

DO YOU WANT ME TO TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE FOODS?

YEAH, THERE'S NOT MUCH IN THERE, BUT YOU CAN.

SO WHY DON'T WE START WITH THE REFRIGERATOR?

SO THESE THE YOGURTS YOU HAVE EVERY DAY?

YEAH.

OKAY, SO THESE ARE LIGHT YOGURTS, RIGHT?

BUT THIS ONE HAS 5 GRAMS OF PROTEIN, RIGHT?

-MM-HMM. -AND 10 GRAMS OF SUGAR.

SO JUST SOMETHING TO WATCH OUT FOR THERE

IF YOU'RE TRYING TO DO LOW SUGAR.

PASTA SAUCES ARE ANOTHER PLACE WHERE SUGAR HIDES.

YOU'D ALMOST BE BETTER OFF KIND OF MAKING YOUR OWN

WITH GETTING TOMATOES AND ADDING SOME SEASONING

AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO WHOSE PASTA IS THAT?

Anthony: THAT'S MINE. OKAY.

THIS IS WHAT I EAT.

-THIS IS -- -I EAT THE BEANS.

OTHER THAN THAT, I DON'T EAT NOTHING ELSE UP THERE.

WHEN I MAKE SOMETHING FOR HER, I MAKE ME A LITTLE SOMETHING.

[ CHUCKLES ]

SO, DO YOU THINK THAT'S HELPFUL FOR HER?

WELL, SHE'S USED TO IT BY NOW,

AND SOMETIMES SHE DON'T EVEN KNOW.

-IS IT HELPFUL FOR YOU? -SOMETIMES I'LL BE MAD,

LIKE THE ONE DAY, HE GAVE ME A CAN OF --

A BOWL OF MIXED VEGETABLES,

AND HE WAS EATING PASTA AND SOMETHING ELSE.

I WAS JUST LIKE, "REALLY?"

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT FOOD,

THINK ABOUT FOOD IN TERMS OF,

"IS THIS GONNA BE HEALTHFUL

OR IS IT GOING TO, YOU KNOW, PUT ME IN A SITUATION

WHERE IT'S NOT GONNA BE GOOD FOR ME?"

Anthony: I DON'T FULLY AGREE WITH WHAT THE NUTRITIONIST THINKS

ABOUT THE FOOD I LIKE BEING AN ISSUE FOR TRACEY.

BECAUSE TRACEY NEEDS TO FOCUS ON WHAT SHE NEEDS TO DO,

AND SHE NEEDS TO STOP DEPENDING ON ME

AND ANYBODY ELSE.

CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL YOUR WEIGHT LOSS SO FAR.

I THINK THAT'S AMAZING. SO NICE MEETING YOU BOTH.

-YOU, TOO. THANKS. -GOOD LUCK WITH EVERYTHING.

Tracey: I'M REALLY GLAD THE NUTRITIONIST CAME BY TODAY.

WHAT I APPRECIATED THE MOST WAS HOW SHE CONFRONTED ANTHONY

FOR HOW HE EATS UNHEALTHY FOOD AROUND ME

AND HOW HARD THAT IS FOR ME.

AND I'M HOPING THAT HEARING THAT FROM SOMEONE OTHER THAN ME

WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

**

THINGS HAVE BEEN A LITTLE TENSE BETWEEN ANTHONY AND ME LATELY.

I'M NOT SURE IF HE'S JUST TIRED OF THE DIET

OR IF HE'S UPSET THAT I'M TRYING TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT.

I KNOW HE SAID HE LIKED BEING NEEDED,

BUT NOW HE'S TELLING ME TO DO EVERYTHING MYSELF.

HEY, BABE?

I HAVE A LYMPHEDEMA APPOINTMENT TOMORROW,

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GONNA GET THERE.

WHY DON'T YOU TELL THEM YOU CAN'T MAKE IT?

I HAVE THINGS TO DO TOMORROW.

WITHOUT YOU HERE, THEN IT, YOU KNOW, WORRIES ME

'CAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN GET IN THE CAB OR...

IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO DO,

PUT YOUR MIND TO IT AND DO IT.

STOP DEPENDING ON EVERYBODY ELSE.

