Original subtitles

Donald: I WEIGH 673 POUNDS.

I CAN'T WALK VERY FAR 'CAUSE OF MY WEIGHT.

I'M TOO BIG FOR MY LEGS.

Melissa: A DOCTOR TOLD MY MOM THAT I WOULD GO TO SLEEP AND DIE,

AND IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE SURGERY,

THERE WOULD BE NO LIFE.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]

LOOK OUT.

MM-HMM.

THIS IS NOT EASY.

Ashley: OUR WHOLE RELATIONSHIP WAS BASED ON ME BEING FAT.

I THINK, HONESTLY, SOMETIMES YOU MISS THE FAT ME.

OOH! OH.

COME OVER AND LIFT!

HE'S ON A BREATHING MACHINE.

Donald: I KNEW HAD TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

I WAS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER.

I NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING, OR I WAS GONNA DIE.

JUST BEING A BIG PERSON, I CAN'T JUST GET UP

AND WALK AROUND LIKE MOST NORMAL PEOPLE CAN.

I'M TOO BIG FOR MY LEGS.

I CAN'T WALK VERY FAR 'CAUSE OF MY WEIGHT.

IT HURTS TO DO MUCH OF ANYTHING ANYMORE.

[ DOG BARKING ]

HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW HOW IT GOT TO THIS POINT.

YOU HAVE YOUR LIMITS THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO

AND WHAT YOU CAN'T DO.

[ BARKING CONTINUES ]

[ Crying ] MOST OF THE TIME, ALL I DO IS SIT IN THIS HOUSE

AND LOOK OUT THE WINDOWS.

I'M JUST SITTING AROUND DOING NOTHING.

HIGH GEAR.

IT'S HARD TO WATCH HIM JUST DECREASE IN HIS HEALTH,

AND THAT CAN'T BE HEALTHY FOR HIS HEART.

I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN CONCERNED WITH HIS WEIGHT.

ALWAYS.

WHEN DONALD WAS LITTLE, HIM AND HIS BROTHER --

EVERYBODY THOUGHT THEY WERE TWINS,

BUT THEN DONALD JUST STARTED GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER.

Donald: AGE 5, I WAS 150 POUNDS.

16, I WAS PUSHING 275.

WHEN I WAS 19, I WAS ABOUT 400.

AFTER I GOT THAT AGE, IT WAS TOO HARD TO FIND A SCALE.

I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH EATING FOOD.

JUST LIKE TO EAT.

USED TO GO AND GET FOUR TACOS, TWO BEAN BURRITOS,

AND EAT ALL OF IT.

HE'S MY FIRSTBORN, AND I WANT HIM TO BE HAPPY,

AND HE'S REALLY NOT HAPPY THE WAY HE IS RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW HE SITS THERE ON THAT COUCH 20 HOURS OUT OF A DAY,

AND I HEAR HIM CRYING AT NIGHT

BECAUSE HIS LEGS HURT, HIS BACK HURTS.

Donald: I HAVE REAL BAD CELLULITIS.

I'D BE ABLE TO DO A LOT MORE STUFF

IF MY LEGS WOULDN'T HURT SO BAD.

IF I LOST THE WEIGHT, THEY WOULD CLEAR UP.

HE DON'T WANT YOU TO HELP HIM,

BUT HE KNOWS THAT WE GOT TO HELP HIM.

Mary: HE CAN'T GET UP, SO I BRING HIS FOOD TO HIM.

I HELP HIM GET DRESSED.

HE HAS TO HAVE HIS CLOTHES WASHED.

'CAUSE HE CAN'T DO IT ON HIS OWN. HE'S TOO BIG.

[ Crying ] THEY HELP ME OUT WITH EVERYTHING.

THEY COULD BE DOING A LOT OF STUFF

INSTEAD OF SITTING AROUND HERE.

THEY HAVE TO HELP ME.

IF IT WEREN'T FOR MY PARENTS, I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO.

I JUST WANT TO DO NORMAL THINGS, LIKE BE ABLE TO WORK.

I WORKED UP UNTIL THE DOCTOR TOLD ME I COULDN'T WORK NO MORE.

DANCING...WOULD BE FUN.

BE ABLE TO PLAY BALL WITH MY FAMILY AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

[ BAT CRACKS ]

LOT OF AIR ON THAT BALL, WASN'T IT?

I DON'T WANT TO BE IN A WHEELCHAIR FOREVER.

MY DAD BUILT THE RAMPS OUT HERE

FOR ME TO GET MY JAZZY UP AND DOWN.

Donald Sr.: YOU TAKE PEOPLE EVERY DAY THAT GIVES UP ON LIFE.

I'M NOT GONNA LET HIM DO THAT.

Brian: YOU HAVE SOMEBODY BIG IN YOUR FAMILY,

YOU LOOK AT IT DIFFERENT WAYS.

THERE'S A DIFFERENT PERSON ON THE INSIDE

THAN THERE IS ON THE OUTSIDE.

HIS WHOLE LIFE, HE'S BEEN PICKED ON, YOU KNOW,

LOOKED DOWN AT 'CAUSE OF HIS SIZE.

EVERYBODY THAT KNOWS DONALD IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE SURGERY.

YOU SCARED OF HAVING THE SURGERY?

IT'LL BE OKAY. THE LORD'S WITH US.

WHEN HE TOLD ME HE WAS GONNA HAVE THIS SURGERY,

I WAS THE HAPPIEST MAN IN THE WORLD FOR HIM.

SO, HOW YOU DOING?

