All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S08E07

Joyce: I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT OF THE
HOUSE IN OVER 3 YEARS.

Woman #2:
SOMEWHERE IN ME IS
THIS LITTLE GLIMMER OF HOPE.

I JUST WANT TO BE
A NORMAL PERSON.

YOU CAN'T DO IT,
AND THEN I JUST GET MAD.

Woman #3:
IF I DON'T MAKE A CHANGE NOW,

I'M SCARED
IT'S GOING TO BE TOO LATE.

IT HURTS!

Woman #4:
I REFUSE TO STOP FIGHTING.

I HAVE TO DO THIS
FOR MY CHILDREN.

I'M A LITTLE HUNGRY.
I DIDN'T EAT ALL DAY.

DON'T WORRY.
YOU HAVE EATEN THE FOOD

THAT BELONG TO NEXT 3 YEARS
AHEAD OF TIME, OKAY?

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Joyce:
WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING,
MY FIRST THOUGHTS

ARE A COMBINATION OF DISGUST
AT HOW MY LIFE IS NOW AND SHOCK

THAT I WAS EVEN ABLE
TO MAKE IT TO ANOTHER DAY

BECAUSE EVERY MINUTE OF IT

IS A STRUGGLE NOW FROM
THE FIRST MOMENT TO THE LAST.

SO I QUESTION WHY GOD
EVEN WAKES ME UP...

JUST TO GO THROUGH
ANOTHER DAY LIKE THIS.

I'M JUST A PRISONER HERE
DOING NOTHING

BECAUSE OF HOW BIG I'VE GOTTEN,

AND MY WEIGHT MAKES IT SO HARD
FOR ME TO BREATHE.

I HAVE TO USE OXYGEN
A LOT OF TIMES

JUST TO GET THE AIR
MY BODY NEEDS.

SO I KNOW MY HEALTH IS IN A
REALLY BAD PLACE

BECAUSE OF THAT,
AND IT'S AT THE POINT WHERE

I CAN'T EVEN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF
OR LIVE ON MY OWN ANYMORE.

I HAVE TO PAY ONE OF MY FRIENDS
TO BE MY CAREGIVER

AND HELP ME
DO EVERYTHING NOW.

DAWN?

DAWN?

MORNING.
-MORNING.

YOU READY TO GET UP?

I AM.

DAWN LIVES WITH ME
AND TAKES CARE OF ME,

AND WITHOUT HER,
THINGS WOULD BE EVEN WORSE

BECAUSE I CAN'T EVEN GET
OUT OF BED ON MY OWN.

THAT'S HOW BAD OFF MY BODY
IS NOW.

AND THEN, ONCE I'M UP,
I'M BARELY EVEN ABLE TO GO

A FEW FEET AT ONE TIME.

MY WEIGHT IS TOO MUCH FOR ME
TO MOVE AROUND.

AND I ALSO HAVE BAD LYMPHEDEMA
ON MY LOWER BODY

THAT MAKES ANY MOVEMENT
OF MINE REALLY PAINFUL,

SO I HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING
RIGHT HERE IN THE SAME ROOM,

INCLUDING GOING TO THE BATHROOM.

SO I HAVE A PORTABLE POTTY CHAIR
THAT'S NEXT TO MY BED.

AND WHEN I'M DONE,
DAWN HAS TO CLEAN ME UP,

AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST
HUMILIATING PART OF MY DAY.

OKAY.
BUCKET IS READY.

I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND STAND UP AND GO ON OVER.

OKAY.YOU WANT TO HOLD THIS UP?

YEP.

WHAT I DO FOR JOYCE IS GET HER
OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING,

HELP HER GO TO THE BATHROOM,

AND THEN I BATHE JOYCE PROBABLY
TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK.

IT'S A VERY LONG PROCESS,
AND BY THE END OF IT,

JOYCE AND I
ARE BOTH EXHAUSTED.

BATHING ME IS A VERY
EXTENSIVE PROCESS

BECAUSE OF HOW HARD IT IS TO GET
TO ALL THE AREAS OF MY BODY.

WE WASH THE LOWER PART
OF MY STOMACH

AND UNDERNEATH IT IN MY BED,
BUT ONCE SHE'S DONE...

OKAY.

...SHE HAS TO USE A HAIR DRYER
TO DRY THOSE AREAS

BECAUSE IF ANY MOISTURE
GETS CAUGHT UNDER A FOLD,

IT'LL GET TRAPPED THERE,
AND MOLD CAUSES SORES

THAT WILL GET INFECTED.

BUT DAWN ALSO HAS TO RUB
A ZINC-OXIDE CREAM ON ME

TO HELP PREVENT SORES
BECAUSE,

WITHOUT IT, THE NATURAL CHAFING
I HAVE UNDER MY FOLDS

CAN START TO BREAK
THE SKIN OVER TIME,

AND I'M CONCERNED
ABOUT THE SORES

BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS

THAT HAS PUT ME
IN THE HOSPITAL BEFORE.

YOU CAN GO AHEAD
AND SIT UP.

SO YOU CAN'T RUSH
ANY OF THE PROCESS,

OR IT WILL BE REALLY BAD FOR ME.

ONCE SHE DOES THAT, I HAVE TO
MOVE BACK ON THE POTTY

TO CLEAN MY BACKSIDE
AND OTHER AREAS

THAT GET EASILY INFECTED
IF WE IGNORE THEM.

MORE .
OKAY.

AND AFTER THAT, WE MOVE
TO THE LAST LOCATION.

OKAY.

AND WE FINISH THE UPPER
HALF OF MY BODY

AND MY LEGS SITTING
IN THE RECLINER WITH,

LIKE, SPONGE WASHING.

BUT THE ENTIRE BATHING PROCESS
CAN TAKE CLOSE TO AN HOUR,

AND I'M COMPLETELY PHYSICALLY
AND EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTED

BY THE TIME I'M DONE.

AND DAWN KNOWS I'LL BE STARVING
AT THAT POINT,

SO SHE ALWAYS HAS SOMETHING
READY FOR ME TO EAT.

I GET SO EXCITED
THAT I FINALLY GET TO EAT.

IT'S THE MOMENT I'VE BEEN
LOOKING FORWARD

TO SINCE I FINISHED
MY LAST MEAL THE NIGHT BEFORE.

THAT FIRST BITE IS
THE BEST MOMENT OF MY DAY.

WHEN I'M EATING,
I THINK OF NOTHING.

THAT'S WHAT THE BEST PART
OF IT IS,

IS WHEN I'M SITTING
THERE EATING,

I HAVE NO WORRIES
ABOUT ANYTHING.

I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT
HOW GOOD THE FOOD IS.

AND THAT'S MY LIFE.

I'LL SIT THERE IN MY RECLINER
FOR THE REST OF THE DAY,

AND DAWN WILL BRING ME FOOD,

AND I'LL EAT IT UNTIL IT'S TIME
TO GO BACK TO BED.

I BASICALLY JUST LIVE
TO EAT NOW,

AND I NEVER LEAVE THIS ROOM,
AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE

UNLESS I GIVE UP FOOD AND STOP
EATING LIKE THIS, BUT I CAN'T.

IT'S WHAT MAKES WAKING UP
WORTH IT FOR ME NOW.

THE ONLY THING
I CAN REALLY THINK OF

IS IF SOMEHOW I COULD
CHANGE MY PAST,

BUT THERE'S NO WAY
I CAN DO THAT.

EARLY ON WHEN
I WAS REALLY YOUNG,

I WAS A NORMAL-SIZE CHILD.

MY PARENTS GOT DIVORCED, LIKE,
WHEN I WAS AROUND 3,

AND MY FATHER WAS NOT PRESENT
IN MY LIFE AFTER THEY DIVORCED,

SO I WAS MOSTLY
JUST WITH MY MOTHER,

BUT THINGS CHANGED WHEN I WAS 7
BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN MY MOM

STARTED DATING SOMEONE
WHO WOULD BECOME MY STEP DAD.

HE HAD THREE SONS
AND A DAUGHTER,

BUT WHEN THEY DECIDED
TO GET MARRIED,

MY MOM MOVED IN WITH THEM

BUT SENT ME
TO LIVE WITH MY GRANDMA.

I FELT ABANDONED BY MY MOM
LIKE SHE DIDN'T WANT ME ANYMORE.

SO I WAS UPSET AND REALLY HURT
BY THAT,

BUT I DID LOVE BEING
WITH MY GRANDMOTHER

BECAUSE SHE GAVE ME
CONSTANT ATTENTION

AND WAS ALWAYS FEEDING ME

AND MAKING SURE
I HAD WHAT I NEEDED,

AND I THINK THAT'S WHEN MY LOVE
FOR FOOD PROBABLY STARTED,

BUT SHE FED ME SO MUCH
THAT I PUT ON

AROUND 40 TO 50 POUNDS
WHILE I WAS WITH HER.

I WAS 8 THEN AND WAS AROUND 90
TO 100 POUNDS,

SO I WAS GETTING BIG,

BUT I WAS CONSTANTLY
ASKING MY MOM

WHEN I COULD GO BACK WITH HER,
AND AFTER A WHILE,

SHE EVENTUALLY HAD TO COME
AND GET ME TO TAKE ME BACK,

BUT WHEN SHE DID,
SHE WAS SHOCKED AND VERY UPSET

BECAUSE OF HOW BIG I'D GOTTEN.

WHEN JOYCE WAS LIVING
WITH MY MOTHER,

I HAD NO IDEA MY MOTHER
WAS FEEDING HER SO MUCH,

AND WHEN I SAW JOYCE
AS LARGE AS SHE WAS,

I WAS JUST HORRIFIED,

AND I WAS REALLY ANGRY
AT MY MOTHER,

THAT SHE HAD ALLOWED MY DAUGHTER
TO GAIN THAT MUCH WEIGHT.

Joyce: AFTER THAT,
MY MOM TOOK ME BACK TO KANSAS

TO LIVE WITH HER
AND MY NEW FAMILY,

BUT IT WASN'T HOW I THOUGHT
IT'D BE THERE

BECAUSE SHE HAD PUT ME
ON A STRICT DIET

AFTER I LEFT MY GRANDMOTHER'S,

SO I WAS IN THIS NEW PLACE
WITH A NEW FAMILY,

AND I COULDN'T HAVE THE ONE
THING THAT COULD COMFORT ME

AND HELP ME FEEL BETTER,

SO I WAS
REALLY UPSET WITH MY MOM,

AND FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS,

IT SEEMED LIKE
WE WERE FIGHTING CONSTANTLY.

THANKFULLY WHEN I WAS 12, MY MOM
AND STEP DAD GOT A DIVORCE,

AND WE MOVED OUT,

AND I WAS SO RELIEVED
TO BE OUT OF THAT HOME

AND JUST WITH MY MOM.

WE STILL HAD A LOT OF CONFLICT
THOUGH BECAUSE SHE KEPT ME

ON THESE ABUSIVE DIETS
TO TRY TO GET ME TO LOSE WEIGHT,

BUT IT DIDN'T HELP ME LOSE EVER
BECAUSE,

NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE DID,
I'D FIND WAYS TO GET FOOD.

AND OVER THE NEXT
COUPLE OF YEARS,

I GOT MY LICENSE AND A JOB
AT A FAST-FOOD PLACE,

AND AT THAT POINT, I WAS BEYOND
MY MOM'S CONSTANT REACH.

SHE COULDN'T STOP ME FROM EATING
WHAT I WANTED,

AND SO, AT 16, THAT'S WHEN
THE WEIGHT STARTED PILING ON ME,

BUT MY MOM COULD EVENTUALLY
TELL WHAT I WAS DOING,

AND WHEN SHE FIGURED IT OUT,
SHE WAS REALLY UPSET,

AND SHE TRIED TO GET ME
TO STOP EATING.

HER GOAL BECAME TO GET ME AWAY

FROM WORKING
AT A FAST-FOOD PLACE,

SO SHE HELPED ME
START A HOME DAYCARE CENTER.

I WAS HESITANT TO WORK
WITH MY MOM,

BUT I COULDN'T RESIST BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO DO.

AND I LOVED IT,
AND I WAS THANKFUL MY MOM

DID THAT IN THE END,

BUT IT STILL DIDN'T STOP ME
FROM EATING LIKE I WANTED,

AND BY THE TIME
I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL

AND I WAS 18,
I WAS AROUND 350 POUNDS.

AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, I WAS WORKING
AT THE DAY CARE FULL-TIME,

BUT I WAS STILL EATING
JUST AS MUCH AND GAINING,

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 20,
I WAS WELL INTO THE MID-400s.

BUT WHEN I WAS 21,
I STARTED SEEING SOMEONE,

AND WHEN THINGS STARTED
TO GET SERIOUS BETWEEN US,

I STARTED HAVING
THESE NIGHTMARES WITH ME

AND AN EVENT THAT HAPPENED
WITH ONE OF MY STEPBROTHERS.

WHEN I WAS 8,

MY MOM AND STEP DAD LEFT
MY STEPBROTHER TO BABYSIT ME.

I WENT TO SLEEP, AND I WOKE UP
WITH HIM SITTING ON MY BED,

AND HE WAS RUBBING MY BACK,
AND THAT IS THE INITIAL MEMORY

THAT I HAD FOR YEARS
UPON YEARS UPON YEARS.

THE DREAMS ARE JUST KIND OF
WHAT FOLLOWED THAT,

ME TRYING TO FIGHT HIM OFF.

LIKE, ONE DREAM WAS, LIKE,
LITERALLY ME

OF JUST SCRATCHING IN HIS ARMS.

AT THAT POINT, I DIDN'T KNOW
IF THEY WERE JUST DREAMS

OR IF I WAS REALLY PIECING IT
TOGETHER MYSELF OR WHAT HAPPENED

BECAUSE IT'S ALL
JUST SO DISTORTED,

SO I WENT TO THE COMMUNITY
COUNSELING CENTER

AND WENT AND TALKED TO SOMEONE

AND JUST TRY TO PIECE TOGETHER
WHAT HAPPENED.

I KEPT ALL OF THIS TO MYSELF.
I DIDN'T TELL MY BOYFRIEND.

I JUST BROKE UP WITH HIM.

I DIDN'T EVEN TELL MY MOM
UNTIL RECENTLY,

BUT WHEN I TOLD HER
WHAT HAD HAPPENED,

SHE DIDN'T REALLY HAVE
MUCH OF A REACTION TO IT.

UNFORTUNATELY WHEN I TOLD HER,

IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE
OF AN ARGUMENT.

I DIDN'T SAY IT THAT KINDLY.

SHE JUST SAID, "YOU NEVER
TOLD ME ANYTHING LIKE THAT,"

AND I SAID, "YEAH, I DIDN'T WANT
TO GET EVERYBODY UPSET OR MAD,"

AND IT KIND OF WAS NOT
A SUBJECT THAT KEPT ON GOING.

AT THE TIME WHEN ALL THESE
REPRESSED MEMORIES

HAD COME BACK,
I JUST TRIED TO MOVE PAST IT

AND GET ON WITH MY LIFE.

I FOCUSED ON BUILDING THE DAY-
CARE BUSINESS WITH MY MOM,

AND I KEPT GETTING BIGGER,
AND I WAS JUST UNDER 500

BY THE TIME I WAS 25.

AND AROUND THAT TIME IS
WHEN MY FATHER PASSED AWAY.

HE HAD A HEART ATTACK AT 44
BECAUSE OF HIS WEIGHT,

AND I KNEW I WOULD END UP
LIKE HIM IF I DIDN'T CHANGE,

SO I TRIED TO START CUTTING BACK

ON WHAT I WAS EATING
TO LOSE WEIGHT,

BUT THE DAY CARE WAS GROWING,
AND I WAS RUNNING IT ALL,

SO EVERY DAY
I HAD A LOT OF STRESS,

SO FOOD ALSO HELPED ME
DEAL WITH THAT.

IT GOT SO BUSY,
I ENDED UP NEEDING HELP,

AND I HIRED MY BEST FRIEND,
DAWN, TO HELP ME.

WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING
FOR JOYCE AT THE DAY CARE,

IT WAS MAYBE 6 MONTHS AFTER

WE HAD INITIALLY MET
THROUGH A MUTUAL FRIEND.

AT THE TIME, SHE COULD STILL
MOVE SHORT DISTANCES

BY HERSELF
WITHOUT A WALKER,

AND THEN JOYCE STARTED GAINING
MORE AND MORE WEIGHT

AND JUST WENT DOWNHILL.

Joyce: I WAS IN MY MID-30s WHEN
I'D GOTTEN UP TO AROUND 550,

AND MY WEIGHT
WAS GETTING TO A POINT

WHERE IT WAS HARD FOR ME
TO GET AROUND LIKE I NEEDED,

AND THAT STARTED TO AFFECT
THE DAY CARE AND MY BUSINESS

BECAUSE IF I CAN'T
REACT FAST TO SOMETHING,

IT COULD BE DANGEROUS
FOR THE KIDS,

SO EVENTUALLY IT GOT TO A POINT
WHERE I WAS TOO BIG,

AND I HAD TO CLOSE IT,
AND IT WAS HEARTBREAKING FOR ME.

AND THEN, A FEW YEARS LATER,

I STARTED DEVELOPING A REALLY
BAD LYMPHEDEMA ON MY LOWER BODY,

AND THAT COMBINED
WITH MY WEIGHT

CAUSED ME TO BE BEDRIDDEN
WHEN I WAS 38,

AND I HAD TO HIRE DAWN
TO MOVE IN WITH ME

AND BECOME MY CARETAKER.

Dawn: AS TIME HAD PASSED,
JOYCE NEEDED SOME EXTRA HELP,

SO I ENDED UP
MOVING INTO THE HOUSE,

LIKE, A PERMANENT FIXTURE
IN THE HOUSE.

I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT OF THE HOUSE
IN OVER 3 YEARS.

I'M ALREADY 44,

AND I'M THE AGE NOW
THAT MY DAD WAS WHEN HE DIED,

AND I THINK I'M EVEN BIGGER
THAN HE WAS AT THIS AGE,

SO I'M TERRIFIED THAT I'M CLOSE
TO DYING RIGHT NOW

AND THAT I'M GOING TO DIE
BEFORE MY TIME

BECAUSE I LET FOOD KILL ME.

HI, JOYCE.HEY, MOM.

COME ON, BEDBO.

I CAN START THE LASAGNA.

MM.

I KNOW MY FAMILY AND DAWN
ARE ALL WORRIED ABOUT ME TOO,

AND THEY DON'T THINK I'M GOING
TO MAKE IT MUCH LONGER,

BUT JUST LIKE ME, THEY KEEP
DOING WHAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING

AND HELP ME EAT THE STUFF
I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE NOW,

AND I KNOW WHEN I DO THAT,
MY MOM IS JUDGING ME

WHEN I EAT A LOT,
BUT AS MUCH AS IT BOTHERS ME,

THERE'S PART OF ME
WHERE I DON'T CARE.

I ALMOST KIND OF HAVE
THE ATTITUDE OF, LIKE, DUH,

I DON'T GET THIS BIG
EATING SMALL AMOUNTS,

SO WHY WOULD YOU
EXPECT ME TO DO SO?

SO I JUST WANT TO SAY, YOU KNOW,
"SHUT UP AND GIVE ME THE FOOD

AND THEN LEAVE IF YOU HAVE
A PROBLEM WITH IT."

SOMETIMES WHEN I SEE JOYCE

EATING LARGE AMOUNTS OF FOOD,
I'M LIVID.

I'M JUST LIVID, BUT I'M REALLY
ALWAYS REALLY FEARFUL.

I LIVE IN A LOT OF FEAR
BECAUSE I JUST...I JUST...

I JUST FEEL LIKE
SHE'S GOING TO DIE

AND THAT THERE'S NOTHING
I CAN DO ABOUT IT.

HERE YOU GO.THANKS.

THAT LOOKS GOOD.IT DOES LOOK GOOD.

Dawn:
I THINK JOYCE IS AT THE POINT
NOW WHERE SHE KNOWS

SHE REALLY DOES
HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

JOYCE CAN'T GO ON MUCH
LONGER LIKE THIS.

IT'S GOING TO KILL HER.

Joyce:
I KNOW I CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS
FOR MUCH LONGER.

EVEN IF I LIVE PAST
MY 45th BIRTHDAY,

SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE SOON

BECAUSE MY ADDICTION TO FOOD
IS KILLING ME,

AND IT'S TAKING EVERYTHING.

AND THE WORLD IS JUST
PASSING ME BY.

I WATCH ON SOCIAL MEDIA
THE WHOLE WORLD

HAPPENING AROUND ME,
AND I'M SITTING HERE.

AND IT MAKES ME SO, SO SAD,
BUT NONE OF MY SADNESS OR FEAR

HAS BEEN ENOUGH TO MAKE ME
STOP FROM EATING,

AND I'M AT A POINT NOW WHERE
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

Joyce #2:
I ALWAYS WISH THAT THERE WAS
JUST A PILL THAT SHE COULD TAKE

AND THAT SHE WOULDN'T, YOU KNOW,
HAVE THIS HORRIBLE ADDICTION.

Joyce: I KNOW I'M CLOSE TO
A BREAKING POINT,

AND THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO
ABOUT IT BECAUSE I CAN'T STOP,

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CHANGE
TO GET TO

WHERE I WON'T END UP EATING
TO WHERE IT KILLS ME.

SO IT'S INEVITABLE AT THIS POINT

THAT I EITHER FIND
SOME SORT OF HELP,

OR NOTHING ELSE IS GOING
TO HAPPEN BUT DEATH.

Joyce:
I CALLED DR. NOW IN HOUSTON

TO TRY TO GET HELP WITH
MY WEIGHT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

I CALLED ALL THE LOCAL DOCTORS,
AND NONE OF THEM ARE EVEN

WILLING TO TRY AND HELP ME,
SO GOING ALL THE WAY TO TEXAS

IS MY ONLY OPTION,
AND I'M TERRIFIED ABOUT IT

BECAUSE THIS ISN'T GOING
TO BE EASY AT ALL.

MY BIGGEST PROBLEM
IS GETTING THERE, BUT DR. NOW

IS TRYING TO SET UP
A TRANSPORT FOR ME

TO TAKE ALL THE WAY TO TEXAS,
AND I'M REALLY HOPING HE CAN,

BUT THERE'S NO WAY FOR ME
TO COME BACK

OR MAKE THE TRIP AGAIN,

SO THE WAY I FIGURE IT,
THIS IS A ONE-WAY TRIP FOR ME,

SO THAT MAKES THIS EVEN SCARIER,
BUT

DAWN IS WILLING TO BE DOWN THERE
WITH ME

FOR AS LONG AS I NEED TO HELP ME
AND TAKE CARE OF ME,

AND SHE'S ALSO
PACKING UP ALL OUR STUFF

AND TRYING TO GET EVERYTHING
TAKEN CARE OF

SO WE CAN BE FREE
AND CLEAR TO MOVE DOWN.

SO POOR DAWN IS DOING
PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THE WORK.

Dawn: I AM PREPARING TO GET

JOYCE AND I
MOVED DOWN TO HOUSTON.

JOYCE HASN'T BEEN ABLE
TO PHYSICALLY HELP ME PACK,

SO IT'S BEEN HARD,

BUT IT IS JOYCE'S LAST CHANCE
TO GET THE HELP SHE NEEDS,

AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING
THAT I CAN DO FOR JOYCE

TO GET BETTER,
I'M GOING TO DO IT.

Joyce:
DOING THIS IS A HUGE ACT
OF FAITH AND TRUST,

BUT IT'S MY LAST HOPE
AND OPTION,

AND I EITHER DO THIS
OR DIE SOON,

SO I'M CONFIDENT
ABOUT THIS CHOICE,

BUT I STILL FEEL REALLY SCARED.

UPROOTING MY ENTIRE LIFE HERE
IS SCARY,

BUT I'M FINDING THE COURAGE
TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT'S THE SHOT

THAT I HAVE
TO TAKE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE.

BUT MY MOM AND AUNT
ARE COMING TODAY

TO SUPPORT ME IN THIS CHOICE

EVEN THOUGH
THEY DON'T WANT ME TO LEAVE.

HI, JOYCE.

-HI.
-HELLO THERE.

HI!
HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.

HOW ARE YOU?GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD.COME IN. SIT DOWN.

Lucille:
SO HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

I'M DOING GOOD.

YOU LOOK GOOD.

YEAH, NOT TOO BAD.

YOUR NEW JOURNEY, RIGHT?

MM-HMM.

IT'LL BE REALLY GOOD.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING
ABOUT ALL THIS?

IT REALLY IS A BIG RISK,
YOU KNOW?

IT IS A RISK, BUT, I MEAN,
WHAT ARE MY...

THIS IS KIND OF
LIKE THE END, YOU KNOW?

IF I DON'T DO THIS,
THEN IT'S JUST KIND OF WAITING

UNTIL MY BODY GIVES OUT,

AND I'M NOT HERE,
SO IT'S WORTH THE RISK TO ME.

TEST ALSO.

MM-HMM.WE FEEL THE SAME WAY.

THIS IS LIKE
YOUR LAST CHANCE.

Lucille:
JOYCE HAS TO MAKE THE CHANGES
TO SAVE HER LIFE.

SHE HAS TO. SHE HAS NO OTHER
CHOICE TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.

BUT MY HOPE FOR JOYCE'S FUTURE
IS FOR HER TO GET HER LIFE BACK,

TO BE ABLE TO DO
ALL THE THINGS THAT SHE LOVES

BECAUSE SHE DESERVES THE BEST.

Joyce:
IT MEANS A LOT FOR MY MOM
AND AUNT TO COME OVER

AND SHOW ME SUPPORT AND LOVE.

THEY KNOW I NEED IT RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE I'M REALLY SCARED.

THIS IS GOING TO BE
ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS

I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE,

AND IT'S GOING
TO TAKE EVERYTHING

I HAVE PHYSICALLY
AND EMOTIONALLY TO DO IT.

YOU HAVE EVERYTHING PACKED?

HAVE A FEW LITTLE STUFF TO PUT
HERE OR THERE BUT NOT MUCH.

OKAY. LET ME
THROW THIS OUT THERE.

I GOT THE CALL LAST NIGHT
FROM DR. NOW

THAT A MEDICAL TRANSPORT
WILL BE HERE TO PICK ME UP

AT 5 A.M. TODAY TO TAKE ME
ALL THE WAY TO HOUSTON.

IT'S GOING TO BE
A STRAIGHT DRIVE,

BUT IT'S STILL GOING
TO BE REALLY LONG.

IT'S ABOUT A 12-HOUR TRIP
TO HOUSTON,

AND I'M AFRAID I'M GOING TO BE
IN PAIN FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP.

AND THEN I'M REALLY WORRIED
THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE

A HARD TIME
GETTING ME IN THE TRANSPORT.

IT'S BAD WEATHER, AND IF THEY'RE
NOT GOING TO BE ABLE

TO GET ME IN THE VEHICLE,

THEN I'M GOING TO BE OUT
IN THE ELEMENTS,

AND THAT'S MAKING ME
VERY NERVOUS.

AND I JUST HAVE TO TRUST THIS
IS GOING TO BE WORTH IT.

GOOD MORNING.

PRETTY GOOD.

OKAY.

-THAT'LL WORK.
-YOU NEED HELP GETTING UP?

Joyce: OH, NO.

Man:
YOU DO PRETTY GOOD.

YOU WANT TO COME OVER
TOWARDS ME SOME MORE.

THERE YOU GO.

SIT STRAIGHT BACK.
GOOD.

AND YOU SCOOT YOUR BUTT
AS FAR BACK AS YOU CAN.

THIS IS IT BECAUSE
I HAVE A LYMPHEDEMA.

THIS IS IT?
IT'S ALRIGHT.

THEY'RE GOING TO GET YOU LEGS,
WE'RE GOING TO SWING THEM OVER.

I'M GOING TO TRY
AND SUPPORT YOUR BACK.

WE GOT THIS.

THERE WE GO.
OKAY.

WE READY?
-ONE, TWO, THREE.

I GOT YOU. HOLD ONTO ME.
HOLD ONTO ME.

OKAY.
JUST SLOW AND EASY.

THERE YOU GO.

HERE. GRAB MY ARM.
THERE YOU GO.

THERE.

-ALRIGHT.
-ALRIGHT.

-YES.
-ALRIGHT.

-THE RIGHT SIDE POCKET.
-I DON'T FEEL BALANCED.

-DON'T WORRY.
-YOU'RE NOT. I PROMISE.

-JUST TAKE DEEP BREATHS.
-HEY. WE GOT YOU.

-DEEP BREATHS.
-WE GOT YOU.

Joyce: OH.

THIS IS SO MUCH SCARIER
THAN I WAS EVEN IMAGINING,

AND I'M JUST TERRIFIED
THAT THIS ISN'T GOING TO WORK,

AND SOMETHING'S
GOING TO GO WRONG.

Man:
SLOW, SLOW, SLOW, SLOW, SLOW.

DON'T PUSH.
-WE'RE NOT.

-OKAY.
-WE'RE PULLING.

MAKE IT STRAIGHT.

CAN SOMEONE HOLD MY HAND,
ANOTHER PERSON?

-I GOT YOU.
-I'M RIGHT HERE.

JUST WANT YOU TO
HOLD HER HAND.

-AH.
-IT'S OKAY.

-OH.
-HEY, THAT WAS JUST YOUR CURB.

THIS TRIP IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL
FOR BOTH

JOYCE AND I, SO I'M STRESSED
AND ANXIOUS,

BUT I'M VERY READY
TO SUPPORT HER,

AND SHE'S GOING TO BE IN FRONT
OF ME ON THE MEDICAL TRANSPORT.

Man: ONE, TWO, THREE.

SO THAT WAY, IF THERE'S ANYTHING
THAT IHAVE TO HELP WITH,

I CAN GO HELP JOYCE.

I'M JUST PRAYING
THAT IT'S SMOOTH FOR HER,

THAT SHE JUST GETS THERE,

AND THERE'S NO PROBLEMS
WITH ANYTHING.

-LOVE YOU.
-I LOVE YOU.

YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS.

THESE GUYS ARE GOING
TO TAKE CARE OF YOU.

Joyce:
I'M ALREADY IN SO MUCH PAIN,

AND THIS IS JUST THE START
OF THE WHOLE DRIVE AND JOURNEY,

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER
I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS

AND WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IF THIS
GETS TO BE TOO MUCH FOR ME.

-HELLO?
-HI.

DID YOU TAKE
A DIFFERENT ROUTE?

AH.

ALRIGHT.
JUST KEEP ME POSTED.

OKAY.
BYE.

WE'VE ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD
FOR A LITTLE BIT,

LESS THAN AN HOUR, I THINK.

THIS IS HORRIBLE.

DAWN WAS SUPPOSED TO STAY BEHIND
US TO HELP ME IF I NEEDED,

AND SHE'S NOT, SO I'M REALLY,
REALLY SCARED RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW
HOW I'M GOING TO HANDLE THIS

AND DO WHAT I NEED TO BE ABLE
TO MAKE IT TO HOUSTON.

IT'S JUST TOO MUCH FOR ME,

AND I DON'T THINK
I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE EXPECTING
THE ARRIVAL

OF JOYCE DEL VISCO VERY SOON.

WE WERE ABLE TO ARRANGE
A MEDICAL TRANSPORT FOR HER

BECAUSE, WITH HOW POOR THE STATE
OF HER HEALTH SOUNDS,

SHE LIKELY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO DO THIS TRIP ON HER OWN

WITHOUT SUFFERING
A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

THIS HAS STILL BEEN
A VERY LONG TRIP FOR HER,

SO ONCE SHE ARRIVES,

WE NEED TO GET HER IN QUICKLY
AND START RUNNING THE TESTS

WE NEED TO DETERMINE
THE STATE OF HER CONDITION

AND IF THERE ARE
ANY LIFE-THREATENING ISSUES

WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

HI, JOYCE.
-HI, DR. NOW.

HOW YOU DOING?

I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN.

ALRIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU
IN REAL QUICK

AND CHECK YOU OUT, OKAY?

OKAY.
THANK YOU.

JOYCE'S CONDITION LOOKS
TO ALREADY BE

SEVERELY DETERIORATED,

AND SHE LIKELY DOESN'T HAVE
MUCH TIME BEFORE THINGS

GET EVEN WORSE FOR HER.

I DON'T FEEL SECURE, GUYS.

SO UNTIL THEN, WE HAVE A LOT
WE NEED TO ADDRESS WITH HER

AND NOT A LOT OF TIME
TO DO IT

BEFORE SHE GETS TO
A VERY CRITICAL POINT

WE MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO PULL HER BACK FROM.

GOING TO GET YOU IN THERE FIRST.
WE'LL GET YOUR STUFF AFTER.

OKAY.

I HOPE I CAN USE THE BATHROOM.

I HAVEN'T USED IT ALL DAY.

Man: THAT WAY.

UH-HUH.

-YOU'RE NOT FALLING.
-WE GOT YOU. WE GOT YOU.
-YOU'RE NOT FALLING.

-NO, YOU'RE NOT.
-WE GOT YOU.

-OKAY.
-EVERYBODY LOCKED?

LET'S COUNT.
ONE, TWO, THREE.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.
HEAD'S COMING UP.

HOW YOU DOING, DOLL?

I'M DOING OKAY.

HOW DO YOU FEEL
YOU'RE POSITIONED?

I'M FEELING LIKE
I'M LEANING THAT WAY.

Man #2: OKAY.

MUCH BETTER.

-AWESOME.
-OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OKAY.
THANK YOU.

YOU'RE ANGELS.
-MUCH BETTER.

ALRIGHT. NOW THAT WE GOT YOU
INSIDE, ARE YOU FEELING OKAY?

FEELING MUCH BETTER NOW.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PAIN
ANYWHERE?

JUST A LITTLE BIT, LIKE,
RESIDUAL PAIN

FROM BEING IN PAIN
FOR SO LONG.

WE'LL GET YOU FEELING
BETTER REAL SOON.

OKAY.
THANK YOU.

MM.
ALRIGHT.

AND NO SHORTNESS
OF BREATH?

LITTLE BIT, YEAH.

IT'S HARD FOR ME TO TAKE
A DEEP BREATH RIGHT NOW.

OKAY. LET ME
LISTEN TO YOUR LUNGS.

TAKE A DEEP BREATH.
ALRIGHT.

THE GOOD NEWS IS,
YOU DON'T SOUND LIKE

YOU'RE IN ANY SORT OF
RESPIRATORY FAILURE RIGHT NOW.

ANY OTHER ISSUES
BOTHERING YOU?

YEAH, I'M A LITTLE HUNGRY.

I DIDN'T EAT ALL DAY.

WELL, DON'T WORRY.

YOU HAVE EATEN THE FOOD
THAT BELONG TO NEXT 3 YEARS

AHEAD OF TIME, OKAY?

IT MAY BE MORE THAN 3 YEARS,
DR. NOW.

IT IS MORE.ALRIGHT.

YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT?

YES, I DO.

BUT WE'LL GET YOU SOMETHING,
OKAY?

ALRIGHT. BUT ANYTHING ELSE
BOTHERING YOU OTHER THAN HUNGER?

I DIDN'T GO TO THE BATHROOM
THE WHOLE TIME?

YOU NEED TO
GO TO BATHROOM?

I DO.ALRIGHT.

HOW MUCH YOU CAN GET UP
AND DO ON YOUR OWN?

I CAN WALK A FEW STEPS
WITH A WALKER.

OKAY. YOU GO TO BATHROOM
BY YOURSELF?

I DO.OKAY.

I USE A BEDSIDE COMMODE.

BEDSIDE COMMODE?MM-HMM.

ALRIGHT.

WE'LL GET YOU ONE
SO YOU CAN USE THAT NOW,

BUT THEN AFTER THAT,
WE'LL GET YOU SITUATED TO A ROOM

AND GET SOME LAB WORK ON YOU
AND RUN SOME TESTS

WE NEED TO DO
TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OKAY.

-OKAY.
-OKAY.

HOPEFULLY ONCE WE RUN
THE TESTS WE NEED ON JOYCE,

WE ARE ABLE TO DETERMINE

THAT THERE IS NO IMMEDIATE
LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE WITH HER

BECAUSE,
WITH HER CURRENT CONDITION,

IT IS NOT LIKELY
THAT SHE'LL SURVIVE

ANY SERIOUS MEDICAL ISSUES
RIGHT NOW,

SO WE WILL NEED TO DO PT
WITH HER TO GET HER STAMINA UP

AND STRENGTHEN
HER PULMONARY SYSTEM

TO KEEP IT
FROM GETTING ANY WORSE,

AND WE WILL LIKELY NEED
TO KEEP HER HERE FOR A WHILE.

CAN I HAVE A HUG?

YOU MADE IT.

ALRIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU UP
AND LET YOU GO TO BATHROOM.

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.

I'M DAWN.AND YOU'RE...

SHE'S MY FRIEND
AND MY ROOMMATE.

FRIEND AND ROOMMATE,
OKAY, GOOD. ALRIGHT.

LET ME GET SOME HELP,
AND WE'LL GET YOU UP.

YOU FEEL ANY BETTER,
JOYCE?

MUCH BETTER, YEAH.

OKAY, GOOD.

BUT DO YOU KNOW
HOW MUCH YOU WEIGH NOW?

ALRIGHT, THEN.

LET ME CHECK YOUR WEIGHT AND
FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR WEIGHT IS.

OKAY.
LET'S GET YOU BACK IN BED

AND GET YOUR SIZE
IN JUST A COUPLE MINUTE.

-OKAY.
-OKAY.

THIS OFF?YEAH, THAT'S FINE.

Man:
I'M JUST GOING TO TILT THE CHAIR
BACK, IF YOU'LL JUST LEAN BACK,

AND THEN I'LL SCOOT YOU
UP IN IT. OKAY?

OKAY.

YOU FEEL IT?UH-HUH.

OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
OVERALL, WE HAVE A VERY
DIRE SITUATION WITH JOYCE,

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK
TO DO WITH HER

BEFORE WE MAKE ANY SIGNIFICANT
IMPROVEMENTS WITH HER HEALTH

TO GET HER
IN A BETTER PLACE.

BUT WE'LL DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO TRY

AND TURN THINGS AROUND
FOR HER QUICKLY

BECAUSE IF WE DON'T,
SHE WON'T SURVIVE MUCH LONGER.

Joyce:
I CAN'T BELIEVE I MADE IT.

I THINK I'D BE REALLY RELIEVED
IF I WASN'T IN SO MUCH PAIN,

BUT IT TOOK EVERYTHING
IN ME TO DO THIS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ALRIGHT.
THIS YOUR BED.

WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU UP
IN HERE, OKAY?

OKAY.

OKAY.
READY?

-AAH.
-ALRIGHT.

-ONE, TWO, THREE.
-GOOD JOB.

-OKAY.
-WE CAN PULL THAT SHEET.

LITTLE MORE, YEAH.

Man: ONE, TWO, THREE AND UP.

NOW UP.

OKAY.
THERE WE GO.

HOW YOU DOING, JOYCE?

-OKAY.
-OKAY, JOYCE.

NOW THAT WE GOT YOU SITUATED,
LET'S SEE WHAT THE WEIGHT IS.

-YOU ALRIGHT?
-YEAH.

OKAY.
JUST KEEP BREATHING.

LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE 758.
ALRIGHT, JOYCE.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT
OF WEIGHT TO LOSE WITH YOU,

SO WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU
STARTED ON SOME PHYSICAL THERAPY

AND A HEALTHY DIET.

BUT FIRST, WE'RE GOING TO RUN
SOME TESTS TO MAKE SURE

THAT NOTHING IS HAPPENING
WITH THIS 14-HOUR TRAVEL

AND NO BLOOD CLOT
OR ANY OTHER ISSUES.

THEN WE'LL WORK ON GETTING
YOUR WEIGHT DOWN

AND HELPING YOU
GET MORE MOBILE.

OKAY?
-OKAY, THANK YOU.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ALRIGHT.
I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

OKAY.
SEE YOU LATER.

HI.

HI.

Joyce:
I'M IN SO MUCH PAIN, AND ALL
I CAN DO RIGHT NOW IS REST,

BUT I'M HOPING ONCE I RECOVER,
ALL MY TESTS WILL BE GOOD,

AND I'LL BE ABLE TO START
MY WHOLE JOURNEY

TO GETTING HEALTHY
AND A NEW LIFE

BECAUSE I'VE WAITED A LONG TIME
FOR A CHANCE LIKE THIS,

AND I'M VERY READY FOR IT.

I JUST HOPE IT GETS
A LITTLE EASIER FROM HERE.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
OVER THE LAST MONTH,

WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE
SOME PROGRESS WITH JOYCE.

HER TESTS SHOW HER BODY

WAS STARTING TO STRUGGLE
A GREAT DEAL JUST TO FUNCTION,

MOSTLY WITH HER RESPIRATORY
AND PULMONARY SYSTEM.

SO IT'S BEEN
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US

TO GET HER WEIGHT DOWN
AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

WHILE ALSO BUILDING UP
HER STAMINA.

SO WE HAVE HAD HER
ON A CONTROLLED DIET

THAT SHE HASN'T LIKED TOO MUCH,

AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING
TO DO PT WITH HER,

BUT SHE'S BEEN RESISTANT
TO THAT AS WELL,

AND SHE NEEDS
TO START COOPERATING

BEFORE IT'S SAFE
TO SEND HER HOME

BECAUSE SHE CAN VERY EASILY
UNDO THE PROGRESS

WE'VE MADE WITH HER SO FAR.

HI, JOYCE.HI, DR. NOW.

HOW ARE YOU?GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING OKAY.

SO YOU'RE STILL NOT DOING
EVERYTHING YOU NEED

WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY.

WHY IS THAT?

I REALLY AM TRYING, BUT MY
BREATHING IS STILL A STRUGGLE,

AND SOMETIMES
WITH PHYSICAL THERAPY,

IT GETS A LITTLE, YOU KNOW.

GET SHORT-WINDED?MM-HMM.

WE'RE GETTING YOU TO LOSE
WEIGHT AND ADDRESS THAT,

BUT YOU HAVE TO COOPERATE
WITH US TO DO YOUR EXERCISES

SO WE CAN MAKE THE SAME
PROGRESS WITH YOUR STAMINA

THAT WE HAVE MADE
WITH YOUR WEIGHT.

I REALLY AM TRYING,
DR. NOW.

WHEN YOU CAME IN,
YOU WERE 758,

AND YOUR BMI
WAS ALMOST 160.

THAT'S EXTREMELY LARGE.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT NORMAL
BMI IS?

LIKE, 30, RIGHT?

EIGHTEEN TO 25.
YEAH.

BUT LET'S GET AN UPDATE
WITH YOUR WEIGHT RIGHT NOW.

OKAY.

AND LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET
YOUR BED DOWN FIRST.

OKAY.

I'LL TAKE SOME OF THIS STUFF
AND PUT IT OVER HERE.

OKAY.
THAT'S GOOD.

LET ME CHECK YOUR STOMACH
WHILE YOU'RE HERE.

SO THIS IS...DO YOU HAVE
ANY STOMACH PAIN OR DISCOMFORT?

NO.

CAN YOU RAISE YOUR HEAD UP
FOR ME?

LIKE I MENTIONED, YOU MAY HAVE
SOME HERNIA IN HERE,

AND YOU DO HAVE A HERNIA
IN BELLY BUTTON,

AND SO WE WILL HAVE TO
FIX THAT AT SOME POINT.

ALRIGHT.

SO LET ME GET YOUR SHOES FOR YOU
SO YOU CAN GET UP.

ALRIGHT.
LET ME GET THE AIR MATTRESS.

YEAH.

ALRIGHT.

AND WHILE YOU'RE
IN THAT POSITION,

LET ME CHECK YOUR LYMPHEDEMA
AND SEE HOW IT'S DOING.

WHERE'S THAT COMING FROM,
THE ABDOMEN?

YEAH, LIKE THE PANNUS.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S DOING BETTER,
AND IT'S NO LONGER INFECTED.

BUT ULTIMATELY,
WE HAVE TO REMOVE IT.

OKAY.
LET ME HELP YOU UP.

IS IT GOING OVER THE BED?

SOMETIMES IT GETS STUCK.

THERE WE GO. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.

LET'S DO THIS WITHOUT OXYGEN

BECAUSE YOU DON'T
NEED THIS ANYMORE.

ALRIGHT.
SO CAN WE LEAVE THIS?

FOR A LITTLE BIT, YEAH.

I'LL JUST NEED THE WALKER.

YOU OKAY?MM-HMM.

OKAY.
GOOD JOB.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
YOU'RE DOING GOOD.

KEEP WALKING.

I CAN'T.

YOU CAN DO THIS, JOYCE.

Joyce: THIS MUCH ACTIVITY
IS REALLY HARD ON MY BODY,

AND I DON'T THINK
DR. NOW UNDERSTANDS THAT

AND JUST HOW MUCH
THIS IS FOR ME.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO
A WHOLE LOT MORE

BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY PAINFUL,

AND I FEEL LIKE
I'M ABOUT AT MY LIMIT.

BUT I'LL TRY TO STAND
LONG ENOUGH TO GET MY WEIGHT.

I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW LONG
I CAN LAST.

YOU READY?MM-HMM.

ALRIGHT.THIS IS THE FIRST TIME

I'M EVER STEPPING UP ON
SOMETHING

FOR A REALLY LONG TIME,
SO I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS.

OKAY.
OH, DON'T BE NERVOUS.

ALRIGHT. WE'RE ALL SET.OKAY.

ALRIGHT, 388.

THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT.

I GOT TO SIT BACK DOWN.
SORRY.

I'M ALMOST FALLING.

ALRIGHT.
WE GOT YOU.

OKAY.
ALRIGHT.

THREE EIGHTY-EIGHT
WAS NOT RIGHT.

THAT WOULD'VE BEEN
A MIRACULOUS LOSS.

WE HELPED YOU LOSE A LOT,
BUT NOT THAT MUCH.

WE'LL JUST WAIT
UNTIL YOU CATCH YOUR BREATH,

AND THEN I WILL REZERO IT,

AND WE CAN GET
THE CORRECT WEIGHT.

I'D PREFER TO SKIP IT.

ON THE WAY BACK, I ALMOST WASN'T
ABLE TO MAKE MY WAY BACK.

ALRIGHT.

WE'LL TRY AGAIN LATER,

BUT AT LEAST YOU GOT
A LITTLE EXERCISE TODAY.

BUT THIS POOR LEVEL OF ACTIVITY
IS NOT GOOD.

SO YOU REALIZE YOUR FUNCTION
AND CAPACITY IS VERY, VERY LOW,

AND YOU'RE
IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

SO THIS IS A MATTER OF
LIFE AND DEATH FOR YOU,

AND YOU'RE RUNNING
OUT OF TIME.

YEAH, PROBABLY MEANS
I'M STAYING HERE A LOT LONGER.

WELL, NOT NECESSARILY.

HOW LONG YOU'RE HERE
IS UP TO YOU

AND HOW HARD
YOU WANT TO WORK.

AND ONCE YOU GET TO
THE PLACE

YOU NEED THAT IS SAFE,
WE'LL SEND YOU HOME.

OKAY.OKAY?

MM-HMM.
ALRIGHT.

LET'S GET YOU BACK TO YOUR ROOM
SO YOU CAN REST.

OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
SO FAR, JOYCE HASN'T SHOWN ME
MUCH EVIDENCE

THAT SHE'S WILLING TO DO

WHAT SHE NEEDS TO TURN
HER SITUATION AROUND.

AND UNTIL I START TO SEE
SOME CHANGE WITH THAT,

IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO SEND HER
TO BE BACK ON HER OWN

BECAUSE SHE CAN'T AFFORD TO UNDO
THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE

IMPROVING HER HEALTH AND GETTING
OVER 100 POUNDS OFF OF HER.

SO THE CLOCK IS TICKING FOR HER,
AND IF SHE'S NOT CAREFUL,

SHE'S GOING TO RUN OUT
OF TIME VERY SOON.

I'LL PUT SOME OXYGEN ON.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT.
YOU FEELING OKAY?

UH-HUH.

YOU GAVE ME A LITTLE WORKOUT
WITH MY LEGS,

BUT I'M DOING GOOD.

WELL, THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA.

YOU KNOW, YOU ARE 4'11".

FOR YOUR HEIGHT, YOU SHOULD BE
UNDER 100 POUNDS,

SO YOU STILL HAVE 500 POUND TO
LOSE BEFORE YOU HIT YOUR GOAL,

AND THAT'S NOT GOING
TO BE EASY TO DO.

BUT IF YOU DO WHAT YOU NEED,

THEN WE'LL BE ABLE
TO GET YOU TO THAT POINT.

OKAY?

THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME.

WELL, THAT'S MY JOB.

BUT REMEMBER, ALL THE HARD WORK
IS GOING TO COME FROM YOU.

OKAY?
OKAY.

ALRIGHT. I'LL BE BACK
TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON.

IN THE MEANTIME, GET YOU SOME
HELP TO GET YOU BACK IN THE BED.

OKAY.
THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

Joyce:
I REALLY WANT TO GO HOME BECAUSE
IT'S REALLY HARD BEING HERE,

BUT I'M HAPPY ABOUT THE PROGRESS
I'VE MADE SO FAR

AND HOW MUCH
MY HEALTH HAS IMPROVED.

EVEN IF DR. NOW DOESN'T AGREE
WITH ME ABOUT THAT,

I REALLY AM WORKING HARD,
AND I HAVE NO DOUBT

I CAN KEEP THIS GOING
ON MY OWN AND SHOW

DR. NOW I CAN DO THIS
WITHOUT HAVING TO BE HERE.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT TODAY
BECAUSE DR. NOW SAID

I COULD FINALLY LEAVE
AND GO TO THE NEW APARTMENT

DAWN SET UP FOR US,
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT

AND BEING
IN A NORMAL PLACE AGAIN.

IT'S BEEN SO HARD HERE,
BUT I KNOW IT WAS IMPORTANT.

THEY NEEDED TO GET MY HEALTH
TO A MUCH BETTER PLACE,

SO I'M VERY GLAD TO HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO GET THAT HELP,

BUT I'M ALSO VERY GLAD
THAT IT'S OVER WITH

AND THAT I'M FINALLY
GOING TO GET TO LEAVE.

HI.HEY.

OH, MY SOUP.BROUGHT YOU SOUP.

AND MY LITTLE SOUP TRAY.

OVER THE PAST MONTH,
I HAVE SEEN SOME POSITIVE

IMPROVEMENT WITH JOYCE,
NOT AS MUCH AS I HAD HOPED,

BUT ENOUGH TO GIVE ME HOPE

THAT SHE'S STARTING TO GO
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

SHE'S BEEN TRYING
A LITTLE HARDER WITH PT,

BUT SHE STILL ISN'T
WALKING ON HER OWN,

AND SHE STILL CONVINCED HERSELF

SHE NEEDS HER OXYGEN TANK
TO BREATHE

WHEN THERE IS NO REASON FOR IT.

SO WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK
TO DO WITH HER.

BUT I THINK THERE IS SOME LIGHT
AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

WITH HER ATTITUDE
AND CHOICES SHE'S MAKING,

SO I'M HAPPY
ABOUT THAT PROGRESS.

A MONTH AGO,
WHEN WE GOT AN ACCURATE WEIGHT,

SHE WAS DOWN TO 637 FROM 758,
SO SHE LOST 121 POUNDS

IN THE FIRST MONTH
ON A CONTROLLED DIET.

AND NOW THIS ONE,
WE HAVE HER DOWN TO 553

FOR A TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS
OF 205 POUNDS IN 2 MONTHS,

AND WE HAVE HER
IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE

THAN SHE WAS WHEN SHE ARRIVED
A COUPLE MONTHS AGO.

SO I FEEL LIKE WE CAN TAKE
THE NEXT STEP OF SEEING

HOW SHE DOES ON HER OWN AT HOME.

-HELLO.
-HEY.

HI, DR. NOW.HOW Y'ALL DOING?

GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING GOOD.

SO YOU READY TO GO HOME?

I'M SO READY TO GO HOME.OKAY.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU
GOING HOME,

BUT LEAVING
A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT

ISN'T SO YOU CAN GO
ON VACATION, OKAY?

I KNOW.

YOU NEED TO KEEP WORKING HARD
AT HOME

TO MAKE MORE IMPROVEMENTS
WITH YOUR MOBILITY

BECAUSE SO FAR,
WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET YOU

TO WHERE YOU'RE WALKING
ON YOUR OWN,

AND THERE'S NO REASON FOR THAT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO SEND PT
TO YOUR HOME THREE TIMES A WEEK.

OKAY?OKAY.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT YOU STICK
WITH YOUR DIET

AND CONTINUE LOSING

TO GET AS MUCH WEIGHT OFF
YOUR BODY AS POSSIBLE.

YOU THINK YOU CAN DO THAT?I WILL.

I'M GOING TO 100 PERCENT
DO THE DIET ON MY OWN.

I PROMISE.OKAY, GOOD, BECAUSE IN 1 MONTH,

I WANT TO SEE YOU AT MY CLINIC
FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT,

AND I WANT YOU TO LOSE
50 POUNDS BY THEN.

OKAY, WOW.
THAT'S A GOAL.

IF YOU STICK TO THE DIET,
THAT SHOULD BE EASY FOR YOU.

OKAY?
OKAY.

ALRIGHT.WILL DO.

BUT THEN, HERE
IS THE OTHER THING.

OKAY.

WE'RE NOT SENDING ANY
MEDICAL TRANSPORT

FOR YOU
TO PICK YOU UP.

YOU GOT THAT?I'LL DO MY BEST.

I'LL TRY, DR. NOW.

I HOPE SO.

BUT THERE'S ONE MORE THING
I WANT YOU TO DO.

WHAT'S THAT?

I WANT YOU TO GET OFF
THIS OXYGEN.

YOU DON'T NEED IT.

SO WHEN YOU GO HOME, YOU NEED
TO WEAN YOURSELF OFF OF IT.

YOU'RE ASKING A LOT,
DR. NOW.

I'M NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING
YOU CAN'T

OR YOU SHOULDN'T DO, OKAY?

OKAY. THANK YOU.OKAY.

ALRIGHT.
I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

THANK YOU.YOU TAKE CARE.

I'M REALLY HOPING JOYCE IS
TAKING HER SITUATION

AS SERIOUSLY AS SHE SAYS AND
THAT SHE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE

AND DO WHAT SHE NEEDS TO KEEP
HEADING IN THE DIRECTION

WE HAVE HER BECAUSE SHE CAN'T
AFFORD TO WASTE ANY MORE TIME

PLAYING GAMES
OR MAKING EXCUSES.

HER BODY IS NOT GOING TO BE
ABLE TO TAKE THE STRAIN

OF HER WEIGHT
FOR MUCH LONGER,

ESPECIALLY IF SHE STARTS
TO GAIN AGAIN,

BUT I'M ONLY GIVING HER A MONTH
BEFORE I WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN

JUST IN CASE
SHE GOES OFF THE RAILS.

WE CAN INTERVENE AND STOP HER

BEFORE SHE UNDOES
ALL HER PROGRESS.

AND THE PT
I'M SENDING TO SEE HER

WILL BE ABLE TO MONITOR
HOW SHE'S DOING TO MAKE SURE

WE CAN PREVENT
ANY MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

IF HER BODY STARTS
TO STRUGGLE TOO MUCH

FROM ANYTHING SHE'S DOING.

SO WE HAVE SET JOYCE UP TO HAVE
THE BEST CHANCE

POSSIBLE TO START DOING
WHAT SHE NEEDS.

SO WHAT HAPPENS FROM HERE
FOR HER

ALL COMES DOWN TO HOW SHE DOES

AND THE CHOICES
SHE MAKES THIS NEXT MONTH.

Joyce:
I'VE BEEN OUT OF THE HOSPITAL
FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS,

AND IT'S BEEN REALLY NICE
TO BE BACK IN AN ENVIRONMENT

THAT ISN'T SO STRESSFUL,

AND MY MOM HAS BEEN DOWN
THE PAST WEEK

GETTING EVERYTHING IN PLACE
AND MAKING IT NICE HERE.

DR. NOW SENDS OVER PT
THREE TIMES A WEEK,

AND THAT'S BEEN HARD,

BUT I HAVE
ANOTHER SESSION TODAY,

SO WE'LL
JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW IT GOES.

-HEY!
HEY, DAWN. HOW ARE YOU?

-I'M GOOD.
-HEY, JOYCE. HOW'S IT GOING?

HI, CLINT.
HOW ARE YOU?

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

Joyce: IT ALWAYS FEELS LIKE
THEY PUSH ME A LITTLE TOO HARD,

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, MY KNEE
HAS BEEN REALLY HURTING,

BUT I'M HOPING THAT I DON'T DO
ANYTHING TO MAKE MY KNEE WORSE

BECAUSE IT'S FINALLY
FEELING BETTER.

I'M THINKING MAYBE NOT DOING
THE OXYGEN AS MUCH

AND TAKING IT OFF
WHILE WE'RE WORKING.

Clint: WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
LET'S DO THIS.

WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD
AND TAKE IT OFF NOW,

AND WE'LL GET STARTED,

AND WE'LL CHECK YOUR OXYGEN
THROUGHOUT THE SESSION.

OKAY?

DR. NOW HAS BEEN WANTING ME
TO STOP USING MY OXYGEN

BECAUSE HE THINKS
I DON'T NEED IT.

SO I STOP, BUT SLEEPING
AND EXERCISING ARE THE ONLY TIME

I STILL GET WORRIED
I DON'T HAVE IT

BECAUSE IF IT GETS TOO HARD
FOR ME TO BREATHE,

I'M REALLY SCARED
ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN.

SO HOPEFULLY I CAN HANDLE IT
ALL TODAY AND DO WHAT I NEED.

WE'RE GOING TO DO
MARCHING IN PLACE.

I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD
TO DO WHAT I CAN

AND MAKE PROGRESS
WITH MY ABILITY TO DO MORE.

I KNOW IT'S NOT AS MUCH AS PT
AND DR. NOW WANTS,

BUT I REALLY AM PUSHING MYSELF
TO DO AS MUCH AS I CAN.

ALRIGHT.
FEELING GOOD?

YOU READY,
CATCH YOUR BREATH?

MM-HMM.SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS,

WE'RE GOING TO WALK OVER
TO THE BED.

SO I WANT YOU STANDING UP RIGHT
HERE IN FRONT OF YOUR CHAIR.

DR. NOW WANTS ME TO GET TO HIS
CLINIC IN A COUPLE WEEKS

WITHOUT A MEDICAL TRANSPORT,

SO I HAVE TO GET TO
WHERE I CAN HANDLE

WALKING TO A CAR
AND GETTING IN BY THEN,

OR I'LL MISS MY CHANCE
TO SHOW DR. NOW

I CAN DO THIS ON MY OWN.

SO I'M WORKING TO GET MY STAMINA
UP TO DO THAT

AND HIT MY WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL
BECAUSE I HAVE TO GET SURGERY.

WITHOUT IT,
I DON'T HAVE A CHANCE.

GOOD JOB.THANK YOU.

REALLY GOOD, JOYCE.

ALRIGHT, LADIES.
ALWAYS NICE TO SEE YOU.

NICE TO SEE YOU.

KEEP IT GOING, OKAY?

SEE YOU MONDAY.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

-OKAY.
-BYE.

-ALRIGHT. BUH-BYE.
-BYE.

Joyce #2:
HE REALLY DOES WORK YOU,

BUT LOOK AT THE PROGRESS
YOU'VE MADE.

WHEN SHE FIRST CAME DOWN HERE,
SHE COULD BARELY WALK TWO STEPS

WITHOUT HER WALKER, AND, LIKE,
TODAY, YOU COULD SEE HER WALK

FROM HER CHAIR TO HER BED,
WHICH IS PRETTY AMAZING.

Joyce: I THINK THAT WAS
A GOOD WORKOUT TODAY,

AND I'M PROUD OF MYSELF
FOR DOING WHAT I NEEDED.

SO I REALLY AM GIVING THIS
MY ALL TO GET TO

WHERE I NEED AND MOVE AHEAD.

IT'S JUST A LOT.

I'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD
THE PAST MONTH,

BUT I'M STILL STRUGGLING
TO GET UP AND WALK,

SO I'M NOT 100 PERCENT SURE WHY.

I'VE DONE PT EVERY TIME
THEY COME OVER,

AND I'VE COMPLETELY STUCK
TO THE 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET.

THE ONLY THING I CAN FIGURE
IS THAT MAYBE FOR MY BODY,

I CAN'T LOSE WEIGHT
ON 1,200 CALORIES.

I THINK I'M DONE.OKAY.

THANK YOU.

AND BECAUSE I'M STILL STRUGGLING
TO WALK,

THERE'S NO WAY I CAN GO ANYWHERE
WITHOUT A MEDICAL TRANSPORT.

AND I TOLD DR. NOW'S OFFICE

THAT IF THEY WANTED
TO SEND A TRANSPORT FOR ME,

I'D BE THERE, BUT THEY DIDN'T,
SO THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO.

DAWN CAN'T PUSH ME
IN A WHEELCHAIR

ALL THE WAY TO A VEHICLE
AND THEN INTO THE CLINIC.

SO I TOLD TOLD DR. NOW'S OFFICE

THAT WHEN THEY CALLED
TO FOLLOW UP WITH ME,

AND THEY SAID DR. NOW
WANTED TO SET UP

A VIDEO CALL
TO SEE ME AND TALK TO ME,

I'M FIGURING BECAUSE HE THINKS
I'M NOT DOING WHAT I NEED.

THERE YOU GO.

BUT I REALLY, REALLY AM,

AND I'M WILLING TO GO SEE HIM
IF HE'D HELP ME GET THERE.

OKAY.

HI, JOYCE.
HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD.
HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING OKAY.

SO WHAT'S GOING ON FOR YOU
TO MISS YOUR APPOINTMENT?

I'VE HAD SOME TRANSPORTATION
ISSUES, AS YOU KNOW,

SO I'VE BEEN TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THERE.

I DID LOOK INTO AN AMBULANCE,

BUT IT WAS JUST TOO EXPENSIVE
FOR ME

TO AFFORD
TO GO THAT WAY.

WELL, JOYCE, YOU SHOULD HAVE
LOST ENOUGH WEIGHT THAT TODAY,

YOU SHOULD BE ABLE
TO WALK AS MUCH

AS YOU NEED TO THE CLINIC
AND COME AND SEE US,

BUT THAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

SO WHAT'S GOING ON
WITH YOUR EATING HABIT?

I AM STILL FOLLOWING
THE CALORIES,

BUT I THINK I'M GOING TO HAVE
TO TAKE IN A LOT LESS CALORIES

THAN 1,200
TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

YOU'RE EATING TOO MUCH.

YOU'RE EATING FIVE TO SIX TIMES
WHAT YOU SHOULD BE RIGHT NOW,

AND THAT FOOD IS MORE IMPORTANT
THAN SAVING YOUR LIFE.

NO, IT'S NOT.
IT'S JUST...

IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE FOR ME
TO FIGURE OUT HOW MANY CALORIES

I NEED TO GET IT OFF FASTER.

I MEAN, I...ALL HOME-COOKED,
LOW-FAT, LOW-CARB,

HIGH-PROTEIN FOOD.

IF IT'S LOW-FAT,
LOW-CARB, BY NOW,

YOU SHOULD'VE LOST SOMETHING,
BUT THAT'S CLEARLY NOT THE CASE

BECAUSE YOU LOOK LIKE
YOU HAVE GAINED.

NO, THAT'S NOT TRUE.

I HAVE LOST WEIGHT BECAUSE I CAN
FEEL IT IN A LOT OF WAYS.

YOU KNOW, MY CLOTHES FIT BETTER,
AND IT'S EASIER FOR ME TO SIT UP

THAN IT WAS
WHEN I LEFT THE HOSPITAL.

SO I KNOW I'M MAKING PROGRESS,

BUT I MAY NOT HAVE LOST
THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT

THAT I SHOULD BE LOSING.

BUT THAT'S BECAUSE I THINK
THE DIET IS WRONG,

AND 1,200 CALORIES
IS STILL TOO MUCH FOR ME.

JOYCE, YOU'RE DELUSIONAL
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT.

IT JUST MEANS THAT
YOU'RE DOING OKAY

BECAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE
YOUR CLOTHES ARE BAGGY.

I CAN SEE YOU RIGHT NOW,
AND I CAN TELL YOU HAVE GAINED.

THE ONLY QUESTION IS HOW MUCH,

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
WE SEE YOU IMMEDIATELY

BECAUSE IF YOU UNDO THE
PROGRESS
WE MADE WITH YOU,

YOUR SITUATION IS GOING TO
GET MUCH WORSE VERY SOON.

I'M OFF OF MY OXYGEN.

I'M NO LONGER USING OXYGEN.

YOU HAVEN'T NEEDED TO USE THAT
FOR A WHILE.

YOU JUST CONVINCED YOURSELF
YOU NEEDED IT.

SO THE ONLY PROGRESS WITH THAT
IS YOU NO LONGER

PRETENDING YOU CAN'T BREATHE
ON YOUR OWN,

SO THAT DOESN'T SHOW
MUCH PROGRESS EITHER.

WELL, I CAN WALK,
SO THERE'S THAT.

I CAN WALK FURTHER, TOO.

HOW FAR YOU CAN WALK?

I WALK ABOUT 40 FEET.

WELL, PT DOESN'T AGREE
WITH YOU ABOUT THAT.

BUT IF THAT'S TRUE,
THEN WHAT'S THE PROBLEM

WALKING TO THE CAR
TO COME HERE?

IT'S JUST TOO FAR STILL
AND TOO HARD FOR ME TO DO.

JOYCE, I WANT YOU TO STOP
MAKING EXCUSES

AND COME TO THE CLINIC
IN THE NEXT 48 HOURS

IF YOU WANT TO KEEP
DOING THE PROGRAM.

OKAY?OKAY.

YOU CAN GET HERE
WITHOUT MEDICAL TRANSPORT.

YOU DON'T NEED THAT,
AND IT IS JUST AN EXCUSE

NOT TO DO MUCH
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY,

AND SAYING YOU WON'T FIT
ISN'T A GOOD EXCUSE

EITHER IF YOU WANT TO USE
THAT AS YOUR NEXT EXCUSE,

BECAUSE THERE ARE TAXIS

WHERE YOU CAN USE
A WHEELCHAIR OR A SCOOTER.

SO YOU NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT
AND GET HERE IN THE NEXT 2 DAYS

SO WE CAN SEE
WHERE YOUR WEIGHT IS AT

IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE
WITH THE PROGRAM.

YOU GOT THAT?

YES, I DO.

WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO
TO GET YOU TO WHERE YOU NEED,

BUT THE WAY IT'S BEEN GOING,

I DON'T THINK WE'RE EVER
GOING TO GET THERE,

AND THAT'S MY CONCERN.

SO YOU NEED TO WORK HARD
TO SHOW ME YOU CAN DO THIS,

AND WHAT I NEED TO SEE FROM YOU

IS SOME EFFORT TO TURN
YOUR LIFE AROUND

AND EVIDENCE
YOU'RE WILLING TO DO

WHAT YOU NEED
TO SAVE YOUR LIFE.

IF YOU DON'T DO THIS AND KEEP
MAKING MORE EXCUSES,

IT'S NOT GOING TO BE
GOOD FOR YOU.

RIGHT.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK
THAT THAT'S THE CASE

BECAUSE I AM WORKING VERY HARD.

I JUST KNOW
THAT I HAVE TO LESSEN.

TWELVE HUNDRED CALORIES
IS TOO MUCH FOR ME.

YOU KEEP SAYING THAT, BUT
YOU'RE EATING FIVE TIMES THAT,

AND YOU EITHER
DON'T REALIZE THAT

OR THINK YOU CAN CONVINCE ME
OF THE DELUSION YOU WANT.

NO.

BUT I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW,
UNLESS YOU QUIT THE PROGRAM,

WE'LL FIND OUT
WHERE YOUR WEIGHT IS

AT WHEN YOU GET HERE,
AND WE'LL SEE.

OKAY?OKAY.

I'M GOING TO WORK MY HARDEST
AT GETTING TO BE

AT THE CLINIC WITH
TRANSPORTATION AS SOON AS I CAN.

I'M GOING TO WORK VERY HARD.

WELL, YOU HAVE 2 DAYS.

I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE UNFAIR,
BUT I'LL DO MY BEST.

GOOD.
OKAY, JOYCE.

I HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.

IF YOU NEED ANYTHING,
LET ME KNOW.

I NEED MEDICAL TRANSPORT.

NO, YOU DON'T.

SO IF YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE,
LET ME KNOW.

I KNOW MY BODY, BUT OKAY.

WHATEVER YOU SAY, DR. NOW.

ALRIGHT.

I DON'T THINK DR. NOW
IS BEING FAIR

BECAUSE WHETHER
HE BELIEVES ME OR NOT,

I KNOW I'M DOING EVERYTHING
I'M SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

I CAN'T HELP THAT THE RESULTS
DON'T SHOW THAT.

IT'S THE PROGRAM
THAT'S FAILING, NOT ME.

BUT I'M GOING TO LET THIS
GET ME DOWN OR DISCOURAGE ME,

AND I'LL KEEP WORKING
JUST AS HARD AND EVEN HARDER NOW

BECAUSE I'M GOING TO HAVE
TO ADAPT THE PLAN

I HAVE TO WORK FOR ME,
AND I ALSO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT

HOW TO GET TO HIS OFFICE
IN THE NEXT 2 DAYS,

BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW
HOW RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS NOT SAFE.

AFTER I TALKED TO DR. NOW
A COUPLE DAYS AGO,

DAWN GOT ME A SCOOTER
TO TRY TO USE TO GET AROUND.

I THINK WE SHOULD GET
THE WHEELCHAIR

JUST IN CASE
SHE NEEDS IT.

AM I ON?

JUST GO.
YOU'RE ON IT.

I CAN'T JUDGE IF I'M ON
THE SIDEWALK.

I CAN TELL YOU. I'LL TELL YOU IF
YOU'RE ON THE SIDEWALK.

THE BACK OF ME.

AND THEN I CALLED MY MOM,
AND SHE FLEW BACK DOWN

IMMEDIATELY TO MAKE SURE
I GET TO DR. NOW'S.

AM I GOOD?

WE FOUND A WAY TO GET A TAXI

AND GET TO JUST DRIVE
YOUR SCOOTER INTO IT,

AND IT GETS SECURED.

AND I'M PRAYING I'M ABLE
TO DO THIS

WITHOUT SOMETHING
REALLY BAD HAPPENING.

OKAY. I'LL SEE YOU GUYS
OVER THERE.

-BYE.
-BYE.

Joyce #2:
SEE YOU OVER THERE.

Joyce:
AND I'M REALLY SCARED RIGHT NOW,

AND I REALLY DON'T THINK
THIS IS A GOOD IDEA,

BUT I DON'T REALLY
HAVE A CHOICE.

IF I WANT DR. NOW'S HELP,
I HAVE TO DO THIS SOMEHOW.

THANK GOD I MADE IT
WITHOUT ANYTHING BAD HAPPENING,

BUT THIS IS REALLY PAINFUL,

AND IT'S PUTTING
A LOT OF STRAIN ON MY BODY.

I HAVE TO TRY TO USE THE SCOOTER
AND GO IN THE CLINIC,

BUT I HATE IT BECAUSE
IT'S SO PAINFUL

TO SIT IN WITH
HOW I HAVE TO SIT,

AND I'M REALLY SCARED
I SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS

BECAUSE I ALREADY FEEL LIKE
I'M AT MY LIMIT.

UH-OH.

CAN YOU MAKE IT?
OKAY.

I CAN'T HANDLE THAT HUMP
ON THE SCOOTER.

I HAVE TO WALK IN
WITH THE WALKER...

-DO YOU NEED YOUR WALKER?
-I NEED A WALKER.

...BUT HAVE THE WHEELCHAIR
READY.

THIS IS TAKING SO MUCH
OUT OF ME.

I WISH DR. NOW WOULD JUST LISTEN
TO ME AND SEE THE FACT

I CAN'T WALK YET ISN'T MY FAULT,

AND SO HAVING TO DO THIS
IS ABUSIVE AND NOT RIGHT.

WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
ARE YOU THERE?

YEP.

OKAY.

OKAY.OKAY.

-ARE YOU OKAY?
-JOYCE.

Joyce:
WE HAVE TO DO THE WALKER AGAIN

I THINK BECAUSE I DON'T
THINK THIS FITS THROUGH.

OKAY.

YOU'RE RUNNING ME OVER.

READY.

I'M RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

THANK GOD I MADE IT HERE,
BUT I DON'T EVEN KNOW

IF I HAVE ANYTHING LEFT
TO GET ON THE SCALE.

I'LL DO MY BEST.

I'M JUST COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY
PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTED.

THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT.

THERE'S NO WAY THAT'S RIGHT
BECAUSE I'M WORKING SO HARD.

I KNOW I LOST WEIGHT,
A LOT OF WEIGHT!

SO THAT'S WRONG.
IT HAS TO BE WRONG.

I JUST WISH DR. NOW
WOULD BELIEVE ME.

I'M DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT,

SO THE PROGRAM AND THE DIET
HAS TO BE WRONG

BECAUSE NONE OF THIS
MAKES SENSE.

COME IN.

-HELLO.
-HELLO, DR. NOW.

HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?

I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN RIGHT NOW.

WELL, I KNOW IF STOP CONVINCING
YOURSELF YOU CAN'T GET UP,

AND GIVING EXCUSES
NOT TO DO ANY ACTIVITY,

YOU WOULD BE ABLE
TO GET AROUND EASIER.

BUT THIS LEVEL OF ACTIVITY
IS STILL LESS THAN

WHAT YOU SHOULD BE
DOING EVERY DAY.

BUT THE BIGGER PROBLEM RIGHT NOW
IS THAT IN THE PAST 6 WEEKS,

YOU'VE PUT BACK
ON ALMOST 60 POUNDS.

DO YOU WANT TO TELL ME
WHY THAT IS?

I'VE BEEN DOING EVERYTHING
I'M SUPPOSED TO,

AND THEN ACTUALLY
WITH THE EATING HABITS,

I'VE BEEN DOING REALLY,
REALLY WELL,

SO I DON'T KNOW OTHER THAN
THE FACT THAT I'M PUTTING ON

WATER WITH MY LYMPHEDEMA, LIKE,
SITTING HERE HAVING IT HANG LOW

AND NOT HAVE MY LEGS UP MORE
FREQUENTLY LIKE I USUALLY DO.

SO YOU'RE SAYING YOU GAINED
60 POUNDS OF WATER

ON THE CAR RIDE HERE
BECAUSE YOU'RE SITTING UP?

THAT'S NOT REALITY.

HONESTLY, I REALLY...

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN
TELL YOU, BUT IT'S THE TRUTH.

YOU WANT TO BELIEVE
WHATEVER YOU WANT,

BUT THAT'S NOT
GOING TO CHANGE THE FACT

THAT YOU ARE
KILLING YOURSELF,

AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LIVE
MUCH LONGER LIKE THIS.

I'M SORRY.
I CAN'T DO THIS,

AND I DON'T THINK
I'M GOING TO BE ABLE

TO MAKE IT BACK
IN THE TAXI LIKE I DID.

THE CAR RIDE IS TOO MUCH FOR ME,

AND I THINK I NEED
TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

I MEAN, I JUST DON'T...

I DON'T HAVE
THE ABILITY TO WALK.

LIKE, I'M VERY DIZZY, AND I
THINK I'M HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE YOU ARE.

NOW YOU DO.

YOU WANT TO GO
IN THE HOSPITAL?

YES.

LIKE, MY HIPS ARE JUST SO SPREAD
OUT RIGHT NOW,

AND ALL I KNOW IS
SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY HEART

AND MY WEIGHT
HAS BEEN ON MY KNEES,

SO ITS MAKING MY FEET
AND MY LEGS FALL ASLEEP.

IT HURTS SO BAD, AND I NEED
TO LAY DOWN BEFORE I PASS OUT.

IF YOU THINK YOU'RE DYING,
WE GET YOU TO THE HOSPITAL

AND GET YOU CHECKED OUT.

-ALRIGHT.
-OKAY.
-OKAY.

THIS IS A VERY BAD SITUATION
WE HAVE WITH JOYCE.

NOT ONLY IS SHE GAINING AGAIN

AND HEADING IN THE WRONG
DIRECTION WITH HER HEALTH,

BUT SHE'S CONVINCING HERSELF
SHE'S DOING THE DIET

AND EVERYTHING SHE NEEDS
WHILE ALSO PLAYING GAMES

AND TRYING TO
MANIPULATE THE SITUATION.

SO THIS IS A VERY
SERIOUS PROBLEM,

AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE

IF WE CAN'T GET HER TO WAKE UP
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

BUT TO BE SAFE, IF SHE IS
CLAIMING THERE IS AN ISSUE,

WE'LL GET HER TO THE HOSPITAL

AND RUN SOME TESTS
TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON,

BUT THERE IS NO REAL POSITIVE
OUTCOME TO THIS SITUATION

BECAUSE EITHER SHE'S SUFFERING
A MEDICAL EMERGENCY

WHERE HER BODY
WILL START GIVING OUT,

AND THERE WILL BE LIKELY NOTHING
WE CAN DO TO HELP HER,

OR WE WILL DETERMINE
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG,

AND SHE'S MAKING ALL THIS UP
TO GET OUT OF THIS SITUATION

AND GET A MEDICAL
TRANSPORT HOME.

EITHER WAY,
THE SITUATION IS BAD,

AND WE ARE IN A VERY
DANGEROUS PLACE WITH JOYCE.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
EARLIER TODAY, JOYCE CAME IN FOR
AN APPOINTMENT AT THE CLINIC.

WE HAD A HARD TIME TO GET HER
BACK IN THE OFFICE,

AND SHE STARTED COMPLAINING
ABOUT A NUMBER OF ISSUES

CLAIMING THE ACTIVITY
SHE HAD FROM THE TRIP THERE

PUSHED HER BODY TO THE LIMIT,

BUT WE FINISHED GIVING HER
A CHECKUP

AND RUNNING SOME TESTS,

AND THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE
MEDICAL ISSUES WITH HER

THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS.

SO SHE'S FINE,
AND SHE LIKELY MADE THIS ALL UP

TO GET OUT OF
AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE IN

AND TO GET THE MEDICAL
TRANSPORT SHE WANTED.

NOW THIS IS EXTREMELY
MANIPULATIVE BEHAVIOR

THAT I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT.

HI, JOYCE.HI, DR. NOW.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

I'M FEELING QUITE A BIT BETTER
NOW THAT I'M LAYING DOWN.

WELL, AS YOU KNOW, ALL YOUR
TESTS ARE LOOKING GOOD, OKAY?

ARE THEY?YEAH.

THANK YOU.

SO YOU'RE NOT HAVING
A HEART ATTACK OR DYING.

OKAY, WELL,
I'M VERY RELIEVED.

WELL, I THINK YOU ALREADY
KNEW EVERYTHING WAS FINE,

BUT IT'S ONLY A MATTER
OF TIME BEFORE YOUR BODY

ACTUALLY GIVES OUT
AND DECIDED

THAT YOU THINK
YOU'RE DOING OKAY.

BUT YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO WALK.

TWO MONTHS IS ENOUGH TIME
TO MAKE

A 100-POUND WEIGHT LOSS,
OKAY?

BUT YOU GAINED 60 POUNDS
INSTEAD,

AND IT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE
NOT STICKING TO THE DIET

AND YOU'RE LYING ABOUT IT.NO, I'M NOT.

I'M STICKING TO
A 1,200-CALORIE DIET.

LIKE, I WATCH IT VERY CLOSELY,
AND SO IF I NEED LESS CALORIES,

I'LL HAVE TO TAKE
IN LESS CALORIES.

OKAY, JOYCE,
I'M NOT PLAYING GAMES,

SO HERE IS WHAT
WE'RE GOING TO DO.

I WANT YOU TO START GOING
TO PSYCHOTHERAPY, OKAY?

SO WE'LL SET THAT UP WITH YOU,
AND YOU NEED TO GO TO THAT.

I'VE ALREADY HAD THERAPY
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER.

YOU NEED MORE.

OKAY, BUT I NEED
MEDICAL TRANSPORT TO GO.

I CAN'T PUT MY BODY
THROUGH THIS AGAIN.

IF YOU AGREE TO
GO TO THERAPY,

I WILL GET YOU MEDICAL
TRANSPORT TO DO IT, OKAY?

OKAY, THAT'S FAIR.

AND THEN I WANT YOU TO COME
BACK TO SEE ME AT THE CLINIC

WITHOUT MEDICAL TRANSPORT
IN 1 MONTH,

AND I WANT YOU TO LOSE
50 POUNDS IN THAT TIME.

OKAY.

SO I WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO COME
TO OFFICE AND WALK, OKAY?

OKAY.

AND BE ABLE TO STAND
ON A SCALE WITHOUT ANY HELP.

YOU GOT IT?YES, I GOT IT.

ALRIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU
GOING HOME,

AND IF YOU NEED
ANYTHING OTHER

THAN MEDICAL TRANSPORT,
GIVE ME A CALL.

OKAY, THANK YOU, DR. NOW.

ALRIGHT.

AND THIS TIME, I WANT
TO SEE REAL CHANGES, OKAY?

OKAY.NOT FIGURE OF SPEECH.

OKAY.OKAY?

ALRIGHT.I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

OKAY, BYE.

Dr. Nowzaradan:
HOPEFULLY, PSYCHOTHERAPY WILL
BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH TO JOYCE

TO WHERE SHE STARTS
DOING WHAT SHE NEEDS,

BECAUSE SHE CAN'T GO ON
MUCH LONGER LIKE THIS,

AND RIGHT NOW THINGS
DON'T LOOK GOOD FOR HER.

Joyce:
I FEEL LIKE DR. NOW HAS BEEN
A LITTLE TOO HARSH,

BUT I'M JUST REALLY
RELIEVED TO BE OKAY,

AND THAT THERE'S NOTHING REALLY
BAD HAPPENING WITH MY BODY.

BUT I'M COMPLETELY
DRAINED FROM ALL THIS,

AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE
PUT MY BODY THROUGH IT

OR HAD TO ENDURE THIS.

IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS,
SO I CAN'T DO IT AGAIN.

IT'S TOO RISKY.

BUT RIGHT NOW I JUST WANT TO GET
HOME AND RECOVER FROM THIS

AND THEN KEEP TRYING
TO DO WHAT I NEED,

EVEN THOUGH DR. NOW
DOESN'T BELIEVE ME

WHEN I TELL HIM
HOW HARD I'M WORKING.

BUT RIGHT NOW I JUST NEED TO
REST AND RECOVER FROM ALL THIS

BECAUSE IT WAS
TOO MUCH FOR ME.

TODAY, I'M HEADED TO THERAPY.

I WAS HOPING THE THERAPIST
COULD COME TO ME,

BUT DR. NOW
SAID I HAVE TO GO THERE,

BUT AT LEAST HE AGREED
TO GIVE ME MEDICAL TRANSPORT,

SO I CAN
WITHOUT KILLING MYSELF.

BUT I'M ONLY GOING BECAUSE
DR. NOW MADE IT A REQUIREMENT

BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY
HAD THERAPY IN THE PAST,

AND I'VE TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING
I NEED AND LET IT ALL GO.

I HAVE NO BIG PAIN OR PROBLEMS

WHEN IT COMES TO THAT STUFF
OR MY PAST,

SO I KNOW I DON'T HAVE
ANY ISSUES

THAT ARE DRIVING ME TO EAT
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO THIS IS A BIT OF A WASTE
OF TIME, BUT DR. NOW

HAS MADE IT A REQUIREMENT
OF HIS PROGRAM, SO I'M DOING IT.

JOYCE.
HI.

HI, LOLA.

NICE TO MEET YOU.NICE TO MEET YOU.

IT'S A PLEASURE.

OKAY.

I'M SO GLAD YOU COULD
JOIN ME TODAY.

ME TOO.
OKAY.

SO NOW TELL ME A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT YOURSELF.

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP?

MOST OF MY LIFE I GREW UP
IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

OKAY.

I'VE BEEN RAISED BY
JUST MY MOM.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH YOUR MOTHER.

SHE WAS YELLED AT A LOT,
SO SHE'LL YELL AT ME.

SHE WOULD, YOU KNOW,
SAY HATEFUL THINGS.

OKAY.

AND A LOT OF IT'S
ATTACHED WITH ANGER.

AND HOW DO YOU
MEET THAT ANGER?

WHAT DO YOU MEET IT WITH?

I HAVE TO BUILD ABOVE HER...

OKAY....TO GET HER TO STOP

WOW, AND SO YOU MEET
THAT ANGER...

I EXCEED IT......WITH AMPLIFIED RAGE.

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T
GET IT TO STOP

WITHOUT DOING THAT.

WELL, LET ME SAY THIS,
JOYCE,

REGARDING YOUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH YOUR MOM.

IF SHE OR ANYONE ELSE
SHOULD BECOME NEGATIVE

AND COUNTERPRODUCTIVE
TO YOUR JOURNEY,

THEN YOU WOULD HAVE TO
REEVALUATE THEIR ROLE

IN YOUR LIFE.

NOW, JOYCE, IN YOUR LIFETIME
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN

SEXUALLY ASSAULTED
OR MOLESTED?

I HAVE.

I'M SO SORRY
THAT HAPPENED TO YOU.

AND AT ONE POINT, IF EVER,
DID YOU DISCLOSE TO ANYONE?

I DIDN'T FOR YEARS BECAUSE
I DIDN'T REMEMBER IT ALL,

AND THEN I STARTED GETTING
REALLY INTENSE DREAMS

OF STUFF THAT HAPPENED.

AND SO AS THOSE COGNITIONS
STARTED TO BECOME MORE CONSCIOUS

FOR YOU,
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST THOUGHT?

I DIDN'T WANT TO UPSET MY MOM,
AND THEN WHEN I GOT TO AN AGE

WHERE I FELT COMFORTABLE,
I TOLD HER.

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE FOR YOU
DISCLOSING TO YOUR MOM?

IT WAS IN ONE OF OUR MAJOR,
MAJOR EXPLOSIVE ARGUMENTS,

AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN WELL.

SO IS THERE PART OF YOU THAT
FEELS SHE ALLOWED IT TO HAPPEN?

NO, SHE ALLOWED ME TO BE
IGNORED.

THAT'S WHAT I FEEL.

OKAY.

THAT'S WHAT I...I DON'T...

WHAT HAPPENED WITH HIM
WAS NOT HER FAULT AT ALL.

RIGHT.

I DON'T BLAME HER, BUT I DO
BLAME HER FOR IGNORING ME.

OKAY.

AND SO
WITH THAT BEING SAID,

WHAT I WOULD REALLY LIKE
TO SEE HAPPEN

IS THAT I'D LIKE TO HAVE
YOURSELF AND YOUR MOM

COME BACK AND SEE ME
FOR A FAMILY SESSION.

OKAY.

SO THAT WE CAN JUST TALK ABOUT
WAYS TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER

ANDWAYS TO CONTINUE
HEALING THIS RELATIONSHIP.

DOES THAT SOUND LIKE SOMETHING
YOU'D BE INTERESTED IN DOING?

YEAH, I CAN DO THAT.OKAY.

SO THAT'S YOUR ONLY HOMEWORK
FOR NOW

IS TO PERSUADE MOM TO COME ON IN
FOR A FAMILY SESSION.

SOUNDS GOOD.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TALKING
WITH ME TODAY, JOYCE.

THANK YOU
FOR TALKING WITH ME.

OKAY.
NO PROBLEM.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU
AND MOM BACK HERE, OKAY?

OKAY.
ALRIGHT.

I'LL LET DAWN KNOW
YOU'RE DONE.

Joyce: THAT DIDN'T GO LIKE
I THOUGHT IT WOULD

BECAUSE I THINK IT ACTUALLY
DID HELP SOME.

I WASN'T EXPECT THAT,
BUT I GUESS THERE ARE

SOME ISSUES I NEED TO WORK ON,
ESPECIALLY WITH MY MOM.

HEY.HI.

YOU OKAY?
MM-HMM.

OKAY?

I LOVE MY MOM, BUT SHE'S DONE
THINGS THAT HAVE REALLY HURT ME,

SO NO MATTER HOW SCARY
OR HARD IT IS,

I HAVE TO TALK
TO MY MOM ABOUT THAT.

AND HOPEFULLY SHE'S WILLING
TO COME HERE AND DO THIS WITH ME

BECAUSE IF SHE DOESN'T,
I SEE NOW THAT I WON'T

BE ABLE TO MAKE ALL
THE CHANGES I NEED IN MY LIFE.

Joyce: IT'S BEEN A MONTH
SINCE MY LAST DR. NOW VISIT

AND STARTING THERAPY,

AND SINCE THEN I'VE BEEN
FOCUSING ON DOING BETTER

AND WORKING REALLY HARD
TO MAKE PROGRESS,

BUT IT HASN'T BEEN EASY FOR ME.

I THINK I'M GOING TO MAKE
SOME EGG WHITES

WITH THE PEPPERS AND ONIONS
AND A LITTLE BIT OF SAUSAGE.

OKAY, I'LL GO GET THE STUFF.

AFTER MY THERAPY APPOINTMENT
WITH LOLA, I REALIZED

THAT I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE
TO TRULY TURN MY LIFE AROUND

UNTIL I DEAL WITH THINGS
WITH MY MOM,

BUT SO FAR, I'VE BEEN TOO SCARED
TO ASK MY MOM

TO GO TO THERAPY WITH ME.

OKAY.

I'LL BRING YOU THE PEPPERS
AND STUFF

SO YOU CAN
START CUTTING THEM.

OKAY.

LAST TIME I TALKED TO HER,
SHE SAID SHE WAS THINKING ABOUT

COMING DOWN AND VISITING ME
AGAIN IN A FEW WEEKS,

AND IF SHE DOES, I THINK IT
WOULD BE EASIER TO ASK HER THEN

BECAUSE SHE'LL ALREADY BE HERE.

I DON'T WANT TO WAIT THAT LONG,

BUT I DON'T REALLY HAVE
ANOTHER CHOICE,

AND UNTIL MY MOM COMES DOWN,

I'M DOING AS MUCH AS I CAN
TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT

AND TO WALK MORE.

DR. NOW STILL HAS PT
COMING THREE TIMES A WEEK,

AND I'M WORKING HARD WITH
THE EXERCISES THEY GIVE ME,

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AND ME AND DAWN
ARE ONLY EATING HEALTHY STILL.

I FEEL LIKE I'M DOING
REALLY GOOD

EVEN THOUGH I STILL MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO WALK AS MUCH

AS DR. NOW WANTS ME TO.

I'M SUPPOSED TO SEE HIM AGAIN

FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT
NEXT WEEK,

BUT HE'S NOT SENDING
ANY MEDICAL TRANSPORT,

SO I'M NOT SURE I'M GOING TO BE
ABLE TO DO THAT

IF DR. NOW WON'T HELP ME
GET THERE AGAIN.

SO DESPITE NOT BEING ABLE
TO DEAL

WITH MY ISSUES WITH MY MOM,
I'M TRYING TO GET TO THE POINT

WHERE IT WON'T BE
TOO MUCH FOR ME.

I'M JUST NOT SURE

IF I'LL BE ABLE TO GET
TO THAT POINT BY NEXT WEEK.

ME AND MY MOM ARE HERE TO HAVE
A THERAPY SESSION TOGETHER.

SHE CAME INTO TOWN
A COUPLE DAYS AGO,

AND I ASKED HER
IF SHE'D DO THIS WITH ME.

AND SHE SAID SHE'D DO WHATEVER
I NEED TO HELP ME GET HEALTHY,

AND I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR THAT
BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT

I DO THIS TODAY.

I'M ABLE TO FINALLY TALK
TO MY MOM ABOUT THE PAIN

SHE CAUSED ME GROWING UP
AND HOW SHE HURT ME

BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED WITH
MY STEPBROTHER WAS HER FAULT

SINCE SHE PUT ME
IN THAT SITUATION,

AND I NEED HER
TO UNDERSTAND THAT

SO I CAN GET PAST
THAT PAIN AND BETRAYAL.

SO I REALLY HOPE I'M ABLE TO DO
THAT TODAY

AND THAT THIS GOES WELL.

HI, LADIES.

HI.

JOYCE, IT'S SO GOOD
TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

AND YOU MUST BE
MAMA JOYCE.

YES, I AM.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.

OKAY.

SO JOYCE, YOU HAD A CHANCE
TO MEET WITH ME INDIVIDUALLY,

AND SO WHAT ARE SOME OF
THE THINGS THAT YOU FEEL LIKE

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOURSELF
AND MAMA JOYCE TO ADDRESS?

I THINK MY BIGGEST THING
IS IN OUR RELATIONSHIP,

I DON'T WANT US TO BE HATEFUL
OR NOT AS KIND TO EACH OTHER

AND NOT AS UNDERSTANDING.

OKAY, MAMA JOYCE, WHAT ARE
YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?

I THINK THAT OUR RELATIONSHIP
HAS BEEN VERY VOLATILE.

I THINK THAT WE'VE BEEN HATEFUL
TO EACH OTHER.

WHAT'S BEEN AT THE ROOT
OF THAT VOLATILITY?

WELL, I WAS RAISED
IN A VERY VIOLENT FAMILY.

VIOLENT?
YEAH.

AND, LIKE, AND SO I THINK I JUST
STRUGGLED WITH A LOT OF ANGER

AND A LOT OF RAGE
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BECAUSE IT'S HOW
YOU WERE SOCIALIZED.

YEAH, THAT'S HOW I WAS
SOCIALIZED,

AND SO I THINK EVEN THOUGH I'VE
WORKED REALLY HARD ON MYSELF

AND I'M CALMER THAN
I'VE EVER BEEN,

SHE'S, LIKE, REALLY MUCH MORE
CALMER THAN I AM AS PERSON.

I'M NOT.
THAT'S NOT MY PERSONALITY.

WELL, THE THING THAT HAPPENS
WHEN A PERSON

GROWS UP
IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

IS THAT THERE'S
A HIGH LEVEL OF EMOTION

EXPRESSED WITHIN THE FAMILY,
AND SO THAT BECOMES YOUR NORM.

YEAH, YEAH.

BUT I WANT TO MAKE CERTAIN
THAT ANY OUTBURSTS OF ANGER

OR RESENTMENT CAN BE CURBED
SO THAT YOU TWO DON'T GO AROUND

INJURING ONE ANOTHER ANYMORE.

YEAH.AND SO OPT OUT OF THAT.

TAKE THAT OUT OF THE WAY YOU
TWO COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER.

SO JOYCE, I KNOW THAT YOU'VE
SHARED FEELING VERY ALONE

AND ISOLATED AS A CHILD

AND FEELING AS IF YOUR MOTHER
WAS NOT ATTENTIVE TO YOU.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT
YOU WANT TO SAY TO MOM?

I THINK I'VE SAID
IT TO HER BEFORE.

I DON'T HOLD IT AGAINST HER,
AND I FEEL IT'S A FRESH SLATE.

IS IT HARD FOR YOU TO SIT
IN YOUR MOTHER'S PRESENCE

AND POINT OUT
THAT YOU FELT ALONE?

YEAH.

JUST, I KNOW THAT I'M IN
A POSITION IN MY LIFE

WHERE I'M NEEDING HER
HELP SO MUCH.

I'M NOT SAYING MUCH AT ALL
OTHER THAN THANK YOU

BECAUSE WITHOUT HER RIGHT NOW
THIS WOULDN'T EVEN BE POSSIBLE.

OKAY.

GUYS, THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

THANK YOU.THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.IT'S A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.

NICE SEEING YOU AGAIN.NICE SEEING YOU, TOO.

Y'ALL HAVE A GREAT
REST OF YOUR DAY.

YOU TOO.
YOU TOO.

BYE LADIES.BYE.

I APPRECIATE MY MOM
DOING THIS WITH ME.

IT MEANS A LOT, BUT I'M NOT
SURE HOW MUCH IT'S HELPED

BECAUSE I LOST MY NERVE
WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO TALK

ABOUT THE STUFF THAT'S REALLY
HURT ME ABOUT MY STEPBROTHER

AND, LIKE, HOW HURT
AND BETRAYED SHE'S MADE ME FEEL.

I JUST COULDN'T DO IT,
AND I DON'T KNOW WHY.

BECAUSE I'M SCARED
I DIDN'T DEAL WITH THINGS

HOW I NEEDED TO GET PAST IT
ENOUGH LIKE I SHOULD HAVE

BECAUSE I HAVE TO START
MAKING BETTER PROGRESS.

I WAS HOPING DOING THIS TODAY

AND DEALING WITH THINGS
WITH MY MOM

WOULD HELP GIVE ME WHAT I NEEDED
TO BREAK PAST THE LIMIT

I'VE HAD ON MY PROGRESS.

BUT SINCE IT DIDN'T GO LIKE
I NEEDED IT,

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NOW,

AND I'M REALLY SCARED.

YOU'RE GOOD.
I GOT YOU.

OKAY, WE'RE IN THE BACK,
BACK UP, OKAY?

OKAY.

Joyce:
IT'S BEEN 3 MONTHS SINCE MY
LAST APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW,

AND I HAVE TO GO BACK
AND SEE HIM BECAUSE HE GAVE ME

A 3-MONTH DEADLINE TO COME BACK,
AND I'VE REACHED IT.

SO I CALLED DR. NOW
AND PRETTY MUCH BEGGED HIM

FOR MEDICAL TRANSPORT.

AWAY WE GO.

AND THANKFULLY HE AGREED.

AFTER THE LAST THERAPY
APPOINTMENT I DID WITH MY MOM,

I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED

BECAUSE I CHICKENED OUT
ABOUT THE PAIN SHE CAUSED ME,

AND I'VE TRIED TO WORK UP
THE COURAGE

TO FIND A WAY AND TIME
TO TALK TO HER ABOUT IT,

BUT I JUST HAVEN'T
BEEN ABLE TO.

IT'S BEEN TOO HARD,

BUT I DECIDED TO NOT LET THAT
AFFECT ME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

DR. NOW TOLD ME THAT MY LAST
OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN WAS 611,

BUT I STILL THERE WAS
A MALFUNCTION WITH THE SCALE

AND THAT I ACTUALLY
WEIGH A LOT LESS.

AND SO I'M REALLY HOPING TO SEE
A BIG PAYOFF

WITH A LOT OF WEIGHT LOSS TODAY.

JOYCE.

I'M HOPING I MIGHT ACTUALLY
EVEN HIT THE 150-POUND GOAL

DR. NOW GAVE ME.

THERE'S JUST NO WAY.

IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE,

BUT I KNOW NOW THE SCALE
IS DEFINITELY MESSED UP.

SO I'M REALLY UPSET BECAUSE
ONCE AGAIN I'M FIGURING DR.

NOW ISN'T GOING TO BELIEVE ME

WHEN I TELL HIM THAT
THE SCALE HAS TO BE WRONG.

HELLO.HI, DR. NOW.

HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?

-GOOD.
-HI, HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING FINE.
THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, JOYCE.

SO WE GOT THE MEDICAL
TRANSPORT HERE

BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL NOT
WALKING LIKE YOU NEED

AND MAKING PROGRESS
WITH YOUR ACTIVITY.

AND ON TOP OF THAT
IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS

YOU GAINED ANOTHER 12 POUNDS
INSTEAD OF LOSING ANY WEIGHT,

MUCH LESS THE 150 POUNDS
YOU SHOULD HAVE.

SO THINGS DON'T LOOK
GOOD AT ALL.

AND I'M NOT INTERESTED IN ANY
MORE EXCUSES OR GAMES FROM YOU.

SO IF YOU WANT TO MOVE AHEAD,

I'M GIVING YOU THE SAME
ULTIMATUM AS THE LAST TIME.

FOR EVERY MONTH THAT PASSES
FROM HERE,

YOU NEED TO LOSE 50 POUNDS.

BUT IF YOU DON'T COME BACK
IN 3 MONTHS, YOU'RE DONE.

BUT THIS TIME, NO MEDICAL
TRANSPORT WILL COME TO GET YOU,

SO YOU NEED TO BE WALKING
ON YOUR OWN, TOO.

SO WE WILL KEEP SENDING
PT TO YOU

AND PROVIDE PSYCHOTHERAPY,

BUT OTHER THAN THAT,
IF YOU DON'T START LOSING

AND HIT THESE GOALS,

THEN AT THIS POINT
YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN

BECAUSE WE'VE GIVEN YOU
EVERY TOOL

AND EVERY OPPORTUNITY,

AND THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE
I CAN DO FOR YOU.

AFTER A YEAR OF TRYING,
YOU HAVEN'T LOST ANYTHING,

SO AT THIS POINT IT'S CLEAR YOU
DON'T REALLY WANT TO DO THIS.

YOU...I JUST DON'T THINK
YOU UNDERSTAND

HOW HARD THIS HAS BEEN FOR ME

AND THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING
REALLY, REALLY HARD AT IT

AND I PUT EFFORT
IN EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I JUST...I DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO SAY.

I REALLY...
I'M AT A LOSS FOR WORDS

BECAUSE I NEVER THOUGHT
THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN.

WELL, THIS IS ALL A RESULT
OF YOUR CHOICES,

SO NOTHING IS GOING
TO GET BETTER FOR YOU

UNLESS YOU MAKE
THE CHOICES YOU NEED.

AND THE BOTTOM LINE
IS YOU DON'T WANT TO.

AND UNLESS THAT CHANGES,
WE CAN'T HELP YOU.

IF YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY,
WE'LL TREAT YOU,

BUT I HOPE YOU WAKE UP
BEFORE THAT HAPPENS

BECAUSE WE MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP YOU

TO SAVE YOUR LIFE
AT THAT POINT.

SO I WISH YOU GOOD LUCK.

OKAY.OKAY.

BYE.BYE.

CAN I HAVE THIS WALKER?

I DON'T EVEN WANT TO
LIVE HERE ANYMORE.

I JUST WANT TO GO HOME.

IT'S VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT
JOYCE HAS WASTED SO MUCH TIME,

BUT AT THIS POINT,
WE HAVE GIVEN HER EVERY TOOL

AND CHANCE WE CAN.

HOPEFULLY THIS ULTIMATUM
WAKES HER UP,

BUT WITH WHAT
JOYCE HAS SHOWN ME SO FAR,

I DON'T THINK IT'S LIKELY

I'M GOING TO SEE
MUCH MORE OF HER

UNLESS IT'S FOR
A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Joyce: I DON'T THINK DR. NOW
IS BEING FAIR

OR REASONABLE AT ALL.

SO I'M REALLY UPSET,
AND I'M NOT SURE

I EVEN WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE.

YOU KNOW, I'VE GIVEN 100
PERCENT OF ME

TO THIS PROGRAM
SINCE THE BEGINNING.

SO I'M NOT FAILING THE PROGRAM.

THE PROGRAM IS FAILING ME.

HOW IS THAT MY FAULT?

I KNOW I'VE MADE PROGRESS
AND I'M DOING BETTER

BECAUSE I CAN FEEL IT,
AND MY MOM SEES IT,

AND DAWN SEES IT TOO.

SO IF EVERYTHING I'VE DONE
IS STILL NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR DR.

NOW,

HOW DO I GO BACK AND FIND A WAY
TO GET EVEN MORE NOW?

IT'S BEEN 3 MONTHS SINCE MY
LAST APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW.

I WAS PRETTY UPSET AFTER IT,

BUT WHEN I CAME HOME,
ME, MY MOM, AND DAWN

ALL TALKED ABOUT
WHAT I SHOULD DO,

AND WE ALL AGREE THAT
THE SITUATION THAT DR. NOW

PUT ME IN WHERE
I HAD LESS THAN 3 MONTHS

TO MAKE THE PROGRESS
HE WANTS WASN'T FAIR.

BUT THEY BOTH ENCOURAGED ME
TO STILL NOT GIVE UP

AND TO KEEP TRYING,

SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING,
AND I CAN REALLY FEEL HOW GOOD

I'M DOING
JUST IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.

SO I THOUGHT MAYBE I'D PRACTICE
GOING OVER THAT THRESHOLD

AND JUST KIND OF SIT OUTSIDE IN
THE WHEELCHAIR FOR A LITTLE BIT.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA?

Woman: YEAH.

OKAY, SO WE KIND OF HAVE
TO CLEAR A PATHWAY.

THAT BETTER?YEAH.

OKAY.

BUT I'M STILL NOT ABLE TO WALK
AS MUCH AS DR. NOW WANTS

OR GET IN A TAXI
OR A REGULAR VEHICLE,

AND HE STILL WON'T SEND ME
A MEDICAL TRANSPORT.

AND THE 3-MONTH DEADLINE
HE GAVE ME TO COME BACK

WITH THE PROGRESS
HE WANTED WAS TODAY.

DOES THAT DOOR OPEN UP
ANY WIDER?

NO, THAT'S AS FAR
AS IT GOES.

AND I'M WILLING TO GO BACK
AND DO THAT,

BUT I CAN'T IF DR. NOW

ISN'T GOING TO
HELP ME GET THERE.

BUT I'M NOT GIVING UP ON MYSELF.

I PLAN TO KEEP WORKING
AS HARD AS I CAN

AND TO CONTINUE PUSHING MYSELF,

AND MY MOM HAS BEEN COMING DOWN
EVERY MONTH

TO HELP ME AND ENCOURAGE ME.

THERE YOU GO.

Joyce #2: GOOD JOB.

VERY GOOD.

I STILL HAVEN'T WORKED UP
THE COURAGE

TO TALK TO HER ABOUT THINGS,

BUT IT'S NOT AS HIGH
OF A PRIORITY FOR ME

BECAUSE I'VE RESEARCHED IT,

AND I THINK GETTING
MY ACTIVITY UP

IS GOING TO BE THE KEY
TO MAKING MORE PROGRESS.

I'M SO EXCITED. THIS IS
THE FIRST TIME YOU'VE BEEN OUT.

GIVE ME FIVE.
YES, YES, YEAH.

GOOD DEAL.

WELL, YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO DO THIS IN YEARS

TO GET OUTSIDE.

AT YOUR OTHER PLACE
IN KANSAS,

YOU COULDN'T GET ON THE DECK
AND SIT OUT THERE.

YOU COULD NEVER GET OUT THERE,
SO THIS IS A BIG ACHIEVEMENT.

I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.

I CAME DOWN TO HOUSTON
AND TOOK THIS LEAP OF FAITH

TO SAVE MY LIFE,

AND I'VE HAD TO GIVE UP
EVERYTHING I'VE KNOWN,

AND IT COST ME
MY LIFE IN KANSAS,

SO I'M NOT STOPPING
UNTIL I ACCOMPLISH

WHAT I CAME HERE TO DO.

GOT IT. OKAY, I'M GOING TO GRAB
YOUR WHEELCHAIR.

WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, GUYS?

GOOD.

ANOTHER THING
YOU ACCOMPLISHED.

Joyce: I STILL HAVE
JUST AS MUCH FAITH AS I DID

WHEN I FIRST STARTED THIS,

THAT AS LONG AS I KEEP DOING
WHAT I AM AND STAY ON TRACK

THAT I'LL GET THE LIFE I WANT,
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.