Original subtitles

Sean: I'M A SLAVE TO MY WEIGHT,

AND I KNOW MY ADDICTION IS KILLING ME.

[ MOANING ]

MY WEIGHT HAS GIVEN ME A DEATH SENTENCE.

Nikki: THE THING I RELIED ON ALL THESE YEARS

IS WHAT'S KILLING ME.

IT'S BROKEN! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?

I DON'T KNOW. I CAN'T GET OFF.

DON'T LET ME GO, PLEASE. I'M NOT.

Chad: IT'S HARD TO BE A FATHER FROM A CHAIR.

[ GRUNTS ] THANK YOU, HONEY.

I SEE THAT UNWILLINGNESS.

IF YOU WERE SERIOUS, YOU'D MAKE CHANGES.

Dr. Nowzaradan: HE'S WORSE OFF NOW,

AND HE LOOKS LIKE HE PUT ANOTHER 100 POUNDS ON.

HE MAY BE APPROACHING 1,000 POUNDS.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Sean: WHEN YOU BECOME THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE PERSON

IN YOUR LIFE,

YOU HAVE TO START TO LOOK OUTSIDE YOURSELF

FOR HELP TO CHANGE.

EVERY DAY I WAKE UP,

I HAVE TO FACE THE REALITY OF WHAT MY LIFE HAS BECOME.

I'M SO BIG NOW I CAN HARDLY MOVE.

ALL I CAN DO ON MY OWN IS SCOOCH TO THE EDGE OF MY BED,

GO TO THE BATHROOM, AND SEE IF MY MOM'S AWAKE.

I CAN GET UP, BUT I CAN ONLY WALK A FEW STEPS.

SO I JUST STAY HERE IN THIS BED NO MATTER WHAT.

I CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR MYSELF ANYMORE.

MOM?

HOW YOU DOING, SWEETIE?

-ALL RIGHT. -GOOD. HOW'D YOU SLEEP?

SEAN HAS TO JUST TOTALLY BE TAKEN ARE OF FROM HEAD TO TOE.

EVERYTHING HAS TO BE DONE FOR HIM.

Sean: I ONLY MOVE WHEN I HAVE TO

BECAUSE IT HURTS TO DO ANYTHING.

THE HARDEST DAYS ARE

WHEN I HAVE TO GET UP FOR MY BATH

'CAUSE IT CAN BE QUITE PAINFUL.

HI. HOW ARE YOU?

-GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? -GOOD.

-HOW ARE YOU, SEAN? -I'M ALL RIGHT.

YEAH?

I'VE KNOWN SEAN AND RENEE FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS,

AND I COME IN AND I HELP HER CLEAN UP

AND DO LAUNDRY AND COOK SOME MEALS

AND HELP GIVE SEAN A BATH.

CAN YOU LIFT?

Renee: SEAN HAS GOTTEN SO BIG,

I CAN'T HANDLE CLEANING HIM ON MY OWN ANYMORE.

AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT HE STAYS CLEAN

BECAUSE HE GETS OPEN SORES REAL EASILY.

WHEN YOU'RE VERY, VERY FAT, YOUR BODY GOES THIS WAY

BUT THE FAT GOES ANOTHER WAY, AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IS

YOU START GETTING TEARS IN YOUR SKIN FROM THAT.

Sean: THE PROBLEM IS THEY CAN GET WORSE REAL EASY,

SO EVERY DAY WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

AND IT IS A PAINFUL PROCESS.

READY, BABE.

HANG ON, I GOT TO GET MY SHOULDER INTO THIS.

OKAY.

Renee: HE'S VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE,

AND IT'S VERY HARD FOR ME TO LIFT THIS LARGE MASS ON HIS SIDE

AND GET UNDERNEATH IT AND CLEAN PROPERLY.

Sean: [ GRUNTS ]

WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE, I NEED A DRY WASHCLOTH.

I GOT IT IN MY EYE.

ALL RIGHT. YOU OKAY, SEAN?

[ MOANING ]

THE HARDEST PART FOR ME IS WHEN I HAVE TO LEAN OVER.

I CANNOT BREATHE.

IT'S SUCH A HORRIBLE FEELING BECAUSE MY BODY,

IT JUST CAN'T HANDLE MUCH,

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

THERE YOU GO.

OKAY, KIDDO.

OKAY, WE'RE ALMOST DONE. TWO SECONDS. OKAY.

Renee: LET ME GET THIS CORNER DOWN.

ALL RIGHT, YOU SHOULD BE GOOD, HONEY.

THERE YOU GO.

OKAY. GOOD JOB.

I'M A PRISONER.

ALL I WANT IS OUT.

AND I NEVER REALLY THOUGHT MY LIFE WOULD END UP LIKE THIS.

WHEN I WAS REALLY YOUNG,

I HAD A LOT OF DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING MY EMOTIONS.

I WOULD LASH OUT AT PEOPLE WHEN I WAS ANGRY.

I WOULD KICK PEOPLE.

I BIT SOMEONE ONCE.

I DIDN'T CONTROL MYSELF WELL

BECAUSE THINGS WERE HARD AT HOME.

MY DAD WOULD GET ANGRY AT ME,

AND HE HAD A TENDENCY TO GET IN MY FACE, YELL AT ME.

HE WOULD DO THINGS LIKE BACK ME INTO A CORNER.

IT WAS SCARY.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.

SO I WOULD EAT,

AND SUDDENLY I FELT A LOT BETTER.

IN THAT MOMENT, NOTHING ELSE MATTERED.

Renee: I PROBABLY OVERCOMPENSATED IN A LOT OF WAYS.

I COULDN'T GO TO THE STORE WITHOUT BRINGING HIM HOME A TREAT.