YOU HAVE TO START DOING THINGS ON YOUR OWN.

WE NEED EACH OTHER. WE SUPPORT EACH OTHER

EVEN IN THE BAD TIMES.

BUT IF TRACEY WANTS TO DO THIS,

THEN SHE NEEDS TO LEARN TO DO THIS HERSELF.

Tracey: I DON'T KNOW WHY HE'S HAVING ISSUES HELPING ME.

BUT IF THINGS KEEP CHANGING BETWEEN US,

I'M SCARED ABOUT WHAT THAT'S GOING TO MEAN.

IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL LONELY,

BECAUSE I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT HIM.

Tracey: TODAY, I'M GOING TO SEE A LYMPHEDEMA SPECIALIST

THAT DR. NOW WANTS ME TO SEE.

BUT ANTHONY IS AT WORK,

SO THE DOCTOR IS SENDING A PERSONAL CARE ASSISTANT

TO HELP ME GET THERE.

HELLO, MISS MATTHEWS! HOW ARE YOU?

I'M GOOD. HI. HOW ARE YOU?

I'M FINE. JUST LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY HELP.

OKAY.

IT'S A LITTLE EMBARRASSING,

BECAUSE ANTHONY SHOULD BE THE ONE

WHO'S HELPING ME DO THIS.

BUT I DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS APPOINTMENT,

BECAUSE DR. NOW THINKS IT'S IMPORTANT

I TRY AND START TO REDUCE THE FLUID

I HAVE IN MY LEGS.

**

BUT I'M STILL NOT SURE

WHAT THIS DOCTOR IS GOING TO TELL ME,

BECAUSE MY LYMPHEDEMA IS PRETTY SEVERE.

SO I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF HE LOOKED AT ME

AND JUST SAID THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO.

OKAY.

SO, I'M GONNA DO SOME MEASUREMENTS OF YOUR LEGS.

-OKAY. -OKAY, SO WHAT I'M DOING IS

JUST GETTING OVERALL MEASUREMENTS

OF THE LEGS, OKAY? THIS IS GOING TO TELL ME

HOW MUCH LYMPHATIC FLUID IS IN THE LEGS.

SO, AS YOU CONTINUE DOING TREATMENT WITH US,

WE'RE GOING TO BE TAKING THESE MEASUREMENTS

-ONCE A WEEK... -OKAY.

...TO SEE OVERALL HOW YOU ARE DOING.

OKAY, MY DEAR.

-HI. HOW ARE YOU? -HI. HOW ARE YOU?

-GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? -GOOD. I'M DR. MOOSA.

-THANK YOU. -THANK YOU.

SO HOW ARE YOU DOING NOW?

OKAY. MY LEGS HURT, BUT --

I SEE THAT. I SEE THE REDNESS HERE.

ANY FEVER OR ANY CHILLS YOU'VE BEEN HAVING?

I DON'T HAVE NO FEVER OR NOTHING.

USUALLY, I DON'T GET A FEVER

UNLESS REALLY, LIKE, THE CELLULITIS HAS REALLY FLARED UP.

SO THE IDEA IS TO SEE

IF WE CAN GET THE REDUCTION DOWN,

WHERE IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE MANAGEABLE,

AND WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO MODIFY

SOME OF THE WRAPPING THAT WE DO FOR YOU.

NOW, YOUR SLEEPING POSITION OR SITTING DOWN TO EAT --

IF YOU CAN BE ON A SOFA WITH YOUR LEGS UP AND EAT,

-IT'D BE BETTER. -ALL RIGHT?

I DO NOT WANT MORE THAN 3/4 TEASPOON OF SALT PER DAY.

SO I WANT YOU AS LOW SODIUM AS POSSIBLE.

SO IF YOU CAN MAINTAIN THAT AND THE HYDRATION, YOU KNOW,

WITH THE WATER TO HELP THE BODY CIRCULATE

AND THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT'S KEY.

ALL RIGHT? ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME RIGHT NOW?

NO. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

YOU'RE MORE WELCOME, MA'AM. NO PROBLEM, NOT A PROBLEM.

