Original subtitles

Christina: I NEVER THOUGHT I'D GET THIS BIG.

I'M ALWAYS HOME.

RARELY DO I GET OUT.

I'M TRAPPED INSIDE THIS BODY THAT I DON'T WANT TO BE IN.

Woman: SOMETIMES, IT FEELS LIKE I'M DEAD --

LIKE, THAT I'M NOT ALIVE.

Woman #2: IF I COULD DO IT WITHOUT THE SURGERY,

I WOULD HAVE DONE IT.

MY WAY DOESN'T WORK.

AND THIS IS A DYNAMIC THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE NOW.

I'M DONE WITH THIS! I QUIT! I'M DONE!

[ DOOR SLAMS ]

OH, IT HURTS.

[ TALKING INDISTINCTLY ]

Nissa: I CAN'T BE THE REASON YOU LOSE WEIGHT

OR THE REASON YOU GAIN WEIGHT, PERIOD.

[ Voice breaking ] I'LL MAKE THIS WORK, I PROMISE.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Dr. Nowzaradan: SHE'S VERY SICK. SHE NEEDS HELP REAL QUICK.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Christina: A JOURNEY STARTS WITH ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER.

BUT SOMETIMES, THE FIRST STEP IS ABOUT GETTING ON YOUR FEET.

IT'S HARD BECAUSE OF MY WEIGHT.

JUST SIMPLE WALKING FROM THE LIVING ROOM TO THE BEDROOM,

I'M OUT OF BREATH.

I FEEL LIKE MY KNEES ARE GONNA COLLAPSE.

[ WHIRRING ]

I'M TRAPPED INSIDE THIS BODY THAT I DON'T WANT TO BE IN.

I CAN'T GO OUT ANYMORE.

I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE ANYMORE.

I NEVER THOUGHT I'D GET THIS BIG.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN BIGGER.

IN THE 7th GRADE, I WAS CLOSE TO 300.

WHEN I WAS 17, I STEPPED ON THE SCALE

AND WAS, LIKE, CLOSE TO 400.

YOU KNOW, AND I JUST COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.

I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I'D WEIGH THAT MUCH.

ME AND MY SISTER, WE'VE BEEN VERY CLOSE

EVER SINCE WE WERE LITTLE.

SHE'S, YOU KNOW, LIKE A SECOND MAMA.

SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN THICK, BUT WHEN SHE GOT ABOUT 18 OR SO,

THAT'S WHEN IT JUST WENT FARTHER.

SINCE SHE'S GOTTEN LIKE THIS, IT'S HARD.

Christina: AND AROUND 18,

I STARTED GETTING THESE TUMORLIKE MASSES ON MY LEGS.

THIS IS THE LYMPHEDEMA IN MY RIGHT LEG,

AND I HAVE IT ON THE SIDE.

IT DISGUSTS ME TO LOOK AT MY LEGS.

I CAN'T TAKE CARE OF MYSELF ANY LONGER.

ALL RIGHT.

ZACH AND MY MOM HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

[ WATER RUNNING ]

I WAS 18 WHEN I MET ZACH.

I MET HIM THROUGH MY SISTER.

HE WAS JUST FUNNY AND SOMEONE THAT I COULD GET ALONG WITH,

AND WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER EVER SINCE.

Zach: WHEN I FIRST MET HER,

I DIDN'T THINK NOTHING ABOUT HER WEIGHT.

IT WAS KIND OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.

SHE'S SMART, PRETTY, INTELLIGENT.

YOU COULDN'T ASK FOR NO ONE BETTER.

Christina: SINCE I'VE BEEN MARRIED,

MY WEIGHT'S GONE UP 300 POUNDS.

THE LAST TIME I WAS WEIGHED WAS 678.

MY WEIGHT IS OUT OF CONTROL.

[ WATER RUNNING ]

ZACH AND I HAVE OUR OWN APARTMENT.

I LIVE CLOSE TO MY MOTHER.

SHE HELPS OUT A LOT.

Tammie: MY FULL-TIME JOB IS TAKING CARE OF CHRISTINA.

THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT SHE CAN DO.

Christina: I HAVE TO HAVE HELP GETTING DRESSED

OR GETTING UP OUT OF BED AND BEING PUT IN BED.

I KNOW IT HURTS.

SEEING HER SICK LIKE THIS, I JUST WORRY ABOUT HER SO MUCH.

I GOT THIS.

SHE TELLS ME THAT SHE'S A BURDEN TO ME,

BUT SHE'S NOT A BURDEN.

SHE'S MY PRIDE AND JOY.

IT'S OKAY.

IF SHE EVEN GOES TO THE BATHROOM, YOU KNOW,

I HAVE TO HELP HER IN THERE.

WE DEFINITELY DON'T HAVE

THE TYPICAL HUSBAND-AND-WIFE RELATIONSHIP.

BUT ME, PERSONALLY, I BELIEVE IT'S A CALLING FROM GOD --

TO TAKE CARE OF SOMEBODY.

Christina: I'M TOO YOUNG TO BE LIVING LIKE THIS.