I HAVE AN EATING ISSUE MYSELF,

AND IT'S HARD TO FIX IN SOMEONE ELSE

WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU.

Sean: I STARTED PUTTING ON A LOT OF WEIGHT,

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 9, I WAS PROBABLY 150 POUNDS.

AND THEN, WHEN I WAS 10 YEARS OLD,

MY MOM AND DAD SPLIT UP.

Sean: I REALIZED IT WASN'T HEALTHY

FOR SEAN TO STAY AROUND HIS FATHER.

BUT THE DIVORCE REALLY HAD A HARD EFFECT ON SEAN.

IT REALLY BOTHERED HIM.

Sean: I FELT LIKE IT WAS MY FAULT.

I FELT LIKE MY FAMILY HAD FALLEN APART BECAUSE OF ME.

SO I KEPT GOING TO FOOD TO DEAL WITH THOSE FEELINGS.

I WOULD GET OUT OF SCHOOL, AND MY MOM WOULD BE AT WORK,

SO I'D JUST COME HOME AND GO STRAIGHT TO THE FRIDGE.

I'D EAT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING I COULD GET MY HANDS ON.

THAT'S WHEN THE WEIGHT GAIN STARTED BUILDING.

I STARTED GAINING PROBABLY 50 POUNDS A YEAR.

AND BY THE TIME I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL,

I WAS OVER 400 POUNDS.

AND MY SENIOR YEAR IN HIGH SCHOOL,

I HAD A REALLY BAD LEG INJURY.

I FELL DOWN SOME STAIRS.

MY ANKLE TWISTED,

AND I HAD TWO DETACHED LIGAMENTS IN MY LEG.

AND THAT INJURY MADE ME BEDBOUND

AND PREVENTED ME FROM FINISHING MY SENIOR YEAR.

IT'S BEEN EIGHT YEARS SINCE THAT HAPPENED,

AND I'VE BEEN TRAPPED IN THIS BED,

AND I'VE BEEN GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER TO THE POINT NOW

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I WEIGH.

AND I'M SCARED TO FIND OUT.

MY KNEE HAS NEVER FULLY HEALED,

SO I JUST KIND OF SIT, WATCH TV,

KNIT, PLAY GAMES.

I MISS BEING ABLE TO DO SIMPLE THINGS FOR MYSELF.

IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE ANYMORE,

AND KNOW IT'S BECAUSE OF MY EATING.

FOR ME, EATING CAN BE AN ALL-DAY THING.

I KEEP SNACKS UNDER MY COVERS JUST TO MAKE SURE

I HAVE SOMETHING NEARBY WHEN I WANT TO EAT.

Sean: HEY, MOM.

I'M PROBABLY GONNA NEED A LITTLE SNACK.

SEAN HAS NO APPETITE CONTROL.

HE'S HUNGRY INCESSANTLY.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

JUST A COUPLE BURGERS AND A SODA.

MAYBE MEDIUM FRY.

OH, COULD YOU GET ME ONE OF THOSE CARAMEL SUNDAES?

SURE. NO PROBLEM.

SOMETIMES, IT'S JUST EASIER TO GIVE HIM WHAT HE WANTS,

AND UNFORTUNATELY I DO THAT ALL THE TIME.

OKEYDOKEY.

Renee: I'VE HAD PEOPLE TELL ME, "YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE HIM FOOD

JUST 'CAUSE HE SAYS HE'S HUNGRY."

BUT I'M A MOM, AND WHEN YOUR KIDS SAY,

"I'M HUNGRY, MOM," YOU WANT TO FEED YOUR KID.

[ GRUNTS ]

OKAY.

BECAUSE SEAN LIKES TO EAT PRETTY REGULARLY,

FAST FOOD REALLY IS PRETTY MUCH THE EASIEST THING TO DO.

THANKS.

-HAVE A GREAT DAY. -THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HE HAS VERY LITTLE IN LIFE TO REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO,

SO MY COMING HOME WITH SOMETHING IS A VERY BIG EVENT FOR HIM.

Sean: FOOD HAS KIND OF BECOME MY COMFORT --

KIND OF LIKE A CHILD WITH THEIR BLANKIE.

GRAB THE BAG.

WHEN I'M SAD OR WHEN I'M STRESSED,

WHEN I'M JUST PLAIN DOWN IN THE DUMPS,

I TURN TO FOOD.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING,

BUT AT LEAST I KNOW FOOD IS THERE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY WE ORDER IN TONIGHT?

PIZZA SOUNDS GOOD.

PIZZA SOUNDS GOOD?

MY LIFE IS NO WAY FOR A 26-YEAR-OLD TO LIVE.

I MISS BEING ABLE TO GET UP, MOVE, GO PLACES.

IT'S BEEN EIGHT YEARS SINCE I WENT OUT IN PUBLIC.

Renee: OH, HELLO. HOW ARE YOU?

IT'S PURGATORY.

I CAN'T GO FORWARD. I CAN'T GO BACK.

JUST STUCK.

Renee: SO, LET ME FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE'S YOURS.

I'LL GET IT OVER TO YOU.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE FOOD THAT I LOVE TO EAT --

THE ADDICTION THAT I NOW HAVE IS KILLING ME.

AND I KNOW I'M ALMOST OUT OF TIME.

Renee: SEAN'S MISSING OUT ON EVERYTHING IN LIFE.

IT'S HEARTBREAKING TO SEE SEAN IN THE CONDITION THAT HE'S IN.

Sean: I KNOW FOR A FACT I NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT.

LOSING WEIGHT IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN SURVIVE THIS.

BUT I CAN'T STOP EATING.

I'M DONE. -YOU'RE DONE?

SURE. NO PROBLEM.

Renee: SEAN IS KILLING HIMSELF SLOWLY.

IF WE DON'T CHANGE,

I DON'T SEE SEAN LIVING MORE THAN SIX MONTHS.

ALL RIGHT, KIDDO.

EAT WHAT YOU WANT TO EAT.

SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE.

I'M KILLING MYSELF MORE AND MORE EACH DAY,

AND I'M TIRED OF JUST EXISTING.

I WANT TO HAVE A FAMILY.

I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE FRIENDS.

I CAN'T EVEN DO THAT NOW.

I NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT JUST SO I CAN LIVE.

I HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS.

AND IF I DON'T, I'M DEAD.

JAKE, BE VERY CAREFUL WITH THAT.

Sean: TODAY, MY MOM AND I ARE TRYING

TO MOVE TO HOUSTON TO GET HELP FROM DR. NOW.

AND A LOT OF FRIENDS FROM OUR CHURCH HAVE COME

TO HELP ME DO THIS.

BUT I'M NOT 100% CERTAIN THIS IS THE RIGHT DECISION TO MAKE.

SEAN'S SCARED ABOUT LEAVING

EVERYTHING HE'S EVER KNOWN BEHIND,

BUT IT'S WORTH THE RISK.

Sean: BASICALLY, WE GOT TO GET ME OUT TO THE VAN.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT TRYING TO GET OUT THERE.

[ GRUNTS ]

YOU GOT THIS.

Sean: THE LAST TIME I LEFT THE HOUSE

UNDER MY OWN POWER WAS YEARS AGO.

[ GROANS ] GO.

AND I AM EXTREMELY NERVOUS ABOUT THIS TRIP.

THREE...

IT'S GOING TO TAKE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30 TO 40 HOURS

TO DRIVE THERE.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

AND I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

[ GRUNTS ]

IF I FALL, IT'LL BE NEAR IMPOSSIBLE

FOR PEOPLE TO PICK ME UP.

[ GROANING ]

OH, THAT HURTS.

MY KNEE POPPED. OW.

Woman: WILL WE WEDGE THAT UNDER HIS LEG?

I'M LEAVING EVERYTHING I KNOW TO SAVE MY LIFE.

Woman: LOOK AT THE SKY.

Renee: HE NEEDS TO EXPERIENCE LIFE.

THAT'S WHAT I HOPE COMES OUT OF ALL THIS.

-GOT IT. -THERE YOU GO.

JAKE? HELP ME WITH MY LEG.

3, 2, 1.

THERE YOU GO.

THIS IS BY FAR THE BIGGEST RISK MY MOM AND I HAVE EVER TAKEN.

Renee: GOOD JOB.

JUST THOSE LAST FEW INCHES, BABE.

AND I'M SCARED THAT I'M BEYOND HELP

AT THIS POINT, AND THEN NO MATTER WHAT I DO

OR WHAT HELP I GET,

I'M STILL GOING TO BE DEAD SOON.

Sean: IT'S BEEN A LONG TRIP SO FAR,

AND THERE'S STILL A LONG WAY TO GO.

I'M HOPING THAT THIS IS ALL WORTH IT

'CAUSE IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT.

I AM VERY TIRED.

I'M JUST UNCOMFORTABLE FROM LYING STILL FOR SO LONG.

AND IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATED

TO DO SIMPLE THINGS I WOULD DO AT HOME.

I'M STUCK!

OH! -I GOT MY SHOULDER INTO IT.

Sean: OHH, MY KNEE!

[ GROANS ] -NO? OKAY.

Renee: I HATE TO SEE MY CHILD IN SO MUCH PAIN,

BUT I KNOW THIS IS TO HELP HIM.

Sean: I'M JUST DONE WITH THIS DRIVE.

I WANT TO BE IN MY OWN BED AGAIN.

HERE'S YOUR DRUMSTICK.

THANKS.

THE ONLY THING THAT REALLY HELPS CALM ME DOWN IS FOOD.

OW!

I HATE THIS.

I'M MORE THAN READY FOR THIS ROAD TRIP TO BE OVER.

SO, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE FINALLY IN HOUSTON.

WE ARE HEADING TO THE HOSPITAL FIRST.

I JUST WANT TO GET OUR OWN PLACE AND INTO MY OWN BED.

SO I HOPE I DON'T HAVE TO STAY LONG.

I DON'T LIKE HOSPITALS AT ALL.

Dr. Nowzaradan: RIGHT NOW WE ARE EXPECTING

THE ARRIVAL OF SEAN MILLIKEN.

HE SUPPOSEDLY CAN STILL WALK SOME,

SO WE'LL SEE HOW MOBILE HE IS

AND GET HIM OUT AND INSIDE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

SEAN? -HELLO.

-HOW ARE YOU TODAY? -GOOD.

HOW WAS YOUR TRIP?

INTERESTING.

ALL RIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: RIGHT NOW, SEAN DOESN'T LOOK LIKE

HE'S VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HIS HEALTH.

HE'S CLEARLY AT LEAST 800 POUNDS FROM THE LOOKS OF IT.

AND HE HAS SWELLING UP THE ENTIRE LEFT LEG

AND DEFORMITY OF THE LEFT FOOT.

LET'S BRING HIM IN.

Dr. Nowzaradan: BUT SEAN HAS SOME MOBILITY, WHICH IS GOOD.

ARE YOU OKAY?

BUT HE CAN'T WALK TOO FAR,

AND HE STILL NEEDS TO BE IN A WHEELCHAIR.

SO WE GET HIM INSIDE AND SEE HOW HE'S DOING.

Sean: PLEASE STOP. I CAN'T GO ANY FURTHER.

STOP!

[ GRUNTS ] -TELL ME WHEN.

SEAN, ARE YOU FEELING OKAY?

[ Voice breaking ] NO. I'M IN EXTREME PAIN.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

EVERYTHING -- I'M NOT USED TO SITTING IN A WHEELCHAIR.

OKAY, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO GO ANY FURTHER,

I'LL EXAMINE YOU HERE.

I'M IN EXTREME PAIN. -TAKE A DEEP BREATH FOR ME.

SEAN IS THROWING A LITTLE TANTRUM

BECAUSE HE'S UNCOMFORTABLE IN HIS WHEELCHAIR.

HE'S LIKELY USED TO GETTING HIS WAY WITH THAT.

HE LIVES WITH HIS MOTHER, AND I DON'T THINK IT'S HARD

TO START TO UNDERSTAND THEIR UNHEALTHY DYNAMIC.

26? -YEAH.

Renee: THE LAST CALORIES THAT I WAS TRYING TO GET HIM AT

WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,500 A DAY.

-2,500? -2,500 A DAY, YEAH.

WHAT?

THAT'S FINE.

WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GETTING INTO, YEAH.

THE REALITY IS SEAN MUST BE TAKING IN

AT LEAST 20,000 TO 30,000 CALORIES A DAY,

AND THAT IS BECAUSE HIS MOTHER IS BRINGING IT TO HIM.

YOU'RE KILLING HIM RIGHT NOW.

THIS HAS TO STOP.

THIS IS A VERY UNHEALTHY DYNAMIC BETWEEN THEM.

OH, NO.

WHAT?

SEAN IS USED TO HIS MOTHER COMPLETELY TAKING ARE OF HIM.

AS LONG AS SHE DOES EVERYTHING FOR HIM,

SEAN HAS NO REASON TO LEAVE.

AND SHE CONTROLS HIM WITH THE FOOD.

WE HAVE TO START MAKING DRASTIC CHANGES WITH HIM

STARTING WITH HIS HOME SITUATION.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ALL RIGHT, SEAN, WE'RE GONNA BRING THE SCALE

AND LET YOU STAND ON IT AND SEE HOW MUCH YOU WEIGH.

ALL RIGHT, WATCH YOUR FEET. WATCH YOUR TOES.

ALL RIGHT, THE SCALE SAID OVER THE LIMIT.

SO, THIS SCALE GOES ONLY TO 800 POUNDS.

I NEED TO KNOW YOUR TRUE WEIGHT,

SO WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU TO A BED SCALE.

Sean: I HATE THIS.

I JUST WANT TO GO HOME.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA GET YOU INTO BED

AND CHECK YOUR WEIGHT.

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE 919 POUNDS.

YOU MAY BE THE HEAVIEST PERSON ALIVE RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS NOT A GOOD PLACE TO BE.

AT YOUR WEIGHT, IT'S A MIRACLE THAT YOU'RE ALIVE.

BOTH SEAN AND HIS MOM CLAIM THEY'RE READY TO MAKE CHANGE.

BUT I'M NOT SEEING ANY EVIDENCE OF THAT.

HE CAN GET UP,

AND HE CAN START TO CHOOSE TO DO THINGS ON HIS OWN.

Dr. Nowzaradan: HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A DIET PLAN,

AND I WANT YOU TO LOSE AT LEAST 100 POUNDS

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

IF YOU DO THAT,

I WILL APPROVE YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

LET'S GET YOU BACK UP TO YOUR MOM.

Sean: ALL RIGHT, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.

THE FACT THAT HE'S STILL SOMEWHAT MOBILE IS PROBABLY

THE ONLY REASON HE'S STILL ALIVE.

HIS MOM HAS TO STOP OVERFEEDING HIM,

AND SEAN NEEDS TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY

AND MAKE CHANGES NOW,

OR HE WON'T BE AROUND MUCH LONGER AT ALL.

Renee: YEAH, I'LL GET YOU SOMETHING IN A SECOND, HONEY.

Sean: MY MOM AND I HAVE BEEN IN HOUSTON FOR A MONTH NOW,

AND WE'RE STILL TRYING TO JUST GET SETTLED.

Renee: SEAN HASN'T REALLY ADAPTED TO THE NEW DIET JUST YET.

BUT WE'RE TRYING.

SEAN HAS A BIG APPETITE.

YOU KNOW, HE JUST WANTS TO EAT CONSTANTLY.

HE NEVER SEEMS LIKE HE'S GONNA GET FULL.

AND IF HE'S HUNGRY, HE NEEDS SOMETHING TO EAT.

Sean: TODAY, I WAS CRAVING A BURGER.

AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY FOOD JUST A LITTLE.

THE DOCTOR WANTS ME ON 800 CALORIES.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT WOULD BE IN ACTUAL FOOD.

ACTUALLY, I THINK THAT 800 IS A BIT EXTREME.

BUT I'VE CUT BACK A LOT.

I'M TRYING TO KEEP IT DOWN

TO ONE BURGER OR FAST-FOOD MEAL A DAY.

SO I FEEL LIKE IT'S A GOOD COMPROMISE

TO SHOW THE DOCTOR I CAN DO THIS.

AND I HOPE I'M MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

I'M GETTING READY TO HEAD TO THE DOCTOR

TO SEE IF I LOST THE WEIGHT HE WANTED ME TO LOSE.

[ GRUNTS ]

BUT I'M FINDING IT HARD TO MOVE RIGHT NOW.

OKAY.

TAKE A MINUTE AND CATCH YOUR BREATH.

Renee: SEAN AND I DID TRY TO KEEP THE DOCTOR'S DIET.

BUT WE DIDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE PUTTING HIM

ON THAT LOW OF A CALORIE DIET.

BUT I REALLY DO FEEL SEAN IS DOING BETTER NOW.

I'M NOT NERVOUS ABOUT MY PROGRESS,

BUT I AM NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT THE DOCTOR IS GOING TO SAY.

I REALLY NEED THIS SURGERY.

I HAVE TO LOSE A DRASTIC AMOUNT OF WEIGHT.

OR I KNOW I'M DEAD.

Sean: I'M ABOUT TO SEE THE DOCTOR

AND FIND OUT IF HE'S GOING TO GIVE ME WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

IT'S BEEN TWO MONTHS,

AND HE WANTED ME TO LOSE 100 POUNDS AND GET BELOW 800.

BUT IT'S SO HARD TO MOVE AROUND RIGHT NOW.

IT'S MISERABLE, AND I JUST WANT TO SEE

IF I'M GETTING MY SURGERY.

SEAN, HOW DO YOU FEEL?

IN EXTREME PAIN.

WHERE IS YOUR PAIN?

MY TAILBONE AND MY BACK.

AND HOW IS YOUR DEGREE OF ABILITY TO MOVE AROUND?

IT'S WORSE.

LET ME JUST CHECK A FEW THINGS.

SEAN IS SO BIG RIGHT NOW,

HE CANNOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE WAITING-ROOM DOOR.

HE'S WORSE OFF NOW, AND HE LOOKS LIKE

HE MAYBE PUT ANOTHER 50 TO 100 POUNDS ON.

YEAH, YOUR EDEMA IS GETTING MUCH WORSE.

AT THIS POINT, HE MAY BE APPROACHING 1,000 POUNDS.

VERY FEW PEOPLE MAKE IT TO THAT WEIGHT AND SURVIVE LONG.

AGAIN.

OKAY. BREATHE NORMAL.

SEAN AND HIS MOM ARE NOT TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY AT ALL.

AND THIS DYNAMIC WITH HIS MOM IS WHAT WE HAVE TO BREAK.

HOW IS THE NUTRITION?

GOOD, GOOD.

I MEAN, HE'S EATING, YOU KNOW, JUST GOOD, HEALTHY FOOD,

BUT WE NEED TO GET ON 800 CALORIES.

RENEE, HIS CONDITION IS FAR WORSE THAN TWO MONTHS AGO.

THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

JUST -- I MEAN, WHAT SHOULD HE BE EATING?

SHOULD HE BE EATING PROTEIN?

I GAVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEEDED IN THE DIET PLAN.

YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT.

SEAN IS NEAR DEATH RIGHT NOW, SO SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: IF I SEND SEAN HOME,

THIS WILL PROBABLY THE LAST TIME I SEE HIM.

RIGHT NOW WE NEED TO GET HIS HEALTH UNDER CONTROL

AND HIS WEIGHT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

YOU AND YOUR MOM HAVE NOT MADE A SINGLE POSITIVE CHANGE

AS FAR AS I CAN TELL.

SO I'M ADMITTING YOU TO THE HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY

SO WE CAN GET YOUR HEALTH UNDER CONTROL.

THIS IS GOING TO BE YOUR LAST CHANCE.

DO THIS OR THAT'S IT.

WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT.

I'M GOING TO ADMIT HIM TO THE HOSPITAL

AND START HIM ON 800-CALORIE DIET PER DAY

FOR THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS.

IF WE DON'T, HIS BODY IS GOING TO GIVE OUT ANY DAY NOW.

Sean: I KNOW I NEED HELP.

BUT THIS JUST FEELS UNFAIR RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S NO REASON TO BE IN THE HOSPITAL

AWAY FROM MY HOME AND MY BED.

THIS JUST FEELS A BIT EXCESSIVE.

I'VE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL TWO MONTHS.

THEY'VE HAD ME ON A CONTROLLED DIET,

AND I'VE PRETTY MUCH BEEN STARVING.

Dr. Nowzaradan: HELLO. HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?

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

-I'M DOING ALL RIGHT. -HOW ARE YOU FEELING, SEAN?

FEELING OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WHEN SEAN ARRIVED HERE,

WE WERE ABLE TO WEIGH HIM, AND HE WAS 1,003 POUNDS.

BUT WE STARTED HIM

ON AN 800-CALORIE-A-DAY, CONTROLLED DIET,

AND HE STARTED LOSING WEIGHT RAPIDLY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: 744.

YOU DID GOOD.

AAH.

Dr. Nowzaradan: NOW THAT WE HAVE HIS WEIGHT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

AND HE'S MOBILE AGAIN, I'M SENDING HIM HOME

TO SHOW ME THAT HE AND HIS MOTHER ARE CAPABLE

OF MAKING CHANGES THEY SAY THEY WANT.

ALL RIGHT, SEAN, I WANT YOU TO LOSE 100 POUNDS

OVER THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS TO SHOW ME

THAT YOU CAN DO THIS ON YOUR OWN, OKAY?

-THANK YOU, DOCTOR. -ALL RIGHT.

TO HELP THEM, I'M SENDING A NUTRITIONIST

AND PHYSICAL THERAPIST TO SEE THEM.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM EVERY TOOL POSSIBLE

TO AVOID SEAN GAINING AGAIN.

Renee: OKAY, SEAN, I'M GONNA REVIEW YOUR ROUTINE WITH YOU,

AND WE'RE GONNA SEE WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO TO SWITCH IT UP, OKAY?

Renee: SEAN'S BEEN A LITTLE RESISTANT,

BUT I'M TRYING TO BE HIS COACH.

Renee: SO, DO YOUR LEG PUMPS.

AND I THINK WE'RE GONNA BUMP THE REPS UP, TOO,

BECAUSE WE'VE ONLY BEEN DOING 10.

MOM, WE ARE BUMPING IT UP.

IF WE'RE DOING IT EVERY HOUR, I AM BUMPING UP REPS.

I KNOW, BUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS NOT THAT MUCH.

WE'RE ADDING ON TWICE AS MUCH NOW.

TRY.

YOU TRY IT.

THERE IS AN ELEMENT IN THIS PROCESS

THAT I FEEL I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR, SO I ENCOURAGE HIM,

BUT I CAN'T FORCE HIM TO DO MORE.

IT'S TOO MANY.

OKAY, DO AS MANY AS YOU CAN TOLERATE.

Sean: MY MOM'S BEEN PUSHING ME TO DO A LOT.

I'M KIND OF REACHING MY LIMIT WITH IT ALL.

OKAY, I'LL GET YOU YOUR WALKER.

AND YOU CAN STAND TWICE, OKAY?

I CAN'T DO IT RIGHT NOW.

MOM, I LITERALLY CAN'T DO IT RIGHT NOW.

WHY CAN'T YOU DO IT RIGHT NOW?

Renee: WE'VE COME TOO FAR TO GIVE UP.

FOR SEAN, TURNING AROUND FROM THIS PROCESS IS

PRETTY MUCH A DEATH SENTENCE,

AND WE ALWAYS HAVE THAT LOOMING OVER US.

Sean: I'VE BEEN WORKING ON MAKING MORE PROGRESS,

BUT I'M KIND OF GETTING FED UP WITH ALL THE RESTRICTIONS.

DR. NOW SAID HE'S SENDING SOME PEOPLE TO HELP ME STAY ON TRACK,

AND TODAY THE NUTRITIONIST IS COMING.

AND I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

HELLO. HI. HOW ARE YOU? I'M KIM.

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

-THIS IS SEAN. -HELLO.

HI, SEAN. HOW ARE YOU?

Sean: I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU?

I'M GOOD.

I'M HERE TODAY TO SEE HOW I CAN HELP YOU.

I UNDERSTAND YOU'VE GOT TO LOSE SOME WEIGHT

SO YOU CAN HAVE SURGERY. -MM-HMM.

SO, ARE YOU ON AN 800-CALORIE DIET?

TRUTHFULLY, WE'RE PROBABLY HITTING CLOSER

TO 1,400 TO 1,500 CALORIES A DAY

AND SOMETIMES EVEN A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.

I'M STILL DEALING WITH TRYING TO SAY NO

TO SEAN ON SNACKS IN BETWEEN MEALS,

HENCE THE REASON WHY HE STILL GOT A PIECE OF PIZZA THIS MONTH

AND HE STILL GOT A DOUGHNUT THIS MONTH.

I KNOW IT'S A TOUGH, TOUGH THING,

BUT I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO HAVE SURGERY

AND YOU WANT THAT TO COME ABOUT IN A FEW MONTHS OR SO,

YOU NEED TO REALLY, REALLY BE STRICT.

I'M A LITTLE FREAKED OUT THAT WE HAVE TO DROP CALORIES

DOWN A LITTLE LOWER THAN WE'VE ALREADY BEEN STRUGGLING WITH

BECAUSE WE'RE EATING SO MUCH BETTER THAN WE USED TO,

AND YOU STILL HAVE TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND GO,

"YEAH, BUT IT'S STILL NOT WHERE WE NEED TO BE."

I BUY THE PACKAGED APPLES -- YOU KNOW, THOSE.

THOSE ARE USUALLY WHAT HE WOULD GET WITH HIS LUNCH.

MAYBE RAW CARROTS WITH LUNCH INSTEAD OF THE APPLES.

WOULD THAT WORK FOR YOU, SEAN?

I CAN TRY IT.

I SEE SOME PASTA.

DO Y'ALL EAT PASTA? -YEAH.

-SO, THIS TYPE OF THING... -OKAY.

...IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO GET RID OF, OKAY?

SO THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING TO JUST TOSS OUT.

NO PROBLEM.

Renee: I AM MORE ANXIOUS BECAUSE MORE IS BEING ASKED.

THAT'S A SCARY PLACE FOR ME TO BE.

Sean: I DON'T LIKE THIS.

I KNEW THAT SAYING GOODBYE TO A LOT OF THIS STUFF WAS COMING.

BUT I'M ALREADY TRYING AND GIVING UP SO MUCH.

I'M NOT IN THE MOOD TO DEAL WITH THE PHYSICAL THERAPIST.

I THINK I'M DOING FINE ON MY OWN.

HI. HOW ARE YOU?

-GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? -GOOD.

-HOW ARE YOU TODAY? -I'M GOOD.

GOOD.

SO, LET'S START WITH JUST RANGE OF MOTION

BEFORE WE TEST STRENGTH.

I WANT TO SEE IF YOU CAN LIFT BOTH ARMS UP ABOVE YOUR HEAD.

AWESOME. REACH BACK BEHIND YOUR HEAD.

GOOD. AND THEN REACH BACK...

Renee: I KNOW I HAVEN'T BEEN TOO SUCCESSFUL

IN GETTING SEAN TO WORK OUT.

AND WITH HOW MUCH HE'S BEEN EATING,

HE NEEDS TO BE GETTING UP MORE,

STANDING MORE, MOVING A LOT MORE.

UP A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.

ALL RIGHTY, SO, THAT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING

WE NEED TO WORK ON.

EVEN IN A POSITION LIKE THIS, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE

TO GET YOUR ENTIRE LEG ELEVATED OFF OF THE MAT.

THE NEXT THING WE'RE GONNA DO IS STAND.

Sean: MOVING IS SO PAINFUL AND HARD FOR ME.

I CAN'T DO AS MUCH AS THEY WANT ME TO.

THIS ALL JUST FEELS LIKE TOO MUCH.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN TAKE SIX TO EIGHT STEPS.

YOU'RE AT FOUR.

WE WANT TO GO A LITTLE BIT FURTHER THAN THAT.

OKAY. WELL, LET'S BACK IT UP.

THE MORE I DO, THE HARDER IT IS FOR ME TO BREATHE.

IT'S JUST WAY TOO DIFFICULT AND WAY OVER MY LIMIT.

[ GRUNTS ]

Woman: WE'RE GONNA HELP YOU.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SEAN IS COMPLAINING OF CHEST PAIN,

SO WE RUSHED HIM TO THE HOSPITAL,

AND WE'RE GOING TO RUN SOME TESTS.

Woman: THAT'S ALL THE WAY UP, ALL RIGHT?

BUT I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS WRONG.

I THINK THE ISSUE IS HE'S NOT LIKING THE PROGRAM RIGHT NOW.

IF HE'S MAKING THIS UP

TO TRY AND GET OUT OF STICKING WITH THE PROGRAM,

THEN HE'S IN FOR A WAKE-UP CALL.

SEAN IS PLAYING A DANGEROUS GAME THAT IS RISKING HIS LIFE

IF HE'S NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GET HELP.

HIS BODY HAS BEEN THROUGH TOO MUCH

AND IS GOING TO GIVE OUT SOON.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SEAN CAME TO THE HOSPITAL CLAIMING

HE WAS HAVING CHEST PAIN

AND WORRIED THAT HE WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

I SUSPECT THAT HE WAS MAKING IT UP

TO TRY TO GET OUT OF HIS PHYSICAL THERAPY

AND HIS DIET PLAN,

AND I THINK I'M RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

SEAN, WE RAN SOME TESTS, AND NOTHING IS WRONG

EXCEPT THAT YOU NEED TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT.

SO, I'M GUESSING THAT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN STICKING

TO YOUR DIET AND EXERCISE.

OKAY, 787 POUNDS.

THAT'S A WEIGHT GAIN JUST OVER 40 POUNDS.

THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

YOU CAN'T KEEP MANIPULATING EVERYONE

LIKE YOU HAVE DONE WITH YOUR MOTHER.

YOU'RE RISKING YOUR LIFE EVERY DAY YOU DO THIS.

EITHER THIS STOPS NOW,

OR YOU CAN TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT ON YOUR OWN

BECAUSE YOU SEEM TO THINK YOU KNOW BETTER.

I'M SENDING YOU HOME,

AND I'M SENDING A PSYCHOLOGIST TO TALK TO BOTH OF YOU

BECAUSE THIS UNHEALTHY DYNAMIC YOU BOTH HAVE IS GOING

TO LEAD TO YOUR DEATH.

NEXT TIME I SEE YOU, I WANT YOU TO LOSE 150 POUNDS.

AND I'M GIVING YOU TWO MORE MONTHS --

NO MORE GAMES, NO MORE EXCUSES.

SEAN HAS TO STOP MANIPULATING HIS MOM,

AND HIS MOM HAS TO STOP GIVING IN.

IF SHE DOESN'T, THEN NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE,

AND SEAN IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF HIS WEIGHT.

-ALL RIGHT, FINE. -THIS IS HIS LAST CHANCE.

HOPEFULLY, HE WILL TAKE IT.

Renee: THE PSYCHIATRIST IS COMING OVER TODAY,

AND HE'S GOING TO TALK TO BOTH ME AND SEAN

ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP.

I'M NOT SURE HOW TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

LOOKS LIKE OUR GUY IS HERE.

Renee: AND I'M WILLING TO TRY WHATEVER I CAN RIGHT NOW

TO HELP SEAN GET THIS SURGERY.

HELLO. -HI. HI.

-HOW ARE YOU? -I'M GOOD. HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

Renee: GOOD.

-HEY, SEAN. -HI.

-I'M DR. EVERETT. -NICE TO MEET YOU.

IT'S REALLY NICE TO MEET YOU. IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.

SO, HOW DID YOUR WEIGHT GAIN GET STARTED?

I GUESS IT STARTED ABOUT WHEN I WAS MAYBE 10.

OKAY.

ABOUT THAT TIME WAS WHEN MY PARENTS WERE SPLIT UP.

I THOUGHT IT WAS MY FAULT, AND SADLY I TURNED TO FOOD.

IT SOUNDS LIKE CHILDHOOD WAS A LITTLE ROCKY.

IT WAS JUST A REAL DIFFICULT TIME.

AND I WORKED FULL-TIME, AND HE CAME HOME AFTER SCHOOL

AND HAD FREE ACCESS, YOU KNOW, AND ATE WHATEVER HE WANTED.

OH, BOY.

WHAT HUMANS DO IS THEY START CREATING

PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR,

AND IF IT FILLS A NEED, THAT'S WHAT THEY KEEP DOING.

AND NOW YOU'RE NOT 10 ANYMORE.

NOW YOU'RE 26. -AND I'M TRYING TO CHANGE.

AND YOU'RE CHANGING IT.

YOU'RE NOT TRYING TO CHANGE IT.

-I AM CHANGING IT. -YOU ARE CHANGING IT.

I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER, "I AM CHANGING THIS.

I AM DETERMINED, AND I'M NOT GIVING IN

BECAUSE I WANT TO GET OUT OF THIS BED."

SO, BRINGING GOOD FOOD INTO THE HOUSE --

SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS AS MUCH A STRUGGLE FOR YOU

AS IT WAS FOR SEAN.

YEAH, IT WAS. IT WAS VERY MUCH SO.

COULD YOU THINK ABOUT SAYING NO

AS A WAY OF SAYING, "I LOVE YOU"?

I CAN 'CAUSE I'VE KIND OF HAD TO LEARN TO DO THAT,

AND I CAN'T SAY IT'S A STRUGGLE I'VE COMPLETELY OVERCOME.

I STILL SUCCUMB SOMETIMES.

IT'S HARD TO SAY NO.

YEAH, IT'S HARD TO SAY NO.

ARE YOU READY TO START PUSHING YOURSELF THERE?

YEAH.

EVERYTHING THAT NORMALLY YOU BRING HIM

NOW REQUIRES SOME LEVEL OF MOVEMENT.

AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO START REAL BIG.

I WANT YOU TO START WITH SOMETHING

THAT WE KNOW HE COULD DO. -RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, GUYS.

WELL, I THINK WE'RE GONNA CALL IT GOOD.

-THANK YOU. -GREAT MEETING YOU.

-Y'ALL TAKE CARE. BYE-BYE. -TAKE CARE.

Sean: I KNOW DEEP DOWN I COULD DO MORE,

BUT I WANT A LIFE, SO I'M GOING TO TRY AND DO

WHAT THE DOCTOR NEEDS ME TO SO I CAN GET THE SURGERY.

BECAUSE WITHOUT IT, I'M GOING TO DIE.

I REALLY HOPE I LOST THE 150 I NEEDED.

I AM VERY, VERY NERVOUS.

Dr. Nowzaradan: 636 --

CUTTING IT CLOSE, BUT YOU DID IT.

SO WE'RE GONNA APPROVE YOU FOR SURGERY.

THANK YOU.

IT'S BEEN A HARD JOURNEY, BUT IT'S WELL WORTH IT.

I'M PROUD OF YOU. I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

-ALL RIGHTY. -OKAY?

-GOOD TALKING TO YOU, DR. NOW. -ALL RIGHT.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

FIST BUMP!

YOU DID GOOD!

I'M JUST SO HAPPY AND PROUD RIGHT NOW.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO

A GASTRIC-SLEEVE PROCEDURE ON SEAN.

EVEN WITH ALL HIS WEIGHT LOSS...

HE'S VERY HIGH-RISK, SO WE HAVE TO BE SURE NOT

TO PUSH HIS BODY TOO FAR.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO

A GASTRIC-SLEEVE PROCEDURE ON SEAN.

Dr. Nowzaradan: CAN I SEE THIS SPOT?

Dr. Nowzaradan: GASTRIC SLEEVE IS AN OPERATION

THAT ESSENTIALLY WE TAKE 80% TO 90% OF HIS STOMACH OUT

AND LEAVE A SLEEVE-WIDE, SKINNY PORTION OF STOMACH IN PLACE.

GASTRIC SLEEVE CAN BE A SHORTER OPERATION

AND HAVE LESS COMPLICATION OF ANESTHESIA

ON VERY HEAVY PATIENTS THAN DOING GASTRIC BYPASS.

Renee: I'M NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.

I REALLY BELIEVE EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE FINE,

BUT THERE'S THE ELEMENT OF DANGER AND RISK,

AND THAT'S FRIGHTENING.

BUT HE NEEDED THE SURGERY TO SAVE HIS LIFE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.

ALL RIGHT, TURN THE LIGHT ON.

ALL RIGHT.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SEAN'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

THE SURGERY IS GOING TO HELP HIM

TO MAKE MORE PROGRESS IN THE LONG RUN.

BUT HE STILL NEEDS TO LOSE A LOT OF WEIGHT.

WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP HIM MOTIVATED

AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HIM AND HIS MOM,

BUT FOR NOW HE'S DOING REALLY GOOD.

ONCE HE RECOVERS, WE CAN GET HIM HOME

SO HE CAN CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS ON HIS OWN.

I'VE BEEN HOME FROM SURGERY FOR A MONTH,

AND I HAVE BEEN GETTING USED TO ALL THE CHANGES.

AND I'M GLAD THE CRAVINGS AREN'T AS BAD RIGHT NOW.

SO, 600 -- WE'VE DECIDED

WE'RE GONNA DO MOVIES, RIGHT? -SUMMER MOVIES.

I COULD BELIEVE IN A FUTURE NOW

WHERE I'LL BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND DO THINGS.

SO, I'M PLANNING GOALS WITH MY MOM

FOR STUFF I WANT TO DO EVERY TIME I HIT A WEIGHT GOAL.

SO, THAT'S 400.

I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT JUST DREAMS NOW.

AND NOW I CAN HIT ALL THESE GOALS IN THE NEXT YEAR.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M DETERMINED TO DO.

SO, YOU'RE THINKING 200.

HOW ABOUT BIG AMUSEMENT PARK OR A CRUISE?

IT'S EXCITING TO SEE MY SON'S LIFE TAKE SHAPE.

Renee: YOU'LL BE HITTING THOSE GOALS BEFORE WE KNOW IT, BABE.

YOU READY TO GET YOUR WEIGHT CHECKED?

I HAVE WORKED PRETTY HARD FOR THIS MOMENT.

YOU'RE DOWN TO 583. THIS IS GOOD.

-YOU'RE UNDER 600 POUNDS. -SWEET.

SWEET. -ALL RIGHT?

-WOW. -THAT'S AWESOME.

Sean: I THINK I'D LIKE TO TRY

AND GET OUTSIDE FOR A LITTLE BIT.

OOH.

Sean: I WAS BARELY ABLE TO MOVE A YEAR AGO.

NOW, I CAN GET AROUND A LOT EASIER.

GOOD JOB, SWEETIE. YOU'RE DOING GREAT.

I STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO, BUT I'M CLOSER THAN I'VE BEEN

IN 10 YEARS TO BE BACK OUT THERE DOING THINGS, LIVING LIFE.

YOU ARE DEFINITELY MOVING A LOT BETTER, HONEY.

THERE'S A WHOLE WORLD OUT THERE.

OKAY.

AND I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK TO IT.