ANY QUESTION? ANYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW?

NO.

JUST READY TO GO.

WHOLE FAMILY.

NERVOUS NOW.

HOPE EVERYTHING GOES ALL RIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: BEING 675 POUNDS,

THIS DOES MAKE DONALD TO BE HIGH-RISK FOR SURGERY.

HE HAS ENORMOUS WEIGHT

THAT PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE HEART AND LUNG,

SO THE BODY FUNCTION IS NOT NORMAL TO BEGIN WITH.

Donald: WITH THIS SURGERY,

I HAD A PRETTY HIGH CHANCE OF NOT EVEN MAKING IT,

BUT I KEEP GOING THE WAY I AM,

I NEVER KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL BE.

[ MONITOR BEEPING ]

NICE, SLOW, DEEP BREATHS.

GOOD. YEAH, I THINK WE'RE GOOD.

I'M SCARED, JUST AFRAID OF DYING.

I JUST WANT TO BE HERE FOR A WHILE.

[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]

WE'RE GETTING NERVOUS.

SHE'S NERVOUS.

[ LAUGHS ] HE'S NERVOUS.

HE JUST DON'T SHOW IT LIKE I DO.

IT WAS DIFFICULT, BUT WE COMPLETED THE PROCEDURE.

DONALD.

YEAH?

YOUR OPERATION IS FINISHED. EVERYTHING WENT VERY WELL.

HE'S DOING OKAY.

HE'S GOT SOME ICE CHIPS,

AND WE'RE RAISING UP HIS LEGS A LITTLE.

HE'S COMPLAINING MOSTLY ABOUT HIS LEG.

HE DONE GOOD AFTER THE SURGERY.

I'M GLAD HE MADE IT THROUGH IT OKAY.

NOW, DO 10 OF THESE. BEND UP.

HOLD IT TIGHT, AND COUNT.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.

AND DOWN. LAST ONE.

UP.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE.

I WANT YOU TO DO YOUR ANKLE PUMPS.

Donald: RECOVERY WAS A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE,

BUT NOTHING'S GONNA STOP ME.

I'M READY TO GET MY LIFE BACK.

I COULD TELL A DIFFERENCE. YESTERDAY HE DIDN'T TALK MUCH.

MY FEET ARE NOT AS NUMB AS THEY WERE.

Mary: POPSICLE CAME BACK UP.

HE DRANK THE TEA.

THAT STAYED DOWN.

THAT'S FOUR OUNCES.

THAT'S ALL HE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO EAT.

Donald: I FEEL FINE.

YEAH. READY TO GO HOME.

HE'S READY -- READY TO GET BACK ON THE NEW LIFE HERE.

THEY ALREADY GOT BETS OUT

TO HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE FOR ME TO GET OUT.

Mary: ONE OF THEM SAID THREE MONTHS.

THE OTHER SAID SIX MONTHS, YOU'LL BE DOWN AT THE CLUB.

HE'LL BE OUT THERE.

WE'LL SEE. YEAH.

IT'S BEEN FOUR MONTHS SINCE SURGERY.

I WENT FROM 660 TO 577.

87 POUNDS IS PRETTY GOOD. I THINK IT IS.

Mary: YOU WANT ME TO TIE YOUR SHOES?

I CAN DO IT.

I USE TO BE A REAL GOOD COUNTRY-AND-WESTERN DANCER,

AND I GOT TOO BIG, I COULDN'T DO THAT, EITHER.

I USED TO HAVE GIRLS WAITING IN LINE JUST TO DANCE WITH ME.

ME AND SOME OF MY FRIENDS

ARE ALL GOING OUT TO THE CLUB TONIGHT,

AND WE'RE JUST GONNA DANCE AND HAVE A GOOD OLD TIME.

[ WHISTLES ]

OOH! OH.

OH. DONALD.

YOU OKAY?

[BLEEP]

[ GRUNTS ] HANG ON.

NO, HANG ON! OKAY.

IT'S OKAY. JUST TAKE YOUR TIME.

REST -- MOVE, MOVE, MOVE.

REST FOR A MINUTE.

Donald Sr.: READY TO TRY AGAIN?

THEM SHOES ARE GONNA KILL YOU.

[BLEEP]

YOU'RE UP.

FEEL LIKE I GOT A WORKOUT.

Woman: YEAH, REALLY.

[ LAUGHS ]

DAMN FLOOR IS SLIPPERY AS HELL.

Donald Sr.: YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO DANCE IN FLIP-FLOPS?

[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]

[ COUNTRY-WESTERN MUSIC PLAYS ]

IF I FEEL LIKE IT TONIGHT, I'M GONNA TRY TO DANCE.

Ashlee: IT'S DRAMATIC -- DRAMATIC CHANGE.

IT'S AWESOME. I MEAN, YOU SAW HIM.

HIS FIRST DANCE IN 3 1/2 YEARS.

Sandy: I MEAN, LET ME TELL YOU,

RIGHT NOW, HE HAD WOMEN HITTING ON HIM,

AND LATER, IT'S GONNA COME THE BIG SHOW.

GIVE HIM A YEAR, BECAUSE WHEN HE'S DOWN TO HIS WEIGHT,

THE WOMEN ARE GONNA BE FLOPPING ALL OVER HIM.

Donald: NOWADAYS, THERE IS NO DATING.

I GOT SO BIG THAT I JUST HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS.

A LOT OF GIRLS WANT TO BE FRIENDS.

I HAVEN'T DATED IN A WHILE, BUT I'M READY.