I HATE HAVING TO HAVE MY MOM AND ZACH TAKE CARE OF ME.

I MEAN, IT'S HUMILIATING.

[ DOOR CREAKING ]

I HAVEN'T EVEN GOT TO EXPERIENCE LIFE YET.

I'M ALWAYS HOME.

RARELY DO I GET OUT.

I'M USUALLY WATCHING TV OR ON THE COMPUTER.

PLAY VIDEO GAMES.

LET'S EAT.

I JUST SIT AROUND AND EAT ALL DAY.

TIME TO EAT.

Jessica: THE MORE SHE KEEPS HERSELF INSIDE,

THE MORE DEPRESSED SHE GETS.

THE MORE DEPRESSED SHE IS, THE MORE SHE EATS.

ALL RIGHT. HOW MANY NIBBLERS DOES EVERYBODY WANT?

THREE FOR ME, BUT I DON'T WANT NO SAUCE ON MINE.

AND I WANT FRIES.

Zach: IF SHE WANTS SOMETHING, I GO GET IT...

BECAUSE I LOVE HER AND SHE ASKED ME TO.

I MEAN, I'M SCARED TO DEATH OF LOSING HER,

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE HER MAD.

THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

I'LL BE BACK IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.

ALL RIGHT. BE CAREFUL.

I'D LIKE TO GET 16 OF YOUR NIBBLERS,

ONE LARGE COLESLAW,

AND A LARGE ORDER OF FRENCH FRIES.

Tammie: I KNOW IT'S VERY UNHEALTHY FOR HER,

AND IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE, WHEN I GO AND DO THIS,

THAT I'M THE ONE THAT'S SHORTENING HER LIFE-SPAN.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO TELL HER NO.

I'D RATHER SEE HER EAT SOMETHING

EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT'S GONNA DO DAMAGE AND HARM TO HER.

IT'S ONE THING THAT I CAN'T STAND TO KNOW,

IS MY CHILD'S HUNGRY.

Jessica: MY FEAR IS, IF SHE DOESN'T LOSE WEIGHT,

[Voice breaking] THAT SHE MIGHT GO TO SLEEP AND NEVER WAKE UP.

I JUST WANT MY SISTER BACK.

Christina: I FEAR THAT I'LL JUST KEEP GETTING BIGGER

UNTIL I DO DIE...

OR MY HEART STOPS.

IT'S TERRIFYING.

I FEEL LIKE I'M AT A TURNING POINT.

I'M READY TO CHANGE AND BE ABLE TO LIVE NORMAL AGAIN.

I'M READY TO CHANGE IT ALL.

ALL RIGHT.

READY?

THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE AT HAVING A NORMAL LIFE.

I'M SCARED.

I'M SCARED THAT HE MIGHT SAY

THAT HE'S NOT ABLE TO DO THE SURGERY,

THAT I CAN'T HAVE IT DONE,

'CAUSE THIS IS PRETTY MUCH THE LAST CHANCE I HAVE.

[ CHRISTINA SNIFFLES ]

Tammie: IT'S OKAY.

IT'S OKAY.

TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

YOU'RE GONNA BE FINE.

SO, YOU'RE CONSIDERING WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY, HUH?

MM.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SURGERY'S GONNA DO

AND WHAT KIND OF CHANGES WE HAVE TO MAKE

TO MAKE THE SURGERY WORK.

WHO BRING YOU THE FOOD?

WHO DOES ALL THE COOKING AND...

THEM TWO.

DO YOU WORK?

NO, SIR. I DON'T.

DO YOU WORK?

Zach: NO, SIR.

SO, THAT BECAME YOUR PERMANENT JOB --

TAKE CARE OF HER.

Tammie: YES. PRETTY MUCH. YES, SIR.

LET'S FAST-FORWARD DOWN THE ROAD, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN,

BECAUSE YOU WILL SABOTAGE HER WEIGHT LOSS.

NO, I DON'T --

I GUARANTEE YOU.

RIGHT.

WHEN YOU START LOSING WEIGHT,

THEY FEEL THEY LOSING THE GRIP ON YOU.

THIS IS A DYNAMIC THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE NOW.

Dr. Nowzaradan: CHRISTINA IS IN A DIRE SITUATION.

SHE'S SURROUNDED BY ENABLER.

I NEED TO SEE YOU LOSE 30 POUNDS NEXT MONTH,

GET YOU IN BEST SHAPE FOR DOING THE SURGERY.

ALL RIGHT. OKAY?

SHE NEED TO DEMONSTRATE THAT SHE CAN MAKE CHANGES.

IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD,

SHE NEED TO LOSE AT LEAST 30 POUNDS ON HER OWN.

OTHERWISE, SURGERY WOULD NOT BE A GOOD OPTION.

IN MOST CASES, WE CAN SORT OF WAKE UP EVERYBODY,

BUT SOMETIMES, THEY'LL DO ANYTHING

TO SABOTAGE WEIGHT LOSS.

I KNOW.

Christina: CHANGE IS HARD.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ITSELF.

SOMETIMES, YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

I'M A LITTLE SCARED ABOUT THE MOVE.

