All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S07E18

Mercedes: AT THIS POINT,
I'M KILLING MYSELF

IF I DON'T GET THIS WEIGHT OFF.

I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE
MY KIDS BEHIND.

Woman #1: HE CAN'T STOP.
HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW.

Woman #2: IT'S TERRIFYING
TO THINK THAT AT ANY MOMENT,

YOUR HEART COULD EXPLODE.

Woman #3: I DON'T WANT TO DIE.

I HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN
TO LIVE YET.

Kimoriah: IT'S ON FIRE!
TELL THEM TO GET OUT!

OH, MY GOD.

[ SIREN WAILING ]

Mercedes: AAH!
THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING!

Mercedes: I CAN'T BELIEVE
WHAT I'VE LET MY LIFE BECOME.

I'VE GOTTEN SO BIG THAT IT'S
HARD TO DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

AND EVERY DAY, IT GETS WORSE.

SO I'M ALMOST COMPLETELY
BED-BOUND NOW.

BUT I HAVE TWO YOUNG KIDS
THAT I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF,

SO I HAVE TO RELY
A LOT ON MY OLDEST.

MY OLDEST, KIMORIAH,
SHE'S 11 NOW

AND HE'S STARTING TO BE ABLE
TO HELP IN A LOT OF WAYS.

I ALREADY TURNED
THE WATER ON.

WE ONLY HAVE
A ONE-BEDROOM PLACE,

SO ME AND THE KIDS
SLEEP IN THE SAME BED.

AND WHEN IT'S TIME TO GET UP
AND GET READY FOR SCHOOL,

SHE GOES AND GETS HER BROTHER
KAU'LIN'S CLOTHES FOR ME,

AND I HELP GET HIM DRESSED.

I HELP MY MOM BY GETTING HER
WHAT SHE WANTS

AND WHAT SHE NEEDS,

AND I KNOW IT'S HARD
FOR HER BECAUSE...

WELL, ONCE I GET THEM READY,

I'M NOT ABLE TO GET UP
AND TAKE THEM TO SCHOOL,

SO MY FRIEND TERRY,

WHO'S KAU'LIN'S
BIOLOGICAL FATHER,

COMES OVER AND GETS THEM
AND TAKES THEM TO SCHOOL.

HOW YOU DOIN'?

AND HE ALSO PICKS THEM
UP AFTERWARDS

AND GETS THEM HOME
FOR ME, TOO.

SO WITH EVERYONE GONE,

I HAVE TO A HAVE
A CARE ASSISTANT, BRITTNEY,

COME OVER TO HELP ME USE
THE RESTROOM AND GET CLEANED UP.

BUT GETTING UP TO DO THIS

IS THE MOST MISERABLE
PART OF MY DAY.

MY BACK HURTS, KNEES HURT,
MUSCLES HURT.

EVERYTHING HURTS.

I'M BARELY ABLE TO DO THIS,
BUT I HAVE TO.

BECAUSE I HAVE TO TRY
AND STAY AS CLEAN AS I CAN.

IF I DON'T, I COULD HAVE
ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS.

AND THEN I HAVE TO TRY
AND STAND LONG ENOUGH

SO BRITTNEY CAN GET
ALL THE AREAS I CAN'T.

IT'S MISERABLE,
AND IT'S SO HUMILIATING.

LOSING MY ABILITY TO SHOWER
ON MY OWN IS EMBARRASSING.

BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE.

ONCE I'M ABLE TO SIT DOWN,

I CAN TRY AND DO
SOME OF MY WASHING MYSELF.

BUT IT'S NOT EASY, AND I'M SO
EXHAUSTED AT THIS POINT

I FEEL LIKE I'M GONNA PASS OUT.

MY BACK, MY LEGS, ARE HURTING.

[ GRUNTING, GROANING ]

AND I JUST WANT
TO GET TO MY BED.

BUT I STILL HAVE TO TRY
AND STAND BACK UP

AND WALK ALL THE WAY BACK,

AND THEN DRY OFF
BEFORE I'M ABLE TO REST.

AND DURING ALL THAT IS
THE MOST PAINFUL PART

OF THIS WHOLE PROCESS,

BECAUSE EVERY PART OF MY BODY
IS ON FIRE AT THIS POINT.

I'M JUST IN SO MUCH PAIN,

AND ALL I WANT
IS FOR IT TO BE OVER.

ONCE BRITTNEY HELPS ME
GET DRESSED, I CAN FINALLY EAT,

AND I CAN'T WAIT.

FOR BREAKFAST, USUALLY TERRY
WILL COME BACK OVER

AFTER HE DROPS OFF
THE KIDS AT SCHOOL,

AND HE'LL MAKE ME SOMETHING.

[ DOOR OPENS ]

-WHO IS IT?
-TERRY!

HI, TERRY.

Terry:
HOW YOU FEELIN'?

FEELIN' ALL RIGHT.

OKAY.

I'VE COME TO FIX YOU
BREAKFAST, AS USUAL.

-MM-HMM.
-ALL RIGHT.

SO HE TAKES CARE OF ME
FOR THE MORNING,

AND HE KNOWS WHAT I LIKE.

MY FAVORITE IS THE SAUSAGE
AND BACON.

Terry:
FOOD MAKES MERCEDES HAPPY.

SHE GETS WHAT SHE WANTS W--

WITH OR WITHOUT YOU.
[ CHUCKLES ]

Mercedes: I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN
FROM GETTING UP

THAT I NEED SOMETHING

TO HELP ME START TO FEEL BETTER,
AND EATING DOES THAT.

IT TAKES ALL THE MISERY
THAT I HAVE AND PUSHES IT AWAY.

SO ONCE I FINALLY START,

I JUST WANT TO KEEP GOING
AND EAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

I'LL TALK TO YOU
LATER, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, SHORTLY AFTER TERRY LEAVES,

MY SISTER TONICA WILL COME BY
AND CHECK ON ME

AND BRING ME LUNCH.

Hi, TONICA.

I GOT YOUR FOOD.

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED.

-THANK YOU.
-YOU'RE WELCOME.

AND SHE KNOWS WHAT I LIKE,
TOO,

SO SHE ALWAYS BRINGS ME
SOMETHING GOOD,

AND I CAN NEVER REALLY GET FULL,
SO I JUST KEEP EATING.

BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME THINGS
IN LIFE

THAT WE ARE NOT MEANT
TO TRY AND HANDLE,

AND I DON'T HAVE TO
WHEN I HAVE FOOD.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING I LEARNED
A LONG TIME AGO.

VERY EARLY IN MY LIFE,
THINGS WERE GOOD FOR ME.

I GREW UP WITH THREE BROTHERS
AND THREE SISTERS.

AND WE ALL GOT ALONG
PRETTY WELL.

WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL,
I WAS FUN, HAPPY,

FULL OF ENERGY,
LIKED TO DANCE, SING.

BUT THAT DIDN'T LAST.

BECAUSE WHEN I WAS AROUND
5 OR 6,

IT WAS MY FATHER THAT STARTED
TO CHANGE THINGS IN MY FAMILY.

HE STARTED TO GET ABUSIVE.

EVENTUALLY, IT GOT SO BAD
THAT MY MOM HAD ENOUGH.

SHE GOT FED UP
AND TOOK US AND LEFT.

SO THEN, IT WAS HER
AND THE SEVEN OF US KIDS

THAT HE HAD TO RAISE ON HER OWN.

AND MY MOM DIDN'T HAVE TIME
FOR ALL OF US ANYMORE,

SO THAT'S WHEN I STARTED TO BE
ON MY OWN FOR WHAT I WAS EATING

AND HOW MUCH I WAS EATING.

AND I GOT UP TO ABOUT 100 POUNDS
WHEN I WAS AROUND 9,

BUT THAT WAS ABOUT THE AGE
OUR DAD

WAS TRYING TO BE
A PART OF OUR LIVES

AND HE STARTED COMING AROUND
TO SEE US.

WHEN MY MOM AND HIM SEPARATED,
HE WASN'T AS ANGRY,

SO IT WASN'T BAD
SPENDING TIME WITH HIM THEN.

BUT WHEN I WAS 11,
EVERYTHING BEGAN TO GET WORSE.

BECAUSE THAT WAS THE AGE

WHEN MY FATHER STARTED
SEXUALLY ABUSING ME.

IT STARTED WITH TOUCHING,

AND THEN IT WAS MORE,
UNTIL IT WAS INTERCOURSE.

AND IT WASN'T JUST ME.

IT WAS MY SISTERS, TOO.

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW
THAT AT THE TIME.

[ CRYING ]

THE ABUSE MADE ME FEEL
ROBBED OF MY INNOCENCE.

IT MADE ME FEEL SAD,
MADE ME FEEL DIRTY.

AND AS A CHILD WITH SOMETHING
LIKE THAT HAPPENING,

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
TO DO WITH IT,

BECAUSE ONE OF THE PEOPLE
WHO'S SUPPOSED TO PROTECT YOU

THE MOST IS THE ONE HURTING YOU.

SO I JUST WENT TO FOOD

AND STARTED
EATING A LOT TO FEEL GOOD.

AND I DOUBLED IN WEIGHT
BY THE TIME I WAS 13,

AND WAS OVER 200 POUNDS BY THEN.

MERCEDES GAINED THE WEIGHT.

IT REALLY WASN'T
A BIG DEAL TO ME.

BUT MAYBE IT SHOULD'VE BEEN.

AT THE TIME, I DIDN'T KNOW
THAT SEXUAL ABUSE

WAS GOING ON WITH OUR CHILDREN.

I MEAN, IT'S LIKE,
RIGHT UNDER MY NOSE.

I MEAN, WHY DIDN'T I KNOW?

IF I KNEW, I BELIEVE
I COULD HAVE KILLED HIM.

BUT HE FINALLY STOPPED
WHEN I WAS A TEENAGER

BECAUSE
HE STARTED SEEING SOMEONE,

AND ONCE HAD A GIRLFRIEND,
HE LEFT ME ALONE.

BUT ALL THE FEAR AND PAIN
DIDN'T GO AWAY,

SO I KEPT GOING TO FOOD.

AND I GOT TO ALMOST 300
BY THE TIME I WAS 15.

AND STARTING HIGH SCHOOL
LIKE THAT IS HARD,

BECAUSE I WANTED TO FIT IN,
BUT I WAS MADE FUN OF A LOT.

AND IT GOT WORSE AS I GOT BIGGER
AND GAINED EVEN MORE,

SO I JUST STARTED
SKIPPING SCHOOL A LOT.

AND WHEN I WAS 16,
I DROPPED OUT.

I WAS OVER 400 POUNDS
AT THAT POINT.

BUT WHEN I WAS 19,
I PASSED MY STATE TESTING

TO GET MY NURSING
ASSISTANCE CERTIFICATE,

AND I STARTED WORKING
IN A NURSING HOME,

WHERE I ALSO LIVED.

AND THAT WAS PRETTY MUCH MY LIFE
FOR AROUND SIX YEARS.

BUT WHEN I WAS 25,
I HAD TO GET AN EASIER JOB.

I WAS UP TO ABOUT 450 THEN.

SO I GOT A JOB AT A LIBRARY

BECAUSE I COULD SIT
MOST OF THE TIME.

AND WHILE I WAS DOING THAT,

THAT'S HOW I MET
MY FIRST BOYFRIEND.

AND I GOT PREGNANT
WITH MY FIRST CHILD.

BUT ABOUT SIX MONTHS BEFORE
I HAD KIMORIAH, HE LEFT ME.

AND WHAT WAS WORSE,
I HAD TO HAVE A C-SECTION,

BUT THE INCISION GOT INFECTED

AND I ENDED UP HAVING
A FLESH-EATING BACTERIA, MRSA.

IT GOT REALLY BAD AND IT ALMOST
KILLED ME, BUT WITH THAT,

I ENDED UP ON BED REST
FOR A YEAR AND A HALF.

SO THAT WAS JUST REALLY HARD,
AND A REALLY DARK,

DEPRESSING TIME IN MY LIFE.

I WAS AROUND 550 POUNDS THEN,
AND I WAS ALMOST 30,

BUT I WAS STILL ABLE
TO PULL MYSELF

TOGETHER ENOUGH TO GET TO WORK.