[ LAUGHS ]

Donald: YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE

UNTIL YOUR WHOLE WORLD CHANGES.

I HAD A NEW WORLD OUT THERE ON MY FINGERTIPS,

AND I WAS READY TO HIT IT -- HARD.

[ COUGHS ] Nurse: GONNA JUST WEIGH YOU.

IT SHOCKS YOU AFTER SURGERY WHEN YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

SEE, YOU WANT TO START LIVING YOUR LIFE

BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ON PAUSE FOR SO LONG.

YEAH, THAT WOULD LOOK REALLY CUTE.

I'M HERE TO BUY SOME NEW CLOTHES

FOR MY COUSIN'S WEDDING TOMORROW.

I'M PRETTY MUCH COUNTRY,

SO I'M GONNA BUY SOME BLACK PANTS

AND NICE BUTTON-UP SHORT-SLEEVED SHIRT,

LOOK KIND OF DECENT.

I CAN EVEN WEAR IT OUT TO THE CLUB AFTERWARDS.

I'M READY TO SEE WHAT SIZE CLOTHES I WEAR.

YOU LOOK SHARP, MAN.

THE SHIRT I'VE JUST PUT ON IS A 6X TALL,

AND I USED TO WEAR AN 8X TALL.

THERE ARE GONNA BE A LOT OF SURPRISED PEOPLE TOMORROW.

MY PANTS ARE AT 64.

THE LAST PAIR OF PANTS I HAD WAS A 69.

I FEEL GOOD. I'M HAPPY.

WELL, I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC.

I HADN'T SEEN HIM IN A LONG TIME.

WE WOULD FIT HIM,

BUT IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR HIM.

SO, NOW HE'S BACK.

ANYBODY CAN ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE'S ACCOMPLISHED.

THAT'S GREAT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU.

NOW WE GOT TO GO TO THE WEDDING.

FOR BETTER OR WORSE, IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH,

TILL DEATH DO YOU PART.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

PEOPLE THAT SEEN ME TODAY -- THEY'RE VERY SURPRISED.

THEY AIN'T SEEN ME IN A WHILE.

SO, SOME OF THEM DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE IT'S ME.

THEY HAVE TO LOOK TWICE BEFORE THEY SAY ANYTHING.

I THINK HE LOOKS GREAT.

PROUD FOR HIM.

Sean: IT'S STARTING TO COME AROUND FOR HIM.

I THINK HE'S JUST WANTING IT ALL TOO FAST.

HE'S STARTING TO THINK MORE AND MORE

ABOUT HIS FUTURE, A FAMILY, A WIFE.

Donald: YEAH, YOU START TO REALIZE

THAT I'M THE ONE THAT'S STILL SINGLE AND NO KIDS,

AND I'M TIRED OF THAT.

Helen: ACTUALLY, TONIGHT WAS THE FIRST NIGHT

THAT YOU COULD REALLY TELL HOW MUCH WEIGHT HE'S LOST

'CAUSE HE'S GOT SOME CLOTHES ON THAT ARE FITTING HIM.

I'M JUST GLAD TO SEE HIM FEELING GOOD

AND FEELING GOOD ABOUT HIMSELF.

HE JUST MAKES ME FEEL BETTER

BECAUSE I DON'T WORRY ABOUT HIM AS MUCH.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT KNOW BIG DONALD,

I WANT TO CONGRATULATE HIM.

HE'S LOST 200 POUNDS.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

HEY, WILLY, THEY SAID DANCE.

I DON'T CARE WHO I DANCE WITH. [ CHUCKLES ]

Donald: YOU KNOW, I WAS DOING GOOD.

I DONE LOST 300 POUNDS.

I FELL ONE DAY, AND THEN...

AND THAT'S IT.

NOW I'M STUCK IN THE HOSPITAL.

DONALD.

YOU THINK YOU CAN GET UP AND DO SOME WALKING FOR US?

I COULD TRY. THAT'S ALL I COULD TELL YOU.

OKAY. IF YOU HAD SOME HELP.

WE'LL GET YOU SOME HELP.

WE'LL GET YOU SOME HELP.

ONE PERSON HOLD ONE HAND, THE OTHER ONE THE OTHER HAND.

I'LL TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, I'M NOT ABLE TO GET UP.

HUH? I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET UP.

WHEN I FIRST FEEL SOMETHING GOING ON, MY BACK WAS HURTING.

TRY TO PUSH UP WITH YOUR LEGS.

YEAH. YOU KNOW, LIKE THE EXERCISE WE SHOWED YOU.

AND THEY TRIED TO GET ME TO WALK.

HOLD ON TO THE WALKER.

THE LEGS IS BENDING.

Mary: HE WAS SICK. HE HAD THE FLU.

WE GOT OVER TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

AND THOUGHT HE WAS DEHYDRATED.

SO, DR. NOWZARADAN PUT HIM IN THE HOSPITAL.

[ MOANS ] MY KNEE. MY KNEE. WHAT'S THE MATTER?

WHAT IS IT?

I PULLED IT OUT.

PULL IT OUT?

Mary: DONALD CALLED ME. HE WAS ACTING KIND OF WEIRD.

HE WAS SAYING STUFF THAT I --

YOU KNOW, KIND OF OFF-THE-WALL STUFF, SO I JUST THOUGHT,

YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY NOTHING.

[ SIGHS ]

I'M SCARED.

HE GOT A FULL LIFE TO LIVE YET.

I THINK WE'RE ALL TAKING IT PRETTY HARD,

'CAUSE NOT KNOWING.