TRACEY, UNFORTUNATELY, SHE HAS VERY SEVER LYMPHEDEMA,

AND WE CAN HELP REMOVE THE FLUID.

AND THAT WOULD HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF INFECTIONS

OR CELLULITIS HAPPENING,

WHICH I THINK WILL IMPROVE HER QUALITY OF LIFE, REALLY.

Tracey: I'M REALLY HAPPY RIGHT NOW.

THE FACT THAT HE THINKS HE CAN HELP ME REDUCE THE FLUID

AND SWELLING IN MY LEGS,

THIS IS GREAT NEWS.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE EACH DAY,

IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S MORE AND MORE HOPE.

**

I'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO EXERCISE

AND STAY ON MY DIET THESE PAST FEW WEEKS.

ANTHONY HAS BEEN GONE MORE AND MORE,

SO I'M HAVING TO LEARN TO BE MORE INDEPENDENT.

AND I DO FEEL LIKE I'M HAVING GOOD PROGRESS.

I CAN GET MYSELF OUT OF BED BY MYSELF,

WHICH I WASN'T ABLE TO BEFORE,

AND I'M ABLE TO WALK TO THE KITCHEN AREA

AND TO THE BATHROOM.

I FEEL LIKE THE NEW TREATMENTS FROM THE LYMPHEDEMA SPECIALIST

ALREADY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE.

AND IT DOESN'T HURT AS BAD SO QUICKLY WHEN I'M UP.

THE HARDEST THING RIGHT NOW

IS JUST NOT HAVING ANTHONY AROUND SO MUCH.

BUT I UNDERSTAND HE HAS TO WORK,

AND HE'S EARNING A LIVING FOR BOTH OF US.

SO WE BOTH HAVE TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

I NEED TO KEEP LOSING WEIGHT AND TRY TO GET SURGERY

SO THAT I CAN GET MY LIFE BACK.

SO MY FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS HITTING THAT GOAL.

I THINK THAT STUFF IS DEFINITELY GETTING EASIER ON ME.

I THINK IT'S GETTING EASIER ON ANTHONY,

BECAUSE HE'S NOT HAVING TO DO SO MUCH WITH ME NOW.

'CAUSE NOW THAT I'M ACTUALLY ABLE TO GET UP AND WALK,

MY BIGGEST MOTIVATION

IS JUST THAT I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK TO BEING ON BED REST

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE AT THAT POINT AGAIN.

I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO DEPEND ON PEOPLE AGAIN.

I HAVEN'T GOT TO LIVE LIFE FOR 17 YEARS,

AND NOW THAT I'M STARTING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT AGAIN,

I DON'T WANT TO GO BACKWARDS.

**

Woman: TRACEY MATTHEWS?

ANTHONY AND I HAVE BEEN IN HOUSTON FOR FIVE MONTHS NOW.

I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD,

AND I'M ANXIOUS TO QUALIFY FOR THE NEXT STEP IN MY PROCESS.

MY GOAL IS TO BE UNDER 441 POUNDS TODAY.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT.

I'VE BEEN WORKING AT THIS FOR MONTHS.

AND I'M HOPING THE DOCTOR SAYS

IT'S ENOUGH WEIGHT TO HAVE SURGERY.

-HELLO. -HI, DR. NOW.

ALL RIGHT, SO YOU ALMOST LOST 170 POUND ON THE DIET,

WHICH IS VERY GOOD.

AND YOUR CELLULITIS IS UNDER CONTROL,

AND THE FLUID REMOVAL TREATMENT

WITH THE SPECIALIST HAS HELPED, AS WELL.

SO THE NEXT STEP FOR YOU

IS TO HAVE YOUR FIRST SKIN REMOVAL SURGERY.

-OKAY. -OOH.

[ LAUGHS ]

AND LET ME LOOK AT YOUR LYMPHEDEMA MASSES ONE MORE TIME.

OUR BEST BET WILL BE TO START

WITH THIS MASS ON THE THIGH,

-AND WE TAKE THIS OFF. -OKAY.

AND ONCE IT HEAL, THEN WE'RE GONNA TAKE

THE SIMILAR MASS ON THIS LEG.

-OKAY. -TAKE THIS ONE OFF.