I'VE LIVED IN THE SAME PLACE FOR FOUR YEARS AND NEVER LEFT.

NOW I'M MOVING, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I CAN GET THE SURGERY.

THIS IS GONNA BE HOME.

DO YOU WANT TO TRY TO WALK UP THERE, OR DO YOU WANT ME TO WHEEL YOU UP?

Christina: I DON'T KNOW, ZACH!

WELL, JUST TRY IT.

Jessica: YOU CAN DO IT, BABY GIRL!

Christina: MY FAMILY HAS RENTED A HOME HERE.

NOW, I MIGHT NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO GET UP IN IT.

YOU'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO WHEEL ME UP IT.

I'M NOT TRYING TO WALK UP IT. I'LL WHEEL YOU UP IT.

ALL RIGHT.

UNH-UNH! NO. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!

NO. SERIOUSLY, Y'ALL.

LET ME DO IT.

MY [BLEEP] FOOT IS OFF OF IT.

LET ME DO IT. LET ME DO IT.

NO!

OH, MY GOD.

LET IT GO.

[ GRUNTING ]

Woman: THERE.

NOW, WHAT'S SO BAD ABOUT THAT?

I'M LOOKING FOR ANOTHER PLACE.

[ SOBS ]

Christine: BABY, YOU ALL RIGHT?

Tammie: LET HER CRY, 'CAUSE SHE AIN'T CRIED IN OVER A MONTH.

[ CRYING ] IT'S OKAY.

IT WAS A LOT HARDER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

MY FAMILY'S ACTING LIKE IT'S NO BIG DEAL.

SOMETIMES, I WORRY THAT ALL THESE CHANGES

MIGHT BE FOR NOTHING,

AND WE'LL JUST END UP RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED.

UM, IT'S BEEN ABOUT A MONTH SINCE WE'VE SEEN DR. NOWZARADAN.

I HOPE THAT I'VE DONE BETTER

SINCE THE LAST TIME THAT I SEEN HIM.

I THINK YOU HAVE.

I MEAN, YOU'VE CUT BACK A LOT.

YEAH. I MEAN, I HAVEN'T REALLY HAD MUCH OF AN APPETITE.

YOU KNOW, I JUST HAVEN'T BEEN THAT HUNGRY.

BUT NOT LIKE I USED TO.

I'M REALLY NERVOUS.

IF DR. NOW DOESN'T SEE A LOT OF WEIGHT LOSS,

HE MIGHT NOT GIVE ME THE SURGERY.

Woman: OKAY. GO AHEAD.

HOLD ON. I GOT YOU.

SO, INSTEAD OF HOPING THAT YOU LOST 30 POUNDS,

YOU GAINED 17 POUND.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

IT'S NOT WATER.

FOR THAT, YOU HAVE

TO DRINK AT LEAST 300 GALLON OF WATER.

YOU GAINED WEIGHT

BECAUSE YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR EATING.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COOK THE PROPER FOODS.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S VERY TYPICAL

WHEN YOU GOT AN ENABLER HERE --

WHEN I ASK YOU A QUESTION, ENABLER WOULD ANSWER.

SO, WHY DON'T YOU LET HER ANSWER?

OKAY.

OKAY.

THIS IS VERY, VERY DISTURBING BEHAVIOR.

THIS IS A SIGN OF A VERY DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY DYNAMIC.

WHAT DID THEY GIVE YOU FROM FAST FOOD?

A TYPICAL DAY.

DON'T LOOK AT HIM. NO.

JUST LOOK AT ME.

A HAMBURGER AND A COUPLE FRIES.

I DIDN'T FINISH THE FRIES.

I HAD LIKE THREE SLICES OF PIZZA THE NIGHT THAT WE GOT IN.

PIZZA IS NOT PART OF YOUR DIET WHEN YOU'RE 700 POUNDS.

NOW, GRANTED, THEY HAND YOU ALL THOSE FOODS,

BUT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SAY NO.

YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WE'RE THE ONES, YOU KNOW, THAT ENABLE HER TO DO THIS.

HOW ARE WE GONNA GET HER AWAY FROM YOU?

[ CHUCKLES ]

WELL...

CHRISTINA MUST BE CONSUMING SEVERAL THOUSAND CALORIES A DAY

IN ORDER TO GAIN 17 POUNDS.

GO AHEAD AND CRY, BABY.

NO, I'M FINE. I JUST...

I JUST NEED A SECOND.

IN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT, NOTHING HAS WORKED.

WE NEED TO SEPARATE CHRISTINA FROM HER ENABLER,

SO WE'RE GONNA PUT HER IN THE HOSPITAL, GIVE HER A CHANCE.

AND I DON'T THINK THEY ALL REALIZE

THAT SHE IS NOT TOO FAR FROM IMMINENT DEATH.

COUNT OF THREE.

THE ONLY WAY IT WILL BE A SUCCESS, IF SHE BE ON HER OWN.

MAMA, I'LL BE OKAY.

DON'T CRY.

DON'T CRY.