NOT KNOWING.

YOU KNOW, THE ONLY THING WE HEAR IS THE PNEUMONIA

WITH A VIRAL INFECTION AND OTHER COMPLICATIONS.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY KNOW WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON.

Dr. Nowzaradan: HE'S ON THE BREATHING MACHINE

'CAUSE HE'S NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO BREATHE ON HIS OWN.

WE THINK IT'S A TEMPORARY SITUATION,

BUT WE DON'T KNOW YET.

DONALD?

I'M NOT SCARED.

I JUST WANT HIM TO GET BETTER.

HE'S BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH.

THE CASEWORKER COME DOWN AND ASKED ME

IF WE WANTED TO PUT HIM ON LIFE SUPPORT.

AND I SAID "YES."

I DON'T THINK DONALD WOULD WANT THAT.

THEY PUT YOU ON THE MACHINE, AND YOU'RE THERE FOREVER,

LIKE A VEGETABLE.

HE AIN'T GONNA DIE. I KNOW. I KNOW.

I'M GONNA TELL YOU THAT NOW. HE AIN'T GONNA DIE.

I KNOW. I KNOW.

GOOD LORD DIDN'T MAKE HIM GO THIS FAR FOR NOTHING.

I THOUGHT IT WAS FLU 'CAUSE HE'D BEEN SICK ALL WEEK.

COUGHING, AND HE WAS DRY-HEAVING.

WE JUST FOUND OUT TODAY HE WAS ON CRYSTAL METH.

AND COCAINE. WE JUST FOUND OUT.

HOW DID YOU FIND OUT?

THE GIRL THAT HE'S IN LOVE WITH IS A BIG USER.

SHE JUST SLEEPS AROUND.

'CAUSE SHE GOT NO CONSIDERATION FOR HER OWN LIFE.

SHE'S BRINGING DONALD TO THE SAME POINT.

I DON'T -- IT'S CRAZY. CRAZY, CRAZY, CRAZY.

DONALD DON'T NEED ALL THAT DRAMA.

YOU WANT TO BE A DRUG ADDICT,

GO STEAL OR LIE OR CHEAT SOMEBODY ELSE

'CAUSE DONALD'S NOT THE KIND OF PERSON

THAT DESERVES TO HAVE THAT.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO DONALD.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE DID THIS.

I DON'T KNOW.

AFTER THE SURGERY,

HE WAS ACTUALLY GONNA BE ABLE TO START HIS FAMILY

AND DO WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO

TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE A GIRLFRIEND, GET MARRIED,

LEAD A NORMAL LIFE, SO TO SPEAK.

WHEN HE WAS BIG, HE WANTED TO MEET SOMEBODY

THAT LOVED HIM FOR WHAT HE WAS.

HE WANTED TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE KIDS BEFORE HE WAS 40.

I'M SCARED.

I DON'T WANT NOTHING TO HAPPEN TO HIM.

IT'S IN GOD'S HANDS.

DONALD? DONALD?

HEY, BABY.

[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]

OKAY. RIGHT BEHIND YOU, HONEY, OKAY?

FEEL IT?

ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA MOVE.

THE LAST THREE WEEKS HAS BEEN HORRIBLE,

NOT KNOWING WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HIM

AND THEN RUNNING ALL KINDS OF TESTS ON HIM.

DR. NOWZARADAN IS THE ONE

THAT SAID HE HAD GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME.

IT'S BEEN A PRETTY GOOD ROLLER-COASTER RIDE.

THE MAIN THING IS GETTING HIM OFF THAT RESPIRATOR.

THEY'RE TRANSFERRING HIM FOR EXTENDED CARE.

I NEVER WANT TO GO THROUGH ANYTHING LIKE THIS AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT, SIR.

EVERYTHING'S GOOD.

JUST RELAX, OKAY?

[ INDISTINCT TALKING ]

Donald Sr.: I FEEL HELPLESS.

[ SNIFFLES ] IT'S HARD TO SEE HIM LAYING THERE

AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HELP HIM.

ONLY WAY I CAN HELP HIM IS PRAY TO GOD.

IT'S VERY HARD TO SAY HOW LONG IT WOULD BE

BEFORE HE IS COMPLETELY RECOVERED

AND ABLE TO WALK AND ACT NORMALLY.

THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO HIM. HE WAS DOING GREAT.

HIS WHOLE SPIRIT WAS LIFTING.

Brian: I GUESS LIFE JUST GIVES YOU SETBACKS.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW STRONG A PERSON IS TO GET AHEAD OF IT.

Donald Sr.: HE'LL COME THROUGH IT.

JUST GONNA TAKE TIME.

HUH?

Donald: I JUST FEEL LIKE I WAS DOING GOOD ON MY LOSING WEIGHT

AND GETTING GOING, AND JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY ME...

WHEN I WAS DOING SO GOOD?

[ Voice breaking ] JUST ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER.

BUT YOU'RE GONNA GET OVER THIS.

WELL, THIS IS A BIG STEP.

I KNOW.

HEY, DONALD. HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU? GREAT.

HE'S TALKING. TALKING.

Dr. Bodenheimer: GUILLAIN-BARRE STARTS WITH THE FEET

AND SORT OF PROGRESSES UP THE BODY,

AND IN SOMEONE LIKE DONALD, IT INVOLVED HIS ARMS,

BELLY, AND THEN FINALLY,

HIS BREATHING MUSCLES WERE INVOLVED, AS WELL.