-OKAY. -TRACEY HAS BEEN MAKING STEADY

AND GOOD PROGRESS OVER PAST FEW MONTHS.

AND MOST OF HER WEIGHT

IS BEING STORED IN HER LOWER BODY.

AND ONCE WE REMOVE THAT SURGICALLY,

SHE'LL BE CLOSER TO TARGET WEIGHT.

SO THAT, COMBINED WITH THE PROGRESS SHE'S MADE,

MEANS THAT WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

IS NOT GOING TO BE NECESSARY FOR HER.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT, AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU STUCK WITH THE PROGRAM

AND YOU LOST ALL THAT WEIGHT.

AND WE GET YOU SCHEDULED FOR SURGERY NEXT MONTH.

-OKAY? -OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

-I'LL SEE YOU LATER. -THANK YOU.

**

Anthony: EVERYTHING THAT TRACEY'S BEEN THROUGH THE LAST FEW YEARS,

THE REJECTION OF DOCTORS SAYING THAT THEY CAN'T DO THIS,

THE DISAPPOINTMENTS,

IT HAS BEEN VERY STRESSFUL.

AND THEN TO TURN AROUND AND SAY,

"HEY, HE'S ABLE TO DO THIS SURGERY,"

THAT'S THE TOP MOTIVATION. NOW WE'RE ON OUR WAY.

Tracey: I'M SO HAPPY AND GRATEFUL RIGHT NOW.

I'VE WORKED SO HARD FOR THIS,

AND IT'S INCREDIBLE TO FINALLY BE APPROVED.

AND I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO HAVE THIS SURGERY.

-MORNING. -MORNING.

-HOW ARE YOU? -I'M DOING OKAY.

ARE YOU EXCITED TO HAVE SOME OF THESE LYMPHEDEMA MASS

TAKEN OFF OF YOUR LEGS?

YEAH, I'M EXCITED TO GET IT OFF,

AND I'M ALSO ANXIOUS AND SCARED

AND HAVE ALL KINDS OF EMOTIONS IN ONE.

ALL RIGHT. TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO CONCENTRATE

ON TAKING THIS ONE IN HERE.

ONCE THIS HEAL, THEN I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THE OTHER SIDE.

IN ABOUT A YEAR, WE'RE GONNA GET YOU DOWN TO 200 POUNDS.

I HAVEN'T WEIGHED 200 POUNDS

SINCE I WAS LIKE 12 YEARS OLD MAYBE.

WE'LL GET YOU THERE.

-WE'LL GET YOU THERE, OKAY? -OKAY.

SUPER. WE'LL GET YOU STARTED IN A FEW MINUTES, OKAY?

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.

**

I'M FINALLY GETTING LEG SURGERY TODAY.

AND I'M REALLY NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS SURGERY.

BUT I KNOW THIS IS MY PATH TO A NEW LIFE.

SO I'M TRUSTING EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY

AND THAT THE OUTCOME OF ALL THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE ARE PERFORMING SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY ON TRACEY

TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF REMOVING HER LYMPHEDEMA.

THERE IS A HUGE MASS ON HER LEFT THIGH,

WHICH IS THE FOCUS FOR THIS SURGERY.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG, COMPLICATED OPERATION

BECAUSE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF BLOOD VESSELS

THAT WE NEED TO TIE OFF.

AND IF YOU MISS EVEN ONE,

IT CAN LEAD TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

CAN YOU BRING IT UP A LITTLE BIT?

AND WITH THE LYMPHEDEMA AND ALL THE FLUID AROUND IT,

IT MAKES IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT

TO SEE ALL THE AREA THAT MAY BE BLEEDING,

SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL.

THIS IS A VERY LARGE MASS

THAT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

FOR HER TO HAVE REMOVED.

Anthony: TRACEY MEANS A WHOLE LOT TO ME.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S A CHANCE

THAT ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN.

I'M JUST KEEPING TRACEY IN MY PRAYERS AND MY THOUGHTS,

AND I'M HOPING THAT THIS SURGERY

WILL MOTIVATE TRACEY TO GET OUT

AND DO MORE AND EMBRACE LIFE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: OKAY, WE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO A COMPLETE REMOVAL.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE COMPLETELY REMOVED THE MASS.

AND THEN CLOSE IT UP.

ALL RIGHT. ALL FINISHED.

SURGERY TOOK A WHILE BUT WENT VERY WELL TODAY.

LET'S WEIGH IT.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S 10 POUNDS.

AND WE LOST ANOTHER 5 TO 7 POUNDS OF FLUID

DURING THE OPERATION.

SO THIS REMOVAL IS 15- TO 17-POUND

WEIGHT LOSS FOR HER.

AND THIS SHOULD HELP HER TO GET MORE MOBILE

AND START TO DO MORE.

THIS REMOVAL TODAY

IS GOING TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE FOR TRACEY.

BUT THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING

OF A LONG PROCESS FOR HER.

TRACEY'S PROBABLY GOING TO NEED FOUR TO SIX OPERATIONS

TO TAKE ALL THESE MASSES OFF OF BOTH LEGS.

SO THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE AN ISSUE WE CAN FIX OVERNIGHT.

BUT WHEN WE ARE DONE,

SHE WILL BE BELOW 200 POUNDS

AND AT HER TARGET WEIGHT.

SO THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF A WHOLE NEW LIFE FOR HER.

**

MM. MAN, OH, MAN, OH, MAN.

I'VE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A COUPLE DAYS NOW

RECOVERING FROM MY SURGERY.

I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN IN MY LEG

AND GOING UP ON THIS WHOLE SIDE OF THE BODY.

THE HARDEST PART IS HAVING TO GET UP AND WALK EVERY DAY

TO KEEP MY BLOOD FLOWING SO I DON'T GET BLOOD CLOTS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

SO YOU WANT TO GET OUT OF BED?

-YEAH. -YEAH. I'LL GET OUT --

NOT THAT I WANT TO, BUT I GUESS I HAVE TO.

I'VE BEEN GETTING UP SINCE I HAD MY SURGERY

AND JUST TAKING A COUPLE STEPS

AND THEN TAKING A COUPLE STEPS BACK.

THAT'S ENOUGH. IT TAKES MY BREATH AWAY

AND JUST MAKES ME SICK.

THERE YOU GO. OH, GOD.

OH, I GOT IT.

WALKING AND PUTTING ANY KIND OF PRESSURE ON IT

ALWAYS, LIKE -- I'M REALLY HOLDING BACK MY TEARS

'CAUSE IT HURTS PRETTY BAD.

BUT I'M JUST HOPING THIS WAS WORTH IT,

BECAUSE I'M HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S AT LEAST FIVE MORE SURGERIES

OF JUST THE BIG MASSES,

AND I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN TAKE MORE SURGERIES LIKE THIS.

Anthony: EVEN THOUGH SHE'S, LIKE, IN THIS PAIN

AND SHE'S SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE NEXT SURGERY,

I SEE BENEFITS OF IT.

SHE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO BE MORE MOBILE.

IT'LL FREE US UP. I SEE POSITIVE THINGS HAPPENING.

OH, DAMN. DAMN, DAMN, DAMN, DAMN.

OH, MY GOD.

Tracey: I JUST HOPE, WHEN THE PAIN FINALLY GOES AWAY,

THE CHANGE IS WORTH IT.

BUT I KNOW IF YOU WANT THE FINAL OUTCOME,

YOU GOT TO GO THROUGH THE PAIN.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-GOOD MORNING. -GOOD MORNING, DR. NOW.

HOW DO YOU FEEL THIS MORNING?

-OKAY. -YOUR SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SO, THIS MASS UP HERE IS GONE.

NEXT TIME, WE CAN TAKE THIS ONE OFF.

OKAY.

THEN YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A NORMAL LEG

THAT'S NOT GONNA BE THAT HEAVY.

AND THEN WE DO THE OTHER SIDE THE SAME THING.

OKAY. THAT'LL WORK.

OKAY? IN THE MEANTIME,

YOU STICK WITH YOUR HIGH-PROTEIN DIET,

-LOW-CARB. -OKAY.

SO KEEP MOVING,

AND WE'LL GET YOU GOING HOME SOON, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THIS IS GONNA BE A CHALLENGING START FOR TRACEY,

BUT I THINK SHE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT

AND BE MORE PRODUCTIVE WITH THAT.

AND IF THIS HEAL WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM,

THAT GIVE US A CLUE THAT MAYBE NEXT TIME

WE CAN DO BIGGER OPERATION ON THE OTHER LEG.

Tracey: THE THOUGHT OF HAVING MORE SURGERIES LIKE THIS

SOUNDS TERRIFYING.

SO I HOPE THINGS START TO GET BETTER REAL SOON.

Tracey: LIFE IS THIS JOURNEY.

SOMETIMES IT'S LONG, AND SOMETIMES IT'S SHORT.

AND SOMETIMES HOW LONG OR HOW SHORT IT IS

DEPENDS ON THE VERY CHOICES YOU MAKE.

**

Woman: TRACEY MATTHEWS.

TODAY I'M HERE TO SEE DR. NOW

FOR MY ONE-MONTH FOLLOW-UP SINCE SURGERY.

AND I FINALLY FEEL LIKE I'M STARTING TO HEAL UP.

I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THE SCALE'S GONNA SAY TODAY.

WHEN I THINK I LOST WEIGHT, I GAINED WEIGHT,

AND WHEN I THINK I GAINED WEIGHT, I LOST IT,

SO I HAVE NO CLUE.

Woman: 405.

OH.

I'M VERY PROUD OF MYSELF, AND I'M GLAD I STUCK TO IT.

AND THE PAIN IS HORRIBLE,

BUT IT'S WORTH IT.

I WAS PRETTY MUCH BED-RIDDEN ALL MY 30s AND HALF OF MY 40s,

BUT I'M UP AND WALKING

AND BACK DOWN TO A LOWER WEIGHT

THAN WHAT I WAS WHEN I WAS LIKE 29 YEARS OLD.

-HI, TRACEY. -HEY, DR. NOW.

HOW ARE YOU?

UM, IN PAIN.

WELL, THAT'S AFTER SURGERY,

YOU GET THIS KIND OF PAIN AND DISCOMFORT.

BUT ALL IS GONNA HEAL, AND YOU'RE GONNA BE HAPPY.

SO YOU'RE DOWN 200 POUNDS FROM THE START OF YOUR JOURNEY.

-[ CHUCKLES ] -THAT'S GREAT.

OKAY, AND LET'S SEE

HOW THE INCISIONS ARE AND HOW EVERYTHING'S GOING.

GOODNESS.

OH, THE INCISION IS LOOKING GREAT.

AND YOUR THIGH AND UPPER PART

IS ALMOST LOOKING NORMAL.

Tracey: HEY, I HAVE A THIGH NOW.

Anthony: FIRST TIME I EVER SEEN HER LEG.

AND IF YOU CAN WRAP IT WITH THESE BANDAGES,

IT'S GONNA HELP TO HEAL MUCH FASTER, OKAY?

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT. THAT LOOKS GOOD.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TRACEY HAS DONE VERY WELL,

AND SHE'S BEEN LOSING 20 TO 30 POUNDS

EVERY MONTH ON HER OWN.

AND THIS LAST REMOVAL OF LYMPHEDEMA MASS

WILL HELP HER TO BE MORE ACTIVE.

AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT SHE WILL DO VERY WELL

AND HIT HER TARGET SOON.

JUST KEEP WORKING. STAY FOCUSED WITH YOUR DIET.

-RIGHT. -AND AS SOON AS THAT HEAL,

WE CAN DO THE NEXT SKIN OPERATION, OKAY?

-OKAY. -AND WE'LL HAVE YOU

TO YOUR TARGET WEIGHT WITHIN A YEAR.

-THAT'S CRAZY. [ CHUCKLES ] -ALL RIGHT.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT. I'M PROUD OF YOU.

-YOU'VE DONE VERY GOOD. -THANK YOU.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AGAIN

AND GET YOUR NEXT OPERATION.

-OKAY. -YEP.

-GOOD LUCK. -THANK YOU, DR. NOW.

-THANK YOU. -I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

-ALL RIGHT. -THANK YOU.

**

Tracey: I'M GRATEFUL THAT I GOT TO COME DOWN HERE

AND MEET THIS DOCTOR.

I JUST HAVE MORE OF A LIFE NOW.

I LOOK MORE NORMAL.

I FEEL MORE NORMAL. AND I'VE DEFINITELY BEEN

DOING A LOT MORE STUFF THAN I EVER WAS BEFORE.

IT'S PRETTY AWESOME.

[ Crying ] IT'S LIKE I HAVE A LEG NOW,

SO I'M HAPPY.

I'M NOT GONNA LET NOTHING TAKE ME AWAY FROM MY GOAL.

I DIDN'T COME THIS FAR AND LOSE THIS MUCH WEIGHT

AND STICK TO THIS DIET

AND GO THROUGH THE PAIN OF THE SURGERY

TO GAIN IT BACK AND QUIT NOW.

AND AS HARD AS IT'S BEEN, THE PROGRESS I'M MAKING

IS STARTING TO GIVE ME MY LIFE BACK.

AND I WOULDN'T TRADE ANY OF THIS FOR THE WORLD.

**

IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS SINCE MY FIRST SKIN-REMOVAL SURGERY,

AND I'M DOING A LOT BETTER NOW.

ONCE THE PAIN PASSED AND I STARTED HEALING,

IT WAS LIKE A WHOLE NEW WORLD WAS OPENING UP TO ME.

ONE BIG NEW THING IS THAT

I DON'T HAVE TO RIDE IN THE TRUNK OF A VAN ANYMORE.

I COULD FIT IN THE FRONT SEAT.

-IN THERE GOOD? -MM-HMM.

THAT IS SUCH AN AMAZING THING.

IT MAY SEEM SMALL, BUT IT ISN'T.

IT IS KIND OF SPECIAL FOR YOU SITTING UP HERE WITH ME.

I'M ABLE TO TALK TO YOU AND HOLD YOUR HAND.

AND WE CAN DRIVE.

-IT'S NICE, HUH? -WE CAN LOOK AT THINGS TOGETHER.

RIGHT. I CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE SUN

AND THE FRUIT ON THE TREES

AND THE NICE SCENERY.

EVERY DAY NOW, I'M JUST EXCITED TO BE TRYING NEW THINGS

BECAUSE OF MY PROGRESS AND HOW FAR I'VE COME.

**

TODAY, ANTHONY AND I ARE IN GALVESTON

TO JUST RELAX, HAVE SOME FUN,

AND GO TO THE BEACH.

BACK HOME, WE LIVE RIGHT BY LAKE ERIE,

SO I LOVE BEING BY THE WATER.

WE'RE IN TEXAS, SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL GO TO GALVESTON

AND SEE THE OCEAN.

I'VE MISSED OUT ON SO MUCH LIFE,

AND I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT EVEN FOR ANOTHER SECOND.

AHH, SMELL THE FRESH AIR.

THOSE WAVES IS HIGH TODAY.

I'M GONNA GET OUT AND WALK OVER THERE.

I WANT TO ENJOY LIFE,

AND I WANT TO DO IT WITH ANTHONY AND MY FAMILY.

WHAT'S THAT RIGHT THERE?

IT'S A PILE.

-TRACEY. -WHAT?

AAH! [ LAUGHS ]

[ LAUGHS ]

-SEE? -HEY, THAT'S NOT FUNNY.

-SEE? -[ Laughing ] OH, GOD!

THINGS WERE HARD THERE FOR A BIT BETWEEN ME AND ANTHONY,

BECAUSE THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS BEEN STRESSFUL FOR US.

BUT EVER SINCE THE SURGERY

AND SINCE HE HASN'T HAD TO DO EVERYTHING FOR ME,

I FEEL LIKE WE ARE STARTING TO GROW IN A NEW DIRECTION.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE NOW FOR ME

AND FOR US AS A COUPLE.

I HAVE HOPE AGAIN,

AND I DON'T EVER WANT TO GO BACK TO A PLACE WHERE I DON'T.

AND I WOULDN'T CHANGE ANY OF THIS JOURNEY

BECAUSE OF THAT.