Christina: I HAVE NO IDEA

WHAT THEY'RE GONNA DO FOR ME IN THE HOSPITAL.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU.

BUT, AT THIS POINT,

I'M WILLING TO DO WHATEVER HE THINKS WILL WORK.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

Zach: IT'S CHICKEN. Christina: I DON'T WANT IT.

SHE WON'T EAT IT.

I KNOW.

DO YOU WANT SOME?

DO YOU WANT IT?

NO!

Christina: IT'S HARD. IT'S NOT WHAT I HAD EXPECTED.

THE FOOD TASTES NASTY.

Tammie: SHE HARDLY EATS ANYTHING AT ALL NOW.

I DON'T WANT TO GO GET HER UNHEALTHY FOOD, FAST FOOD,

BUT IF I DON'T GO GET IT FOR HER, SHE'S NOT GONNA EAT.

I DON'T WANT HER TO STARVE TO DEATH.

Dr. Nowzaradan: CHRISTINA CAME TO HOSPITAL ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

WE PUT HER ON VERY STRICT 1,000-CALORIE DIET.

[ SIGHS ]

DOING GOOD, CHRISTINA. DOING WELL.

TAKE A DEEP BREATH, CHRISTINA.

651.6

IT'S OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: THE PROBLEM WE GOT WITH CHRISTINA

IS THAT ALWAYS THERE ARE FIVE, SIX PEOPLE WITH HER,

AND THE ENABLING ENVIRONMENT IS STILL THERE.

IT SEEMS THAT SEPARATE HER FROM ENABLER HAS NOT WORKED.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE BRINGING HER FOOD,

AND, LITERALLY, THEY ARE KILLING HER.

Zach: COME IN.

HELLO. Woman: HELLO.

SO, YOU'VE BEEN HERE FOR A MONTH, HUH?

A MONTH AND A DAY.

ONE MONTH, AND YOU HAVEN'T LOST ANY.

4 POUNDS.

HOW COULD THAT HAPPEN?

I DON'T KNOW.

SO, NOBODY ELSE HAS ANY IDEA, HUH?

I HAVEN'T BROUGHT ANYTHING IN HERE TO HER.

YEAH, BUT WHO DRINKING THAT?

IT'S NOT ME.

I'VE BEEN DRINKING THE WATER RIGHT BEHIND YOU.

OBVIOUSLY, I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SEPARATE HER FROM ENABLER.

AT THIS POINT, THE ONLY HOPE

WILL BE WE MAKE CHRISTINA MORE ACTIVE.

YOU NEED TO BE MORE MOBILE,

SO I'M GOING TO SCHEDULE YOU FOR LYMPHEDEMA SURGERY.

OKAY. OKAY?

ALL RIGHTY. ALL RIGHT.

SUPER. THANK YOU.

OKAY. I'LL SEE YOU THEN.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

ORDINARILY, WE LIKE TO REMOVE THE LYMPHEDEMA MASS

AFTER THE PATIENT LOSE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WEIGHT,

BUT IN HER CONDITION, I DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA HAPPEN.

HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE A MOTIVATION

FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO BE MORE ACTIVE AND LOSE WEIGHT.

[ SIGHS ]

Christina: TODAY IS DEFINITELY ONE

OF THE BIGGEST STEPS TOWARD FREEDOM.

FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS,

MY LYMPHEDEMA HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A NUISANCE.

IT'S A BIG PART OF THE REASON

THAT I'M THE WEIGHT THAT I AM NOW.

Tammie: THIS MORNING SHE WAS SAYING,

"MOM, I THINK THIS IS REALLY GONNA HAPPEN." I SAID, "YEAH."

SHE SAID, "BUT I'M NOT GONNA BELIEVE IT UNTIL IT'S ALL OVER WITH."

Christina: I JUST WANT TO BE NORMAL AGAIN.

I WANT TO HAVE A NORMAL LIFE

AND NOT HAVE TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BY MY HUSBAND OR MY FAMILY.

I JUST WANT SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

Zach: I THINK IT'S GONNA BE GREAT FOR HER.

HOPEFULLY, ONCE IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE,

THE RECOVERY WILL BE PRETTY QUICK,

AND SHE'LL BE ABLE TO BE BACK ON HER FEET,

LOSING MORE WEIGHT AND GETTING READY FOR HER OTHER SURGERIES.

Dr. Nowzaradan: THIS MASS, TOOK ABOUT THREE HOURS TO GET IT OFF.

WE'LL SEE HOW SHE RECOVERS, MAKE SURE THE INCISION IS GONNA HEAL.

CHRISTINA WILL HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY

TO BE MOBILE AND WALK AROUND.

SHE NEEDS TO LOSE 40, 50 POUNDS

BEFORE SHE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

WELL, HERE'S CHRISTINA SLOWLY WAKING UP.

Tammie: HI, BABY.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING?

[ COUGHING ]

TAKE YOUR --

STOP TOUCHING ME!

SHE'S TIRED.

[ COUGHING ]

Woman: I KNOW.

Tammie: IT'S SO HARD TO SEE CHRISTINA IN PAIN,

BUT I KNOW I HAVE TO STAY STRONG FOR MY BABY.

Tammie: BABY, YOU GONNA GET UP AND EXERCISE?

Christina: YEAH.

Christina: IT'S BEEN A MONTH SINCE MY SURGERY,

AND I'M ABLE TO DO SO MUCH MORE

NOW THAT THE LYMPHEDEMA'S BEEN REMOVED.

I CAN GO UP AND DOWN THE RAMP NOW WITHOUT THE WHEELCHAIR

AND JUST DO SIMPLE EXERCISES AROUND THE HOUSE.

I WANT TO LOSE THE WEIGHT MORE THAN ANYTHING.

I KNOW THIS IS MY LAST CHANCE.

I'M GONNA PUSH MYSELF AND TRY HARDER,

AND I'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.

[ PANTING ] Charles: YOU OUT OF BREATH?

MY STOMACH JUST HURTS REAL BAD.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT. YEAH.

I'M PROUD OF YOU.

NOT EVERYBODY WOULD DO IT.

DON'T START CRYING!

[ Voice breaking ] IT'S ALL RIGHT.

I'M HAPPY.

YOU BIG, OLD BABY.

TODAY, I HAVE A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT,

AND I'M FEELING PRETTY GOOD ABOUT IT.

THE DIET HE PUT ME ON

WAS 1,000-CALORIE, NO-CARB, LOW-FAT DIET.

I'VE BEEN WALKING MORE

AND NOT RELYING SO MUCH ON THE WHEELCHAIR TO GET AROUND.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE MY WEIGHT THIS TIME.

I KNOW I'VE WORKED HARD, AND IT'S GONNA PAY OFF.

Woman: MS. PHILLIPS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: HELLO. HI.

SO, FINALLY, YOU FIGURED OUT WHAT TO DO

TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT, HUH? YES, SIR.

FOLLOWING YOUR DIET AND BEING MORE ACTIVE.

SUPER.

I AM ENCOURAGED THAT YOU LOST SOME WEIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: CHRISTINA HAD DONE A GREAT JOB.

SHE'S EXERCISING. HER MOBILITY HAS INCREASED.

SHE'S LOSING WEIGHT.

WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET YOU PREPARED

FOR YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

OKAY. OKAY?

I'LL SEE YOU AROUND.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

Tammie: OKAY. THAT WAS GOOD.

IT'S BEEN A HARD FEW MONTHS.

YOU IN THERE, BABY?

BUT I THINK IT'S COMPLETELY PAYING OFF.

TODAY'S FINALLY THE DAY I GET THE GASTRIC BYPASS.

I'M HAPPY AND EXCITED,

AND I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FEAR OF NOT WAKING UP,

BUT IF I WOULD HAVE KEPT GOING LIKE I WAS,

THEN, I MEAN, THERE WAS GONNA BE A DAY I WASN'T GONNA WAKE UP,

LIVING LIKE THAT.

Zach: I THINK THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LIFE.

IT'S LIKE BEING BORN AGAIN.

WE CAN START DOING NORMAL THINGS.

SHE'S READY. I'M READY.

WE GOT A LIST OF ADVENTURES LINED UP.

Christina: I'M VERY EXCITED FOR THIS FUTURE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE WANTED FOR A LONG TIME.

Man: BIG, DEEP BREATHS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE GONNA DO HER BYPASS SURGERY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH SOMEBODY IN HER SIZE,

THERE'S ALWAYS A HEAVY ABDOMINAL WALL THAT WE HAVE TO BATTLE WITH

TO GET THE INSTRUMENT INSIDE.

WE MAKE A SMALL STOMACH -- THE SIZE OF MAYBE 2 TO 4 OUNCES --

AND THEN BYPASS REST OF STOMACH AND PART OF INTESTINE.

THIS WILL GIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR PERSON

TO EAT SMALL AMOUNT AND LOSE WEIGHT.

Zach: SHE'S READY.

SHE'S WAITED 10 YEARS FOR THIS, SO...

Tammie: IT'S GONNA BE WORTH IT TO ME,

BECAUSE SHE'S GONNA GET HER LIFE BACK ON TRACK.

SHE'S GONNA HAVE THE LIFE THAT SHE'S ALWAYS WANTED.

WELL, HER BYPASS LOOK GOOD.

NOW WE'RE GONNA CLOSE HER UP, AND THAT WILL BE IT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I THINK CHRISTINA GONNA DO VERY WELL.

AT THE BEGINNING, HER FAMILY WAS NOT REALLY HELPING HER,

BUT THEY HAVE TURNED AROUND,

AND I THINK THEY'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD

TO GET CHRISTINA TO BE A HEALTHY PERSON.

[ SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

[ MOANING ]

Tammie: BABY.

YOU HURTING? YOU IN PAIN?

Tammie: I'M REALLY WORRIED ABOUT CHRISTINA.

OKAY?

BUT I KNOW THAT SHE CAN DO THIS.

AND I'M GONNA DO MY BEST TO HELP HER.

MAMA LOVES YOU.

Christina: ON SOME DAYS,

IT'S HARD TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOU'RE HEADED.

THAT'S OKAY, AS LONG AS YOU KNOW YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING HOME,

BUT I'M A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT STAYING ON TRACK WITH MY EATING.

Woman: 571.6.

I HAVE SO MANY DREAMS.

I WANT TO START LIVING MY LIFE,

SO I'M GONNA PUSH MYSELF AND TRY HARDER TO KEEP LOSING WEIGHT.

MY SISTER JESSIE'S PREGNANT,

AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT HAVING A NEW NEPHEW,

BUT I'M SURE IT'S NOTHING

COMPARED TO HAVING A BABY OF MY OWN SOMEDAY.

WE'RE HERE, BABY.

Tammie: WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HER HOME.

I'M READY JUST TO SEE HER THROUGH THE REST OF HER JOURNEY.

I'M NOT GONNA ENCOURAGE HER TO EAT ANY KIND OF FAST FOODS.

I'M GONNA ENCOURAGE HER

TO STICK TO THIS LIQUID DIET THAT SHE'S ON.

THIS IS HER DREAM, AND I WANT HER TO FULFILL IT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU, MOM. YOU'RE WELCOME.

Charles: WHAT ARE WE HAVING?

WAFFLES, PANCAKES.

MMM.

Christina: I HOPE I HAVE THE STAMINA

TO RESIST ALL THE TEMPTATIONS AROUND ME.

MY FAMILY DOESN'T REALIZE HOW HARD IT IS FOR ME

TO WATCH THEM EAT WHAT I WANT IN FRONT OF MY FACE.

Christina: I GOT TO GET MY KEYS AND STUFF.

Tammie: YOU GOT TO GET YOUR STUFF.

IN THE LAST MONTH, I'VE ALREADY LOST A GOOD AMOUNT OF WEIGHT.

I'M WORKING REALLY HARD, AND I'M STICKING TO THE DIET.

WE SHALL RETURN.

I'VE BEEN STARTING TO DO A LOT MORE THINGS.

I'VE HAD TO RELY ON MY MOM AND ZACH FOR EVERYTHING.

IT'S THE FIRST STEP TO BEING BACK ON MY OWN TWO FEET.

BE CAREFUL, BABY.

[ LAUGHS ] YOU A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT NOT BEING IN CONTROL?

OH, YOU SCAREDY-CAT.

[ LAUGHS ]

I FINALLY FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING MY FREEDOM BACK.

BABY, YOU DID REALLY WELL.

Tammie: SHE'S REALLY COME A LONG WAYS.

I'VE BEEN THERE FOR HER THROUGH IT ALL,

AND IT'S TIME FOR ME TO LET GO AND LET HER FLY.

Christina: I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE'S GONNA BRING.

BEFORE, I WAS CONSTANTLY IN MY ROOM.

I NEVER GOT OUT, NEVER DID ANYTHING.

BUT NOW THERE'S SOME REASON FOR ME

TO LEAVE THE HOUSE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

TODAY, I'M HEADING TO DR. NOWZARADAN'S OFFICE.

IF THE SCALE SHOWS THAT I'M UNDER 500 TODAY,

I'D BE ECSTATIC.

I KNOW IT'S STILL A REALLY HIGH WEIGHT,

BUT I'D BE HAPPY WITH IT.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE LOST JUST 2 POUNDS.

Tammie: IT'S STILL GOOD.

NO, IT'S NOT. IT'S JUST 2 POUNDS.

Zach: THINK ABOUT IT THIS WAY --

YOU COULD HAVE GAINED 2 POUNDS.

HOW COULD I HAVE GAINED 2 POUNDS?

YOU GOT TO EAT TO GAIN 2 POUNDS.

YOU'RE GETTING ALL WORKED UP OVER NOTHING.

MORNING.

HEY.

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

2 POUNDS.

YEAH, THAT'S IT.

HOW MANY TIMES YOU EATING NOW?

USUALLY JUST ONCE A DAY.

THAT'S ALL YOU EAT?

YEAH. THAT'S ALL I CAN EAT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: CHRISTINA IS NOT TELLING ME THE TRUTH.

SHE'S DONE VERY WELL,

BUT THIS MONTH, HER WEIGHT LOSS HAS COME TO A PLATEAU.

AND WHEN I DO TRY TO EAT, MY STOMACH ALWAYS HURTS.

YEAH. I MEAN, SOME OF THE PAIN YOU'RE HAVING

IS RELATED TO YOUR GALLBLADDER.

OKAY.

WITH THE RAPID WEIGHT LOSS, GALLSTONES ARE VERY COMMON.

RIGHT NOW, I JUST WANT TO WAIT,

MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET YOUR ACTIVITY UP

AND STICK WITH EATING CHICKEN AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

OKAY.

IF YOU HAVE MORE PAIN

OR IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE, CALL ME.

WE'LL SEE HOW YOU'RE DOING IN THREE WEEKS.

SHE NEED TO STAY FOCUSED AND CONTINUE WITH HER DIET

AND STAY ACTIVE AND LOSE WEIGHT.

Christina: IT'S HARD BECAUSE I'M TRYING MY BEST.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I CAN DO.

[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]

I HAVEN'T BEEN EATING MUCH OF ANYTHING.

EVEN DRINKING WATER MAKES MY STOMACH HURT REALLY BAD.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG.

CHRISTINA, BABY.

I KNOW, BABY,

BUT YOU NEED SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER.

Tammie: I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET HER TO EAT.

SHE JUST SAYS IT HURTS TOO BAD WHEN IT HITS HER STOMACH.

BABY, MAMA'S GONNA LET YOU REST A LITTLE WHILE.

THEN I'LL COME BACK IN HERE AND CHECK ON YOU.

I LOVE YOU.

SHE'S JUST LAYING AROUND,

AND I'VE NEVER SEEN HER THIS SICK BEFORE.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Man: YEAH.

MY FEAR IS THAT SOMETHING WOULD GO WRONG DURING SURGERY.

I KNOW IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SHE COULD DIE.

[ SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE ]

Dr. Nowzaradan: CHRISTINA IS IN A DIRE SITUATION.

SHE IS HAVING A GALLBLADDER ATTACK

AND IS NOT ABLE TO EAT BECAUSE OF THE PAIN.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM RIGHT AWAY.

SO WE'RE GONNA REMOVE THE GALLBLADDER,

AND HOPEFULLY SHE'LL GET BACK ON TRACK

AND START MAKING PROGRESS AGAIN.

Tammie: SHE'S REAL WEAK, SO...

AND THAT WORRIES ME.

JUST HOPE AND PRAY THAT SHE HAS ENOUGH STRENGTH

TO PULL THROUGH THIS TIME.

HEY, BABY.

EVERYTHING HURTS? IT'S GONNA HURT, BABY.

YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

THE SURGERY WENT REALLY WELL.

SHE'S COME A LONG WAY,

AND HOPEFULLY THIS GALLBLADDER SURGERY

WILL GET HER BACK ON TRACK.

Christina: I WISH I WAS THERE TO SEE MY NEPHEW BORN.

I'VE MISSED THE FIRST TWO WEEKS OF HIS LIFE.

AND IT'S DISAPPOINTING.

I JUST HIT A HARD SPOT.

I'M READY TO GO HOME.

I'M READY TO SEE MY NEPHEW.

I'M JUST READY TO GET ON WITH MY RECOVERY

AND OVERCOME THIS HURDLE.

SO, YOU READY TO GET HOME AND SEE THE LITTLE MAN?

WELL, YEAH!

[ LAUGHS ]

LET ME SEE HIM.

HEY, LITTLE FELLA.

I JUST LOVE YOU.

I KNOW IT.

I MISSED OUT ON FOUR YEARS OF MY LIFE,

HIBERNATING IN A ROOM.

I'M NOT GONNA LET ANYTHING

STOP ME FROM GETTING TO WHERE I WANT TO BE.

SINCE THE GALLBLADDER SURGERY, I CAN WALK SO MUCH LONGER.

I'M MOVING AROUND A LOT MORE THAN WHAT I EVER WAS BEFORE.

I CAN GET DRESSED ON MY OWN.

I CAN TAKE A SHOWER BY MYSELF NOW.

I LOVE BEING ABLE TO DO STUFF ON MY OWN.

YEAH.

THANKS.

YOU WANT TO TRY TO WALK A LITTLE BIT FURTHER?

YEAH. LET'S GO AGAIN.

I'M GONNA PUSH MYSELF AND TRY HARDER

TO KEEP LOSING MORE WEIGHT.

HEY, ZACH.

Zach: MM?

GET UP.

BACK WHEN I LIVED IN MISSISSIPPI,

I BARELY EVEN LEFT MY ROOM.

I WASN'T ABLE TO DO MUCH OF ANYTHING ON MY OWN.

WELL, GET OUT OF THE BED.

THAT'S CHANGED DRASTICALLY NOW.

MY HUSBAND AND I CAN FINALLY SLEEP IN THE SAME BED.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT IN YEARS.

[ LAUGHS ]

[ WATER RUNNING ]

I FEEL LIKE I'M FINALLY GETTING MY LIFE BACK.

I CAN DO SO MUCH MORE NOW.

I DON'T NEED ZACH OR MY MOM TAKING CARE OF ME ANYMORE.

MY LEGS HAVE BEEN HURTING,

SO I HAVE TO USE THE WALKER OR WHEELCHAIR AT TIMES.

I KNOW THIS IS ONLY TEMPORARY

AND THAT I'M SO CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO DO SO MUCH ON MY OWN.

I'M GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE OF MY INDEPENDENCE BACK.

THIS IS A WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE FOR ME.

I USED TO HIDE FROM THE WORLD,

BUT NOW I CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT THERE.

THE LAST TIME I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE

WAS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.

MY RELATIONSHIP TO FOOD HAS CHANGED COMPLETELY.

NOW IT'S A LOT BETTER.

I MEAN, I'M NOT TEMPTED BY FOODS THAT I USED TO BE ABLE TO EAT.

BABY, YOU WANT TO GET SOME CHICKEN?

IT'S HEALTHIER.

ZERO GRAMS OF SUGAR.

MM. A GRAM.

MY MOM'S DOING GOOD.

SHE'S COMPLETELY CHANGED -- NOT BEING AN ENABLER.

MY FAMILY'S TRYING TO EAT BETTER

AND HELP ME MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES WITH WHAT I EAT.

Christina: SOME JOURNEYS DON'T HAVE ENDINGS.

INSTEAD, THEY REACH A BEGINNING,

AND THAT CAN BE A PRETTY GOOD PLACE TO BE.

TODAY, ZACH AND I ARE SCHEDULED

TO MEET SOMEONE AT A LOCAL COLLEGE TO CHECK OUT MY OPTIONS.

TWO YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN MYSELF HERE.

IT MAKES ME FEEL LIKE MY GOAL IS A LITTLE BIT CLOSER.

I'M PRETTY DAMN PROUD OF MYSELF

FOR HOW FAR I'VE COME ALONG AND HOW FAR I'M GOING TO GO.

CHRISTINA, HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD. I'LL BE SHOWING YOU AROUND.

OH, WOW.

IT'S REALLY NICE.

ONE OF MY DREAMS HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO GET A JOB AS A NURSE.

I CAN FINALLY SEE MYSELF MAKING THAT A REALITY.

I LIKED THE CLASSROOM. IT WAS REALLY NICE.

THIS YEAR HAS MEANT A LOT TO ME.

IT'S BEEN THE FIRST YEAR IN A LONG TIME

THAT I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN HAPPY AND NOT STUCK INSIDE OF A ROOM.

HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN SOON.

OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

HAVE A GREAT DAY. GOOD LUCK.

I'M GETTING CLOSER TO ALL MY GOALS,

AND NOTHING'S STOPPING ME NOW.

TODAY, WE ARE HEADED TO A CLOTHING SHOP.

THE LAST TIME I WENT SHOPPING FOR CLOTHES AT A STORE

WAS ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.

I'M A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS, BUT, I MEAN, I'M EXCITED, TOO.

Woman: HELLO. HOW ARE Y'ALL?

I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO WEAR CUTE SHIRTS

THAT SMALLER GIRLS CAN FIT INTO.

I LIKE THAT.

YOU READY?

STUFF LIKE WHAT MY SISTER WEARS.

THERE YOU GO.

OH!

THAT LOOKS GREAT ON YOU.

OH, THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME.

A LOT HAS CHANGED.

I'M MOST PROUD FOR LOSING AS MUCH WEIGHT AS I HAVE

AND SLOWLY GETTING BACK INTO SOCIETY LIKE I SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

OH. WOW. THAT'S REALLY PRETTY.

YEAH, I LIKE IT.

IT'S CUTE.

Tammie: AND IT'S A 3X.

PREVIOUS TIMES THAT I HAVE GONE SHOPPING,

I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING TO FIT,

AND TODAY I ACTUALLY DID.

Woman: YOU ARE A LOT SMALLER THAN YOU REALIZE.

YOU DID LOOK REALLY GOOD IN THAT 3X.

YOU DON'T NEED TO BE LOOKING FOR 4 AND 5Xs.

YOU'RE NO LONGER THAT SIZE.

FEELS GOOD TO GET OUT, DOESN'T IT?

AND SHOP? YEAH.

IT'S MOTIVATION TO KEEP GOING.

THERE YOU GO.

TODAY WAS DEFINITELY A SUCCESS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG WHILE,

I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE'S GONNA BRING.

TODAY, I'M GOING TO DR. NOW'S FOR A WEIGH-IN.

OVER A YEAR AGO,

I NEVER EXPECTED TO BE WHERE I AM TODAY.

I WAS JUST MISERABLE WITH LIFE IN GENERAL,

AND I'M REALLY HOPING HERE

THAT I'M ON THE RIGHT TRACK TO WHERE I NEED TO BE

AND THAT HOPEFULLY I'VE LOST A LITTLE BIT MORE WEIGHT

SINCE MY LAST WEIGH-IN.

Woman: MS. PHILLIPS.

[ LAUGHS ]

ALL RIGHT.

[ LAUGHS ]

Dr. Nowzaradan: HI, CHRISTINA.

Christina: HEY.

WHEN I SAW YOU FIRST, YOU COULD BARELY WALK,

AND YOU COULD BARELY BREATHE.

NOW YOU'RE DOING GREAT, AND I'M PROUD OF YOU,

YOU MADE IT THAT FAR.

THANK YOU, DR. NOW.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU IN A COUPLE WEEKS, OKAY?

OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

CHRISTINA'S DOING VERY WELL. SHE'S MOTIVATED.

I'M GLAD TO SEE SHE'S GETTING INDEPENDENT,

AND I'M PLEASED WITH HER PROGRESS.

THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT MORE TO GO.

I'M GONNA GO TO COLLEGE, GET A GOOD JOB.

I'M GONNA TRAVEL.

THERE'S SO MUCH. THIS ISN'T THE END FOR ME.

IT'S NOWHERE NEAR THE END.