THE INSULATION THAT COVERS THE NERVES

CAN TAKE A LONG TIME TO COME BACK,

AND UNTIL IT'S COMPLETELY HEALED,

YOU WON'T SEE COMPLETE STRENGTH IN THE ARMS AND LEGS.

DONALD'S CLEARLY A VERY SEVERELY INVOLVED CASE.

WALKING -- WE DON'T KNOW WHEN HE'S GONNA WALK.

Brian: HEY, BUDDY.

[ LAUGHS ]

LOOK AT YOU.

THE LAST MONTH HAS BEEN A GREAT ONE.

EVERY DAY IT'S A NEW EXPERIENCE.

WE MISS YOU. YOU'RE PART OF THE TEAM,

AND WE GOT NEW JERSEYS PRINTED THIS YEAR.

THIS ONE'S FOR YOU, FOR THE NUMBER-ONE FAN.

JUST ROLLER-COASTER. I DRIVE UP HERE TWICE A DAY.

IN THE MORNINGS, I COME UP AND MAKE SURE HE'S EATING

'CAUSE HE WASN'T EATING.

LET ME FEED YOU SOME FROOT LOOPS.

AND THEN I COME UP IN THE EVENINGS.

THE ONLY THING THAT AIN'T CARBS ON THERE IS THIS.

YOU WANT SOME OF THIS HAMBURGER?

CARBS.

DR. NOWZARADAN SAYS NO CARBS.

[ CHUCKLES ]

I JUST BRING HIM PIZZA.

SOME DAYS I GO TO THE HOSPITAL, EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.

THEN THE NEXT DAY I'LL GO, "OH, HE'S GOT AN INFECTION.

OH, SOMETHING ELSE HAS HAPPENED."

IT'S BEEN HARD, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR KIDS,

YOU'LL DO WHATEVER YOU GOT TO DO.

THEY'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR HIM TO BE IN I.C.U.

THE INSURANCE FEELS LIKE HE NEEDS TO BE MOVED

TO A LOWER LEVEL OF CARE.

UNH-UNH. HE AIN'T GOING NOWHERE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND

IF DONALD WAS TRANSFERRED TO A NURSING HOME,

HE WOULD SIMPLY DIE.

WHAT IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO -- IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO MONEY.

YOU KNOW, THEY WANTED TO MOVE HIM TO SAN ANTONIO.

THAT'S WHEN THE FAMILY GOT TOGETHER AND KNOCKED DOWN WALLS

AND BROUGHT DONALD HOME INSTEAD.

THAT'S THE HOLE FROM BEFORE HE HAD THE GASTRIC BYPASS.

HE WEIGHED 675 POUNDS. HE BROKE THE BATHTUB.

THIS GOT TO COME OUT.

THIS USED TO BE TWO ROOMS, AND WE MADE IT INTO ONE.

THIS WALL WENT FROM HERE TO HERE.

I DIDN'T GO TO SCHOOL FOR NURSING, BUT YOU LEARN FAST.

ALWAYS LET IT GO ALL THE WAY BEFORE YOU PUSH IT AGAIN.

OKAY.

I'VE BEEN TRAINED FOR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS

HOW TO USE THE HOME VENT, HOW TO SUCTION,

HOW TO CHANGE HIM, HOW TO DO EVERYTHING.

IF YOU HAVE A SURGE IN THE ELECTRICITY,

THIS WHITE BUTTON -- IT WILL POP OUT.

OKAY.

AT FIRST, I WAS KIND OF SCARED ABOUT IT, BUT I'M OVER THAT.

I'M JUST READY FOR HIM TO GET HOME NOW.

THIS IS A HAPPY DAY!

IT'S BEEN A ROLLER-COASTER RIDE.

JUST TO HAVE HIM HOME IS A MIRACLE.

YOU'RE HOME NOW, DONALD. [ LAUGHS ]

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW'S GONNA BRING.

JUST HAVE TO TAKE IT AS IT COMES TO US AND DEAL WITH IT.

[ ALARM SCREECHING ] NOTHING'S ON. NOTHING'S ON.

NOTHING'S ON. NOTHING'S ON.

I JUST FLIPPED THE MAIN POWER BREAKER.

GO FLIP IT AGAIN.

ANNIE, CALL THAT GUY!

[ SCREECHING CONTINUES ] OH, MY GOD.

[ BEEPING ]

Woman: IT'S WORKING.

THE SWITCH ON THE BACK WASN'T ON THE RIGHT MODEM.

IT'S RUNNING OFF THE BATTERY. WELL, NO WONDER.

Mary: THIS MAY NOT BE AS EASY AS WE THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE.

Donald: BEING BACK HOME WAS PRETTY GOOD,

JUST TO HAVE THE FAMILY, JUST TO BE BACK HOME.

I'M GETTING AROUND BETTER.

I'M GETTING THE MOVEMENT BACK.

I'M GLAD I GOT THIS WHEELCHAIR.

I GET OUT EVERY DAY.

I GOT SUNBURN THE FIRST DAY I WAS OUT.

I FEEL GOOD.

HEY, THOSE ARE MINE!

Mary: BUT THEY LOOK BETTER ON HIM.

HEY!

[ LAUGHS ]

HE EATS JUNK FOOD NOW.

I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA HURT HIM, SKINNY AS HE IS.

HE CAN EAT TWO TACOS NOW.

HE WASN'T ABLE TO EAT BUT ONE.

HE LIKES SOUR CREAM.

WE JUST GOT TO GET SOME WEIGHT BACK ON HIM.

CHEW IT UP GOOD.

Donald: I WAS DOING GOOD, LOSING THE WEIGHT

AND GETTING MY LIFE BACK, AND THEN BAM.

WAKE UP AND NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE NOTHING, BUT I'M STILL TRYING.

Dr. Evans: THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

THERE'S HARDLY ANY STRENGTH AT ALL.

CAN YOU PULL THE TOES UP AT ALL?

WHEN I HIT HERE, THE REFLEXES ARE GONE,

AND SO THAT'S INDICATIVE

THERE'S STILL A PROBLEM WITH THE PERIPHERAL NERVES.

THE WEAKNESS OF LEGS IS NOT THAT BAD.

SO, I THINK THERE IS, YOU KNOW, AGAIN,

POTENTIAL FOR GETTING OUT OF THE WHEELCHAIR.

HE'S STILL 37, AND HE'S MADE GREAT GAINS.

HE'S GOT A GREAT ATTITUDE.

WHO KNOWS?

MAYBE WE'LL GET HIM OUT OF THAT MOTORIZED CART

AND GET HIM UP WALKING IN THE YEARS TO COME.

THIS IS HALFWAY. IT GOES FASTER.

HE'S GONNA BE ABLE TO WALK AGAIN.

JUST BY WHAT THE NEUROLOGIST SAID, I THINK HE IS.

YOU CAN'T GIVE UP ON NOTHING LIKE THAT.

I'M PUTTING 20 ON EACH SIDE. STARTED OUT AT 15.

Donald: AT TIRR, THEY MAKE YOU MOVE.

I GO TO P.T. FOR MY LEGS.

PUSH. THERE YOU GO.

KEEP COMING. KEEP COMING.

LEARN HOW TO MOVE AND MOVE OFF THE CHAIR

AND INTO A COUCH OR GET BACK ON IT.

THEY TEACH YOU ALL THAT.

REFORM MY MUSCLES BACK UP AGAIN.

AND PUSH.

Lottinger: THE LIMITING FACTOR WITH HIM IS THE HIPS,

SO ONCE THAT'S CLEARED UP, THEN WE CAN FOCUS MORE ON STANDING.

GOOD JOB.

SO, HE'S COME QUITE A JOURNEY.

Donald: WE DO A LOT OF STUFF WITH OUR HANDS TO GET COORDINATED.

YAY!

I CAN DO A LOT MORE STUFF ON MY OWN.

DOING BETTER, GETTING STRONGER.

YOU JUST HAVE TO SET YOUR MIND TO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO,

AND EVENTUALLY YOUR LIFE WILL START GETTING BETTER.

[ LAUGHS ]

Dr. Nowzaradan: YEAH, I WAS.

Mary: DONALD'S EATING TACOS.

FOR A WHILE, DONALD WAS DOING PRETTY GOOD

WITH THE EATING HABITS, BUT NOW HE'S STARTED GAINING WEIGHT.

Mary: DOCTOR TELLS ME THAT I'M THE BAD INFLUENCE ON DONALD.

I'M AN EMOTIONAL EATER MYSELF.

AND SURGERY JUST TO GET YOU STARTED.

YEAH, I UNDERSTAND.

WORK ON IT.

OKAY. OKAY?

[ Crying ] IT IS HARD EATING THE RIGHTS FOODS,

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE NEVER AT HOME, BUT I'M WORKING ON IT.

I DON'T WANT THAT SURGERY TO BE FOR NOTHING.

Barbie: WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR ALMOST FOUR MONTHS NOW.

ME AND DONALD MET OFF OF A WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET.

IT WAS AN INSTANT BOND BETWEEN US

THE FIRST INSTANT THAT I MET HIM.

I THINK SHE'S GONNA STAY AT THE HOUSE.

SHE'S GONNA BE LIVING WITH US.

HER AND DONALD LOAD UP AND GO IN THE VAN.

SHE CAN LOAD HIM AND TAKE HIM. THEY WENT TO THE CLUB.

IT'S CRAZY. [ LAUGHS ]

THEY JUST LOAD UP AND GO. YEP.

HUH, HONEY? MM-HMM.

THEY JUST HIT IT OFF SO WELL.

I'M GLAD HE'S FOUND SOMEBODY.

DONALD HAS GREAT QUALITIES.

HE HAS A GREAT PERSONALITY

TO GO THROUGH WHAT HE'S GONE THROUGH IN HIS LIFE

AND STILL HAVE THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE THAT HE HAS.

YOU JUST COULDN'T BUT LOOK AT HIM AND INSTANTLY LOVE HIM.

WHEN I MOVED IN, I DIDN'T KNOW IF I REALLY WANTED TO DO THIS --

TAKE CARE OF SOMEBODY IN A WHEELCHAIR,

BUT AS THE DAYS WENT BY, IT DIDN'T BOTHER ME ANYMORE.

I REALLY DO LOVE HIM.

Dr. Nowzaradan: DONALD -- HE GOT BAD HIPS FROM NOT MOVING,

SO WE'RE GETTING UPDATED X-RAY AND CAT SCAN.

HE CAN TILT HIS CHAIR BACK, AND THEN Y'ALL CAN LIFT HIM UP.

LAST TIME I SAW DONALD, HE WAS GETTING HEAVIER.

DONALD -- IN THE PAST YEAR,

HE HAS GAINED APPROXIMATELY 100 POUNDS.

HE WAS DOWN TO 200 POUNDS.