I GOT A JOB
HELPING PREPARE TAXES.

AND WHEN I WAS 32, WAS WHEN
I RECONNECTED WITH TERRY.

HE'S A FRIEND NOW,
BUT I KNEW HIM

WHEN I WAS A CHILD,
AND WE STARTED DATING.

AND WHEN I WAS 33,
I GOT PREGNANT

WITH MY SON KAU'LIN,
BUT I FOUND OUT

TERRY CHEATED ON ME,
SO I BROKE UP WITH HIM.

WE'RE STILL FRIENDS,

AND HE'S A GOOD FATHER
TO KAU'LIN,

BUT THERE'S NEVER GONNA
BE ANYTHING MORE

TO OUR RELATIONSHIP.

WHEN I HAD MY SON KAU'LIN,
I HAD A C-SECTION AGAIN

AND I GOT
THE SAME INFECTION AGAIN.

SO IT WAS ANOTHER YEAR
AND A HALF BEING STUCK IN A BED.

SO THAT LED ME TO BEING OVER
650 POUNDS BY THE TIME I WAS 35.

AND ONCE I GOT TO THAT POINT,
MY LEGS AND MY BODY

JUST CAN'T HANDLE
MY WEIGHT ANYMORE.

ABOUT A YEAR AGO,
MY DAD CALLED ME,

AND HIS DIALYSIS HAD STOPPED
WORKING

AND HIS KIDNEYS WERE FAILING,
SO HE KNEW HE WAS GONNA DIE.

AND HE WAS JUST ASKING
FOR TO FORGIVE HIM.

AND I FORGAVE HIM,
BEFORE MY DAD DIED.

BUT THE PAINS OF EVERYTHING
HE DID TO ME, IT'S STILL THERE.

AND NOW I'M 37 AND PROBABLY
WELL OVER 700 POUNDS.

SO, THAT'S WHERE
MY LIFE IS NOW --

EATING ALL DAY TO FORGET
AND FEEL GOOD.

IN THE AFTERNOON, MY MOM
AND MY TWIN BROTHER MARLON

WILL COME OVER AND BRING ME
SOME GROCERIES

AND SOME SNACKS
TO HOLD ME OVER TILL DINNER.

I KNOW MY EATING IS OUT
OF HAND NOW,

AND MY BODY DOESN'T HAVE A LOT
MORE IT COULD TAKE LIKE THIS,

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO THIS
ALL ANY DIFFERENT,

SO I JUST KEEP GETTING WORSE.

MER, PUT DOWN
THE DOUGHNUTS.

Diane: MERCEDES AT THIS SIZE?
SHE COULD DIE.

ONE NIGHT, SHE COULD GO TO SLEEP
AND NOT WAKE UP.

AND I-I THINK I...

I-I CA-- I...
I CAN'T.

HEY, YOU KNOW, I AIN'T WANT
TO COME OVER HERE,

'CAUSE I AIN'T LIKE
SEEING YOU LIKE THIS.

-YEAH.
-AND I JUST LIKE...

I CAN'T SEE YOU LIKE THAT,
YOU KNOW?

I LOVE YOU.

MY WORST FEAR RIGHT NOW

IS MERCEDES DOESN'T GET THE HELP
THAT SHE TRULY NEEDS...

AND SHE KEEPS GOING
ON AND ON LIKE THIS.

I DON'T THINK SHE CAN
KEEP IT UP VERY LONG.

-LOVE YOU.
-I LOVE YOU TOO, MA.

-OKAY, SEE YA.
-ALL RIGHT, MARLON.

Marlon: ALL RIGHT, MER.

Mercedes: IN THE AFTERNOON,
TERRY GETS THE KIDS FROM SCHOOL

AND DROPS THEM OFF,
AND THEN KIMORIAH WILL START

TO MAKE DINNER FOR ALL OF US.

Kimoriah: MY MOM'S WEIGHT
HAS REALLY AFFECTED ME

BECAUSE I HAVE TO DO
ALL THE WORK NOW,

AND SHE -- SHE JUST SITS THERE,
AND I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING.

AND IT'S HARD ME FOR,
AND IT'S HARD FOR HER.

I WISH I COULD HELP,
BUT I CAN'T DO MUCH FROM MY BED.

BUT I LOVE MY TIME WITH THEM
IN THE EVENINGS

BECAUSE WE HAVE DINNER
AS A FAMILY IN THE BEDROOM,

AND I GET TO SPEND
SOME TIME WITH THEM.

OKAY, Y'ALL NEED TO START
GETTING READY TO GET INTO BED.

KIMORIAH, GO GET THE ICE CREAM
AND THE BOWLS AND THE SPOONS.

Kimoriah: OKAY.

Kau'lin:
IS THAT YOGURT?

Mercedes: COME ON, KIMORIAH.
Y'ALL NEED TO HURRY UP.

I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE THE LIFE
I'M GIVING MY KIDS,

AND I KNOW I HAVE TO FIND
A WAY TO CHANGE AND STOP

BEFORE IT GETS ANY WORSE
AND TAKES MY LIFE.

I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.

AT THIS POINT,
I'M KILLING MYSELF

IF I DON'T GET THIS WEIGHT OFF.

I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE
MY KIDS BEHIND.

I NEED TO BE HERE FOR THEM,
SO I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

I HAVE TO FIND HELP AND TRY
EVEN IF IT'S A LOSING BATTLE,

BECAUSE I'M NOT READY TO GIVE UP
AND I'M NOT READY TO DIE.

Mercedes: A COUPLE WEEKS AGO,
I DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING

ABOUT MY SITUATION,

SO I CALLED DR. NOW IN HOUSTON.

HE'S THE ONLY DOCTOR
I KNOW OF THAT

DOES WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
ON PEOPLE MY SIZE,

SO I WAS READY TO TRY
AND MAKE A TRIP TO SEE HIM,

BECAUSE I KNOW I CAN'T
KEEP GOING LIKE THIS,

BUT I COULDN'T MAKE
MY APPOINTMENT

BECAUSE WE HAD SOME BAD RAINS
AND WE HAD A MUDSLIDE

THAT DESTROYED THE WHOLE BACK
SIDE OF OUR PLACE,

SO ME AND THE KIDS HAD TO
RELOCATE TO A NEW APARTMENT.

I HAD TO UPROOT MY WHOLE LIFE.

AND TO MAKE THINGS EVEN WORSE,

TERRY WAS THE ONE WHO WAS GONNA
TAKE ME DOWN TO HOUSTON.

SO I'M TRYING TO DO MY BEST TO
FIND SOMEONE WHO COULD TAKE ME,

BUT I'M NOT FINDING ANY OPTIONS.

SO I'M FEELING
A LITTLE HOPELESS.

BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO DO THIS
FOR ME AND MY KIDS.

AND IF I DON'T, I'M NOT GONNA
BE AROUND FOR THEM MUCH LONGER.

HM, GOOD.
READY TO START THIS JOURNEY.

HOW YOU FEEL?

UH, GOOD.

I CAN'T WAIT.

IT'LL BE A BIG CHANGE.

-MM-HMM.
-BIG CHANGE.

WE'RE GONNA GET THERE.

I'M READY.

ME TOO.

I LOVE YOU, MA.

I LOVE YOU TOO.
[ CHUCKLES ]

I KNOW MY KIDS
ARE WORRIED ABOUT ME.

I'M THEIR ONLY PARENT,
SO I CAN'T LEAVE THEM LIKE THIS.

SO NO MATTER WHAT,
I'M NOT GONNA GIVE UP.

AND I'M GONNA DO WHATEVER
IT TAKES TO FIGURE THIS OUT

AND MAKE IT TO HOUSTON.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS,

I CALLED EVERYONE
WHO COULD HELP ME TO SEE

IF THEY COULD TAKE ME
DOWN TO HOUSTON,

BECAUSE TERRY NEVER CAME BACK

AND I DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH HIM.

HE'S NOT EVEN HELPING
WITH THE KIDS RIGHT NOW.

BUT THANKFULLY, MY COUSIN SAID
HE CAN HELP ME DO THIS.

SO HE'S MY GODSEND TO ME
RIGHT NOW.

Brandon:
HEY, KIMORIAH. WHAT'S UP?

Y'ALL READY FOR
THE BIG OL' RIDE?

I'M HERE TO MAKE SURE MERCEDES

MAKES IT DOWN TO TEXAS

TO SEE DR. NOW, SAFE.

MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT
SHE DOESN'T FALL,

BECAUSE IT'S HARD FOR ME
TO HELP HER UP.

BUT WE'RE GONNA MAKE IT WORK.

[ GRUNTING ]

MNH.

WELL, I'M GONNA GO GET THE VAN.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

Mercedes: THE PLAN
IS TO RIDE DOWN THERE

IN THE BACK OF BRANDON'S VAN.

I JUST HOPE I CAN HANDLE IT.

Brandon:
IT'S COLD OUT THERE, BABY GIRL.

Mercedes:
I CALLED DR. NOW'S OFFICE

AND GOT ANOTHER APPOINTMENT SET
FOR A FEW DAYS FROM NOW,

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG
IT'S GONNA TAKE TO GET THERE.

THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING
LIKE A 16-HOUR DRIVE,

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MY BODY
IS GONNA HANDLE IT.

AND I'M SCARED OUT OF MY MIND
BECAUSE OF THAT.

OKAY.
I THINK THAT'S IT.

LET'S GET YOU IN.

WE TAKING YOUR CHAIR TOO?

I NEED TO.

-WHEW.
-RIGHT THERE. COOL.

RIGHT THERE. COOL.

LITTLE SHOCK OVER THAT HILL.

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!

DO YOU FEEL
THAT HANDLE?

-I SEE IT.
-OKAY.

[ GRUNTS ]

I GOTTA PUSH.
I GOTTA PUSH ON YOU.

I GOTTA PUSH ON YOU.

-HOLD ON.
-OKAY, OKAY.

HOLD ON.
DON'T PUSH NOTHIN' YET.

CAN THESE SEAT COME OUT SO I
CAN HAVE SOME MORE ROOM TO MOVE?

-YEAH.
-OH. I GOT TO FIX IT.

I'M ALREADY FEELING RUN DOWN.

BUT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE
TO KEEP THE KIDS IN THE SEATS.

KAU'LIN HAS TO BE
IN HIS CAR SEAT.

HE CAN'T RIDE WITHOUT
BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE.

SO FIGURING OUT HOW ALL THIS IS
GONNA WORK ISN'T GONNA BE EASY.

-PUT IT DOWN.
-OKAY.

HERE. HOLD THAT.

OH, MAN.

IS THAT FAR ENOUGH?

I THINK SO.

THERE WE GO.

GET ON UP THERE, KAU'LIN.
COME ON, GET ON UP HERE.

MIGHT WANT TO CLOSE THE BACK.

-WE GOT TO PUT THE STUFF BACK.
-YEAH, WE'RE GONNA GET IT.

YOU GOT TO GET IN THE SEATBELT.

-ALL RIGHT?
-NO!

-WHAT?
-MY COAT.

OKAY.
YOU'LL BE OKAY.

AH, SHOOT. MY FINGERS.

COME ON.
YOU FORGOT WHO YOU CALL.

PUSH THAT BUTTON.

RIGHT THERE.
PUSH.

WE GOTTA GET SOME SNACKS.
WE GOT THEM ON THE WAY,

'CAUSE I CAN'T...

THERE WE GO.

THIS IS GONNA BE AN ADVENTURE
FOR US ALL.

BUT HOW LONG I'M ABLE
TO GO TODAY

WILL TELL US HOW LONG IT'S GONNA
TAKE AND WHAT MY LIMITS ARE,

BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO
GET THERE IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

WE'RE OFF.

OHH.

HEY, LET'S STOP FOR THE NIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.
YOU BET.

I'M READY TO PUT MY LEGS UP
AND GET COMFORTABLE.

OKAY.

AND SO I CAN TAKE
SOME PAIN MEDICINE.

I'M REALLY WORRIED IF THIS IS
HOW I FEEL

JUST AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS,
HOW BAD IT'S GONNA GET FOR ME.

[ GROANS ]
MY LEG, MY LEG.

I CAN'T SPEND EIGHT DAYS
ON THE ROAD.

I WON'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT,
AND I'LL MISS MY APPOINTMENT.

BUT THE BIGGER ISSUE FOR ME
RIGHT NOW IS,

SEEING IF I'M GONNA BE ABLE
TO DO WHAT I NEED IN THIS ROOM.

COME ON, LET'S GO.

-STIFF NOW?
-YEAH.

I AIN'T GOT NOTHIN' TO GRAB ON.

[ GRUNTING ]

[ GRUNTING ]

MY BIGGEST WORRY IS WHETHER
I CAN USE A TOILET,

AND IF THE BED
CAN HOLD ME.

WHICH WAY?

I DON'T HAVE MY HEALTHCARE
ASSISTANT BRITTNEY WITH ME,

SO I'M HOPING
I CAN JUST MAKE THIS WORK.

UNBRAKE YOURSELF.

-RIGHT HERE.
-YEAH.

OKAY.

THAT'S IT.
WE'RE GONNA SCOOT YOU UP,

IF I CAN GET THE WALKER IN.

I THINK...

[ GRUNTING ]

YOU SEE THE --
IT'S A COUCH RIGHT THERE.

I GOT TO PEE.

TURN THE LIGHT ON, OR NO?

[BLEEP] THAT.
I GOT TO PEE.

OKAY.

HEY!
GET SETTLED IN.

GET UP IN THERE.

I GOT YOU, MER.

GIVE ME THAT.

THIS?

THE BATHROOM FACILITIES HERE
ARE PAINFUL TO USE.

[ SIGHS ]
I CAN'T RINSE.

I'M THANKFUL I MANAGED,

BUT I JUST WANT TO GET
IN BED NOW AND SLEEP,

BECAUSE MY WHOLE BODY
IS JUST IN SO MUCH PAIN.

YOU OKAY?

-YEAH.
-OKAY.

GOT YOU TOGETHER,
BABY GIRL.

PUT THEM PADS ON THERE.

OKAY. HOW MANY?

TWO OF THEM.

WHEN I SLEEP, I HAVE TO HAD
A BED PAD TO LAY ON

IN CASE I HAVE TO
USE THE BATHROOM

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

I'M SO EXHAUSTED AND I'M IN
SO MUCH PAIN, I'M MISERABLE.

AND IF I'M ALREADY LIKE THIS
AND IN THIS MUCH PAIN,

I'M SCARED I'M NOT GONNA
BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.

YOU GOOD?

-OH, MY BACK.
-THAT AIN'T IT?

[ Crying ]
AND THAT'LL BE THE END FOR ME.

I'LL BE BASICALLY JUST GOING
BACK HOME TO DIE.

AND I'LL EAT MYSELF TO DEATH,
AND LEAVE MY KIDS.

[ CRYING ]

IT'S OKAY TO CRY.
I'LL SIT WITH YOU.

BUT I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN.

Mercedes: I DON'T FEEL
AS READY AS I'D LIKE

TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD.

I DIDN'T GET MUCH SLEEP BECAUSE
I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE ALL NIGHT.

IT'S JUST NOT THE SAME
NOT HAVING A BED LIKE I NEED.

THIS ONE DIDN'T GIVE ME
MUCH SUPPORT,

AND I STILL FEEL REALLY SORE.

BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP MOVING,

BECAUSE WE NEED
TO GET TO HOUSTON.

AND I'M HOPING I'M ABLE
TO GO LONGER THIS TIME,

BECAUSE GOING AT THE RATE
I DID YESTERDAY,

IT WOULD TAKE US EIGHT DAYS
TO FINISH THIS TRIP.

AND NOT GONNA LAST THAT LONG
ON THE ROAD.

I'M JUST ABOUT DONE FOR THE DAY,
BUT I'M PROUD OF MYSELF

BECAUSE WE'VE MADE IT
ABOUT HALFWAY TO HOUSTON NOW.

BUT I'M PAYING THE PRICE
OF THAT ON MY BODY

BECAUSE I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN.

BRANDON, I'M DONE FOR THE DAY.

LET'S STOP FOR THE NIGHT.

Brandon: ALL RIGHT.

RIGHT NOW, I JUST NEED
TO GET OUT OF THIS CAR

AND BED SOON
BEFORE MY BODY GIVES OUT.

I'M SO PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTED
AT THIS POINT,

AND WE STILL HAVE HALFWAY
TO GO TO GET TO HOUSTON.

THERE YOU GO.

-IT'S COMIN' OUT.
-IT'S COMIN' OUT?

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
LET IT GO.

LET IT FLOW.

I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL THOUGH.

SEE? IT'S LOW.

IT'S LOW.

GOTTA LIFT.
YOU GOTTA LIFT.

[ CRYING ]

COME ON, COME ON.
DON'T CRY, BABY.

LET'S JUST GET THIS UP OUT OF
HERE, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'?

HUH?
YOU NEED MY HAND?

COME ON.
ONE, TWO, THREE.

OKAY, OKAY, ONE MORE TIME.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

LET'S GO, BABY.
LET'S GO.

GET TO WALKING.
COME ON.

[BLEEP]

IT'S ALL GOOD, BABY.
YOU DID GOOD.

IT'S OKAY.

[BLEEP] HAPPENS.

I'LL GET BEHIND YOU.
GO AHEAD.

KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING.
I'LL GET BEHIND YOU.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT NOTHIN'.

WE OUT, WE GOOD.
WE GOOD.

WE GOOD.

GET THE CART.

I'M JUST IRRITATED, TIRED,
AND MY LEGS HURT.

I WILL GET CLEANED UP,
AND I'M JUST TIRED.

I'M READY FOR THIS PART
TO BE OVER WITH.

[ GROANING ]

KIMORIAH, I'M GONNA NEED
YOUR HELP.

YOU WANT TO EAT?

YOU WANT ME TO MAKE
SOME PLATES?

THIS TRIP HAS TAKEN JUST ABOUT
EVERYTHING OUT OF ME.

AND RIGHT NOW, FOOD IS THE ONLY
THING GETTING ME THROUGH THIS.

I KNOW I'M GOING TO HOUSTON
TO TRY AND LOSE THE WEIGHT,

BUT I JUST NEED WHAT I NEED
TO GET THROUGH THIS,

SO I DON'T HAVE MUCH
OF A CHOICE RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE IF I DON'T HAVE THAT
TO KEEP ME GOING,

THEN I'M NOT GONNA MAKE IT.

IT'S DAY FOUR OF BEING
ON THE ROAD.

I COULDN'T MAKE IT AS FAR
AS I WANTED YESTERDAY.

I JUST TOO WORN OUT
AND MY BODY COULDN'T TAKE IT.

I WAS HOPING TO BE ABLE TO REST,

BUT SINCE MY APPOINTMENT
IS TODAY

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET THERE.

BUT THANKFULLY,
I'M GONNA BE AT DR. NOW'S SOON,

AND I JUST HOPE THAT ALL
ISN'T FOR NOTHING

AND THAT I'M ABLE TO GET
THE HELP THAT I NEED,

BECAUSE I'M DESPERATE
TO TURN MY LIFE AROUND.

LOOK, KAU'LIN.
WE'RE IN THE CITY. LOOK.

Brandon: HOUSTON, TEXAS, NOW,
YOU SEE THAT?

HOUSTON! LET'S GO!

MY WHOLE LIFE IS DEPENDING ON
GETTING THIS HELP WITH DR. NOW,

AND HEARING HIM SAY
THAT HE CAN TREAT ME.

BECAUSE IF HE DOESN'T,
THEN I KNOW

I WON'T HAVE
MUCH LONGER TO LIVE.

AND THERE'S NOWHERE LEFT
FOR ME TO TURN.

AH [BLEEP]

[ GROANING ]

MERCEDES?

[ GRUNTS ]

YOU THINK YOU'D BE ABLE
TO STAND,

OR DO YOU FEEL BETTER
WITH ONE WITH BARS?

THE ONE WITH THE BARS.

-THE ONE WITH THE BARS?
-YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.
GIVE ME A MINUTE.

THIS IS MY LAST HOPE.

OKAY.

SO, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

AND IF I DON'T GET THIS HELP,

THEN THE ONLY OPTION
I HAVE LEFT

WILL BE JUST TO WAIT FOR DEATH,

BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S COMING.

SO I'M TERRIFIED RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE MY LIFE IS HANGING
IN THE BALANCE.

Mercedes: ME AND MY FAMILY
FINALLY MADE IT TO DR. NOW'S,

BUT I'M NERVOUS ABOUT
WHAT THE SCALE IS GOING TO SAY.

THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE
I'M OVER 700 NOW,

SO I'M HOPING MY WEIGHT
ISN'T TOO HIGH

AND DR. NOW SAYS
HE CAN HELP ME.

[ WINCES ]

IT'S UPSETTING TO SEE
JUST HOW BAD MY WEIGHT IS.

I'M SCARED RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I KNOW I DON'T
HAVE A LOT MORE I CAN GAIN

BEFORE IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE
TO GET ANY BIGGER,

BECAUSE MY BODY JUST WON'T
BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT.

SO I HAVE TO TURN THAT AROUND
BEFORE IT GETS TO THAT POINT.

SO IF I DON'T GET THE HELP,

I PROBABLY WON'T
BE HERE NO MORE.

SO I'M HOPING THAT I QUALIFY
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

I WILL NOT BE ABLE
TO LOSE WEIGHT BY MYSELF

IF I DON'T HAVE HELP.

[ KNOCKS ON DOOR ]

-HELLO.
-HELLO.

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.
HOW Y'ALL DOIN'?

-GOOD.
-FINE. HOW ARE YOU?

AND YOU ARE MERCEDES?

YEAH.

-NICE TO MEET YOU.
-NICE TO MEET YOU.

AND THIS YOUNG MAN IS?

BRANDON.

BRANDON.
THAT'S MY COUSIN.

YOU'RE BRANDON.
COUSIN.

AND THE TWO YOUNG ONES?

OH, THAT'S KIMORIAH
AND KAU'LIN.

THAT'S MY TWO KIDS.

-TWO KIDS.
-MM-HMM.

ALL RIGHT, YOU GOT SOME FAMILY
WITH YOU TO SUPPORT YOU, RIGHT?

-YEAH.
-THAT'S GREAT.

AND YOU'RE COMING
FROM CINCINNATI, OHIO?

YEP.

HOW WAS YOUR TRIP
FROM CINCINNATI?

IT WAS A ROUGH ONE.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU
TO GET DOWN HERE?

FOUR DAYS.

FOUR DAYS TO GET
DOWN HERE.

YEAH.

THAT'S A LOT OF STRAIN

FOR SOMEONE WHO'S OVER
700 POUNDS.

BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT
HOW YOU GOT THIS WEIGHT.

TELL ME, HOW DO YOU THINK
YOU GOT TO THIS POINT?

I DON'T KNOW.

SOME EATING, BUT, BEING SICK
IN THE H-- FROM SURGERIES

AND NOT BEING ABLE
TO WALK AROUND AND DO MUCH.

SO YOU THINK MOSTLY BEING SICK
AND LACK OF ACTIVITY

CAUSED YOU TO GAIN
600 POUNDS OF EXTRA WEIGHT?

YEAH.

SO IF WE GET YOU TO WALK AROUND
AND IF YOU RAN A MARATHON,

YOU'RE GONNA BE
150 POUNDS, RIGHT?

YEAH.

THAT'S NOT REALITY,
OKAY?

BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT
YOUR ACTIVITY.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU GET UP
AND WALK?

I CAN GO TO THE BATHROOM.

I USE THE WALKER.

SO IF THAT'S THE LIMIT
OF YOUR DAILY ACTIVITY,

THEN WHO BRINGS YOU
ALL YOUR FOOD?

EVERYBODY.
FAMILY.

EVERYBODY BECAUSE THEY
BRING IT?

OR BECAUSE YOU ASK THEM
TO BRING YOU?

WELL, I ASK THEM TO BRING IT.

I ENABLE MYSELF BECAUSE I TELL
THEM TO GET IT

AND THEY GET IT FOR ME.

DON'T YOU REALIZE
THAT YOU'RE 37

AND YOU'RE ALMOST
800 POUNDS?

SO, AT THIS POINT,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIVE THAT LONG.

I'M COMING TO REALIZE THAT.

AND I HAVE MY KIDS
TO LIVE FOR, SO...

I'M TIRED OF BEING LIKE THIS.

SO, WHY DO YOU THINK
NOTHING HAS WORKED

TO HELP YOU STOP
OVER-EATING?

I DON'T REALLY OVER-EAT.

I JUST EAT STUFF THAT'S NOT GOOD
FOR ME, LIKE SNACKS AND...

WHAT DO YOU MEAN
YOU DON'T OVER-EAT?

YOU'RE 700 POUNDS.

YOU DON'T THINK
YOU'RE OVER-EATING?

NO. WELL...

YEAH, I EAT,
BUT I DON'T EAT, LIKE...

LIKE, ALL THE TIME.

I JUST EAT NOT THE RIGHT STUFF.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN
YOU DON'T EAT ALL THE TIME?

YOU KNOW, FOR YOUR HEIGHT,
YOU SHOULD BE 150,

SO YOU HAVE OVER
600 POUNDS OF EXCESS WEIGHT.

IF YOU DO THE MATH,
YOU'RE EATING FOUR TIMES

MORE THAN YOU
SHOULD EAT,

AND YOU DON'T THINK
YOU'RE EATING AS MUCH?

LIKE, WHEN I EAT, I EAT,
LIKE, ONE BIG MEAL...

AND, YEAH, THAT'S A LOT.

MERCEDES, DON'T PLAY
THIS GAME WITH ME.

YOU DON'T STOP,
AND YOU KNOW THAT.

THIS IS JUST SOMETHING
YOU'RE USED TO SAYING TO PEOPLE

WHEN YOU LIE TO THEM
AND PRETEND IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.

BUT THAT ISN'T GONNA WORK
WITH ME, YOU GOT IT?

-OKAY.
-ALL RIGHT.

SO, GIVE ME A STRAIGHT,
HONEST ANSWER

ABOUT WHAT YOU EAT
IN A REGULAR DAY.

I DON'T EAT BREAKFAST.

MAYBE AROUND...

MAYBE AROUND THE TIME THE KIDS
GET OUT OF SCHOOL,

PROBABLY ORDER SOMETHING.

WHEN THEY GET HOME,
IT'S PROBABLY ABOUT 3:00,

SO THAT'S PROBABLY
THE TIME WHEN I EAT.

SO YOU'RE TELLING ME
YOU DON'T EAT UNTIL 3:00?

MM-HMM.

IF YOU WANT TO KEEP LYING TO ME,
THIS ISN'T GONNA WORK.

SO TELL ME ALL THE BAD STUFF
YOU EAT

THAT YOU KNOW YOU SHOULDN'T.

PROBABLY COOKIES, CAKES,
CANDY...

CHIPS AND COOKIES
AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

-AND SOMETIMES I...
-AND WHAT ARE YOU DRINKING?

SODA.

HOW MUCH SODA DO YOU DRINK
IN ONE DAY?

UH, I COULD DRINK ABOUT
A 2-LITER IN ONE DAY,

TWO OR THREE 2-LITERS.

SO UP TO SIX LITERS
OF SODA A DAY.

AT LEAST YOU'RE GIVING ME
ONE HONEST ANSWER,

BECAUSE I CAN BELIEVE THAT.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD.

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK
THE SOLUTION IS

TO GET THE WEIGHT OFF?

STOP EATING.

JUST, YOU KNOW...

NOBODY WANTS YOU
TO STOP EATING.

NOT STOP COMPLETELY, BUT...

I NEED HELP, LIKE,
TO SHOW ME HOW TO EAT RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF CHANGES
TO MAKE NOW

IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS,
MERCEDES.

YES. I'M READY.

I'M READY.

YOU NEED TO GIVE UP
ALL OF THE COOKIES, CANDY,

AND SODA AND CHIPS, OKAY?

AND I'M GONNA GIVE YOU
A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET,

HIGH-PROTEIN, LOW-CARB,
FOR YOU TO START IMMEDIATELY.

AND IF YOU DO THAT,
IN A MONTH,

YOU SHOULD LOSE
80 POINTS, AT LEAST.

AND IF YOU HIT THAT GOAL
AND YOUR MEDICAL TESTS ARE GOOD,

THEN WE'LL APPROVE YOU
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, OKAY?

OKAY.

THIS IS SOMETHING
YOU NEED TO DO NOW,

OR YOU'RE NOT GONNA
BE ALIVE MUCH LONGER.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR,

I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
MERCEDES' CONDITION

AND OVERALL SITUATION.

AT CLOSE TO 800 POUNDS
AND ALMOST COMPLETELY IMMOBILE,

SHE HAS A VERY LOW PROBABILITY
OF SURVIVAL RIGHT NOW,

AND MAY ALREADY BE FACING

ANY NUMBER
OF LIFE-THREATENING ISSUES

THAT WE NEED TO CHECK
FOR RIGHT NOW.

THEN THE NEXT STEP WILL BE
TO ADMIT HER

TO A HOSPITAL
TO START FEEDING HER.

BUT IF SHE DOESN'T,
THEN THE NEXT STEP

WILL BE FOR HER TO SHOW ME
SHE'S READY TO WORK TO TRY

AND SAVE HER LIFE
BY HITTING HER WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL.

BUT WITH HOW SHE'S LYING TO ME
ABOUT HER EATING HABITS,

I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT
HOW CLEARLY

SHE REALLY SEES HER SITUATION.

BUT HOPEFULLY, SHE'S SERIOUS

WHEN SHE SAYS
SHE'S READY TO DO THIS,

AND SHE REALIZES HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS TO START LOSING WEIGHT

AND GET ACTIVE AGAIN,

BECAUSE SHE'S NOT GONNA BE
AROUND MUCH LONGER

IF SHE DOESN'T.

ALL RIGHT, MERCEDES,
IN ADDITION TO YOUR DIET,

I WANT YOU TO START DOING
DAILY EXERCISES

SO WE CAN GET YOU WALKING.

BUT THIS IS GONNA BE
ALL UP TO YOU.

YOU GOT IT?

YEAH, I KNOW.

OKAY?

ALL RIGHT.

BEFORE YOU GO BACK,

I WANT TO RUN
SOME TESTS ON YOU

TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN
HANDLE THE CAR RIDE HOME.

IF NOT, WE MAY NEED TO
KEEP YOU HERE LONGER.

BUT ULTIMATELY,
GOING BACK AND FORTH THAT FAR

ISN'T GONNA BE GOOD FOR YOU.

SO IF YOU WANT TO DO
THIS PROGRAM,

THEN YOU NEED TO MOVE
DOWN HERE TO HOUSTON,

BECAUSE YOUR BODY IS NOT
GONNA BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT

WITH THE STATE YOU'RE IN.

SO YOU NEED TO DECIDE IF YOU
ULTIMATELY WANT TO DO THIS

AND HOW COMMITTED YOU ARE.

SO, YOU THINK
YOU CAN DO THAT?

YES.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

NO.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

ALL RIGHT.
NICE TO MEET YOU GUYS.

-NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.
-NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT.
SEE Y'ALL LATER.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT GETTING
THESE TESTS RUN RIGHT NOW

AND WHAT THEY'LL FIND.

I'M ALSO WORRIED
ABOUT GETTING TO THE GOAL

THAT DR. NOW GAVE ME.

HE TOLD ME I HAD TO LOSE
80 POUNDS.

IF I COULD DO THAT ON MY OWN,

I WOULDN'T BE HERE
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

BUT YOU KNOW I'M READY
TO WORK AS HARD AS I NEED.

I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT MY KIDS.

I'M LIVING FOR THEM.

BUT FOR RIGHT NOW,
I HAVE TO FOCUS ON GETTING HOME,

BECAUSE IT'S GONNA BE
A LONG JOURNEY BACK.

SO I CAN'T START TO DIET NOW

BECAUSE FOOD WAS A BIG PART
OF WHAT GOT ME HERE,

AND I'LL NEED THAT SAME HELP AND
THAT SAME BOOST TO GET ME BACK.

AFTER MY APPOINTMENT WITH
DR. NOW,

HE DID A BUNCH OF TESTS ON ME,

AND TOLD ME THAT HE'S NOT
HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS.

BECAUSE HE SAID MY OVERALL
HEALTH WAS PRETTY BAD.

THANKFULLY, IT WASN'T BAD ENOUGH

TO WHERE I HAVE TO GO BE
IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A WHILE.

THEY SAID IT'S BAD ENOUGH
THAT I WON'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE

THE ROAD TRIPS BACK AND FORTH
FROM HERE TO HOUSTON,

SO DR. NOW TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED
TO MOVE DOWN NOW

IF I WAS GONNA TRY
TO DO THIS PROGRAM.

AND HE SAID I NEED SOMEONE
TO COME WITH ME

FOR SUPPORT AND HELP.

TERRY HASN'T BEEN AROUND MUCH

SINCE I STARTED TRYING
TO DO THIS,

SO I KNOW HE'S NOT AN OPTION
TO COME TO HOUSTON WITH ME.

BUT I TALKED TO BRANDON
AND HE'S GONNA DO IT,

AND I'M VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.

Brandon: DO YOU WANT TO
GET A LIST TOGETHER?

AND I'LL GET THE KIDS HOME,
TOO?

-YEAH.
-GET EVERYBODY HOME?

-A SALAD SOUNDS GOOD.
-SALAD.

YOU'VE BEEN DOIN' GOOD
WITH THAT, THOUGH.

NOT EATING A LOT
IN ONE SITTING.

-YEAH.
-YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'?

I'M PROUD OF YOU.
I'M PROUD OF YOU.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYIN'?

I'M STICKING TO ONLY FOODS
THAT ARE ON THE DIET,

AND I'M GETTING UP
EVERY DAY LIKE HE WANTS.

I'M SUPPOSED TO SEE DR. NOW

AND BE BACK DOWN IN HOUSTON
IN TWO WEEKS.

BUT I TOLD DR.
NOW IT'S GONNA TAKE MORE TIME.

BUT I WANT TO GET
MY WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

TO GET MY LIFE BACK FOR ME
AND MY KIDS,

NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES.

Mercedes: WE'RE FINALLY MOVING
TO HOUSTON TODAY.

IT'S TAKEN A LOT FOR US
TO GET TO THIS POINT.

BRANDON'S BACK WITH
HIS GIRLFRIEND TEMEKA,

AND THEY'RE BOTH TAKING CARE
OF EVERYTHING WE NEED TO LEAVE.

AND EVERYONE IS EXCITED
TO FINALLY BE DOING THIS.

BUT I'M HAVING A HARD TIME
BECAUSE I'M NOT FEELING WELL,

AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT
BEING ON THE ROAD

AS LONG AS I WAS
THE LAST TIME WE WENT DOWN.

I GOT FUEL.
I GOT THE TRUCK.

I GOT THE RENTAL.

-GOT SOME FOOD!
-GOT SOME FOOD FOR THE MOVE,

YOU HEAR ME?

WE'RE GETTIN' UP
OUT OF HERE TODAY.

WHAT'S WRONG?
YOU OKAY?

YEAH, I KEEP FEELING A PAIN
IN MY CHEST.

YOU THINK IT'S ANXIETY?

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU MIGHT HAVE TO BURP
OR BREAK WIND?

WELL, LOOK, WE ABOUT
TO START LOADING.

-ALL RIGHT.
-ALL RIGHT. READY?

WE UP OUT HERE, BABY.

OKAY.

NO MATTER WHAT OR HOW HARD
IT'S GONNA BE,

I KNOW IT'S TIME,

BECAUSE DR. NOW ISN'T TOO HAPPY
IT'S TAKEN US SO LONG.

SO WE NEED TO GET THERE AND I
NEED TO GO BACK TO SEE HIM,

BUT I'M HOPING WHEN I DO,
HE'LL BE HAPPY WITH MY PROGRESS.

I KNOW THIS IS GONNA TAKE A LOT
OUT OF ME,

BUT I'M HOPING IT'S AT LEAST
A LITTLE EASIER NOW THAT

I LOST SOME WEIGHT
AND BEEN EXERCISING,

AND THAT WE'LL BE ABLE
TO MAKE IT IN LESS TIME.

BECAUSE EVEN GETTING THERE
IN THREE DAYS

INSTEAD OF FOUR WILL MAKE
A HUGE DIFFERENCE ON MY BODY.

BUT WE JUST HAVE TO SEE
HOW IT GOES.

BUT WHAT HELPED ME GET THROUGH
ALL THE PAIN AND MISERY

OF DOING IT
LAST TIME WAS FOOD.

AND I'M GONNA TRY NOT TO USE
FOOD LIKE THAT THIS TIME

SO I DON'T MESS UP MY DIET.

I JUST HOPE IT DOESN'T
GET SO HARD

TO WHERE THE TEMPTATION
GETS TO BE TOO MUCH FOR ME

AND I GIVE IN.

MY PLAN IS TO RESIST THAT
AND STAY FOCUSED,

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MESS UP
ALL MY PROGRESS.

AT LEAST THIS TIME, I KNOW HOW
I NEED TO FIT AND WHAT TO DO

SINCE I ALREADY DID IT BEFORE.

I'M HOPING THE RIDE
IS EASIER ON ME.

BEING AROUND FAST FOOD
FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS

AND NOT EATING
IT ISN'T GONNA BE EASY.

I JUST GOT TO REMIND MYSELF
OF THE KIDS.

I'M DOING THIS FOR ME,
AND FOR THEM,

TO BE THERE FOR THEM,
SO I'M GONNA STICK TO MY DIET.

WE'VE ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD
FOR A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR,

AND SO FAR, EVERYTHING'S FINE.

IT'S SMOKING.

-WHAT'S SMOKING?
-THE TRUCK BRANDON'S DRIVING.

OH, IT'S JUST THE WHEELS.

THEY'RE STOPPING.

Kimoriah: IT'S ON FIRE!
OH, MY GOD.

GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT!

MAMA, TELL THEM TO GET OUT.

HE STOPPED!
WHAT AM I GONNA DO?

TELL THEM TO GET OUT.

Y'ALL ON FIRE!

-IT'S ON FIRE!
-IT'S ON FIRE!

-THE CAR!
-THE CAR IS?

-NO, THE PULLEY!
-IT'S ON FIRE.

IT'S ON FIRE!

GET OUT, GET OUT!

CALL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

-OH, MY GOD.
-AIN'T NO EXTINGUISHER IN THERE?

-NO.
-MY GOD!

IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING!
THE DEVIL'S ALWAYS BUSY.

IN THE NAME OF JESUS...

[ SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE ]

[ FIRE CRACKLING ]

I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

IT FEELS LIKE NO MATTER WHAT,

THERE'S GONNA BE SETBACKS
TO MAKE IT HARDER.

BECAUSE THIS DELAY MEANS

IT'S PROBABLY GONNA
TAKE US LONGER NOW,

SO I'M DISAPPOINTED RIGHT NOW,
BUT I'M GLAD NO ONE WAS HURT.

WE LOST A WHOLE DAY TO THIS.

BRANDON WAS SEEING IF WE COULD
GET A NEW TIRE ON THE TRAILER,

BUT IT'S TOO DAMAGED,
SO WE HAVE TO GET THE TRAILER

TOWED BACK TO THE RENTAL PLACE.

SO IT'S JUST BEEN
TAKING FOREVER.

AND I'VE BEEN IN THIS CAR
WAY TOO LONG AT THIS POINT,

SO WE JUST NEED TO GET A HOTEL
AND CALL IT A DAY.

BUT IT'S HARD NOT TO FEEL LIKE
THE WORLD IS JUST AGAINST YOU.

AND WHEN WE TRY TO STAND
UP TO IT,

IT JUST PUSHES YOU BACK DOWN.

BUT I'M HOPING I COULD
JUST GET SOME REST,

AND ONCE I DO,
I WON'T BE TOO SORE

AND WE CAN JUST GET BACK
ON THE ROAD

AND KEEP GOING WITHOUT
ANY MORE ISSUES.

I'M NOT GIVING UP EASILY,

BUT SO FAR,
THIS ISN'T GOING WELL,

AND I HOPE THE WORST
IS BEHIND US.

THANK GOD WE MADE IT HERE.

BUT IT TOOK LONGER
TO DO THIS TRIP THIS TIME

AND I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN,
AND I FEEL MISERABLE.

FOR MOST OF THE TRIP,
I DIDN'T GIVE INTO TEMPTATION,

SO I HAVEN'T HAD ANYTHING
TO HELP ME DEAL

WITH ALL THE MISERY
OF DOING THIS.

Temeka: HOME SWEET HOME!
NOW EVERYBODY GET OUT.

SO I JUST WANT TO GET OUT
AND GET UNLOADED

AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE
SO I CAN REST.

WELL, WE RENTED
THIS PLACE ONLINE,

AND NONE OF US
HAVE EVEN SEEN IT,

SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO EXPECT.

HEY, MER, YOU MIGHT HAVE
TO WALK OVER TO HERE

BECAUSE THE CHAIR
CAN'T FIT.

NO.
GET MY WHEELCHAIR INSIDE.

I'M GONNA TRY TO WALK.

THE ONLY THING I KNOW IS,
I GOT A UNIT THAT IS A CLOSE

TO THE CAR AS POSSIBLE,

AND ON THE FIRST FLOOR
SO I DON'T HAVE TO WALK MUCH

TO GET IN OR OUT.

HOW EVERYTHING ELSE IS GONNA
WORK FOR ME

IS A MYSTERY RIGHT NOW.

I JUST HOPE ALL THE ROOMS
ARE AS BIG AS THEY SAID,

BECAUSE I HAVE TO BE
ABLE TO FIT EVERYWHERE.

THAT [BLEEP] HURT.

Brandon: THIS IS NICE.

[ PANTING ]

IT'S TOO TIGHT IN HERE,
AIN'T IT?

THERE AIN'T NO [BLEEP] ROOM.

[ GROANS ]

ALL RIGHT.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

LITTLE BITTY KITCHEN.

YEP.

JUST TEMPORARY, THOUGH.

AND A FRIDGE.

I AM COMPLETELY WIPED,

BUT I'M PROUD OF MYSELF FOR
MAKING IT AND NOT GIVING UP,

NO MATTER WHAT I FACED.

ALL RIGHT,
START GRABBIN'.

START GRABBIN' STUFF.
COME ON, Y'ALL.

SO I'M GONNA CALL DR. NOW
AND TELL HIM I'M HERE

AND SET UP MY APPOINTMENT
TO GO SEE HIM.

AND I'M CONFIDENT I'M GONNA
HAVE GOOD PROGRESS,

AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BE ENOUGH
TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

AND ONCE I GET THAT, THINGS
WILL START TO GET EVEN EASIER,

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT

AND THE NEW LIFE
I'M GONNA HAVE SOON

ONCE I LOSE THE WEIGHT.

Mercedes:
IT'S BEEN A COUPLE DAYS

SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN HOUSTON,

AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON
GETTING SETTLED IN.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M LOOKING
FORWARD TO SHOWING DR. NOW

MY PROGRESS,

AND THEN HOPEFULLY
GETTING APPROVED

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY TODAY.

MERCEDES?

MY LAST APPOINTMENT
WAS A LITTLE WHILE AGO,

AND I WAS UP TO 773 POUNDS.

THAT SHOCKED ME.

BUT DR. NOW TOLD ME TO LOSE
80 POUNDS IN ONE MONTH,

AND IF I DO THAT,
I'LL BE AT 693 TODAY.

Brandon: [ CLAPPING ]

[ LAUGHTER ]

YOU LOST SOME, BABY!

YEAH, BUDDY.
HOLD ON.

THE LOSS ISN'T AS MUCH AS IT
FELT LIKE IT WAS GONNA BE,

BUT IT'S MORE WEIGHT
THAN I'VE EVER LOST.

I THINK IT'S PROOF OF HOW HARD
I'M WORKING,

ESPECIALLY WITH EVERYTHING
I HAD TO DEAL WITH

WITH MOVING
AND GETTING DOWN HERE,

AND HOW MUCH TEMPTATION
I RESISTED DURING ALL THAT.

IT'S IMPRESSIVE,

EVEN IF IT'S NOT AS MUCH
AS DR. NOW SAID.

AND I THINK DR. NOW
WILL APPRECIATE

THAT PROGRESS AND APPROVE ME.

[ SIGHS ]

HELLO.
HOW Y'ALL DOIN'?

ALL RIGHT.
HOW YOU DOIN' TODAY?

I'M DOING FINE, THANK YOU.

I'M GLAD THAT YOU
FINALLY MADE IT BACK

AND YOU MOVED DOWN HERE NOW,

AND I SEE YOU MADE
SOME PROGRESS, MERCEDES,

BUT NOT A LOT.

YOU ONLY LOST 45 POUNDS.

I WAS EXPECTING 80 POUNDS
IN ONE MONTH.

AND ON TOP OF THAT,
IT'S BEEN OVER FOUR MONTHS.

RIGHT.

AND IF YOU WERE STICKING
TO THE DIET,

THEN YOU WOULD'VE LOST
OVER 220 POUNDS IN THAT TIME.

SO WHAT HAPPENED?

I CUT OUT A LOT OF STUFF,
BUT...

BUT THERE'S STILL
A LOT MORE TO GO?

YEAH, A LOT MORE TO GO.

AT LEAST THAT'S A BIT
OF AN HONEST ANSWER,

BUT WE STILL HAVE
THE SAME PROBLEM,

THAT YOU DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF TIME TO WASTE.

AND IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR WEIGHT
DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY

AND GET MORE MOBILE,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT.

YOUR CONDITION,
ESPECIALLY YOUR HEART,

IS ALREADY
IN REALLY BAD SHAPE.

AND YOU'RE NOWHERE NEAR
WHERE YOU NEED

TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

BECAUSE WITH YOUR HEIGHT
AND YOUR BMI,

YOU'RE NOT GONNA
SURVIVE SURGERY.

-OKAY.
-OKAY?

SO WE'VE GOT A LONG WAY
TO GO.

OKAY.

AND FROM EXPERIENCE
WITH SURGERY,

WE KNOW YOU GET THE STAPH
INFECTION ALL THE TIME,

SO, THAT'S A PRODUCT
OF BEING OVERWEIGHT,

AND WE NEED
TO CORRECT THAT.

RIGHT.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY ISSUES
BREATHING,

OR ANY PAIN ANYWHERE
THAT'S NEW?

-NO.
-THAT'S GOOD.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT
IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES,

LET ME KNOW IMMEDIATELY,

BECAUSE IF YOU IGNORE
AN ISSUE,

IT COULD QUICKLY BECOME
LIFE-THREATENING FOR YOU.

SO DON'T TAKE ANY CHANCES,
OKAY?

OKAY.

ASIDE FROM LOSING WEIGHT,

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU

TO STRENGTHEN
YOUR PULMONARY SYSTEM

AND YOUR FUNCTIONAL
CAPACITY.

SO YOU NEED TO GET
AS ACTIVE AS POSSIBLE.

SO, HOW IS YOUR EXERCISE?

I'M WALKING BETTER.

I'M NOT USING A WALKER.

ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THAT'S GOOD PROGRESS.

SO, KEEP DOING
THE EXERCISES.

BUT THAT'S NOT
GONNA BE ENOUGH

IF YOU DON'T START
LOSING THE WEIGHT YOU NEED.

AND, 45 POUNDS
IN FOUR MONTHS,

I KNOW YOU CAN DO
BETTER THAN THAT,

SO I'M GONNA GIVE
THE SAME GOAL.

I WANT YOU TO LOSE 80 POUNDS
FOR NEXT MONTH, OKAY?

OKAY.

YOU ALREADY WASTED FAR MORE
TIME THAN YOU SHOULD,

SO DO THIS NOW
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I'M VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT MERCEDES,

AND WHETHER OR NOT
SHE'S GONNA DO

WHAT SHE NEEDS
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

AND IF HER CONDITION
DETERIORATES ANY FURTHER,

WE MAY HAVE TO INTERVENE

AND START TAKING DRASTIC
MEASURES TO SAVE HER LIFE.

BECAUSE SHE CAN'T AFFORD
TO LET HER HEALTH GET ANY WORSE.

SHE WON'T BE ALIVE
MUCH LONGER IF SHE DOES.

SO IT'S VITAL THAT SHE STARTS
TO DO WHAT SHE NEEDS RIGHT NOW

IF SHE WANTS TO HAVE
ANY CHANCE AT SURVIVING.

ALL RIGHT, MERCEDES,
I WANT TO GET SOME TESTS ON YOU

TO MAKE SURE NO NEW ISSUES
DEVELOPED

THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

OKAY.

AND IF EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD,

WE'LL SEND YOU HOME.

BUT IF YOU NEED ANYTHING,

OR YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL ISSUES,
EVEN A COLD,

YOU NEED TO LET ME KNOW,
OKAY?

-OKAY.
-OKAY, GOOD.

SIT TIGHT.
WE'LL DO THE TESTS SHORTLY.

-AND, NICE TO SEE YOU.
-ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

-NICE SEEING YOU, TOO.
-GOOD SEEING YOU, DOC.

I'M A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED.

I WANT TO GET
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

BUT I CAN UNDERSTAND DR. NOW'S
PERSPECTIVE,

AND I CAN'T ARGUE WITH NEEDING
TO GET MY HEALTH

IN A BETTER PLACE TO DO THAT.

DR. NOW'S GOALS ARE BIG.

LOSING 80 POUNDS A MONTH?
IT'S A HUGE NUMBER.

BUT IT'S POSSIBLE.
I'M SURE I CAN DO IT.

READY, SET, GO.

OOH, MY SOCKS IS OFF.
[ GRUNTING ]

REST.

COME ALL THE WAY UP.
COME ON.

THIS IS MY LAST APPOINTMENT
WITH DR. NOW.

I'VE BEEN WORKING ON WAYS
TO DO BETTER THIS TIME.

I'M MAKING SURE I GET UP
EVERY DAY WITHOUT AN EXCUSE.

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M MAKING
MORE PROGRESS

WITH HOW FAR I CAN WALK,

BECAUSE I CAN WALK ALL THE WAY
FROM MY ROOM TO THE OUTSIDE

WITHOUT HAVING TO SIT DOWN.

SO I'M ABLE TO GO FARTHER THAN
I HAVE IN A REALLY LONG TIME.

AND IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE
TO GET OUTSIDE

TO DO THINGS WITH MY KIDS.

AND I LIKE BEING ABLE
TO WATCH THEM PLAY.

SEEING THAT GIVES ME MOTIVATION
TO KEEP WORKING HARD AT THIS

SO I CAN SUCCEED.

-MAMA, I'M FASTER THAN HER.
-'CAUSE YOU CHEATED.

'CAUSE I GOT THIS,
AND HE GOT THAT.

[ Chuckling ] OOH, PLEASE,
DON'T RUN OVER MY TOE.

MOM, LOOK, LOOK!
LOOK HOW FAST I MADE IT.

[ LAUGHTER ]

COME ON,
WE GOT TO GO BACK IN.

BRANDON AND TEMEKA HAD TO GO
OUT OF TOWN FOR THIS PAST WEEK

TO TAKE CARE OF
SOME THINGS BACK HOME,

SO WE'VE BEEN ON OUR OWN.

SO THIS HAS BEEN THE HARDEST
WEEK TO STICK TO THE DIET,

BECAUSE I CAN'T GO OUT
AND GET STUFF.

SO MY ONLY OPTION IS FOR
KIMORIAH TO GO DOWN THE STREET

AND GET SOME FOOD FOR US.

I HAVE TWO MORE WEEKS
UNTIL MY NEXT APPOINTMENT

WITH DR. NOW.

AND I THINK I'M GONNA HAVE
BETTER RESULTS

THIS TIME THAN LAST TIME,

AND THAT I'LL BE WHERE
DR. NOW WANTS ME TO BE,

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT

AND SEEING HOW MUCH PROGRESS
I MADE, THEN.

TODAY, I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE MY
NEXT APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW.

BRANDON IS BACK WITH ME
IN HOUSTON,

AND WE WAS GONNA TAKE ME TODAY,
BUT I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO.

THE PROBLEM IS, I'M HAVING
A REALLY BAD PERIOD,

AND WHEN YOU'RE MY SIZE, YOU'RE
TOO BIG TO USE ANY PRODUCTS

TO HELP YOU WITH THAT.

SO TO BE JUST BLUNT ABOUT IT,

I CAN'T MANAGE IT AND I'VE
SOILED ALL MY UNDERGARMENTS.

SO, FOR ONE,
I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR.

AND THE SECOND ISSUE IS,
I STILL HAVE A LOT OF BLEEDING

THAT I CAN'T CONTROL,
SO I HAVE NO CHOICE.

I CAN'T GO OUT.

I'LL JUST HAVE TO RESCHEDULE
WITH DR. NOW.

I DON'T WANT ANY DELAYS

BECAUSE I WANT TO GET
WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

AND I'M CONFIDENT IN MY PROGRESS
IN WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE,

BUT I JUST HOPE DR. NOW
ISN'T TOO UPSET

OR THINKS I'M PLAYING
GAMES, LIKE HE SAID.

BECAUSE I'M NOT.

BUT THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE
THINGS LIFE'S THROWING AT ME,

AND I WON'T LET IT KEEP ME DOWN.

'CAUSE I'M GONNA GET TO
WHERE I NEED

AND DO THIS NO MATTER
THE SETBACKS I FACE.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I JUST NEED
A LITTLE MORE TIME.

LET'S...

CAN YOU GO UP THROUGH
THE DOOR WITH THE CHAIR?

Mercedes: RIGHT NOW, ME,
BRANDON, AND MY FRIEND CHRISTINA

ARE AT DR. NOW'S
FOR MY THIRD APPOINTMENT.

CHRISTINA IS AN OLD FRIEND
OF MINE I KNEW GROWING UP,

AND SHE WOULD CHECK ON ME
FROM TIME TO TIME.

AND WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS
I WAS HAVING LAST MONTH,

SHE CAME TO HELP OUT.

BECAUSE TEMEKA HAD TO GO BACK
HOME TO DEAL WITH SOME THINGS.

MERCEDES?

AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT,
I HAD MADE IT DOWN TO 728,

AND DR. NOW GAVE ME
THE SAME GOAL

OF LOSING 80 POUNDS IN A MONTH,

AND IF I DID THAT,
IT HAD ME AT 648.

BUT SINCE IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS,

I'M HOPING TO SEE THAT I MADE IT
IN THE LOW 600s,

TO SHOW DR. NOW
I KEPT WORKING HARD.

[ SIGHS ]

Christina:
IT'S OKAY. JUST TAKE YOUR TIME.

RIGHT HERE.
RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

-OW!
-WHAT? WHAT? WHAT?

COME BACK.
LET'S COME BACK.

[ Crying ] I CAN'T. MY KNEE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
SIT BACK.

JUST SIT BACK.

YEAH, I DON'T...

I KNOW. JUST GO ON BACK.

JUST AHEAD AND FALL BACK.

JUST GO ON BACK.

GO ON BACK.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

THAT NUMBER CAN'T BE RIGHT,

BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REFLECT
ALL THE HARD WORK

I KNOW I DID AND THE PROGRESS
I CAN FEEL IN MY BODY.

THE ONLY THING I CAN THINK OF
IS THE WEEK

BRANDON HAD TO GO,
AND WHAT I HAD TO EAT THEN.

BUT I KNOW DR. NOW'S
NOT GONNA BE HAPPY.

AND NO MATTER WHAT I SAY
OR TELL HIM,

HE'S NOT GONNA BELIEVE
THAT I WORKED AS HARD

AS I KNOW I DID.

[ KNOCKS ON DOOR ]

-HELLO.
-HEY.

HOW Y'ALL DOIN'?

-ALL RIGHT.
-ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, MERCEDES, YOUR
SITUATION JUST SEEMS TO BE

GETTING MORE
AND MORE SERIOUS.

AND NOW YOU SHOW UP AND NOT
ONLY DID YOU NOT LOSE ANYTHING,

YOU GAINED EIGHT POUNDS.

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

I KNOW THERE'S NO EXCUSE,
BUT MY COUSIN, HE LEFT,

AND WE DIDN'T GET TO GET FOOD
BEFORE HE LEFT,

SO I HAD TO ORDER IN.

WHY DIDN'T YOU ORDER
HEALTHY FOOD THEN?

THE AREA THAT I'M IN,

THEY DON'T DELIVER
AFTER A CERTAIN TIME, SO...

YOU SPENT TWO MONTHS
COMING UP WITH EXCUSES,

AND THE BEST YOU CAN
COME UP WITH

IS YOU LIVE IN A NO-SALAD ZONE
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT?

YEAH.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN "YES"?

DON'T GIVE ME THAT.

RIGHT NOW,
YOU'RE 736 POUNDS.

SO, YOU'RE DANGEROUSLY
OVERWEIGHT.

AND YOU'RE VERY CLOSE TO ONE
THING GOING WRONG WITH YOU

AND YOUR BODY GIVING OUT.

AND ONCE THAT HAPPENS,
YOU'RE NOT GONNA PULL THROUGH.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA
SURVIVE THAT.

AND WE'RE ABOUT TO
HAVE TO TAKE A DRASTIC STEP

BY PUTTING YOU
IN THE HOSPITAL FOR MONTHS

ON A CONTROLLED DIET
TO SAVE YOUR LIFE.

NO.
THAT'S NOT AN OPTION FOR ME.

THEN YOU CAN EITHER WAKE UP
AND DO WHAT YOU NEED NOW,

OR THAT'S IT FOR YOU.

BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT WE DO,
IT'S GONNA BE ALL UP TO YOU.

RIGHT.

SO, THIS IS WHAT
WE'RE GONNA DO --

I'M GONNA GIVE YOU
ONE MORE CHANCE.

WE'RE GONNA RUN SOME TESTS
ON YOU AGAIN BEFORE YOU GO,

THEN WE'LL SEND YOU HOME.

AND I WANT YOU TO START
GOING TO PSYCHOTHERAPY

THAT WE'RE GONNA
SET UP FOR YOU.

BUT I'M NOT SETTING ANOTHER
APPOINTMENT WITH YOU HERE.

SETTING AN APPOINTMENT
WITH YOU DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK

BECAUSE YOU COME BACK
WHENEVER.

SO YOU CALL AND SET AN
APPOINTMENT WHEN YOU'RE READY,

WITH THESE TWO CONDITIONS --
FOR THE FIRST MONTH FROM TODAY,

I WANT YOU TO LOSE 80 POUNDS,

AND THEN FOR EVERY MONTH
AFTER THAT,

I WANT YOU TO LOSE
ANOTHER 40 POUNDS.

AND THE SECOND CONDITION
IS --

YOU CAN'T TAKE MORE
THAN THREE MONTHS.

BECAUSE BEYOND THAT
IS TOO LONG TO GO

WITHOUT US GETTING
A CHECK-UP ON YOU.

-DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
-YES. I UNDERSTAND.

GREAT. BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T
DO ONE OF THOSE OPTIONS,

THERE IS NOTHING MORE
WE CAN DO FOR YOU.

BUT EVERYTHING IS
GONNA BE UP TO YOU

TO GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN
AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

SO, NO MORE SAYING
YOU'RE GONNA DO IT LATER.

YOU HAVE TO DO THIS NOW.

BECAUSE SOME TIME LATER,
IT MAY NEVER COME.

-NAH, IT'S GONNA COME.
-OKAY.

SO, GET SERIOUS ABOUT
YOUR DIET, OKAY?

-I KNOW.
-NO BREAD.

-NO CARBS.
-ALL RIGHT?

WE'LL GET THE TESTS STARTED
AND SEE WHERE WE GO FROM THERE.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU NEED?

NO. THAT'S IT.

ALL RIGHT.
SEE Y'ALL LATER.

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS AGAIN.

MM-HMM.

Dr. Nowzaradan: MERCEDES IS
PLAYING A VERY RISKY GAME,

BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY HER BODY

IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT
MUCH LONGER LIKE THIS.

SO WE'RE GETTING TO A POINT
WHERE WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE

MANY OPTIONS FOR HER,
IF SHE DOESN'T START TO DO

WHAT SHE SHOULD HAVE
ALREADY BEEN DOING.

YOU NEVER EXPECT A PATIENT
TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS

ON THEIR OWN
WITHOUT A NUMBER OF TOOLS,

BUT THE FIRST STEP
IS SOMETHING THEY HAVE TO DO.

SO IF WE INTERVENE TO GET
HER HEALTH TO A SAFE PLACE,

IT'S ONLY GONNA BE A TEMPORARY
SOLUTION TO SAVE HER LIFE.

BECAUSE SHE WILL JUST GO
BACK TO GAINING AGAIN,

UNLESS HE CHOOSES TO START
MAKING THE CHANGES

SHE NEEDS HERSELF.

OTHERWISE, NOTHING WE DO WILL
MAKE ANY LASTING DIFFERENCE.

SO, RIGHT NOW, I PLAN TO PLAN
TO SEND HER TO LOLA,

STARTING IMMEDIATELY,

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA KEEP HER
GOING EVERY TWO WEEKS,

TO SEE IF SHE CAN HELP
TO WAKE UP MERCEDES.

BECAUSE IF SHE DOESN'T START
DOING WHAT SHE NEEDS NOW,

THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE DOWN
TO VERY LIMITED OPTIONS WITH HER

TO TRY TO SAVE HER LIFE
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED
AND FRUSTRATED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY,
BECAUSE I KNOW I'M WORKING HARD.

SO I GUESS I GOT TO WORK HARDER.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

TODAY, THE THERAPIST DR. NOW
WANTS ME TO SEE

IS COMING OVER
SO I CAN START THAT.

HE WANTS ME TO DO THIS
EVERY TWO WEEKS,

AND I AGREED TO THAT.

BUT I DON'T THINK DOING THERAPY
LIKE THIS IS GONNA MAKE

MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS
OF MY WEIGHT LOSS RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE I KNOW I'M WORKING HARD

AND I'M DETERMINED
TO DO WHAT I NEED.

SO DEALING WITH
MY EMOTIONAL STUFF

IS SOMETHING SEPARATE FROM THAT.

BUT I KNOW OVER THE LONG TERM,
IT COULD BE GOOD TO DEAL

WITH A LOT OF THIS STUFF
FOR MY EMOTIONAL PROGRESS.

BUT THAT'S WHY I'M OKAY WITH IT
AND I'M WILLING TO DO IT.

[ KNOCKS ON DOOR ]

HEY.
I'M BACK HERE.

-HI.
-HI.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU,
MERCEDES.

-YOU TOO.
-WHERE WOULD YOU HAVE ME?

RIGHT THERE'S THE CHAIR.
YOU CAN PULL IT UP.

OKAY.

IS ABOUT HERE
FINE FOR YOU?

YEAH.

OKAY.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOURSELF.

WHO'D YOU GROW UP WITH?

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

IT'S SEVEN OF US ALTOGETHER.

OH, WOW.
THAT'S A LARGE FAMILY.

YEAH.

WERE THERE EVERY TIMES
WHEN YOU FELT LOST

IN THE SHUFFLE
OF SUCH A LARGE FAMILY?

UH...YEAH.

LIKE, MY MOM PAID MORE ATTENTION
TO MY OTHER SISTERS THAN ME.

THAT MUST'VE BEEN
DIFFICULT FOR YOU.

WHAT ABOUT WITH THE DAD?

UH...

I WAS SEXUALLY ABUSED
BY MY DAD.

I'M SORRY
THAT HAPPENED TO YOU.

THAT MUST'VE BEEN
REALLY TOUGH FOR YOU.

YEAH.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU
HAVING TO BE AROUND YOUR FATHER,

BUT KNOWING THAT
THOSE THINGS WOULD HAPPEN?

I DON'T KNOW.

I LOVED MY DAD.
I STILL DO.

HE PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

AND I DIDN'T GET TO GO
TO THE FUNERAL.

BUT HE CALLED ME AND HE ASKED ME
TO FORGIVE HIM.

AND WERE YOU ABLE
TO FORGIVE HIM, MERCEDES?

YEAH, I FORGAVE MY DAD.

I FORGAVE MY DAD.

WHEN A YOUNG CHILD
IS SEXUALLY ABUSED,

ESPECIALLY BY A PARENT,
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR YOU

TO LOVE YOUR FATHER
AND TO FORGIVE HIM.

BUT WHAT YOUR DAD DID WAS AWFUL
AND IT WAS WRONG.

AND NOBODY'S JUDGING HIM.
BUT HE HURT YOU.

MM-HMM.

YOU DIDN'T DESERVE THAT.

[ SNIFFLING ]

THAT'S A COMPLEX TRAUMA.

AND SO, FOR A LOT OF SURVIVORS
OF SEXUAL ABUSE,

IT'S COMMON TO FALL INTO
DIFFERENT TYPES OF ADDICTION.

SO, YOU IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU
FIND YOURSELF TURNING TO FOOD

TO SELF-SOOTH
AS A COPING MECHANISM.

YEAH. BASICALLY.
I'M PAYING FOR IT NOW.

'CAUSE I CAN'T REALLY DO
WHAT I WANT TO DO

AND BE THERE FOR MY KIDS.

AND THEY HAVE TO BE
TAKING CARE OF ME.

AND I KNOW IT'S TAKING A TOLL
ON MY DAUGHTER.

AND SHE'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO DO WHAT SHE WANTS TO DO,

BE A KID.

IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF ME.

YOU KNOW, MERCEDES, I KNOW
THAT YOU HAVE SOME GUILT

OVER HOW MUCH YOUR DAUGHTER
HAS TO DO TO HELP CARE FOR YOU,

AND SO I WANT YOU
TO TAKE A MINUTE

AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WOULD
WANT TO SAY TO YOUR DAUGHTER

IF SHE WERE SITTING HERE
RIGHT NOW.

I WOULD SAY I'M SORRY

FOR HER HAVING TO HELP ME

AND TAKE CARE OF ME INSTEAD
OF ME TAKING CARE OF HER.

AND I'D SAY,
THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME.

AND I WANT YOU TO BE A KID.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE
TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE
TO ENJOY LIFE.

SO, MERCEDES, I WANT YOU TO HAVE
THAT CONVERSATION WITH HER.

THAT'S GONNA MEAN
SO MUCH TO HER.

AND YOUR HOMEWORK
PERTAINING TO YOUR DAD?

I WANT YOU TO TAKE SMALL BITS
OF TISSUE,

AND I WANT TO WRITE
ON THAT TISSUE THE THINGS

THAT HE TOOK AWAY
FROM YOU, OKAY?

AND THEN FLUSH IT,
THROW IT AWAY, WHATEVER.

YOU RELEASE IT.

WELL, MERCEDES, IT WAS
SO NICE MEETING YOU.

YOU TOO.

AND I'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.

YOU TOO.

I ENJOYED TALKING TO LOLA.

SHE'S INSIGHTFUL,
BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT

SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF,
LIKE HOMEWORK,

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I NEED TO STAY
FOCUSED ON MY PHYSICAL PROGRESS

AND MY WORRY IS DOING ANYTHING

TO CAUSE ME EMOTIONAL STRESS
WILL MAKE ME STRUGGLE.

BUT I'M NOT GONNA IGNORE
OR DISCOUNT WHAT SHE SAID.

I'M JUST SAYING, I HAVE TO BE
CAREFUL NOT TO GET OFF TRACK.

THIS NEXT APPOINTMENT, I HAVE
TO MAKE GOOD AND HIT MY GOAL,

SO THAT'S WHAT I PLAN TO DO.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

IT'S BEEN MONTHS SINCE MY
LAST APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW,

AND I FEEL LIKE MY PROGRESS
IS BETTER THAN EVER.

I'VE HAD TWO APPOINTMENTS
WITH LOLA,

BUT I HAVEN'T FOUND A WAY
OR A RIGHT TIME

TO DO ANY OF HER HOMEWORK.

MY FOCUS HAS BEEN ON MAKING
MORE CHANGES,

TO EAT HEALTHIER
AND GET MY EXERCISES.

LIKE FOR BACON THIS MORNING.

WE'RE GOIN' TURKEY BACON,

WHICH IS A LOT BETTER
FOR YOU AND LESS CALORIES,

AND THEN I'M JUST FOCUSING
ON HIGH-PROTEIN OPTIONS.

AND THE KIDS AND BRANDON
LIKE IT.

AND FOR MY EXERCISES,
I'M MAKING SURE I SPEND

MOST OF THE DAY OUT OF BED

AND TAKING CARE OF THE KIDS
AS MUCH AS I CAN.

YES, INDEEDY.

I DO HAVE BUTTER ON IT.
EXCUSE ME.

KIMORIAH?

-KIMORIAH.
-MIGHT AS WELL COME ON.

YOU READY TO EAT?

I WAS WORRIED IT WOULD WEAR ME
OUT TOO QUICKLY

IF I WAS UP TOO MUCH,
BUT IT'S BEEN NICE.

AND I KNOW THE KIDS ENJOY
HAVING ME AROUND THEM MORE.

AND MY PLAN IS TO KEEP
WORKING HARD LIKE THIS

FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS TO MAKE
AS MUCH PROGRESS AS I CAN,

THEN GO BACK TO DR. NOW

AND IMPRESS HIM WITH HOW MUCH
I LOST

AND WHAT I'M ABLE TO DO NOW,

AND FINALLY GET MY APPROVAL
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

OVER THE PAST MONTH, I FELT LIKE
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO STAY FOCUSED

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ABLE
TO STAY ON MY DIET.

AND I'VE ALSO BEEN KEEPING
MY APPOINTMENTS WITH LOLA.

I HAVEN'T DONE ANY OF
THE HOMEWORK SHE GAVE ME,

BUT I TOLD LOLA I CONSIDERED
AT DOING ONE OF THOSE THINGS

AND THEN SEE
ABOUT DOING OTHERS.

BECAUSE THE THING
THAT SHE TOLD ME DO THAT

I REALLY WANT TO DO

IS TELLING KIMORIAH HOW I FEEL

AND THAT I'M SORRY FOR TAKING UP
PART OF HER CHILDHOOD

WITH ALL THE STUFF SHE HAD
TO DO FOR ME AND KAU'LIN.

SO I WANT HER TO KNOW
HOW THANKFUL I AM FOR HER,

SO I'M WRITING EVERYTHING
I WANT TO SAY DOWN.

AND THEN I'M GONNA SHARE IT
WITH HER.

WHAT DO YOU DO
WHAT I TOLD YOU TO DO?

MM-HMM.

YEAH, YOU NEED SOMETHING?

NO.
I GOT SOMETHING FOR YOU.

WHAT?

I GOT TO READ THIS THING.

IT'S A LETTER THAT I WROTE.

OKAY.

IT SAYS,
"TO MY BABY GIRL...

FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD
LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU

FOR HELPING ME
THROUGH THIS HARD TIME.

SECOND OF ALL,
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY

I'M SORRY FOR TAKING
YOUR FREEDOM AWAY TO HELP ME.

I DON'T WANT YOU
TAKING CARE OF ME.

I'M THE MOTHER.
THAT'S MY JOB, NOT YOURS.

I JUST WANT YOU TO BE A KID
AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE,

NOT HAVE TO STOP
BECAUSE OF ME.

THAT'S NOT FAIR TO YOU.

AND I WANTED TO SAY
I'M SORRY AGAIN,

AND I LOVE YOU,
AND IT'S ALMOST OVER.

HUGS AND KISSES."

MOM...

I LOVE YOU.

DANG.

YOU'RE ALWAYS CRYING.

YOU DID IT.

YOU DID.

YOU STARTED IT.

NUH-UNH.

YES, YOU DID.

I WAS NERVOUS AT FIRST,
BUT ONCE I STARTED,

IT JUST KINDA FLOWED OUT.

AND I FEEL REALLY GOOD RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I LOVE KIMORIAH SO MUCH.

AND SO PROUD OF HER FOR ALL
SHE DOES AND HOW SHE HELPS ME,

SO I'M REALLY GLAD I DID THIS

'CAUSE THESE ARE THINGS
THAT HAVE BEEN ON MY HEART

FOR A WHILE
THAT I WANTED TO SHARE.

SO WITH HOW THIS WENT AND HOW
GOOD I FEEL RIGHT NOW,

I'M WILLING TO CONSIDER
SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF

LOLA TOLD ME TO DO TO FREE ME UP
TO LOSE MY WEIGHT

AS I BREAK MY FOOD ADDICTION.

ME AND MY FAMILY
ARE HEADED TO DR. NOW'S

FOR AN APPOINTMENT,
AND TO FIND OUT MY PROGRESS.

AND I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS
BUT ONLY BECAUSE I KNOW

DR. NOW ISN'T TOO HAPPY
RIGHT NOW.

'CAUSE IT'S BEEN FOUR MONTHS
SINCE I'VE BEEN BACK,

AND THAT I'M A MONTH PAST
THE DEADLINE HE GAVE ME.

BUT DR. NOW CALLED ME AND TOLD
ME IF I DON'T COME IN NOW,

I'LL BE DONE WITH THE PROGRAM,
SO HE WASN'T HAPPY.

BUT I'M GOING IN LIKE HE SAID
BECAUSE I NEED THIS PROGRAM

AND I WANT TO STAY A PART OF IT.

BUT I FEEL LIKE TODAY
WILL GO WELL.

MERCEDES?

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD
TO SEEING

HOW MUCH I'VE LOST IN TOTAL
DURING THIS TIME.

AND I WANTED MY KIDS
AND EVERYONE TO BE HERE WITH ME,

TO SEE IT AND CELEBRATE WITH ME

SO I'M ABLE TO GET APPROVED
FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY TODAY.

SO EVEN THOUGH I'M NERVOUS,

I'M EVEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT
HOW MY LIFE IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.

AT MY LAST APPOINTMENT,
FOUR MONTHS AGO, I WAS 736.

AND DR. NOW GAVE ME A FEW RANGES
OF WEIGHT-LOSS GOALS

I NEEDED TO MEET DEPENDING,

AND HE THE BIGGEST RANGE
HE GAVE ME

WAS 160 POUNDS IN THREE MONTHS.

SO THAT'S THE GOAL
I'M HOPING TO HIT.

AND IF I DID THAT,
I'LL BE UNDER 576.

I'M A LITTLE SHOCKED THAT
MY WEIGHT LOSS ISN'T BIGGER,

BUT I'M REALLY PROUD TO SEE
I'M LOSING AGAIN.

THAT FEELS AWESOME.

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW DR. NOW'S
GONNA REACT.

THIS IS NOT THE GOAL HE GAVE ME.

BUT ALL COMBINED, I LOST
80 POUNDS SINCE I STARTED,

SO THAT'S A LOT.

AND I'M HOPING THAT'S WHAT
DR. NOW FOCUSES ON AND SEES,

BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN
WORKING REALLY HARD.

AND I'M PROUD OF THAT, AND THAT
I DO HAVE PROGRESS THIS TIME.

BUT I'M STILL SCARED
BECAUSE I KNOW DR. NOW

IS GETTING TO HIS LIMITS
WITH ME.

AND I DON'T WANT HIM
TO GIVE UP ON ME AND TELL ME

I'M DONE WITH THE PROGRAM.

[ KNOCKS ON DOOR ]

-COME IN.
-COME IN.

-HELLO.
-HEY.

-HOW Y'ALL DOIN'?
-ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, MERCEDES, I GAVE YOU
SOME REQUIREMENTS LAST TIME

ON WHAT YOU NEEDED TO DO

IF YOU WANTED TO BE
PART OF THIS PROGRAM.

ONE WAS TO START GOING TO
PSYCHOTHERAPY,

AND YOU MADE IT TO MOST
OF YOUR APPOINTMENTS WITH LOLA,

BUT THAT'S THE ONLY ONE YOU
EVEN GOT CLOSE TO DOING

BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T COME BACK
WITHIN THREE MONTHS.

IT'S BEEN FOUR
AND WE HAD TO CALL YOU

AND GIVE YOU AN ULTIMATUM
OF BEING OUT OF THE PROGRAM

TO EVEN GET YOU HERE TODAY.

AND THEN YOU ONLY
LOST 44 POUNDS,

NOT EVEN CLOSE TO HITTING YOUR
WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL FOR ONE MONTH.

THE ONLY POSITIVE IS THAT
YOU'RE FINALLY UNDER 700,

BUT JUST BARELY.

SO AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW
WHERE WE CAN GO FROM HERE.

WE'RE GIVEN YOU EVERY TOOL
IN A YEAR TO DO THIS,

AND YOU ONLY LOST 80 POUNDS
AT THAT TIME.

SO AT THIS RATE,

EVEN IF YOU'RE ABLE TO MAINTAIN
THIS LEVEL OF PROGRESS,

IT WILL TAKE YOU 67 YEARS TO GET
YOU TO YOUR TARGET WEIGHT,

AND YOU'LL BE DEAD BY THEN.

MM-HMM.

I DON'T WANT YOUR KIDS
TO HAVE TO HEAR THAT,

BUT THIS IS THE REALITY
OF YOUR SITUATION.

AND NO MATTER WHAT WE DO,

WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET
THROUGH TO YOU.

AT YOUR LAST APPOINTMENT,
THE TEST WE RAN SHOWED

THAT YOUR CONDITION
WAS DETERIORATING,

SHOWING THAT YOU'RE IN
SOME DEGREE OF HEART FAILURE.

THAT'S WHY I LIMITED YOU
TO THREE MONTHS MAXIMUM

TO GET YOU BACK HERE
TO FOLLOW-UP,

AND YOU DIDN'T LISTEN
TO THAT EITHER.

BUT IF WE HAD DONE
THE TESTS ON YOU,

IT'S GONNA BE
EVEN WORSE NOW.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP
WHAT'S ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO YOU

IS TO GET YOU TO LOSE
WEIGHT PROPERLY RIGHT NOW,

OR YOU WON'T MAKE IT.

OKAY.

SO, THE ONLY OPTION
I SEE AT THIS POINT

IS TO PUT YOU ON A CONTROLLED
DIET IN THE HOSPITAL.

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT DOING THAT
ON YOUR OWN.

SO WE NEED TO DO THIS NOW.

WE CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.

OKAY?

HOW LONG WILL SHE BE
IN THE HOSPITAL?

SHE MAY BE THERE FOR A WHILE.
AT LEAST A FEW MONTHS.

BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF WEIGHT
TO GET OFF HER,

AND IT'S GONNA BE THE ONLY WAY
WE CAN SAVE HER LIFE,

BECAUSE HER HEART
IS IN FAILURE.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THAT
IS TO ADMIT YOU TO A HOSPITAL.

YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT,
MERCEDES?

-YEAH.
-GOOD.

WELL, I KNOW YOU HAVE KIDS,

SO GOING RIGHT NOW
IS NOT A SIMPLE THING.

SO I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THREE DAYS
TO GET WHAT YOU CAN IN ORDER

AND REPORT TO THE HOSPITAL
TO BE ADMITTED.

OKAY.

THIS IS NOT GONNA BE
QUICK OR EASY.

BUT YOU WASTED A YEAR, AND WE
CAN'T LET YOU GO ON LIKE THIS.

AT THIS POINT,
WITH YOUR HEART FAILURE,

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO SURVIVE MUCH LONGER AT ALL,

SO THE ONLY WAY
WE CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE

IS TO GET YOU IN THE HOSPITAL
AND CONTROL YOUR DIET

AND GET YOU TO LOSE AT LEAST
A COUPLE HUNDRED POUNDS.

AND THAT'S GONNA BE THE ONLY
OPTION WE HAVE FOR YOU

TO SAVE YOUR LIFE, OKAY?

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

MM-HMM.

GOOD.
BECAUSE WE CAN'T CONSIDER

ANY SORT OF EMERGENCY-SURGERY
OPTIONS FOR YOU.

BECAUSE ANY KIND OF PROCURE
ON YOU IS GONNA BE HIGHLY RISKY,

AND YOU'RE NOT GONNA
SURVIVE THE OPERATION.

SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT

THAT WE GET YOUR WEIGHT DOWN
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

OKAY?

BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME
TO WAIT FOR YOU

TO DO IT
ON YOUR OWN, OKAY?

-OKAY.
-ALL RIGHT.

LET ME LISTEN TO YOUR HEART
AND SEE HOW IT SOUNDS.

TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

IT'S NOT SOUNDING GOOD.

YOUR PULMONARY SYSTEM
SEEMS WEAKER NOW.

HAVE YOU BEEN KEEPING UP
WITH YOUR ACTIVITY?

UM...

DOING A LITTLE
UPPER-BODY EXERCISE.

AND TRY TO WALK
A LITTLE BIT EVERY DAY.

SO MUCH CAN YOU WALK?
HOW MANY STEPS?

UM...

LIKE,
FROM HERE TO THE EXIT.

SO YOU GET VERY SHORT OF BREATH
WHEN YOU DO THAT?

-MM-HMM.
-YEAH.

YOUR CONDITION IS DECLINING,
AND YOU'RE DOING EVEN LESS NOW,

SO THIS IS NOT
A GOOD SITUATION AT ALL.

AND WE NEED TO TURN IT
AROUND NOW.

SO I'LL GIVE YOU THREE DAYS
TO GET EVERYTHING IN ORDER.

IT'S NOT A LOT OF TIME
BUT THE PROBLEM IS,

YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.

YOU'RE ABOUT TO RUN OUT.

SO I EXPECT TO SEE YOU
AT THE HOSPITAL THEN.

OKAY.

IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES BEFORE
THEN, CALL ME IMMEDIATELY.

OKAY.

OKAY, I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

-ALL RIGHT.
-THANK YOU.

-AND, SEE YOU LATER.
-THANK YOU, DOC.

NICE TO SEE YOU.
BYE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE'RE DOWN TO
OUR FINAL OPTIONS WITH MERCEDES,

SO THE PRIORITY RIGHT NOW
IS PREVENTING HER FROM DYING,

BECAUSE AT THIS POINT,
HER CONDITION IS WORSE

TO WHERE
IF WE DON'T INTERVENE,

SHE'S NOT GONNA BE ABLE
TO LIVE MUCH LONGER.

SO THIS IS AN EXTREMELY
UNFORTUNATE SITUATION

WE HAVE WITH HER RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS SHE RISKING
HER LIFE WITH HER BEHAVIOR

AND ME HAVING TO INTERVENE
TO STOP WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN,

BUT AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW,

TURNING HER SITUATION AROUND

IS ONLY GONNA BE
A TEMPORARY FIX.

AND UNLESS WE FIND A WAY
TO BREAK THROUGH TO MERCEDES

AND GET HER TO START MAKING
THE CHOICES SHE NEEDS,

SHE WILL JUST GO BACK
HOME AND GAIN AGAIN

UNTIL HER BODY CAN'T HANDLE IT
AND SHE DIES.

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK
TO DO WITH MERCEDES

OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS
TO TRY AND SAVE HER LIFE,

BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO
GIVE UP ON MERCEDES YET.

EVEN THOUGH RIGHT NOW THE ODDS
DON'T LOOK GOOD FOR HER,

BECAUSE LOW ODDS
HAS NEVER STOPPED US

FROM DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO TRY AND SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL DO OVER
THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,

TO NOT ONLY TRY
AND TURN HER SITUATION AROUND,

BUT TO GET THROUGH TO HER
LIKE WE NEED

SO SHE'LL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR HER CHOICES

AND HER LIFE
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

Mercedes:
I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO

GETTING APPROVED FOR SOMETHING,

BUT THIS NEWS WASN'T
GOOD NEWS TO HEAR.

IT IS HEARTBREAKING.
IT'S SAD.

AND VERY SCARED FOR MY LIFE
RIGHT NOW.

MY LIFE EXPECTANCY
IS GETTING SHORTER BY THE DAY.

I HAVE MY KIDS HERE.

THEY NEED ME, SO...

I CAN'T LEAVE MY KIDS.

[ GRUNTING ]

IT'S JUST NOT GONNA BE EASY,

BUT WE'VE ALL RISEN
TO EVERY CHALLENGE.

AND I'M GONNA KEEP FIGHTING
TO MAKE IT TO WHERE I NEED.

I WANT TO DO THIS, AND I WANT
TO WORK AS HARD AS I CAN

TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO LOSE A LOT OF WEIGHT

AND TRY TO GET
THE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

SO I CAN KEEP ALIVE.

AND THEN I'M GONNA MAKE IT
TO THE LIFE I WANT.

BECAUSE NO MATTER THE SETBACK,

I'M NOT STOPPING
UNTIL I GET THERE.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS