Original subtitles

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**

**

Female Reporter: AN 800-POUND MAN FROM CRANSTON

DESPERATE FOR HELP AFTER, HE SAYS,

RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL TOLD HIM TO LEAVE.

Male Reporter: FOR THE PAST 80 DAYS,

STEVEN WAS GETTING THE HELP HE NEEDED

AT RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL,

BUT AFTER STEVEN VIOLATED HIS CARE PLAN BY ORDERING PIZZA,

STEVEN SAID THE HOSPITAL TOLD HIM HE CAN NO LONGER STAY.

STEVEN'S FATHER SAYS TAKING HIS SON HOME

WILL BE A DEATH SENTENCE,

SO THE TWO MEN SAY THEY'LL CONTINUE TO DRIVE

UNTIL THEY FIND A PLACE THAT CAN HELP.

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN TO.

I'VE CALLED EVERYBODY --

EVERYBODY YOU COULD THINK OF IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND,

AND NOBODY CAN HELP ME.

Dr. Nowzaradan: STEVEN ASSANTI IS BEING TRANSPORTED

TO MY CARE IN HOUSTON RIGHT NOW,

AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO EXPECT.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND,

HE SUFFERS FROM SEVERE PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES

THAT MAKE IT PROBLEMATIC TO TREAT HIM,

SO HE'S GOING TO BE A UNIQUE CASE.

THIS LOOKS REALLY YUMMY!

[ MUFFLED GRUNTING ]

DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA!

* DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA *

* DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA *

* DA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DA *

Dr. Nowzaradan: HIS BROTHER, JUSTIN, IS OVER 600 POUNDS,

AND HE'S ALSO COMING WITH HIM.

SO IT SOUNDS LIKE

A PERFECT STORM OF DYSFUNCTION IS COMING,

AND WE MAY BE FACING THE HARDEST CHALLENGE YET

TO TRY TO HELP THE ASSANTIS.

**

**

[ WATER RUNNING ]

[ WATER STOPS ]

Steven: I'M AT KENT HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW.

I WAS LIVING IN MY DAD'S TRUCK

FOR APPROXIMATELY A WEEK BEFORE I CAME HERE

BECAUSE I GOT KICKED OUT OF A PREVIOUS HOSPITAL

FOR ORDERING A PIZZA.

AND NOW THIS HOSPITAL IS ASKING ME TO LEAVE

BECAUSE THEY CAN'T HELP PEOPLE MY SIZE

BECAUSE I'M TOO MORBIDLY OBESE.

BUT KENT HOSPITAL HAS BEEN TRYING TO MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS

FOR TRANSPORT FOR ME TO MOVE OUT OF STATE TO HOUSTON

AND SEE DR. NOWZARADAN.

NOWHERE ELSE WILL TAKE ME ANYMORE,

SO HE'S MY LAST HOPE.

BUT THE FACT THAT I MOVE FROM HOSPITAL TO HOSPITAL

IS FRUSTRATING, BECAUSE NO ONE CAN HANDLE MY WEIGHT.

1...2...3. UP AND IN.

Woman: THANKS, GUYS. ALL RIGHT.

Steven: AND SOMETIMES I GOT FRUSTRATED WITH THE STAFF,

AND I GET CRAZY UPSET.

SO I HAVE MOMENTS WHERE I YELL A LITTLE BIT,

OR I'LL JUST HAVE TROUBLE CONTROLLING MY ATTITUDE.

HELLO. ARE YOU MY NURSE?!

I AM [BLEEP] A BEDPAN!

I DON'T LIKE THAT [BLEEP]!

I DON'T LIKE-A!

YOU [BLEEP] [BLEEP] YOU WANT TO HANG UP?!

YOU SON OF A [BLEEP]!

DAD!

I'M ON THE BEDPAN FOR A HALF AN HOUR.

I GOT PISS ALL OVER MY [BLEEP] BED.

-SIR, I'M SO SORRY. -THE [BLEEP] OUT OF HERE.

Woman #2: OKAY.

I NEED HELP, I'LL CALL THE [BLEEP] COPS.

DON'T [BLEEP] WITH ME, BROAD. DO NOT.

MR. ASSANTI, I CAN'T HELP YOU IF YOU'RE HOLLERING AT ME.

I JUST CAME IN AT 7:00 --

I HAVE BEEN ON THIS THING FOR A HALF AN HOUR.

HEAR IT, PEOPLE -- A HALF AN HOUR.

SO IF YOU'RE NOT IN HERE IN FIVE [BLEEP] MINUTES,

THE POLICE WILL BE CALLED!

'CAUSE I GOT PROOF, MOTHER [BLEEP]

SO, HOPEFULLY, IF I MEET DR. NOWZARADAN, HE CAN HELP ME.

**

[ SIGHS ]

THIS IS THE HOUSE WHERE STEVEN USED TO LIVE IN

WHEN HE WAS AT HIS BIGGEST.

HERE'S THE BATHROOM THAT I HAD TO GET HIM INTO,

WHERE HE BROKE THIS BEING SO HEAVY

THAT ALL HIS WEIGHT CRACKED THIS WHOLE PIECE RIGHT OFF.

AND THEN, WHEN HE USED THE BATHROOM,

HE LEANED UP AGAINST THIS,

AND SOMEHOW, SOME WAY, THIS CRACKED.

SO I'M SURPRISED HE DIDN'T BREAK THIS --

HE BROKE THIS PART.

HERE, I'LL SHOW YOU THE BEDROOM THAT HE SPENT 24-7 IN.

THIS IS BASICALLY ALL HIS STUFFED ANIMALS

AND HIS TV, HIS VIDEOS.

HE JUST COULDN'T GET OUT OF BED

AND WALK AROUND LIKE A REGULAR, NORMAL PERSON WOULD.

SO THIS IS THE ROOM HE WOULD EAT IN,

USE HIS URINALS TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.

HE ONLY TIME HE WENT TO THE REGULAR BATHROOM

WAS WHEN HE HAD TO GO NUMBER TWO.

HE USED TO EAT IN THIS ROOM CONSTANTLY,

AND HE WAS SNEAKING PIZZA ALL THE TIME

AND HIDING THE EVIDENCE.

ONE DAY, I HAPPENED TO OPEN UP THAT CLOSET,

AND I SEE 10 PILES OF EMPTY PIZZA BOXES IN HERE,

WHERE HE TRIED TO HIDE 'EM FROM ME.

I SAID, "LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING -- IT'S GONNA STOP,

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT EVER AGAIN."

AND THEN HE SAYS TO ME, LIKE, "OH, ALL RIGHT.

UH, WELL, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA GET ME TO EAT NOW?"

I SAID, "ARE YOU SERIOUS, DUDE?"

I SAID, "HOW DO I KNOW YOU JUST DIDN'T HAVE A PIZZA TODAY?

AND YOU WANT SOMETHING TO EAT AGAIN?"

BUT HE WANTED HIS WAY.

HE USED TO THREATEN ME AND SAY, "LOOK, IF I DON'T EAT,

I'M GONNA CALL THE POLICE ON YOU,

AND I'LL TELL THEM YOU HIT ME."

I SAID, "OH, HERE WE GO."

HE KNOWS HOW TO BULLY [BLEEP] PEOPLE.

SO HE WOULD ALWAYS TRY TO GET EVERYONE TO DO WHAT HE WANTS,

BUT NOW HE DOESN'T EVEN LIVE HERE ANYMORE,

AND SO IT'S JUST ME AND MY OTHER SON,

STEVEN'S YOUNGER BROTHER, JUSTIN.

BUT EVERY DAY THAT PASSES,

JUSTIN ENDS UP MORE AND MORE LIKE STEVEN.

HE'S GAINING JUST LIKE HIS BROTHER DID

AND IS ALREADY OVER 600 POUNDS,

AND I AM WORRIED HE'S GOING TO END UP

THE SAME WAY STEVEN IS NOW.

**

**

[ WHISTLES ]

Justin: SINCE STEVEN LEFT, ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO,

THINGS HAVE BEEN BETTER HERE.

I DON'T REALLY LIKE HIM MUCH BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T GET ALONG.

GOOD BOY.

HE'S A BIG BULLY THAT JUST TORTURED ME ALL DAY.

BUT NOW I CAN DO WHAT I WANT...

WHICH IS MOSTLY PLAY GAMES, BECAUSE I DON'T GO OUT.

I'M A PERSON THAT LIKES TO DO NOTHING BUT HAVE FUN,

JUST PLAYING MONOPOLY OR VIDEO GAMES.

SO, I'M HAPPY WITH HOW THINGS ARE, EXCEPT FOR MY WEIGHT.

I KNOW I'M GAINING A LOT, AND I AM GETTING WORRIED THAT

I'M GOING TO END UP LIKE STEVEN, STUCK IN A BED EVERY DAY.

I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN TO ME,

BUT I DON'T REALLY SEE TOO FAR IN THE FUTURE FOR MYSELF.

ALL I DO IS GO DAY BY DAY.

AND I DON'T REALLY LIKE SETTING BIG GOALS --

I JUST TAKE WHAT LIFE THROWS AT ME.

BUT I'M GLAD STEVEN IS GONE.

AND IF HE EVER COMES BACK TO LIVE HERE AGAIN,

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT.

I HOPE HE CAN GET HELP,

BUT I WANT HIM TO STAY OUT OF OUR HOME,

BECAUSE EVER SINCE WE WERE REALLY YOUNG,

WE JUST NEVER HAVE GOTTEN ALONG.

OUR CHILDHOOD WAS ROUGH,

AND STEVEN JUST MADE IT A LOT ROUGHER.

I JUST WISH I COULD PRESS "REWIND" AT THE YOUNG STEVEN

AND FIX THE MISTAKES THAT I MADE

SO I DIDN'T END UP THE WAY I AM TODAY.

I STRUGGLED WITH MY WEIGHT ALMOST ALL MY LIFE...

...BECAUSE MY CHILDHOOD WASN'T GOOD, TO SAY THE LEAST.

MY MOM IS AN ALCOHOLIC,

AND MY PARENTS' RELATIONSHIP WAS PRETTY ROCKY.

SO ME AND MY YOUNGER BROTHER, JUSTIN,

PUT UP WITH A LOT OF ABUSE BECAUSE OF THAT.

IT WAS ARGUMENTS ALL THE TIME AND FIGHTING.

Steven Sr.: WHEN STEVEN AND JUSTIN WERE SMALL,

THEIR MOTHER DID HAVE A DRINKING PROBLEM,

AND I JUST OVERLOOKED IT.

BUT JUSTIN WAS ABOUT 5,

AND STEVEN WAS AROUND 11

WHEN WE SEPARATED BECAUSE OF IT.

MY BROTHER AND I WENT TO GO LIVE WITH MY MOM,

BUT, AT THAT TIME,

MY MOM CARED MORE ABOUT THE ALCOHOL AND HER BOYFRIENDS

THAN US.

Justin: OUR MOTHER ALWAYS TOOK OFF AT NIGHT.

SHE USED TO GO CLUBBING, DRINKING,

AND SHE USED TO LEAVE FOOD OUT FOR US

BECAUSE SHE WAS NEVER THERE.

AND STEVEN IS VERY GREEDY.

AND EVERY TIME THERE WAS FOOD AROUND,

BEFORE I COULD EAT IT, HE WOULD ALREADY HAVE GOBBLED IT DOWN.

Steven: FOOD WAS MY COMFORT THROUGH GOOD AND BAD SITUATIONS,

BUT IT DIDN'T HELP WITH SOME OF THE [BLEEP] THAT WAS GOING ON.

I MEAN, I WAS STILL REALLY UPSET

BECAUSE MY MOM'S BOYFRIEND WAS VERY VIOLENT.

Justin: I WAS BEATEN PHYSICALLY BY HER BOYFRIENDS.

BUT MY MOM KNEW, AND SHE DIDN'T CARE.

SHE WAS TOO BUSY GETTING DRUNK.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHY I STARTED TURNING TO FOOD.

Steven: SO, ME AND MY BROTHER ATE A LOT,

AND WE GAINED A LOT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

LET'S GO BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD DAYS --

HOW MY MOM USED TO LEAVE ME AND MY BROTHER AT HOME

AND GO OUT CLUBBING ALL THE TIME.

MIND YOU, WE WERE YOUNG.

MY MOTHER ABANDONED ME AND MY BROTHER

FOR THE PERSON SHE'S WITH NOW.

SHE USED TO BUY ME AND MY BROTHER FAST FOOD,

CEREAL, CUPCAKES -- ANYTHING WE WANTED --

TO KEEP US QUIET

WHILE SHE GOES OUT DRINKING EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.

WHEN JUSTIN WAS ABOUT 9

AND STEVEN WAS ABOUT 15, THEIR MOTHER --

SHE WENT OUT ONE NIGHT AND NEVER CAME HOME,

SO STEVEN AND JUSTIN CAME TO LIVE WITH ME.

Steven: MY MOM DECIDED TO START A NEW LIFE

WITH THE NEW BOYFRIEND AND LEAVE US.

AND THAT WAS A TRAUMATIC MOMENT FOR ME,

SO I STARTED TO EAT MORE AND MORE TO GET RID OF THE HURT.

AND BY THE TIME I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL,

I WEIGHED ABOUT 250 POUNDS,

AND JUSTIN WAS 9 THEN

AND PROBABLY CLOSE TO 200 POUNDS.

SO WE WERE BOTH ADDICTED TO FOOD AT THAT POINT.

I TRIED TO KEEP LESS FOOD IN THE HOUSE,

BUT STEVEN WANTED PIZZA ALL THE TIME.

HE JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH PIZZA.

AND SOMETIMES STEVEN WOULD TAKE A TANTRUM FIT

IF HE DIDN'T GET WHAT HE WANTED.

HE WAS OUT OF CONTROL. I JUST COULDN'T CONTROL HIM.

Steven: ONE TIME, MY DAD AND I GOT IN AN ALTERCATION.

HE HIT ME, AND THEN I HIT HIM, AND THEN I CALLED THE POLICE.

HE GOT ARRESTED.

AND HE TOLD ME TO DROP THE CHARGES

AND HE WOULD GET ME A LARGE PIZZA IF I DID,

AND SO I DID.

SO, ME AND JUSTIN JUST ATE AND DID NOTHING

FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND GAINED EVEN MORE.

AND I WAS 350 POUNDS WHEN I WAS 17 YEARS OLD,

AND JUSTIN WAS 300 POUNDS AND WAS AROUND 12 YEARS OLD.

I TOLD STEVEN A HUNDRED TIMES, "WHY?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO YOURSELF? YOU'RE YOUNG."

AND THEN, WHEN STEVEN WAS 25, THE MOTHER CALLED HIM UP,

AND SHE SAID SHE WAS GONNA TAKE CARE OF HIM.

Steven: SHE OFFERED TO PAY FOR ME TO MOVE TO MASSACHUSETTS

TO BE CLOSE TO HER...

SO I DID.

BUT I DIDN'T SEE HER ONCE I MOVED THERE.

I FINALLY GAVE UP ON HER AT THAT POINT.

SO I STARTED TO EAT MORE -- MORE AND MORE --

TO MASK THE FEELINGS,

ALTHOUGH THE HURT WAS STILL THERE.

AND I ATE, BASICALLY, WHAT I LOVE -- PIZZA.

AT THAT TIME, I WAS EATING ABOUT SIX LARGE PIZZAS A DAY.

I USED FOOD, BUT I ALSO STARTED POSTING VIDEOS ONLINE

BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF ANGER

ABOUT MY LIFE AND MY MOM.

I LASHED OUT AT PEOPLE AND DID THINGS TO GET ATTENTION.

AND I FEEL BAD ABOUT SOME OF THEM,

BUT WHEN I LOSE IT, I CAN'T CONTROL MYSELF.

[ LAUGHS ]

THIS VIDEO IS JUST FOR YOU TAXPAYERS --

THANK YOU FOR PAYING TAXES,

BECAUSE, WITHOUT YOU,

I WOULD NOT HAVE THIS URINAL TO PEE IN.

WITHOUT YOU, I WOULD NOT HAVE THESE CANS OF FOOD TO EAT.

WITHOUT YOU, I WOULDN'T HAVE PILLS TO TAKE TO KEEP ME ALIVE!

STEVEN REALLY, REALLY GOT OUT OF CONTROL BEING BY HIMSELF.

WHEN HE COULDN'T MOVE AROUND NO MORE LIKE HE WANTED TO,

AND HE JUST DIDN'T CARE ABOUT LIFE ANYMORE.

Steven: AND THEN, I WAS 31 YEARS OLD

WHEN I MOVED BACK IN WITH MY DAD,

AND I WAS IN THE UPPER 600s AT THAT TIME.

BUT HE USED TO POUND ON MY WALL OVER AND OVER AGAIN

TILL I FINALLY GAVE HIM WHAT HE WANTED.

Steven: AND I LIVED AT HOME UNTIL JUST RECENTLY.

I'VE HAD TO STAY IN A HOSPITAL --

BECAUSE I JUST CAN'T WALK OR GET AROUND ON MY OWN ANYMORE --

UNTIL THE LAST ONE KICKED ME OUT.

AND NOW I HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO GO TO HOUSTON

BECAUSE DR. NOWZARADAN IS THE LAST PERSON THAT I CAN GO TO.

I'M REALLY GLAD THIS IS HAPPENING.

SO, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, I'M NOT GONNA MESS THIS UP.

**

**

[ GRUNTS ]

TODAY, MY DAD AND I ARE PACKING OUR BAGS,

AND WE'RE GONNA LEAVE THE HOSPITAL

AND THEN DOWN TO HOUSTON.

MY SON STEVEN IS GONNA BE TRANSPORTED IN A MEDICAL R.V.

TO HOUSTON, AND I'M GONNA FOLLOW HIM.

AND MY SON JUSTIN WANTS TO COME WITH ME.

Justin: I'M GOING TO HOUSTON

TO MAKE SURE MY BROTHER GETS SETTLED IN ALL RIGHT

AND TO MEET THE DOCTOR, AS WELL,

BECAUSE I WANT HELP WITH MY WEIGHT, TOO.

BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN ON A ROAD TRIP THIS LONG.

THE FURTHEST I EVER WENT WAS FOUR HOURS,

AND I'M VERY NERVOUS

BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE HOW I'M GONNA REACT.

THESE DAYS, WHEN I JUST GO,

I STILL GET PARANOID ON THE ROAD,

AND THAT'S ONLY FOR LIKE 30 MINUTES.

YEAH, THIS IS A SHIRT. I THOUGHT IT WAS PANTS.

I GOT TO BRING THESE.

HUH? THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

ACTUALLY, I'M GONNA WEAR THESE ON THE WAY.

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR STEVEN TO GET HELP FOR, I WOULD SAY --

OH, MY GOD -- 10 YEARS OR MORE, TO TRY TO GET HIM HELP

UNTIL HE GOT TOO FAR OUT OF CONTROL,

LIKE HE IS NOW.

ALL RIGHT, HAND IT TO ME.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO.

JUSTIN DOES HAVE A WEIGHT PROBLEM,

BUT NOT AS BAD AS STEVEN DOES.

BUT HE WANTS TO LOSE WEIGHT, TOO,

AND THAT'S WHY HE WANTS TO SEE THIS DOCTOR,

TO TALK TO HIM.

BUT GOING TO HOUSTON

WILL BE STEVEN'S LAST CHANCE IN GETTING HIS HELP,

AND I HOPE HE STICKS WITH IT 'CAUSE HIS LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.

**

Steven: TODAY, I'M BEING DISCHARGED FROM KENT HOSPITAL,

AND A MEDICAL R.V. IS PICKING ME UP,

AND WE'RE HEADING TO TEXAS.

I'M FEELING A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS.

WHEN WE FINALLY ARRIVE TO TEXAS AND I MEET WITH THE SURGEON,

I JUST HOPE THAT HE ACCEPTS ME FOR THE GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY.

Man: UP. 1...2...3.

I'M PRETTY EXCITED ABOUT GOING TO TEXAS

BECAUSE I'VE HAD A LOT OF TIME TO MENTALLY PREPARE MYSELF,

SO I THINK I'M READY FOR EVERYTHING WHEN I ARRIVE.

[ WHIRRING ]

AND I'M WILLING TO DO WHATEVER THEY ASK ME TO DO.

BUT I'M FEELING A LITTLE BIT NERVOUS FOR THE TRIP

BECAUSE I'M GONNA BE STUCK IN AN R.V. FOR LIKE 29 HOURS.

AND THE ROAD TRIP CAN BE RISKY

BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN, HEALTH-WISE.

SO JUST HOPE THINGS GO SMOOTHLY.

READY? 1, 2, 3.

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.

-HOW YOU DOING BACK THERE? -YEP.

YOU GOOD?

Steven: I'VE NEVER HAD TO DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS,

BUT I'VE LET MYSELF GET TO A PLACE

WHERE I HAVE TO GO HALFWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY

'CAUSE I HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS AFTER THIS.

**

**

**

Steven: I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE WE ARE.

WE'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR A FEW HOURS NOW.

I'M TRAVELING TO HOUSTON IN A MEDICAL R.V.,

AND I STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO --

LIKE, 25 TO 30 HOURS, AT LEAST.

BUT I'M ALREADY REALLY HUNGRY,

AND I NEED TO START EATING SOMETHING,

OR I'M GONNA FEEL REALLY BAD.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

[ Groaning ] OH, GOD.

HELLO?

I WANT TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT.

Already, you're hungry.

YEAH, ALL RIGHT. BYE.

WHEN I CRAVE SOMETHING, I HAVE TO EAT.

NO MATTER WHAT, I'M GONNA EAT,

AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET IT FOR ME.

I HAVE AN ADDICTION TO FOOD.

THANK YOU.

IT'S BAD.

WHEN THAT FEELING OVERWHELMS YOU,

IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO GIVE IN.

YOU CAN'T RESIST THE CRAVINGS.

AND I'VE NEVER BEEN ON THE ROAD LIKE THIS

WHERE I'M NOT SURE WHEN I CAN EAT NEXT,

AND IT MAKES ME WANT TO EAT

EVERY TIME WE PASS A PLACE WITH FOOD...

OH, MY GOD.

...BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT'S GONNA BE

UNTIL WE SEE ANOTHER PLACE.

[ BELCHES ] EXCUSE ME.

[ CLATTER ]

OH!

AHH.

THE BED.

THE BED JUST HIT A BIG, HUGE BUMP, AND IT BROKE.

-RIGHT? -NO.

OH, OKAY.

THE WHOLE BED IS BROKE, UNFORTUNATELY.

WHERE'S THAT SPARE TIRE AT?

IT'S RIGHT UNDER HERE, AND I'M TRYING TO THINK HOW TO

PUT SOME SUPPORT RIGHT WHERE HE'S AT.

-THAT'S WHAT -- -YEAH.

WE'LL PUT THAT SPARE TIRE UNDERNEATH THERE.

Steven: A SPARE TIRE?

YEAH, TO HOLD THAT FRAME UP.

IS THAT EVEN GONNA BE SAFE, THOUGH?

IT'S BETTER THAN WHAT YOU'RE ON RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE, LIKE, STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

ON A HIGHWAY, RAINING --

NOT SAFE NO MORE.

OKAY.

**

[ METAL SCREECHES ]

Steven: OHH.

THOSE AIR BAGS MUST HAVE COLLAPSED.

EEH.

Steven: THIS IS ALL MESSED UP,

AND NOW THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRUCK, TOO.

THERE IS?

MAYBE CINDER BLOCKS.

CINDER WHO?

CINDER BLOCKS WOULD BUILD THIS BED UP.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET UP.

ARE YOU FORGETTING MY LEGS ARE FAT?

MAYBE YOU COULD PUT YOUR LEG OVER THIS -- OVER THE TIRE.

WELL, HE ALSO NEEDS SOME KIND OF SUPPORT.

WELL, WE HAVE NO CHOICE. I MEAN...

YEAH, YOU GOT TO TRY. GOD.

WE NEED SOMEONE TO RUN TO GET SOME CINDER BLOCKS.

YEAH, YOU CAN BYPASS THAT TIRE.

SHUT UP! I'LL JUST --

OKAY.

SIDESTEP OVER THIS WAY.

Steven: I'M NOT GONNA BREAK THE FLOOR?

-NO. -I HOPE NOT.

YEAH, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE I'M GONNA BREAK THE FLOOR.

Steven Sr.: NO, JUST GO, PLEASE.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BREAK THE FLOOR.

Justin: I AM REALLY ANNOYED RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE MY BROTHER BROKE THE BED...

**

Together: 1, 2, 3.

-OKAY. -OH, YEAH.

Nurse Steven: MOVE IT DOWN SOME AND SLIDE IT IN.

Steven Sr.: THERE YOU GO. SON OF A [BLEEP]

ALL RIGHT, LET'S TRY TO GET YOUR [BLEEP] UP THERE.

ALL RIGHT, TRY TO PUSH YOURSELF UP.

I'LL HOLD THESE BRICKS FROM SLIDING.

LITTLE MORE.

WHEW!

Steven: NOW COVER ME UP.

OKAY, I'LL GET IT.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]

WELCOME TO NEW YORK.

WE ONLY GOT ABOUT NINE MORE STATES TO GET THROUGH.

I JUST HOPE NOTHING HAPPENS TO THIS BED AGAIN

ON THE WAY DOWN THERE.

Steven: I DON'T LIKE HOW THINGS ARE GOING SO FAR.

I JUST WANT TO GO TO HOUSTON SO I CAN GET THE SURGERY...

AND SO I CAN LOSE THE WEIGHT AND THEN GO HOME.

BUT WHAT I REALLY WISH

IS THAT I NEVER ENDED UP LIKE THIS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BUT, THEN, MY CRAVINGS COME, AND I DON'T CARE.

I HAD 4:00 A.M. BREAKFAST,

AND THEN I PRETENDED LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE 4:00 A.M. BREAKFAST,

AND THEN I HAD BREAKFAST AGAIN.

VáMONOS. LET'S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD, PEOPLE.

THAT'S HOW I MANIPULATE MY WAY INTO GETTING EXTRA FOOD.

OH, MY GOD. 1,156 MORE MILES.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

HELLO?

STEVEN: Yeah, hey.

WHAT?

EXCUSE ME. I WANT TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT.

ALL RIGHT, DO ME A FAVOR.

SAVE THE MINUTES. QUIT CALLING ME.

Um, okay. Don't forget I'm here. Bye.

I WILL FORGET. BYE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S ASKING FOR FOOD AGAIN.

HE JUST ATE TWO HOURS AGO.

Steven: I DON'T FEEL ENTITLED, BUT I WANT WHAT I WANT,

AND WHEN I DON'T GET IT, I GET PISSED OFF

AND I START RANTING AND RAVING TILL I DO GET WHAT I WANT.

I JUST WANT WHAT I WANT -- THAT'S IT.

[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]

Justin: WHAT'S HE THINK -- YOU'RE MADE OF MONEY?

HELLO?

I AM FEELING VERY WEAK,

AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME, YOU'RE GONNA BE VERY SORRY.

THAT'S WHAT I HEARD EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK AT MY HOUSE --

HIM EATING.

"WHAT AM I GONNA EAT? WHAT AM I GONNA EAT?

WHAT AM I GONNA EAT?"

OH, MY GOD.

HERE. I GOT YOU WHAT YOU WANTED, YOU BIG BABY.

THERE. [ CHUCKLES ]

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S IT TILL TOMORROW MORNING, BUDDY.

I KNOW.

I'M NOT SURPRISED THAT HE GOT HIM THE LARGE.

MY FATHER ALWAYS CAVES IN TO MY BROTHER'S DEMANDS.

WE'VE BEEN TRAVELING FOR ABOUT 38 HOURS RIGHT NOW.

AND THEN, EVERY 100 MILES, WE HAD TO STOP,

'CAUSE WHO WANTED TO EAT?

YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT NOT EVERY 100 MILES.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

100 MILES ONLY TAKES YOU TWO HOURS TO DO.

CAN YOU TURN -- [ LIGHT SWITCH CLICKS ]

THANK YOU.

Steven: I THINK I'M GONNA MAKE IT TO HOUSTON TODAY,

AND I AM ABSOLUTELY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

I AM ABOUT READY TO GET OUT OF THE R.V.

AND INTO THE HOSPITAL.

**

HOW THE HELL YOU GET IN THIS JOINT?

GOD.

DUDE, I'M EXHAUSTED, DUDE.

OKAY, DUDE.

YOU STILL GOT ANOTHER 400 MILES.

OH, WAIT TILL YOU SEE THE FOOD

YOU'RE GONNA GET AT THAT HOSPITAL.

WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOO-HOO.

THEY'RE GONNA GIVE YOU A HAMBURGER

ABOUT THE SIZE OF A HALF A DOLLAR...

UH-HUH.

...AND A PEA ON A PLATE,

AND THAT'S 300 CALORIES RIGHT THERE.

I'M JUST TELLING YOU.

I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOUR FACE

WHEN YOU GET THAT LITTLE HAMBURGER

AND THAT ONE LITTLE PEA.

BE CAREFUL, THOUGH, WITH THE PEA,

BECAUSE YOU MIGHT TIP THAT PLATE,

AND IT MIGHT ROLL OFF, AND THERE GOES YOUR LAST SUPPER.

GOODBYE.

THERE'S EXACTLY 30 MILES LEFT TO THE HOSPITAL.

THANK THE LORD.

Justin: I'M HOPING THAT, WHEN WE GET THERE,

STEVEN DOESN'T MESS IT UP, BECAUSE I NEED HELP, TOO.

BUT I THINK HE WILL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE ALWAYS DOES --

HE MESSES IT UP AND TAKES US ALL DOWN WITH HIM.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: STEVEN ASSANTI AND HIS BROTHER, JUSTIN,

HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR A LITTLE BIT OVER TWO DAYS NOW,

AND THEY'RE JUST ABOUT TO ARRIVE.

THERE SEEMS TO BE A VERY UNHEALTHY DYNAMIC

AT PLAY WITH THE WHOLE FAMILY.

BUT UNTIL I ASSESS THEM,

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE EXTENT OF THE DYSFUNCTION MIGHT BE

AND WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE FOR TREATMENT.

BUT IT'S PROBABLY SAFE TO SAY

THIS FAMILY IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE HARDEST CHALLENGES

WE HAVE FACED YET.

**

**

STEVEN ASSANTI HAS MADE IT TO HOUSTON

AFTER A TWO-DAY DRIVE.

HIS FATHER AND HIS BROTHER ARE WITH HIM, TOO.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I NEED TO ASSESS THE SITUATION

BECAUSE BEING TRANSPORTED AT HIS WEIGHT

IS ALWAYS A DANGEROUS SCENARIO,

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO ISSUES

THAT ARE AFFECTING THE SYSTEM

THAT MAY LEAD TO A LIFE-THREATENING EVENT

IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS.

STEVE.

HI.

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.

HI. HOW ARE YOU?

NICE TO MEET YOU. YOU DOING OKAY?

YEAH.

IN A LOT OF PAIN FROM THE TRIP, THOUGH.

IT WAS QUITE THE RIDE.

THE BED BROKE,

AND THEY HAD TO PUT, LIKE, CINDER BLOCKS UNDER ME.

I SEE THAT.

WHERE IS YOUR PAIN?

MY LEGS, BUT MORE SO ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

OKAY. LET'S GET YOU IN AND CHECK YOU OUT.

CAN YOU GET UP OVER THERE AND WALK HERE

TO GET IN ON THE WHEELCHAIR?

YEAH.

THEN WE'RE GONNA LOWER DOWN,

AND WE'LL GET YOU IN THE BED, OKAY?

-THANK YOU. -ALL RIGHT.

I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY, BELIEVE ME.

ALL RIGHT. AND WE'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR BROTHER IS HERE, TOO?

YEAH, HE IS. HE'S THE OTHER BIG GUY.

Steven Sr.: NO, GO AHEAD. GIVE ME YOUR HAND.

ALL RIGHT, GO AHEAD. BEAUTIFUL.

Man: GRAB THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

WE GOT TO GO BACK A LITTLE BIT MORE.

GIVE ME YOUR HAND.

I'M JUST TIRED OF FEELING BUMPS RIGHT NOW AND PAIN, ACTUALLY,

FROM ALL THE TRAVELING.

AND BEING ON THE ROAD FOR A FEW DAYS

MEANS I HAVEN'T HAD A FEW THINGS I NEED.

I'VE BEEN WITHOUT PAINKILLERS,

AND I HAVEN'T BATHED THE WHOLE TIME.

SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO FINALLY GETTING CLEANED UP.

OKAY.

-ALL RIGHT, READY? -YEAH.

I'M IN A LOT OF PAIN,

AND I CAN REALLY USE SOME PAIN MEDICINE.

LET ME LISTEN TO YOUR HEART.

OKAY.

TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

[ MONITOR BEEPS ]

OKAY.

SO, WE'RE GOING TO RUN SOME TESTS ON YOU,

MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE NO ISSUES, OKAY?

OKAY.

STEVEN IS CASUALLY ASKING FOR SOME PAIN MEDICATION,

BUT HIS BODY LANGUAGE SHOWS THAT HE REALLY WANTS IT.

YEAH, THIS IS DILAUDID...

YEAH. ...THE PAIN MEDICINES.

HAVE YOU HAD THIS BEFORE? YEAH.

SO, HE'S EITHER IN A LOT OF PAIN RIGHT NOW

OR WE ARE DEALING WITH

A VERY ADDICTIVE AND PATHOLOGICAL PERSONALITY HERE.

HOPEFULLY, HIS BROTHER, JUSTIN, IS NOT GOING TO BE THE SAME WAY.

Justin: I'M NERVOUS ABOUT BEING HERE.

I DON'T LIKE HOSPITALS.

I WAS HOPING THAT I COULD GO TO THE HOTEL FIRST.

BUT MY DAD WANTS ME TO GET MY LEG CHECKED OUT

TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH ME RIGHT NOW.

JUSTIN'S LEG STARTED HURTING BECAUSE OF THE LONG TRIP HERE,

SO I ASKED THE DOCTOR, COULD HE CHECK HIM FOR ME?

-HI, JUSTIN. -HI.

I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.

SO, LET'S CHECK YOU OUT.

JUSTIN LOOKS TO BE AROUND 600 POUNDS,

AND COULD HAVE ANY NUMBER OF ISSUES

THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS RIGHT NOW.

SO HE NEEDS TO BE ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL

AND FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY IS GOING ON.

DO YOU FEEL OKAY, JUSTIN?

I HEAR THAT YOUR LEG HURTS, HUH?

-YEAH. -WHICH ONE?

MY RIGHT ONE.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE RIGHT LEG?

I'M JUST IN PAIN EVER SINCE I STARTED THE ROAD TRIP.

AND I HEAR YOU HAD A MURMUR IN YOUR HEART.

OKAY. LET ME LISTEN TO YOUR HEART.

WE HAVE AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC UNFOLDING HERE.

ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA GET SOME TESTS ON YOU, OKAY?

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.

TWO BROTHERS THAT -- THEY HAVE A PATHOLOGICAL DRIVE

TO OVEREAT TO THE POINT ONE OF THEM IS IMMOBILE,

AND, PRETTY SOON, THE OTHER BROTHER

IS GOING TO BE THE SAME WAY.

SO, WE NEED TO START TO GET TO THE BOTTOM

OF WHY THEY ARE AT THE POINT THAT THEY ARE

AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO TURN THE SITUATION AROUND

BECAUSE, RIGHT NOW, THIS WHOLE FAMILY

IS IN A DOWNWARD DEATH SPIRAL TOGETHER.

OW! EASY, EASY, 'CAUSE THE RAIL.

JUST -- IT WON'T SLIP OFF, OKAY?

STEVEN'S DOING GOOD. HE'S HAPPY ABOUT WHERE HE IS.

HE'S HAPPY ABOUT -- WE FINALLY GOT HERE AFTER THAT LONG TRIP.

BUT JUSTIN WANTED TO COME DOWN JUST TO MEET THE DOCTOR,

AND COME TO FIND OUT THE DOCTOR ADMITTED JUSTIN

BECAUSE HE WANTED TO TAKE A LOT OF TESTS ON HIM.

DID YOU HEAR ME?

YEAH, I HEARD YOU.

AND JUSTIN DIDN'T WANT THAT, 'CAUSE HE WANTS TO GO BACK HOME.

THAT'S WHY HE'S UPSET.

YOU WANT TO STAY?

NO.

THEN TELL THEM.

HI. WHEN IS MY DAD GOING TO ACTUALLY BE IN?

HE'S OVER THERE, BY YOUR BROTHER'S ROOM.

MY BROTHER?

HE'S UP HERE, TOO?

MM-HMM. YEAH.

YEAH, I WILL HAVE TO SEE JUSTIN,

AND WE WANT TO DO THE ECHOCARDIOGRAM

TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT MURMUR HE HAS AND ALL THAT,

AND HE SUDDENLY CHANGED HIS MIND?

HE WANTS TO LEAVE NOW.

BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT, IF WE'RE GONNA HELP HIM,

WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE WE STAND, WHAT WE NEED TO DO.

AND AT THIS POINT, WE NEED TO DO HIS ECHO

AND FIND OUT IF WE CAN DO ANYTHING.

LET'S GO TALK TO HIM.

YEAH, LET ME TALK TO HIM FIRST. HOLD ON.

Dr. Nowzaradan: JUSTIN'S SOCIAL ANXIETY IS VERY ADVANCED,

BUT HE'S RESPONDING TO A SITUATION THAT HE DOESN'T LIKE

BY THROWING A TANTRUM.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO TALK TO ME ANYMORE,

SO HE'S TRYING TO DETACH

SO HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANYTHING.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY WORKED WITH HIS FATHER,

BUT THAT BEHAVIOR IS NOT GOING TO WORK HERE.

Justin: I WANT TO GO HOME. I DON'T WANT TO STAY HERE.

COME IN, DOC.

FIRST OF ALL, WE GOT ALL THE LAB WORK BACK,

AND EVERYTHING LOOKED OKAY.

OKAY, JUSTIN?

HE'S TALKING TO YOU.

HE'S LOOKING AT US INTO THE CAMERA.

ALL RIGHT, JUSTIN.

WHEN YOU'RE READY TO TALK, LET ME KNOW.

BUT WE'LL GET THE ECHOCARDIOGRAM AND SEE WHAT HIS HEART IS DOING.

YEAH. AND THEN HE CAN GO HOME,

AND WE'LL GIVE YOU THE SEPARATE RESULTS LATER.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL GET ALL THAT TAKEN CARE OF FOR YOU, OKAY?

JUST GET HIM -- MY OTHER ONE -- DOWN TO 250.

YEAH, I'LL GO AND CHECK ON HIM, OKAY?

-ALL RIGHT. -ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

Steven: EXCUSE ME.

[ INTERCOM BEEPS ]

WOMAN: How may we help you?

YES. CALL FOR THE NURSE,

'CAUSE I'D LIKE TO GO FOR A WALK, PLEASE.

Justin: I'M JUST READY TO GO AND GET BACK HOME.

AND I DON'T NEED HELP LIKE THIS -- STEVEN DOES.

SO I'M NOT STAYING HERE

AND GETTING ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL.

WHATEVER HAPPENS, I'M GOING HOME TOMORROW.

**

NOW, WHEN WILL MY DAD BE IN HERE?

GET OUT.

HUH?

GET OUT.

YOU WANT ME OUT?

GET OUT.

ALL RIGHT. WELL...

GET OUT.

GET OUT.

YOU SHOULD STAY. DON'T BE AN IDIOT.

I DON'T WANT HIM HERE.

I'M GOING.

I'M JUST SAYING YOU SHOULD STAY -- DON'T BE AN IDIOT.

Steven: YEAH.

DO YOU HAVE A CHAIR?

COULD WE GET A CHAIR RIGHT NOW? UNTIL HE WALKS AGAIN.

JUST LEAN ON THAT.

MY ROOM'S ALL THE WAY DOWN THERE.

SIT DOWN...

I'M SCARED ABOUT BEING ALONE HERE IN TEXAS,

AND HEARING THAT MY BROTHER WAS ADMITTED

MADE ME THINK THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO STAY DOWN HERE ALONE.

BUT HE WON'T EVEN GIVE ME A CHANCE TO DISCUSS IT WITH HIM.

HE JUST WANTS TO GO BACK, AND THAT'S DISAPPOINTING TO ME,

BECAUSE IT WOULD BE BETTER IF WE COULD DO THIS TOGETHER.

SO, THE REALITY OF ALL THIS

AND THAT I'M GONNA BE ALONE IS SINKING IN,

AND IT'S JUST ALL GETTING REALLY, REALLY SCARY.

I'M NOT STAYING BECAUSE I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO STAY.

AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE,

AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE PUT MYSELF INTO A POSITION

WHERE MY BROTHER COULD PRESSURE ME FOR ANYTHING.

THIS IS HIS DEAL, AND THIS HELP IS ALL FOR HIM.

AND I JUST WANT TO GET AS FAR AWAY FROM HIM

AS POSSIBLE RIGHT NOW.

**

**

Steven: I'VE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A DAY,

AND I'M FEELING VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THINGS RIGHT NOW.

Dr. Nowzaradan: STEVEN, DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STAND ON A SCALE

AND GET YOUR ACCURATE WEIGHT?

-ABSOLUTELY. -ALL RIGHT.

LET'S BRING THE SCALE AND GET YOU OVER THERE.

OKAY, SIR.

WE FINISHED ALL THE TESTS ON STEVEN,

AND THERE ARE NO MAJOR ISSUES RIGHT NOW.

SO I WANT TO GET HIS ACCURATE WEIGHT

AND START HIM ON A CONTROLLED DIET.

Dr. Nowzaradan: 730.

-730? -730.

VERY GOOD.

WELL, IT'S NOT GOOD.

YEAH. 730 IS THE STARTING POINT,

SO WE'RE GONNA GET YOU DOWN TO 250.

ALL RIGHT. I'M READY.

OKAY, STEVEN, WE'RE GOING TO START YOU

ON A CONTROLLED DIET HERE IN THE HOSPITAL

THAT'S GOING TO BE 1,000 CALORIES A DAY --

HIGH-PROTEIN, LOW-CARB.

WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET YOU

TO LOSE AT LEAST 50 POUNDS A MONTH.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR. ALL RIGHT.

NICE SEEING YOU AGAIN. ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL BE BACK. Steven: CAN I SHAKE YOUR HAND?

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANKS.

STEVEN HASN'T BEEN TOO DIFFICULT SO FAR,

BUT HE DOES SHOW SOME ERRATIC BEHAVIOR,

AND THAT MAY MEAN, AS HE GETS COMFORTABLE IN HERE,

THAT THE HONEYMOON PERIOD WILL BE OVER

AND WE'LL SEE A WHOLE-NEW STEVEN.

BUT WE'RE GONNA STAY OPTIMISTIC

AND ASSUME EVERYTHING WILL GO WELL,

AND WE'LL SEE HOW STEVEN WILL DO WITH HIS NEW DIET.

**

Steven: I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS DIET,

BUT I KNOW I GOT TO DO IT.

BUT I'M NOT GONNA LIE --

IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE BROUGHT ME SOME FAST FOOD OR SOMETHING,

I'D PROBABLY EAT IT...

BECAUSE I'M A FAST-FOOD JUNKIE.

IT'S JUST MY ADDICTION.

BUT I'M TRYING TO FIX IT.

BUT MAYBE MY DAD WILL ORDER ME SOMETHING

AS A GOING-AWAY PRESENT,

BECAUSE HE AND MY BROTHER ARE GOING BACK TODAY.

AND IT'S KIND OF SAD.

[ Voice breaking ] I'M JUST USED TO SEEING THEM EVERY DAY.

IT'S VERY HARD.

I'M HOPING I CAN TALK JUSTIN INTO GETTING HELP, TOO.

UM, BASICALLY, JUSTIN AGREED THAT HE WOULD ACCEPT THE HELP

FROM DR. NOWZARADAN AND COME BACK TO TEXAS

TO THIS HOSPITAL, RIGHT, JUSTIN?

YES. YOU WILL DO THAT.

[ CHEWING LOUDLY ]

Justin: I'M REALLY JUST READY TO GO HOME.

WHERE YOU GOING?

Justin: I DON'T NEED ANY OF THIS

OR TO DEAL WITH MY BROTHER ANYMORE,

AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE COME DOWN.

QUIT CHEWING LIKE A COW.

SO, I JUST WANT MY TEST RESULTS, AND I JUST WANT TO LEAVE.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT GETTING HELP HERE.

I'LL TRY TO DO IT ON MY OWN,

AS LONG AS IT'S AWAY FROM MY BROTHER.

-GOOD MORNING. -GOOD MORNING.

HOW YOU DOING TODAY?

I'M FEELING A LOT BETTER. YOU DOING ALL RIGHT?

DOING OKAY? YEAH.

JUSTIN, ALL YOUR TESTS LOOK GOOD.

YOUR ECHOCARDIOGRAM IS GOOD,

AND THERE IS NO ENLARGEMENT OF THE HEART

OR ANY PROBLEM WITH THE VALVE.

SO I THINK YOU'RE GONNA BE A GOOD CANDIDATE

FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY IF YOU CONSIDER THAT.

BUT I HEAR FROM YOUR FATHER

THAT YOU NO LONGER ARE INTERESTED IN ANY HELP.

YEAH.

THAT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT, CERTAINLY, YOUR CHOICE.

SO, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A DIET PLAN BEFORE YOU GO.

TRY TO STICK TO IT.

AND IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND, YOU LET ME KNOW, OKAY?

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.

LET'S CHECK YOUR WEIGHT TODAY.

WE HAVE TWO BROTHERS WITH VERY SIMILAR ISSUES --

JUST, ONE OF THEM IS MORE ADVANCED THAN THE OTHER

BY A SHORT MARGIN.

BUT IF JUSTIN DOESN'T START

TO TURN THINGS AROUND FOR HIMSELF,

HE'S GOING TO BE BEDBOUND SOON,

BECAUSE HE'S A TICKING CLOCK

WITH POTENTIALLY JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME THAN STEVEN.

SO, IF YOU COME BACK HERE AND YOU LOST 50 POUNDS,

I WILL CONSIDER YOU FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND.

YOU'RE HEADING TO BE IN THE SAME SITUATION LIKE YOUR BROTHER

IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS,

SO YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY,

AND YOU CAN'T IGNORE IT FOR TOO LONG.

YOU'RE ALL GONNA LEAVE STEVEN HERE ON HIS OWN, HUH?

-YEAH. -YOU GOT HIM.

[ LAUGHS ]

ALL RIGHT. WE'LL TAKE CARE OF HIM, OKAY?

I'LL SEE YOU ALL LATER.

THANK YOU.

Justin: I'M REALLY GLAD THERE ARE NO MAJOR ISSUES

WITH MY HEART OR ANYTHING BAD RIGHT NOW.

COME ON. LET'S GO.

BUT I THINK THE BEST THING FOR ME IS TO DO THIS ON MY OWN

AND GO BACK TO RHODE ISLAND.

WELL, I'M LEAVING. DON'T START.

[ SOBS ]

JUST THINK ABOUT SOMETHING --

YOU'RE GONNA BE 250 POUNDS WHENEVER YOU GET BACK.

IF I DIE, I LOVE YOU.

YOU AIN'T GONNA DIE.

I KNOW. I NEVER SAID THAT, THOUGH, OKAY?

I'M SORRY. YOU AIN'T GONNA DIE.

I'M SORRY FOR EVERYTHING I DID, THOUGH, IN THE PAST, OKAY?

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

SAY "BYE" TO YOUR BROTHER.

GO. I'M NOT GOING IN.

JUST WALK UP TO THERE.

YOU CAN WALK UP TO THERE.

-JERK. -STUPID.

BYE. WANT A HANDSHAKE.

SURE. BYE.

BYE.

Steven: I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE THAN A COUPLE HOURS AWAY

FROM MY FAMILY,

AND I'M TERRIFIED AT THE THOUGHT

OF BOTH OF THEM LEAVING RIGHT NOW.

WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS

AND THEY CAN'T GET TO ME IN TIME?

IT'S JUST HARD TO TRY TO SAY GOODBYE TO THEM,

KNOWING THAT MAYBE THIS IS THE LAST TIME I SEE THEM.

**

**

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

OKAY, I'M GONNA NEED HELP WITH MY RIGHT LEG --

BACK INTO THE BED. I CAN GET THE LEFT ONE IN.

-RIGHT. -THEY CAME.

-THEY... -YEAH.

[ STEVEN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]

I'VE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL NOW FOR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH,

AND IT HASN'T BEEN TOO BAD.

IT'S HARD, BUT IT FEELS GOOD

TO DO WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

THANK YOU.

SO, FOR THE MOST PART, I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD.

OH, MY GOD.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME FRUSTRATING MOMENTS

THAT HAVE BEEN HARDER FOR ME TO DEAL WITH --

MOSTLY, HOW LONG IT TAKES

FOR PEOPLE TO RESPOND TO THE CALL BUTTON.

[ CALL BUTTON DINGING ]

OH, HE JUST LEFT JUST NOW?

ALL RIGHT, SO IT SHOULD BE HERE, THEN?

OKAY. THANK YOU.

I GET FRUSTRATED SOMETIMES. THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON.

YEAH.

I'M NOT TRYING TO BE MEAN -- TRUST ME, I'M NOT.

-I'LL BE OKAY. -THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME. THANKS.

CH-CHH, CH-CHH.

WHEN I HIT MY CALL BUTTON, I KNOW THAT A BING GOES OFF

AND THERE'S A BLINKING GREEN LIGHT.

SO THEY KNOW WHEN I'M WAITING

AND WHEN THEY'RE TAKING TOO LONG.

AND THEY SHOULD REALLY RESPOND FASTER, BUT THEY DON'T.

**

[ CALL BUTTON DINGS ]

I AM CALLING FOR THE NURSE.

I NEED TO INFORM HER OF SOMETHING.

WHAT YOU NEED?

I'M CALLING FOR MY PAIN MEDICINE -- MY NURSE.

-YOUR NURSE? -YES, MA'AM.

OKAY. LET ME TELL HER.

THESE PEOPLE ARE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY

GETTING ON MY LAST NERVE.

IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING HOW LONG I HAVE TO WAIT FOR EVERYTHING.

COME ON.

[ CALL BUTTON DINGS ]

I HAVE TO CALL THEM AND CHECK ON THINGS,

OR NOTHING HAPPENS.

HEY, HONEY.

THANK YOU, NURSE.

I DO EXPRESS MYSELF.

IF I FEEL LIKE SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT,

THEN I'LL POINT IT OUT AND SAY IT'S NOT RIGHT, YOU KNOW?

**

I TRIED TO STAY ON MY BEST BEHAVIOR FOR THE PAST MONTH.

I KNOW I'M STILL HAVING MY BAD DAYS,

AND THE HOSPITAL ISN'T HAPPY ABOUT THAT,

BUT IT'S RIDICULOUS WHAT I HAVE TO DO

TO GET PEOPLE TO RESPOND AROUND HERE.

[ CALL BUTTON DINGING ]

WE'RE STARTING TO DEVELOP SOME ISSUES WITH STEVEN.

OVER THE PAST MONTH, A LOT OF HIS PATHOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR

HAS STARTED TO COME OUT.

HE'S BECOME ABUSIVE TO THE HOSPITAL STAFF,

AND HE EXPECTS EVERYBODY TO WAIT ON HIM HAND AND FOOT.

I NEED SOMEBODY IN MY ROOM IMMEDIATELY.

I HAVE BEEN WAITING.

[ CALL BUTTON DINGS ]

I WANT THIS LIGHT OFF!

HE THINKS THE WORLD SHOULD REVOLVE AROUND HIM

LIKE A CHILD DOES,

AND THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR.

STEVEN.

HEY.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY? OKAY.

HOW ARE YOU?

ALL RIGHT.

SO, YOU SEEM LIKE YOU HAVE AN ISSUE

GETTING ALONG WITH HOSPITAL STAFF,

AND I'M NOT LIKING WHAT I'M HEARING.

AT TIMES, YOU KNOW, UM, I -- SOMETIMES, I GET FRUSTRATED.

I TELL THEM, "IF I ACT LIKE A KID,

I WANT YOU TO TREAT ME LIKE A KID."

HOW OLD ARE YOU?

I'M 33 YEARS OLD.

SO IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GROW UP.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE NURSES

ARE GETTING AGITATED WITH YOUR BEHAVIOR.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT, PARTICULARLY, IT IS,

BUT YOU NEED TO WORK ON THAT, TOO.

EVERYBODY HAS FEELINGS.

I'M -- YEAH, THAT'S TRUE. I'M GLAD YOU REALIZE THAT.

AND THE PEOPLE -- LET ME PUT IT IN PLAIN THINK.

YOU CAME FROM UP NORTH, BUT THIS IS TEXAS.

YES, IT IS.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SHAPE UP IN TEXAS

AND BEHAVE LIKE PEOPLE HERE.

ALL RIGHT? YES, SIR.

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR OF THIS ISSUE AGAIN.

YES.

AND IF I DO,

THEN THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY DIFFERENT CONVERSATION.

-ALL RIGHT. -ALL RIGHT.

NICE TO SEE YOU, DR. NOWZARADAN...

-ALL RIGHT. OKAY. -THANK YOU.

AT THIS POINT, STEVEN IS HAVING A BEHAVIORAL PROBLEM,

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, HE IS VERY SICK,

AND HE NEEDED MEDICAL HELP.

AND WHEN THEY'RE GONNA --

[ CALL BUTTON DINGS ]

THAT IS STEVEN.

WE'LL CONTINUE TO TREAT HIM,

BUT IF HE DOESN'T SHOW SOME CHANGE IN HIS BEHAVIOR,

THEN WE WILL BE UNABLE

TO CONTINUE HIS TREATMENT IN THE HOSPITAL.

SO IT'S HIS CHOICE.

[ CALL BUTTON DINGING ]

SO, WHAT'S UP? WHAT DO YOU NEED?

HENRY.

HENRY FOR...?

'CAUSE I NEED TO TALK TO HIM FOR A SEC.

OKAY. 'CAUSE...

I NEED TO TALK TO HENRY.

OKAY.

Henry: STEVEN.

THEY TOOK MY TRAY SOMEWHERE

BECAUSE MY TABLE'S A MESS -- AND MY URINE.

IS MY TRAY STILL OUT THERE?

YEAH, YEAH. I THINK I SAW IT ON THE STATION.

WHAT THE HELL? THIS IS SO ANNOYING.

DID SOMEONE BRING IN MY TRAY?

[BLEEP] ARE YOU [BLEEP] SERIOUS?

Magdalena: AFTER DR. NOWZARADAN TALKED TO HIM,

STEVEN DIDN'T CHANGE AT ALL.

HE KEEPS BOTHERING. HE KEEPS CALLING.

[ CALL BUTTON DINGS ]

DAMN IT!

ARE THEY SERIOUS?

I HIT THAT BY AN ACCIDENT, 'CAUSE I DON'T FEEL GOOD --

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? YOU KNOW THAT.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANY PATIENT LIKE STEVEN.

HE'S ASKING FOR PAIN MEDICINE EVERY 15 MINUTES,

AND THEN HE SPILLED URINE ON THE FLOOR.

I'M JUST REALLY UPSET, OKAY?

**

[ CALL BUTTON DINGS ]

STEVEN, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOUR BEHAVIOR?

WE HAD A WHOLE HOST OF COMPLAINTS FROM THE NURSES

THAT YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOR --

YOU HAVEN'T.

I KNOW THAT, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR YOU.

APOLOGIES MEAN NOTHING.

YOU COME HERE FOR HELP, AND AT THIS POINT,

THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO TO HELP YOU.

SO YOU'RE DONE HERE.

I'VE BEEN DOING GOOD AND EVERYTHING. PLEASE.

AND UNLESS YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY,

YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED BACK.

I'VE BEEN GOOD. I-I SWEAR.

I APOLOGIZE TO EVERYBODY.

IF YOU WANT TO STAY IN THE PROGRAM,

YOU NEED TO FIND A PLACE TO STAY,

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT STAYING HERE ANYMORE.

SO YOUR FATHER NEEDS TO SET YOU UP SOMEWHERE ELSE.

I DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE ELSE TO LIVE.

IF YOU SAY YOU HAVE NOWHERE AT ALL,

I WILL HAVE YOU DROPPED IN A HOMELESS SHELTER

IN A FEW MINUTES.

YOU ARE FINISHED.

CAN I PLEASE HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE?

NO. YOUR BEHAVIOR AT THIS POINT DICTATES

THAT NOBODY CAN HELP YOU IN HERE.

[ Voice breaking ] PLEASE. I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE.

[ SOBS ]

STEVEN, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION IN HERE.

THIS IS NOT GONNA BE TOLERATED BY ANYBODY.

I'LL DO ANYTHING FOR ANOTHER SHOT.

YOU WANT HELP HERE, YOU DON'T ABUSE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

I'LL TRY TO CALL -- AND YOU CALL YOUR DAD --

COME PICK YOU UP.

CAN YOU CALL HIM?

VERY WELL.

WE'LL CALL YOUR FATHER TO FIND OUT

WHERE WE WILL TAKE YOU.

**

EVERY PROGRAM HAS TO BE TAILORED TO THE PATIENT,

BUT STEVEN IS SO FAR OFF THE CHART

FROM WHAT WE HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED

THAT THERE IS NO SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO HIM,

ASIDE FROM HOW YOU TEACH A CHILD TO BEHAVE.

BUT HE ALSO IS VERY SMART,

AND HE KNOWS HOW TO MANIPULATE EVERYBODY AROUND HIM,

AND HE'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET HIS WAY.

SO HE WILL CRY AND HE'LL BEG,

BUT THE REALITY IS,

HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT CHANGING.

NO MATTER WHAT YOU'RE ADDICTED TO,

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO A CHOICE.

EITHER HE WANTS TO CHANGE AND HE'S WILLING TO TRY,

OR HE ISN'T.

[ MONITOR BEEPS ]

Steven: I'M REALLY SAD AND SCARED RIGHT NOW,

AND I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING TO ME.

**

**

Justin: IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF MONTHS

SINCE WE TOOK STEVEN DOWN TO HOUSTON TO LEAVE HIM THERE.

AND WHEN I GOT BACK, I WENT OVER THE DOCTOR'S DIET PLAN,

BUT I'M MOSTLY STILL EATING WHAT I WANT.

I WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT, BUT RIGHT NOW, I'M MAINTAINING,

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I'VE GAINED ANYTHING.

SO I FEEL LIKE I'M DOING WELL.

[ CELLPHONE RINGTONE BLARING ]

HELLO?

YEAH?

WHEN DO YOU WANT ME DOWN?

WHEN HE GOES TO HIS OWN APARTMENT, NOW,

HE'S GONNA HAVE TO CHECK IN WITH YOU, RIGHT?

OKAY. I'M HOPING THAT I CAN GET A FLIGHT IN TOMORROW MORNING,

SO I CAN BE THERE BY TOMORROW.

DR. NOWZARADAN: Okay.

WELL, DR. NOW, THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

-All right. Bye-bye. -OKAY. BYE.

Steven Sr.: WHY?

WHY IS HE DOING THIS,

WHEN HE KNOWS THIS IS HIS LAST OPPORTUNITY TO GET HELP?

I TOLD YOU. WHAT?

HE WAS GONNA DO SOMETHING STUPID.

I'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH --

I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS IS GONNA TURN OUT

WHEN I GO DOWN THERE.

EITHER HE WANTS TO LIVE, OR HE DON'T WANT TO LIVE.

THAT'S THE CHOICE HE'S GOT TO MAKE,

AND I CAN'T MAKE IT FOR HIM BECAUSE HE'S AN ADULT.

YEAH, GEE, THANKS.

I REALLY HAVE DOUBTS THAT IT'S GONNA WORK FOR STEVEN

IN THE APARTMENT,

BUT I'M PRAYING TO GOD THAT IT DOES.

Justin: I CAN'T BELIEVE MY BROTHER DID THIS.

HE DOESN'T EVEN DESERVE THE CHANCE HE HAS.

SO I DON'T CARE THAT HE'S MESSING UP AGAIN,

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HE DOES --

HE MAKES PEOPLE MISERABLE AND SCREWS UP EVERYTHING.

**

**

Steven: I'VE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A COUPLE MONTHS NOW,

AND I'VE MADE GOOD PROGRESS,

BUT THEY'RE KICKING ME OUT NOW

BECAUSE OF HOW I'VE BEEN BEHAVING,

AND I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.

I PHYSICALLY CAN'T TAKE CARE OF MYSELF,

SO I CAN'T LEAVE THE CARE OF A HOSPITAL,

AND I DON'T THINK THEY UNDERSTAND THAT.

GOOD MORNING, SIR.

HELLO.

WHAT'S GOING ON TODAY -- ANYTHING?

NOTHING. DON'T FEEL GOOD.

-DON'T FEEL GOOD? -NOPE.

DIDN'T EAT BREAKFAST, DIDN'T EAT LUNCH.

MY DAD MADE IT INTO TOWN A LITTLE WHILE AGO,

AND HE HAD TO COME DOWN ALL THE WAY FROM RHODE ISLAND

TO HELP MOVE ME INTO AN APARTMENT.

SO, I DON'T SEE WHY ALL THIS HAS TO BE SUCH AN INCONVENIENCE,

BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA, MEDICALLY.

-HI, STEVEN. -HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

I HAVE NO APPETITE.

-YOU'RE NOT HUNGRY? -NO.

DID YOU DRINK ANYTHING?

NO.

YOU GOING ON A FOOD STRIKE, OR WHAT?

[ CHUCKLES ]

NOT A FOOD STRIKE -- I JUST DON'T FEEL GOOD.

WELL, THAT'S THE CONSEQUENCE OF YOUR OWN CHOICES.

BUT YOU CAN USE THIS OPPORTUNITY

TO LEARN TO DO THINGS ON YOUR OWN.

STEVEN NEEDS TO LEARN HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF

AND THEN TAKE CONTROL OF HIS DIET

AND SHOW ME HE'S WILLING TO WORK AND LOSE WEIGHT ON HIS OWN.

ALL RIGHT. I'M GONNA CHECK YOUR WEIGHT

FOR A FINAL WEIGHT GOING ON...

OKAY. ...SO WE CAN MONITOR

YOUR PROGRESS AT HOME.

THANK YOU.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: YOU'VE LOST OVER 100 POUNDS.

OKAY, SO, NOW, I WANT YOU TO LOSE ANOTHER 60 POUNDS

OVER THE NEXT MONTH.

YOU DO THAT AND START TO BEHAVE YOURSELF,

YOU'LL BE READY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

OKAY.

STEVE, I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

THANK YOU, DR. NOWZARADAN.

-ALL RIGHT. -THANK YOU.

STEVEN IS VERY GOOD AT MANIPULATION,

SO THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY PROCESS AT ALL.

HOPEFULLY, HE WILL STICK TO THE PROGRAM AND COOPERATE

NOW THAT HE KNOWS THAT THERE IS CONSEQUENCE TO HIS BEHAVIOR,

BUT IT'S LIKELY GOING TO BE HARDER THAN THAT.

**

**

Steven: I DON'T LIKE THIS.

-THERE WE GO. -PERFECT.

BUT I AM A LITTLE CURIOUS

ABOUT WHAT MY NEW PLACE LOOKS LIKE.

[ Sighing ] OKAY.

WOW.

Man: OKAY. THANK YOU.

-THERE YOU GO. -THANKS, GUYS.

-HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. -ALL RIGHT?

I LOVE RUG.

[ SIGHS ]

GIVE ME A PHONE AND GET THE NUMBER.

FOR WHAT?

[ Chuckling incredulously ] FOR WHAT?

OH, MY GOD.

Steven: ALL RIGHT, DAD. I WANT PIZZA.

AND I-I REALLY DON'T WANT YOU TO HAVE IT.

IT'S THE ONLY TIME I WANT TO HAVE IT, SO...

WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT?

JUST A LARGE PIZZA WITH CHEESE AND PEPPERONI

AND A 2-LITER BOTTLE OF COKE.

Steven Sr.: I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO

THERE'S NO POINT IN FIGHTING STEVEN.

IF HE WANTS PIZZA, HE IS GOING TO GET IT.

WOMAN: Is this for delivery or pickup?

FOR DELIVERY.

I NEED A LARGE CHEESE AND PEPPERONI.

I KNOW, BUT I NEED TO FIND SOMETHING --

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ] OH.

THOSE GUYS ARE GONNA KNOCK THE DOOR IN.

-HI. -ALL RIGHT.

-THANK YOU. -ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

THERE. YOU HAPPY? YEP.

HAVE A PARTY.

I WILL.

I KNOW YOU WILL.

**

OH, CAN I HAVE A PIECE?

BUDDY, I HAVEN'T EATEN SINCE 6:00 THIS MORNING.

CAN I HAVE A SLICE? YOU NEED TO SAY "YES" OR "NO."

NO.

YEAH.

I'M NOT GONNA MESS UP MY WEIGHT LOSS.

AFTER THIS, I'M GOING BACK ON THE DIET PLAN

AND STICKING WITH IT.

BUT IN HONOR OF BEING IN MY NEW HOME,

I'M GONNA HAVE THIS MEAL.

**

**

I'VE BEEN IN MY OWN APARTMENT FOR A MONTH NOW.

MY DAD WENT BACK THE DAY AFTER I MOVED IN,

AND IT WAS REALLY SCARY AT FIRST

BECAUSE I HAD TO DO THINGS ON MY OWN.

BUT I FEEL...

FREE.

WHAT I WAS REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT

WAS THAT THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING UP,

AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN ALONE ON THANKSGIVING OR CHRISTMAS.

SO IT WAS JUST SCARY, KNOWING I'D BE ALONE.

WELL, HELLO!

BUT I'VE HAD A PERSONAL-CARE ASSISTANT HELP TAKE CARE OF ME,

AND I LIKE PRINCESS SO FAR.

SHE COMES OVER AND BATHES ME, PREPARES FOOD FOR ME,

AND SHE MAKES SURE I'M DOING OKAY.

I SEE THAT YOU GOT THAT CRANBERRY-JUICE CONTAINER

RIGHT NEXT TO YOU,

WHICH MEANS THAT YOU DRUNK JUICE.

WHEN?

I DON'T KNOW, BUT YOU DRUNK IT.

THAT IS BULLCRAP.

WE'RE GONNA DO WATER TODAY. OKAY.

I KNOW. I SEE. [ CHUCKLES ]

Princess: I'VE BEEN TAKING CARE OF STEVEN FOR A MONTH NOW,

AND HE CAN BE A HANDFUL AT TIMES,

BUT I LIKE CHALLENGES, AND HE IS A CHALLENGE.

SO, YOU'RE FIGHTING MY TEMPTATION FOR ME.

I'M TRYING TO. WE'RE GONNA DO IT TOGETHER.

SEE? THANK YOU.

Steven: BASICALLY, I ASKED PRINCESS

IF SHE CAN HELP ME STICK TO DR. NOWZARADAN'S PLAN

BY KEEPING ME ON A 1,000-CALORIE DIET

AND NOT MAKING IT GO OVER THAT.

OKAY. SO, YOUR DINNER WAS 340 CALORIES.

HA!

WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE SUBSTITUTED WAS WATER.

I DID NOT KNOW WHAT I WAS DOING WITH THE JUICE,

SO I JUST KEPT POURING IT.

I WAS LIKE, "MMM!"

I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE THE DOCTOR HERE SOON,

AND WHEN I DO, I KNOW I NEED TO HIT MY WEIGHT-LOSS GOALS

TO SHOW HIM I CAN DO THIS,

OR I KNOW HE'S NOT GONNA APPROVE ME FOR SURGERY.

**

**

[ TELEPHONE RINGS ]

Steven Sr.: WHAT DO YOU WANT?

I want to talk to him.

-HE'S RIGHT -- -WHAT DO YOU WANT?!

I ain't got no food here,

and if you don't believe me, ask Princess.

THAT'S NOT MY [BLEEP] PROBLEM!

THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM, NOT MINE.

So, I did not get any food today.

WELL, YOU HAD THREE MEALS DELIVERED. SORRY.

No, I did not!

YES, YOU DID!

No, I didn't.

WELL, GUESS WHAT -- I DON'T HAVE NO MONEY, AND I AM BROKE.

SO YOU CAN THREATEN ME ALL YOU WANT.

Well, then, there's gonna be issues.

THEN THERE'S GONNA BE ISSUES.

I'M GONNA SHUT MY PHONE OFF, AND SO IS JUSTIN.

[ Shouting indistinctly ]

GOODBYE!

Don't come down here.

BYE.

Never!

BYE!

Never, ever and ever and ever!

BYE!

**

**

**

Princess: I AM ON THE WAY TO STEVEN'S HOUSE.

I RECEIVED A CALL THAT HE WASN'T ANSWERING THE DOOR,

NOR IS HE RESPONDING TO PHONE CALLS.

THAT'S NOT LIKE HIM.

IT'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS

SINCE STEVEN LEFT THE HOSPITAL,

AND HE MISSED HIS LAST DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.

I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S BECAUSE HE'S HIDING SOMETHING

OR IF HE'S IN TROUBLE,

SO I'M TRYING TO FIND OUT.

[ KNOCKING ON DOOR ]

STEVEN!

STEVEN?!

STEVEN, IT'S PRINCESS. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR.

NOW, I'M GOING TO TRY WITH MY KEY, OKAY?

I'M COMING. HAVE IT YOUR WAY.

WELL... STEVEN!

OKAY. STEVEN ASSANTI IS NOT HERE.

STEVEN NEVER LEAVES HERE WITHOUT TAKING HIS TABLET.

HE ALSO DON'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT ONE OF THOSE WALKERS,

SO HE GOT OUT OF HERE BY A WHEELCHAIR.

STEVEN JUST GOT A PRESCRIPTION FILLED,

AND IT'S HYDROCODONE,

AND IT WAS 100-COUNT, AND THEY'RE GONE.

SO HE TOOK THE EQUIVALENT TO KNOCK OUT AN ELEPHANT.

I THINK THAT HE HAS A SLIGHT PROBLEM.

AH, WHAT I SHOULD DO IS -- I'M GONNA PRESS "REDIAL"

AND SEE THE LAST NUMBER THAT HE CALLED.

HELLO. WHICH HOSPITAL IS THIS?

HI. I WAS TRYING TO SEE IF Y'ALL HAVE A PATIENT THERE.

ASSANTI.

SO, YOU DO SEE HIM IN THE E.R.?

ALL RIGHT, I SURE THANK YOU, MA'AM.

BYE-BYE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, IT LOOKS LIKE STEVEN CALLED FOR AN EMERGENCY PICKUP

TO GET TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL TO GET HIS PAIN MEDS REFILLED.

SO I'M GOING TO REPORT BACK TO DR. NOWZARADAN,

AND THEN WE'LL SEE HOW HE WANTS TO HANDLE THIS,

BECAUSE STEVEN'S GOING TO KILL HIMSELF

IF THIS IS WHAT HE'S DOING.

**

STEVEN IS HAVING SOME ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR

THAT IS CONCERNING.

PRINCESS CALLED ME TO TELL ME

HOW STEVEN IS ABUSING THE SYSTEM TO GET PAINKILLERS.

HE ALSO MISSED THE LAST APPOINTMENT WITH ME

AND HAS BEEN TURNING AWAY THE PSYCHOLOGISTS

WHEN THEY HAVE COME TO SEE HIM.

SO I'M STOPPING IN TO HAVE A TALK WITH HIM TODAY.

[ KNOCKS ON DOOR ]

STEVEN.

-HI. -HOW YOU DOING?

OKAY. HOW ARE YOU?

I'M DOING OKAY. YOU'RE PULLING YOUR HAIR OUT.

WELL, I'M NOT PULLING IT OUT LIKE BIG, HUGE PIECES,

BUT THEY'RE LIKE LITTLE STRANDS THAT ACCUMULATE.

MOST PEOPLE JUST SAY THEY'RE PULLING THEIR HAIR OUT

AS AN EXPRESSION,

BUT YOU ACTUALLY DO IT.

YOU MISSED YOUR APPOINTMENT WITH ME LAST WEEK.

DO YOU THINK YOU LOST ANY WEIGHT?

WELL, I, UH, I-I MEAN...

[ STAMMERS ] I MEAN...

I MEAN, YOU KNOW.

I SEE PIZZA IN HERE.

HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU ORDER PIZZA SINCE YOU'VE BEEN HERE?

PROBABLY LIKE TWO.

TWO -- TWO TIMES THAT SHE KNOWS.

HOW MANY TIMES THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU ORDERED PIZZA?

DON'T LOOK AT HER.

WELL, WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE TO THE APARTMENT, I HAD A PIZZA.

I FEEL THE GUILT EVERY TIME I EAT IT -- I DO.

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR GUILT.

SO, YOU MISSED YOUR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT,

AND YOU ARE ABUSING YOUR PAIN MEDICATION

AND GOING TO ALL THESE HOSPITALS.

WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT?

I SHOULDN'T.

AND WE HAVE DISCOVERED YOU HAVE DONE THIS

ABOUT 20 TIMES THIS PAST MONTH.

DO YOU KNOW HOW DANGEROUS IT IS?

YOU NEED TO STOP THAT. YEAH.

THIS IS TIME RIGHT NOW TO STOP ALL THAT.

YES.

AND I NEED TO SEE WEIGHT LOSS FROM YOU.

IF YOU HAVE NO WEIGHT LOSS, WE'RE GONNA DROP YOU, OKAY?

YES. YOU'RE GONNA BE ON YOUR OWN,

AND THIS IS GONNA BE THE END OF THE ROAD.

-OKAY. -OKAY?

ALL RIGHT. SO, WE'LL GET YOU

A PSYCH DOCTOR TO COME IN AND VISIT YOU.

STOP PULLING YOUR HAIR

AND DOING ALL THESE WEIRD THINGS.

AND WE'LL SEND SOMEBODY TO CUT YOUR HAIR SHORT

SO YOU DON'T PULL IT OFF.

GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER, STEVEN,

AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MISS YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

OKAY.

PULLING HAIR OUT IS A NERVOUS TIC

THAT WE SEE IN A CHILD.

THERE IS SOME PART OF STEVEN THAT ACTS LIKE AN ADOLESCENT

AND REFUSES TO MATURE TO BE AN ADULT,

AND THAT BEHAVIOR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE

BECAUSE, RIGHT NOW, HIS ADDICTION TO PAIN MEDICATION

IS GOING TO KILL HIM BEFORE HIS OVEREATING DOES.

Steven: I THOUGHT DR. NOWZARADAN WAS GONNA GIVE UP ON ME AGAIN,

SO I'M GLAD I STILL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO DO THIS.

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I LOST OR IF I LOST AT ALL.

SO I KNOW I NEED TO WORK HARDER AND DO BETTER

BEFORE I SEE HIM AGAIN.

**

[ CAR WHIRRING ]

Justin: IT'S BEEN ABOUT FIVE MONTHS SINCE I'VE MET DR. NOWZARADAN

AND HE GAVE ME HIS WEIGHT-LOSS PLAN.

I STILL DON'T THINK I NEED ANY SURGERY,

AND I HAVEN'T HAD MUCH TIME TO WORK ON MY DIET.

BUT I THINK I'M DOING WELL BECAUSE I GET OUT.

I MAKE SURE I'M DOING EXERCISE AND STAYING ACTIVE.

**

I NEED TO WALK TO GET TO THE PARK

BECAUSE I DON'T DRIVE RIGHT NOW.

IT'S ABOUT A COUPLE-MILE WALK.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S HARD, BUT I GOT TO DO IT.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

AND IT'S BEEN REALLY NICE TO HAVE STEVEN AWAY, BUT...

SOME WAYS, IT'S STILL LIKE HE'S RIGHT HERE,

BECAUSE STEVEN STILL CALLS MY DAD ALL THE TIME,

AND HE ALWAYS GIVES IN

AND ORDERS A PIZZA TO BE DELIVERED TO STEVEN.

Steven Sr.: WHY ARE YOU -- WHY ARE YOU ASKING FOR PIZZA AGAIN?

I CANNOT AFFORD IT! [ EXHALES ]

STEVEN: All right. That's the last time I'll do it, then.

Thanks for calling. This is Jeanette. How can I help you?

YEAH, COULD I HAVE A LARGE CHEESE AND PEPPERONI, PLEASE?

THANK YOU.

IF I DON'T ORDER STEVEN THIS PIZZA,

HE WILL GO TO THE HOSPITAL,

AND I DON'T WANT TO SEE HIM DO THAT.

THAT'S WHEN HE USUALLY BUSTS MY...

TO ORDER HIM FOOD.

I WANT HIM TO STAY HOME WHERE HE BELONGS.

E-MAIL HIM.

WHAT?

STEVEN: I'm here. I'm on the other line.

WELL, I'M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW --

WHY'D YOU THREATEN ME IF I DIDN'T GET THE PIZZA?

'CAUSE YOU WANTED IT.

HE SOUNDS HIGH.

IS HE TAKING DRUGS?

HUH?

YOU [BLEEP] UP, IT'S OVER -- YOU KNOW THAT.

YOU QUIT THREATENING ME.

HELLO?

[ Chuckling incredulously ] HE HUNG UP ON ME.

I KNOW WHAT TO DO. CALL HIM UP.

TELL HIM YOU'LL CANCEL IT.

YOU ORDERED HIM PIZZA ABOUT EIGHT TIMES THIS WEEK.

EVERY TIME I DO SOMETHING FOR HIM,

YOU ALWAYS GOT TO JUMP DOWN MY THROAT.

THAT'S RIGHT, 'CAUSE YOU'RE DOING THE WRONG THING.

YOUR SON HAS ENOUGH DRUGS IN HIM TO OPEN UP A PHARMACY.

I KNOW I SHOULDN'T BE DOING IT,

BUT I'M JUST KEEPING HIM OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.

YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE I DO SOMETHING FOR HIM,

THAT'S REALLY NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

BUDDY, YOU HEAR ME? YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. THINK ABOUT IT.

SEE YOU LATER.

Justin: MY DAD WILL ALWAYS ENABLE STEVEN,

AND STEVEN WILL ALWAYS TAKE EVERYTHING HE HAS

AND EVERYTHING I HAVE.

THAT'S THE WAY IT'S ALWAYS BEEN,

AND THAT'S THE WAY IT'LL ALWAYS BE.

AND UNLESS MY DAD CHANGES, STEVEN NEVER WILL.

**

OOH!

TODAY, I'M GOING BACK TO SEE DR. NOWZARADAN.

BUT I'M NERVOUS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH I WEIGH,

BUT I REALLY HOPE I'VE LOST SOME OF THE WEIGHT.

I WAS 624 WHEN I LEFT THE HOSPITAL,

AND THE DOCTOR WANTED ME TO LOSE 60 POUNDS

TO GET UNDER 564.

I CHEATED A FEW TIMES. I'M A LITTLE WORRIED.

SO PRINCESS TOLD ME SHE'D COME WITH ME

TO BE THERE FOR SUPPORT.

HOW WAS THE RIDE?

IT WAS GOOD. IT WAS ALL RIGHT.

Woman: STEVEN ASSANTI.

Steven: MISTAKES HAPPEN --

IT'S JUST A PART OF LIFE, YOU KNOW?

BUT I'M REALLY NERVOUS RIGHT NOW.

-GOOD? -I'M GOOD. YEP.

OKAY.

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THE DOCTOR TO GIVE UP ON ME,

SO I HOPE I SHOW HIM ENOUGH TODAY

TO PROVE TO HIM THAT I CAN DO IT.

706.

THAT IS NOT GOOD.

I THINK DR. NOW'S GONNA BE REALLY MAD.

[BLEEP]

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

Dr. Nowzaradan: STEVEN.

HI.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

GAINED ALL THE WEIGHT BACK.

AND DO YOU REMEMBER HOW MUCH YOU WEIGHED

WHEN YOU LEFT THE HOSPITAL?

I WAS 624, I THINK.

YOU MANAGED TO GAIN 80 POUNDS.

SO, TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON WITH YOUR EATING HABITS.

I WOULD KIND OF HAVE A PIZZA EVERY NOW AND THEN AND STUFF.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, IF THIS IS NOT WORKING FOR YOU,

I'M NOT GONNA BE THE ONE TO WRITE YOUR DEATH CERTIFICATE.

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.

YOU LOSE 60 POUNDS THIS NEXT MONTH,

STOP ABUSING YOUR PAIN MEDS,

AND DO THIS RIGHT, OR YOU CAN GO HOME.

I DO HAVE A QUESTION, THOUGH.

YES?

UM, I...

I-I DO NEED ONE MORE PAIN SCRIPT, THOUGH, FOR MY PAIN,

'CAUSE I AM IN A LOT OF PAIN.

YOUR PAIN SCRIPT WENT AWAY

WHEN YOU CALLED YOUR DAD TO BRING YOU FOOD.

I PROMISE, OKAY?

NO. NO.

YOU WANT TO GO TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM

AND CRY TO SOMEBODY WHO'LL WRITE YOU PAIN MEDICATION,

BE MY GUEST,

BUT I'M NOT GONNA GO DO THAT.

YOUR PAIN IS BECAUSE OF YOUR WEIGHT.

IF YOU DON'T WANT THE PAIN, LOSE THE WEIGHT.

AND WE GOT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU TO LOSE THE WEIGHT.

RIGHT. SO I HAVE TO GO HOME AND BE IN PAIN, THEN?

WHAT DO I DO? [ SCOFFS ]

WATCH YOUR DIET. THAT'LL REMIND YOU TO EAT LESS,

REMIND YOU NOT TO ORDER PIZZA, OKAY?

THE DRAGON'S BEEN UNLEASHED, AND I WANT TO DO IT NOW,

'CAUSE I KNOW I CAN DO IT NOW.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE PSYCH YET?

I DIDN'T YET,

BECAUSE I FELT LIKE EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY RIGHT NOW.

MAKE THAT APPOINTMENT AND SEE THEM.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

SO, YOU GOT A LOT OF CHANGES OF BEHAVIOR TO DO.

FROM THIS POINT ON, STEVE,

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE PERMANENT CHANGES.

IF YOU DON'T, I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.

ALL RIGHT?

YES.

Dr. Nowzaradan: I AM VERY CONCERNED

ABOUT STEVEN RIGHT NOW.

HE IS PLAYING GAME AFTER GAME,

AND HE HAS A SYSTEM OF MANIPULATION

WHERE HE KNOWS HOW TO GET FOOD HE WANTS

AND HE KNOWS HOW TO GET HIS PAIN MEDICINE.

YOU TRIED TO SELL YOUR WALKER.

IF YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A BUYER,

YOU WOULD HAVE HAD SOME MORE PIZZA.

Steven: PIZZA AND CHEESY FRIES.

BE NICE.

MY BIG CONCERN, THOUGH,

IS THAT THIS IS ALL JUST A PERFORMANCE FOR STEVEN

AND THAT HE STILL THINKS

THAT HE CAN MANIPULATE THE WHOLE SYSTEM

AND GET AWAY WITH IT.

AT THIS POINT, HE'S WRITTEN HIS DEATH CERTIFICATE,

AND ALL WE NEED IS A DATE.

HE HAS ONE WINDOW TO TURN THIS AROUND,

AND THE CHANCE TO DO THAT IS NOW.

Steven: I WANT TO DO BETTER, AND I'M PLANNING TO CHANGE.

BUT WHEN I WANT WHAT I WANT, IT'S NEVER THAT SIMPLE.

I DON'T CARE, AND SOMETHING ELSE TAKES OVER,

AND I DO WHAT I WANT.

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CHANGE THAT.

**

**

**

I TOLD DR. NOWZARADAN MY LEG HURTS SO BAD,

I NEEDED PAINKILLERS.

BUT HE DIDN'T LISTEN, AND THE PAIN GOT UNBEARABLE,

SO I HAD NO CHOICE.

I HAD TO COME HERE TO GET MY PAIN MEDS.

[ SIGHS ]

I GOT TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO GET MY PAIN MEDS.

OH, GOD.

[ CHUCKLES ] THERE'S OTHER WAYS,

BUT IF YOU TRY TO BUY ON THE COMPUTER,

YOU CAN BUY THEM FROM A COP OR SOMETHING, THOUGH.

LIKE, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW.

IT CROSSED YOUR MIND.

Carlos: MR. ASSANTI...

HOW ARE YOU?

I'M GOOD.

NOT IN ANY PAIN OR ANYTHING?

OH, OBVIOUSLY, YEAH.

SAID THAT YOU WAS HURTING A LITTLE BIT.

WHERE ARE YOU HURTING?

MY RIGHT LEG, NATURALLY.

-RIGHT. -YEAH, THIS LEG HERE.

OKAY. ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10, COULD YOU RATE YOUR PAIN?

IT'S ABOUT A 9.

9 ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE QUALITY OF THE PAIN?

IT JUST HURTS.

LIKE, IS IT AN ACHING, SHARP, STABBING,

DULL, GNAWING, BURNING, SHARP, SHOOTING -- WHAT TYPE?

IT'S REALLY HARD TO DESCRIBE. IT JUST HURTS REALLY BAD.

JUST PICK ONE OF THOSE FOR ME. UH, STAB?

-STABBING, GREAT. -BURNING.

STABBING AND BURNING. STABBING AND BURNING AND A 9.

GREAT.

Princess: YOU ACTUALLY THINK DR. NOW IS NOT GONNA FIGURE THIS OUT?

A 9? AND YOU'RE JUST SMILING.

LET ME BE IN A 9 OF PAIN. I'M GONNA BE ON THE FLOOR.

THAT'S HOW I ALWAYS ACT, THOUGH.

I ALWAYS SMILE THROUGH BAD THINGS, MAN.

IT'S NOT PAIN -- IT'S DISCOMFORT.

CALL IT WHAT IT IS.

THAT'S HOW YOU KNOW IT'S AN ADDICTION.

SHUT UP.

Princess: TWO MONTHS OF WORKING WITH STEVEN,

AND I DONE FOUND OUT ALL HIS LITTLE KINKS AND TRICKS

AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

BYE.

MENTALLY, HE IS NOT READY TO LOSE WEIGHT.

STEVEN IS FULL OF GAMES,

AND THE GAME THAT HE PLAYS IS FOR NARCOTICS.

WE'RE ALL TRYING TO HELP HIM,

BUT WITH HOW STEVEN IS ACTING, HE'S ABOUT TO LOSE EVERYTHING.

**

**

Steven: RIGHT NOW, I'M WAITING ON DR. NOW TO COME SEE ME

BECAUSE HE WANTS TO TALK TO ME,

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA BE GOOD.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HI, STEVEN. -HI.

HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING?

I'M OKAY.

SO, STEVEN, YOU DON'T SEEM TO LISTEN OR CARE TO LISTEN.

AFTER BEING SIX MONTHS IN HOUSTON,

YOU'RE STILL PLAYING THE SAME GAME.

THE MOMENT THE DILAUDID SHOT WAS GIVEN,

YOU SIGNED A PAPER TO GET OUT OF HOSPITAL

AGAINST MEDICAL ADVICE,

SO THAT TELLS ME THE ONLY REASON YOU CAME HERE --

TO GET THE DRUGS

AND YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO NEED FOR BEING IN THE HOSPITAL.

NO, I DON'T -- YOU'RE USING THIS LYMPHEDEMA

AS A VEHICLE TO GET YOUR DRUG-HABIT SUPPORT.

YES. I AM.

WELL, YOU KNOW?

WELL, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO ABOUT IT?

I...DON'T KNOW.

[ CHUCKLES ]

YOU HAVE NO INTENT TO CHANGE RIGHT NOW,

AND YOUR DRUG ADDICTION IS GONNA KILL YOU

FASTER THAN YOUR FOOD ADDICTION.

SO THAT'S THE TOP PRIORITY FOR US TO ADDRESS.

YEAH.

I MEAN, I'M GONNA TRY TO STOP, BUT IT'S HARD.

YOU'RE LYING ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING,

SO WHY I SHOULD BELIEVE YOU AT THIS MOMENT

THAT YOU'RE GONNA TELL ME THE TRUTH?

YOU SHOULDN'T.

I WANT TO TRY TO STOP, BUT IT'S HARD.

AND I ADMIT THAT I DO HAVE A PROBLEM.

IT'S A BIG PROBLEM.

WELL...

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE AT THAT POINT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN BEFORE,

AND YOU LIED ABOUT IT.

AND RIGHT NOW, AT LEAST,

YOU GOT TO THE POINT THAT YOU'RE HONEST ABOUT IT.

BUT HERE'S THE SITUATION --

THIS IS THE END OF YOUR ROAD FOR NOW.

OKAY.

YOU'RE DONE MANIPULATING THE SYSTEM WITH ME INVOLVED.

SO, HERE'S WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

I'M SUSPENDING YOU FROM THE WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM,

AND YOU'RE GOING FROM HERE TO A DRUG-ADDICTION PROGRAM

BECAUSE, RIGHT NOW,

THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO TO WAKE YOU UP.

I'M NOT GONNA TURN THE NEWS ON

AND HEAR ABOUT A 700-POUND MAN OVERDOSING,

SO WE NEED TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT, OKAY?

-YEAH. -ALL RIGHT.

I WISH YOU THE BEST.

THANK YOU.

AND RIGHT NOW, HIS ADDICTION TO PAINKILLERS

IS GOING TO KILL HIM BEFORE HIS OVEREATING DOES.

IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE HE OVERDOSES.

SO THAT ADDICTION IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY

TO TREAT RIGHT NOW.

HE'S PLAYING GAMES,

DEVISING WAYS TO MANIPULATE THE HOSPITAL

AND A SYSTEM THAT CAN EASILY BE ABUSED

IF YOU KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

SO HE NEEDS TO MAKE A CHOICE

TO BREAK FREE FROM THAT IMMEDIATELY,

BECAUSE HE'S TAKING ENOUGH TO EASILY KILL HIMSELF

EACH AND EVERY DAY.

AND JUSTIN HAS BEEN REFUSING TREATMENT SO FAR,

AND HIS FATHER HAS NOT GIVEN ME AN UPDATE ON HIS WEIGHT,

WHICH MEANS THIS IS NOT IMPORTANT FOR THEM.

SO WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO TREAT THE WHOLE FAMILY

AND TRY TO SAVE THE LIVES OF THE ASSANTI BROTHERS.

HOPEFULLY, WE HAVE FOR STEVEN,

AND WE'LL START TO TURN AROUND THINGS FOR HIM.

MAYBE OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS,

WE'LL START TO SEE MORE POSITIVE RESULTS,

BUT WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW THINGS GO.

Steven: I DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP,

BUT GOING INTO A DRUG-REHAB PROGRAM

SEEMS LIKE A WASTE OF TIME.

I DON'T LIKE BEING IN PLACES WHERE I DON'T HAVE CONTROL,

BUT I'LL GO 'CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DIE

AND I'M SCARED TO BE ON MY OWN.

I KNOW I'M KILLING MYSELF.

SO IF I HAVE TO DO THIS TO LIVE, THEN I WILL.

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