NOW HE'S UP TO 300 POUNDS.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

YOU HAVE TWO PEOPLE IN YOUR FAMILY THAT THEY OVEREAT.

DR. NOWZARADAN'S BLAMING US FOR HIM GAINING WEIGHT,

BUT DONALD GOES TO THE GROCERY STORE.

HE BUYS WHAT HE WANTS TO BUY.

CAN YOU WIGGLE YOURSELF?

WHEN YOU GET THAT HEAVY,

IT'S GONNA BE HARD TO WIGGLE YOURSELF.

Donald: THE DOCTOR WAS BITCHING AT ME,

SO I GOT TO GO BACK ON MY DIET AGAIN.

I LOOKED AT YOUR C.T. SCAN. I THINK IT'S ENCOURAGING.

THE MAIN GOAL RIGHT NOW

IS TO GET AS MUCH OF HIS MUSCLE STRENGTH BACK WITHOUT SURGERY.

WORK HARD. THAT'S WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO.

OKAY.

I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY BAD,

BUT IT'S A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT I THOUGHT.

THINGS LOOK BETTER, SO DONALD DOES NOT NEED A HIP REPLACEMENT.

Dr. Kreuzer: MY GOAL IS FOR HIM TO INDEPENDENTLY WALK

WITH AN ASSISTED DEVICE.

IF HE ENDS UP WALKING WITHOUT, THAT'S GRAVY ON TOP.

THAT WOULD BE WHAT WE CALL THE GRAND SLAM.

FAIR ENOUGH? FAIR ENOUGH.

I BELIEVE WHAT THE DOCTOR TOLD ME,

THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO WALK AGAIN.

FINGERS CROSSED.

Donald: I'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT THESE FEW YEARS,

AND I GUESS I TURNED TO FOOD.

I BLEW IT.

I SHOULD'VE WATCHED WHAT I WAS EATING.

I COULD NEVER IMAGINE WHAT THE PAST YEAR WOULD BE LIKE.

I WAS ENGAGED.

FIGURED GET MARRIED AND GET KIDS,

BUT IT DIDN'T WORK OUT THAT WAY.

IT WAS PRETTY HARD, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, THE WAY SHE LEFT.

CAME HOME, SHE WAS GONE.

Barbie: TOWARDS THE END, IT WAS JUST TOO MUCH FOR ME TO BEAR.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, HIS FRAME OF MIND CHANGED.

HE STARTED GOING BACK TO HIS OLD WAYS,

AND I WOULD SAY, "HEY, THIS ISN'T YOU.

"THIS ISN'T THE DONALD THAT I MET ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO.

WHAT'S GOING ON?"

HE WAS DRINKING... I THOUGHT TOO MUCH.

HE SEEMED LIKE HE DIDN'T CARE.

Barbie: HE WAS IN DENIAL THAT HE WAS GAINING WEIGHT AGAIN.

HE GAVE UP.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Mary: DONALD DON'T USUALLY SHOW EMOTIONS THAT MUCH,

BUT HE WAS REAL DEPRESSED AFTERWARD.

Donald: JUST A LOT OF STRESS, YOU KNOW, LOSING MY FIANCéE.

I JUST GAVE UP AFTER ALL THAT.

I WENT UP TO 420 POUNDS,

JUST EATING EVERYTHING LIKE I WAS WHEN I WAS BIG.

CANDY, FRIED FOODS, ALL THAT JUNK.

I WASN'T LISTENING TO NOBODY.

I TOLD HIM, "YOU'VE GOT TO STOP EATING SUGAR STUFF."

I WAS AFRAID HE WAS GONNA GET BACK UP TO THE SAME SIZE HE WAS.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE HEADED TO DR. NOWZARADAN'S

FOR A CHECK-UP TODAY.

I GET NERVOUS BECAUSE I KNOW

WHAT DONALD IS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING,

AND I KIND OF FEEL LIKE MAYBE IT'S MY FAULT.

I DON'T KNOW. [ CHUCKLES ]

HEY. HOW YOU GETTING ALONG?

GOOD. JUST GAINED A LITTLE WEIGHT.

HOW MUCH?

UH, FROM WHERE I STARTED, I DONE GAINED 200 BACK.

200 BACK?

420. HMM.

YOU ARE BACK TO THE SAME OLD HABIT

OF WHAT TOOK YOU TO BE 650 POUNDS,

WHICH, PROBABLY, YOU'RE NOT GONNA LIVE TO BE 50.

NOTHING.

SO WHY ARE YOU NOT WALKING RIGHT NOW?

I MEAN, I CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH AS I CAN DO.

AND YOU GAINED 200 POUNDS.

UM...

WELL, I GUESS REALLY NOTHING.

GET OUT OF THE WAY. COME ON, MOM. LET'S GO.

DONALD.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO TELL YOU.

HE SHOULD BE WALKING BY NOW. YEAH.

WHAT'S THE MATTER, DONALD?

WHY ARE YOU SO UPSET?

MOM!

MOM!

SHE'S COMING. SHE'S COMING. SHE'S COMING.

YOU'RE GONNA LEAVE YOUR MOM?

DONALD.

DONALD. SERIOUSLY?

YOU'RE ACTING LIKE A KID.

RUNNING AWAY FROM YOUR PROBLEMS, THAT AIN'T HELPING NOTHING.

Mary: CAN'T BLAME DR. NOWZARADAN FOR GETTING MAD AT US.

WE'VE HAD THIS SURGERY, AND WE'RE NOT DOING LIKE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO.

IT'S JUST HARD. WHAT CAN I SAY?

Mary: WHERE'D HE GO? DOWN THE STREET.

MARY, YOU NEED TO BE ROUGH ON DONALD.

MARY, LISTEN TO ME.

MARY.

BEING MAD AT EVERYBODY ELSE IS NOT GONNA MAKE THE DECISION

FOR YOU TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

YOU HAVE TO GET MAD AT YOURSELF.

I GUESS I HIT A BUMP ON THE ROAD.

NEXT THING I KNEW, DONALD WAS DOWN, ALL THE WAY DOWN.

[ CRANKING ]

THIS CHAIR RIGHT NOW IS MY LIFELINE.

WHEN IT BREAKS, I'M STUCK IN BED.

EVEN THE WHEELCHAIR THEY BRING OUT FOR HIM TO USE,

HE CAN'T FIT IN IT.

Donald: SEE HOW BAD I FIT IN THIS CHAIR?

THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO GO AND GET MY CHAIR.

Murray: WE HAVE THE PART IN.

Donald: UH-HUH.

AND IT'S THE WRONG PART. OH, CRAP.

GOOD NEWS IS WE BUILT A FLANGE THAT WE'RE GONNA PUT IN HERE.

IT WON'T BE ABLE TO TILT.

NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO TILT?

WON'T BE ABLE TO TILT.

THEN IT'S NOT GONNA DO ME NO GOOD.

NOBODY WANTS TO LISTEN TO ME. NOBODY WANTS TO LISTEN TO ME.

I'M JUST A STUPID [BLEEP] THE TILT HAS TO WORK.

WITH THE WEIGHT GAIN AND ALL,

WHAT HAPPENED WAS, IT WAS JUST UNDER TOO MUCH PRESSURE

AND JUST WENT PSHT!

TRYING TO GET ALL THIS STUFF DONE,

AND CAN'T DO NOTHING ABOUT IT.

I COULD SEE I WAS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER AND BIGGER.

Therapist: IT REALLY HELPS YOUR CIRCULATION, YOU KNOW,

HAVING YOUR BODY STRAIGHT UP LIKE THIS

AS OPPOSED TO SITTING DOWN ALL DAY LONG.

YEAH. IT FEELS GOOD.

I JUST HAD TO QUIT DOING WHAT I WAS DOING,

GET FOCUSED TO BACK TO WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN LIKE THIS.

I HAD TO CHANGE

'CAUSE I WAS GONNA EITHER GET BACK UP TO 700 POUNDS AGAIN

OR DIE, AND I ALREADY TRIED THAT ONCE.

SO, WE'RE GONNA START. RIGHT OVER HERE.

I'M EXCITED TO BE WORKING OUT AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS NUMBER 10.

WE'RE GONNA DO FIVE MORE. OKAY.

I'M READY TO GET THE WEIGHT OFF THAT I'VE PUT BACK ON,

AND IT'S PRETTY HARD, BUT I AIN'T GIVING UP.

I'M HERE, I'M DOING IT, AND NOTHING'S GONNA STOP ME.

NO MORE SETBACKS.

SO, IT'S STRAIGHTFORWARD NOW.

799 MINUS 390 EQUALS 409.

THAT'S LESS THAN WHAT I WAS EXPECTING, THOUGH,

BUT IT'S GOOD, THOUGH. AT LEAST I'M LOSING IT.

THE MORE WEIGHT, YOU KNOW, I TAKE OFF,

IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR ME TO WALK.

DONALD. HOW YOU DOING?

I THOUGHT I WAS NEVER GONNA SEE YOU AGAIN.

[ LAUGHS ]

HE KNEW I'D BE BACK.

HE SAVED MY LIFE. I CAN'T BE TOO MAD AT HIM.

[ CHUCKLES ]

HERE'S THE PLAN -- WANT TO BE UNDER 300 POUNDS

AND WE'RE GONNA WALK IN 3 MONTHS.

YEP.

I'M GONNA BE UNDER 300 POUNDS, FOR SURE.

I'M GOING TO MEET MY EX-FIANCéE FOR DINNER.

TABLE FOR TWO.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE HER. IT'S BEEN A WHILE.

I LOVE BARBIE TO DEATH,

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S STILL IN LOVE WITH ME OR ANYTHING.

HOW YOU DOING, STRANGER? HEY.

WHY'D YOU LEAVE?

I FELT YOU HAD GIVEN UP.

I GAVE UP ON EVERYTHING.

I FELT THAT NO MATTER WHAT I SAID --

I WASN'T GONNA CHANGE. NO.

I GOT BAD AFTER THAT.

I HATED EVERYTHING.

UNTIL I SEEN WHAT I WAS DOING, BUT, I MEAN,

I'M GONNA TRY MY HARDEST TO GET OUT OF THIS CHAIR.

AT LEAST WE'RE TALKING AND STILL FRIENDS, HUH?

YEAH.

AND YOU'RE STILL MY SOUL MATE. YOU ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.

I ENJOYED COMING OUT HERE.

ME TOO.

Barbie: HE'S BACK TO THE DONALD

THAT I FIRST MET AND FIRST FELL IN LOVE WITH.

IF AND WHEN WE GET BACK TOGETHER,

WE WON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES.

THIS WHOLE JOURNEY, IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE, AND IT STILL IS.

BUT IF I COULD DO IT AGAIN, I WOULD,

AND I'M READY TO LIVE MY LIFE THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE.

YOU TOO. THANK YOU FOR DINNER.

YOU TOO.

I HAVE SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR.