Original subtitles

Lee: I KNOW I'M KILLING MYSELF.

AND I'M HELPING KILL THE WOMAN I LOVE.

**

[ GROANS ] GOD!

MY LIFE IS WASTING AWAY, AND I HATE IT.

I TRY TO CHANGE,

BUT SOMETHING ALWAYS KNOCKS ME DOWN.

**

MY LIFE -- IT'S LIKE LIVING A DEATH SENTENCE.

UGH!

OW! [BLEEP]!

THIS IS NO LIFE FOR ANYONE.

**

OH, JUST PRAY FOR ME.

OH, MY LEG!

-SIT DOWN RIGHT THERE. -YOU'RE MAKING ME NERVOUS.

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

[ DOOR SLAMS ]

**

Rena: IF LEE WANTS TO MESS UP HIS LIFE AND HIS CHANCE,

I CAN'T LET IT DESTROY MINE.

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

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

**

Lee: THE ONLY THING HARDER THAN DESTROYING YOUR LIFE

WITH YOUR OWN CHOICES

IS DESTROYING THE LIFE OF SOMEONE YOU LOVE

AT THE SAME TIME.

[ BIRDS CHIRPING ]

**

**

[ YAWNS ]

**

**

[ GRUNTS ]

**

Rena: FORCING MYSELF TO START EACH DAY

IS JUST MISERABLE.

BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN SO BIG,

MY BODY FEELS LIKE I'M IN A PRISON.

I'M JUST TRAPPED.

IT'S TORTURE EVERY DAY.

AND MY BODY IS SO BAD NOW

THAT I'M EVEN HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING.

BUT I CAN'T EVEN TAKE THE TIME TO WORRY ABOUT MYSELF

BECAUSE MY BOYFRIEND CAN'T DO ANYTHING

FOR HIS SELF ANYMORE.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

SO I HAVE TO HELP HIM BEFORE I CAN TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.

**

JUST LIVING LIFE IS A STRUGGLE, DAILY.

SO THERE'S MANY DAYS THAT I DON'T GET OUT OF BED

BECAUSE OF THE PAIN.

AND I HATE WHAT I'M DOING TO RENA.

OH, MY BACK.

BUT THE ONLY TIMES I CAN GET UP, I HAVE TO HAVE HELP.

[ GROANS ] SORRY.

SO IF IT WASN'T FOR MY GIRLFRIEND,

I WOULDN'T BE LIVING RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW.

[ PANTING ]

BUT IT IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BE CLEAN

THAN TO WORRY ABOUT SOMEBODY HELPING ME.

**

I JUST FEEL BAD 'CAUSE I KNOW SHE'S IN PAIN,

AND IT'S HARD FOR HER.

I'M MISERABLE EVERY DAY.

[ SNIFFLES ]

AND SOME DAYS, I JUST WANNA GIVE UP.

BUT I CAN'T...

BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS,

LEE WILL DIE IF I DON'T TAKE CARE OF HIM.

[ Voice breaking ] SO TO ME... HE NEEDS IT MORE THAN I DO.

**

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

**

[ GRUNTING ]

Lee: EVEN DOING THE SMALLEST THING

IS A PAINFUL EXPERIENCE.

**

[ LEE STRAINING ]

**

[ WATER RUNNING ]

AND WHEN I TRY AND TAKE A SHOWER,

IT'S PRETTY MUCH A FULL-DAY JOB 'CAUSE IT JUST WEARS ME OUT.

**

AND I'M JUST READY TO BE DONE

AFTER EVEN A FEW MINUTES TRYING TO SIT THERE.

I JUST CAN'T HANDLE IT FOR LONG.

[ WATER STOPS RUNNING ]

**

[ GRUNTS ]

**

A PERSON OF OUR SIZE REQUIRES

A LOT OF ATTENTION, A LOT OF CARE.

IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL,

YOU GET BREAK-OPENS IN THE SKIN, TEARS, RIPS.

YOU GOTTA MAKE SURE THEY'RE CLEAN, THEY'RE LOTIONED,

THEY'RE DRY, TOOKEN CARE OF.

[ BED CREAKING ]

IT KILLS ME WORSE TO SEE LEE WHEN HE'S HAVING ISSUES

THAN IT DOES MYSELF.

**

BUT THAT'S WHO I'VE ALWAYS BEEN.

I'VE ALWAYS TOOKEN CARE OF EVERYBODY ELSE.

[ SOBS ]

AND I'VE NEVER HAD TIME TO TAKE CARE OF ME.

**

SO ONCE I FINISH WITH LEE,

THEN I CAN FINALLY TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.

**

BUT BY THE TIME I'M DONE,

I AM VERY EXHAUSTED.

I AM HURTING, SHAKING.

I CAN'T BREATHE.

**

AND THEN WHEN I STAND UP,

MY SKIN APRON HANGS SO FAR DOWN THAT IT PULLS ON MY BACK,

AND IT PULLS ON MY SHOULDERS.

IT'S MISERABLE.

**

I MISS BEING ABLE TO FEEL LIKE A WOMAN.

NOW I FEEL LIKE I'M A SIDESHOW.

I CONSIDER IT BEING A LIVING HELL,

BEING IN THIS BODY.

AND I HATE THE IMPRISONMENT OF THE WEIGHT.

BUT I KNOW THE LIFE I HAVE NOW

WAS SET IN MOTION A LONG TIME AGO.

**

AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER,

I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH BEING OVERWEIGHT.

AND I DID EAT FOR COMFORT,

BUT IT BUILT OVER THE YEARS

BECAUSE OF HOW HARD MY CHILDHOOD WAS.

**

GROWING UP, MY MOM WOULD HAVE THESE HALLUCINATIONS THAT

WOULD LEAD TO THESE FITS.

ONE TIME, IT WAS AROUND

9:00 OR 10:00, PROBABLY, ONE NIGHT,

WHEN I WOKE UP TO MY MOM SCREAMING

ABOUT MY DAD'S FACE BLEEDING.

I COULDN'T SEE NOTHING,

SO I WAS FREAKING OUT.

**

WHEN MY MOM WAS HALLUCINATING,

IT SCARED ME,

SO FOOD WAS A WAY TO DEAL WITH THAT STRESS.

SO I JUST STARTED GAINING WEIGHT.

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 13,

I WAS ALREADY AROUND 280 POUNDS.

AND THAT'S WHEN MY MOM DECIDED TO LEAVE US.

**

SHE JUST PACKED UP HER STUFF AND LEFT

WHEN I WAS AT SCHOOL ONE DAY.

I JUST DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.

WHY DIDN'T MY MOM LOVE US, OR ME?

I'D WRITE TO HER,

BUT SHE NEVER WROTE BACK.

SHE CALLED A FEW TIMES,

BUT SHE WOULD MOSTLY TALK TO MY DAD.

**

DURING ONE CALL,

WE WAS AT MY GRANDMA'S HOUSE USING HER PHONE,

AND MY DAD WAS THE ONE PHONE TALKING TO HER.

BUT WHEN I GOT ON THE OTHER PHONE,

SHE WAS TELLING MY DAD THAT

THE REASON SHE LEFT WAS BECAUSE OF ME

AND THAT SHE WASN'T COMING BACK BECAUSE I WAS A BAD KID.

FOR MY MOM TO SAY THAT IT WAS MY FAULT

OR THAT SHE WAS BLAMING ME FOR LEAVING,

I WAS DEVASTATED.

SO FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS AFTER MY MOM LEFT,

I JUST REMEMBER EATING AND EATING.

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 18...

...I WAS PROBABLY CLOSE TO 400 POUNDS.

AND MY LIFE JUST CONTINUED THIS DOWNWARD SPIRAL FROM THERE.

**

I HAD DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL,

AND STARTED PARTYING ALL THE TIME

BECAUSE I JUST WANTED TO FORGET MY LIFE.

AND DURING THAT TIME,

FOOD WAS THERE FOR ME.

SO I ATE, AND I DIDN'T EVEN TRY TO STOP

UNTIL MY DAD GOT SICK AND PASSED AWAY.

**

I WAS PROBABLY AROUND 500 POUNDS THEN.

AND I KNEW I WASN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE

THE EMOTION OF LOSING HIM.

SO ME AND MY OLDER BROTHER, MICHAEL,

DECIDED TO CHECK INTO A WEIGHT-LOSS CLINIC.

HE WAS USING FOOD TO COPE ALL THESE YEARS, TOO,

AND WAS OVER 600 POUNDS.

SO WE BOTH CHECKED OURSELVES INTO A CLINIC TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S WHERE I MET LEE.

**

Lee: I REMEMBER MEETING RENA FOR THE FIRST TIME.

**

HER BROTHER WAS MY ROOMMATE AT THE BARIATRIC CLINIC,

AND RENA WOULD COME IN EVERY DAY AND VISIT MICHAEL,

AND SHE WOULD TALK TO ME.

AND I KIND OF FELT JEALOUS

OF HOW SHE WOULD MAKE SURE HE HAD WHAT HE NEEDED.

SO THEN I GOT TO WHERE I'D FOLLOW HER AROUND,

AND WE WERE LIKE BONNIE AND CLYDE.

[ CHUCKLES ]

Rena: LEE WAS A SWEET GUY,

AND WE STARTED SPENDING A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER.

AND THEN, WE WERE AN ITEM AT THE CLINIC.

BUT THAT BROKE THE RULES THERE,

SO WE EITHER HAD TO STOP DATING OR LEAVE.

THEY WOULD GOT ONTO US FOR HOLDING HANDS.

THEY WOULD GOT ONTO US

FOR SHOWING ANY KIND OF EMOTION

OR ATTENTION TO EACH OTHER.

SO WE JUST DECIDED WE WANTED TO BE TOGETHER.

WE WANTED A RELATIONSHIP.

Rena: WE LOVED EACH OTHER,

AND WE'VE STAYED TOGETHER OVER THE PAST 11 YEARS

SINCE LEAVING THE CLINIC.

BUT BEING TOGETHER WITH BOTH OF US STRUGGLING WITH FOOD

HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD THING...

**

...BECAUSE WE'VE JUST BEEN GAINING.

AND EACH DAY, OUR HEALTH IS ONLY GETTING WORSE.

IT'S EMBARRASSING THAT WE CAN'T EVEN

TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES ANYMORE.

THE ONLY REASON WE'RE EVEN ABLE

TO SURVIVE RIGHT NOW

IS BECAUSE LEE'S SISTER COMES OVER EVERY DAY

AND HELPS US.

READY FOR BREAKFAST?

Lee: THOUGHT YOU'D NEVER ASK.

ALL RIGHT.

RENA HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB

OF TAKING CARE OF LEE.

BUT WITHIN THE LAST TWO TO THREE YEARS,

SHE HAS WENT DOWNHILL SO MUCH

THAT I HAVE TO DO IT.

**

Lee: EVERYTHING WORKING OUT?

YEAH, ARE YOU STARVING?

YEAH, I'M PRETTY HUNGRY.

I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING,

CAN'T WAIT FOR BREAKFAST.

REALLY, I JUST CAN'T WAIT TILL THE NEXT MEAL

BECAUSE I'VE GOTTA HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT CONSTANTLY.

AND I KNOW CASSIE DOESN'T WANT US TO EAT LIKE WE DO,

BUT SHE ALSO KNOWS THAT SHE DOESN'T MAKE WHAT WE WANT,

THEN WE'RE REALLY GONNA GET UPSET.

**

IT'S DONE. ARE YOU GUYS READY TO EAT?

Rena: YEAH.

IT IS VERY HARD TO WATCH THEM

EVERY DAY, GAIN MORE AND MORE WEIGHT,

BUT I FEEL LIKE IT'S OUT OF MY CONTROL.

IT'S THEIR DECISION.

-THANK YOU, CASSIE. -YOU'RE WELCOME.

**

Lee: FOOD IS MY COMFORT.

WHEN I'M DEPRESSED, I EAT. WHEN I'M SAD, I EAT.

WHEN I'M HAPPY, I EAT.

FOOD IS MY DRUG OF CHOICE,

AND FOR RENA, TOO.

AND A LOT OF TIMES, WE WON'T EVEN BE HUNGRY,

BUT WE JUST WANNA DO SOMETHING.

WE'RE DONE EATING.

JUST A SECOND.

I KNOW I'M KILLING MYSELF WITH HOW I EAT,

BUT WHAT'S WORSE IS,

IT AIN'T ONLY ME NOW.

I KNOW I'M HELPING KILL RENA.

SO I HAVE TO SEE IT HAPPEN TO THE WOMAN I LOVE.

**

OH!

AND THAT HURTS WORSE THAN DOING IT TO MYSELF.

**

BUT HOW DO REWRITE HOW YOU'VE OPERATED YOUR WHOLE LIFE?

**

IT'S LIKE TRYING TO UNDO YOUR WHOLE HISTORY.

**

I'VE STRUGGLED WITH MY WEIGHT SINCE I WAS REAL YOUNG.

**

MY PARENTS SEPARATED, AND MY MOM LEFT

WHEN, I THINK, I WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS OLD

AND MY BROTHER WAS ABOUT 6 MONTHS OLD.

BUT MY DAD REMARRIED,

AND MY STEPMOM HAD THREE KIDS ALREADY.

SO WITH THE COUSINS THAT LIVED WITH US,

THERE WAS EIGHT KIDS IN OUR FAMILY GROWING UP.

AND WHEN I WAS 9 OR 10 YEARS OLD,

ONE OF MY SIBLINGS SEXUALLY ABUSED ME.

**

THAT WENT ON FOR THREE YEARS.

I DIDN'T TELL ANYBODY OVER SHAME AND EMBARRASSMENT.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT

NONE OF MY FAMILY TALK ABOUT,

EVEN TO THIS DAY.

AND IT'S REALLY MESSED WITH MY HEAD.

SO FOOD IS HOW I DEALT WITH IT.

I STARTED STEALING FOOD OUT OF THE REFRIGERATOR

AND GOING TO MY ROOM IN THE CLOSET

AND HIDING AND EATING IT.

IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT IT WAS,

AS LONG AS IT TASTED GOOD.

THAT WAS MY COMFORT.

IT'S WHAT MADE ME HAPPY.

SO, BY THE TIME I WAS 10,

I WAS AROUND 230 POUNDS.

**

BUT WHEN MY FAMILY REALIZED HOW MUCH I WAS EATING,

MY DAD PUT A CHAIN AND PADLOCK ON THE REFRIGERATOR.

BUT I'D STILL FIND WAYS TO SNEAK AND HIDE FOOD,

SO MY EATING NEVER SLOWED DOWN.

AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT 17 YEARS OLD,

I WEIGHED OVER 500 POUNDS.

I KNEW I WAS OVERWEIGHT, BUT I JUST KEPT EATING.

**

AND OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS OR SO,

I JUST KEPT GETTING WORSE.

AND THEN, I STARTED LOSING MY MOBILITY.

**

AND THAT'S WHEN I KNEW I HAD TO DO SOMETHING,

SO I CONTACTED A BARIATRIC CLINIC

AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD TAKE ME.

I WAS THERE TO GET HELP

AND HOPING TO TURN MY LIFE AROUND.

**

BUT WHEN I MET RENA THERE,

WE FELL IN LOVE AND HAD TO LEAVE,

SO WE NEVER GOT THE HELP WE NEEDED.

**

AND SINCE WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER, WE BOTH JUST KEPT GAINING

BECAUSE OUTSIDE OF EACH OTHER, FOOD IS ALL WE BOTH HAVE.

AND THE ONLY ACTIVITY WE DO

AND THE ONLY REASON WE EVER GO OUT

IS TO GET FOOD.

BUT I CAN BARELY MAKE IT TO THE CAR,

AND RENA CAN'T WALK FOR LONG ON HER OWN.

**

SO WE HAVE TO BRING OUR ELECTRIC CHAIRS,

AND RENA HAS TO LOAD THEM UP.

Rena: IT'S EXTREMELY HARD TO GET BOTH OF OUR CHAIRS

LOADED UP FOR US.

BUT IF I DON'T,

THERE'S NO WAY I COULD WALK THROUGH A STORE NOW...

**

...BECAUSE MY LEGS SHAKE, MY LEGS GIVE OUT.

I CAN'T BREATHE.

IT'S JUST TOO MUCH.

[ PANTING ]

**

[ PANTING INTENSIFIES ]

**

AND THE ONLY WAY THAT WE ARE ABLE

TO GET GROCERY SHOPPING DONE

IS TO WORK TOGETHER AS A TEAM,

BECAUSE NEITHER ONE OF US WOULD BE ABLE TO DO IT BY OUR SELF.

**

BUT ONCE WE'RE INSIDE,

THE ANXIETY OF BEING IN PUBLIC STARTS TO SINK IN

BECAUSE IT'S LIKE GOING THROUGH THE WALK OF SHAME.

**

Lee: I FEEL JUDGED BY THE OUTSIDE WORLD

'CAUSE I'M DIFFERENT.

THEY'RE NOT USED TO SEEING SOMEBODY OF MY SIZE.

IT'S LIKE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY

AND SEEING A TRAIN WRECK.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA NOT STARE AT IT.

YOU'RE GONNA SIT AND STARE AT IT AND WONDER WHAT HAPPENED.

Rena: IT'S JUST EMBARRASSING.

BUT GROCERY SHOPPING IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO

SO WE CAN EAT.

Rena: YOU SAID YOU WANTED CHIPS.

Lee: WHEN I START TO SHOP, I'M SO HUNGRY,

ONCE I GET HOME, I KNOW I'M JUST GOING TO EAT EVERYTHING...

DEFINITELY NEED SODA.

...BECAUSE WHEN I'M EATING,

IT'S ALMOST LIKE FILLING AN EMPTINESS IN MY BODY.

HOW MANY PACKS OF BACON YOU WANT?

Lee: UH...

A COUPLE, OR -- YEAH.

Lee: IT'S LIKE LAYING DOWN AND GETTING A GOOD MASSAGE.

OH, WE NEED SOME MAYONNAISE.

AND WHEN IT'S OVER,

YOU JUST WANT MORE.

**

SO I CAN'T WAIT TO GET HOME AND EAT.

**

Rena: WE'LL EAT EVERYTHING HERE EITHER TODAY OR BY TOMORROW.

**

[ PANTING ]

AND I KNOW DOING THIS

IS KILLING US...

YOU OKAY, BABY?

**

Lee: YOU DID GOOD.

...BUT WE BOTH CAN'T STOP.

WE'RE ALREADY BARELY FUNCTIONING AS IT IS,

AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

THE CAR IS OVERHEATING.

**

NOW WHAT DO WE DO?

THIS IS NOT GOOD!

Rena: I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!

THE CAR'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE,

AND WE WON'T LAST HERE LONG WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING.

**

Rena: LEE AND ME ARE STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD RIGHT NOW.

AND WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE CAR,

BUT LEE THINKS IT MIGHT BE OVERHEATED.

AND IT'S SO HUMILIATING, BECAUSE WE ARE BOTH TOO BIG

TO EVEN GET OUT OF THE CAR TO FIGURE IT OUT.

**

SOMETIMES, I JUST FEEL LIKE A USE--

A USELESS INDIVIDUAL.

Lee: I ASKED MY SISTER TO BRING US COOLANT OR WATER

TO TRY TO COOL EVERYTHING DOWN.

I HAVE GAS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS FINE.

SO IF OVERHEATING IS NOT THE ISSUE,

THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO.

**

Rena: WE AREN'T GONNA LAST MUCH LONGER IN THE HEAT.

I'M ALREADY FEELING REALLY LIGHT-HEADED,

SO JUST HOPE SHE GETS HERE SOON.

**

Rena: OH, THANK GOD!

Lee: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING AND HELPING US.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

IT'S ABOUT THAT MUCH IN THE BOTTOM OF THE OVERFLOW.

Lee: IT'LL GET US DOWN THE ROAD.

Renee: IF NOT, CALL ME.

I'LL BRING YOU OUT A COUPLE MORE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

I HATE HAVING TO BE HELPED.

IT MAKES ME FEEL WORTHLESS.

**

Rena: IT WAS GETTING REALLY SCARY THERE

AFTER A WHILE.

I KNOW THE SITUATION COULD'VE TURNED OUT MUCH, MUCH WORSE,

AND THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A DAY

WHERE SOMEONE ISN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME AND HELP US.

**

SO I KNOW THAT WE JUST CAN'T KEEP LIVING LIKE THIS,

AND THAT TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR US.

[ SIGHS ]

LEE AND I HAVE TO LOSE THIS WEIGHT NOW

SO WE CAN PURSUE OUR LIFE TOGETHER

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

Lee: I KNOW I'M STARING AT AN EARLY DEATH.

BUT ME AND RENA --

WE HAVE A MAJOR HUNGER THAT DOES NOT GO AWAY

AND IT'S WHAT OUR WHOLE LIVES REVOLVE AROUND.

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CHANGE THAT.

I'VE GOT TO GET SOME WEIGHT OFF,

OR MY ORGANS ARE GONNA GIVE OUT.

MY HEART'S GONNA GIVE OUT.

**

Rena: I CAN FEEL MYSELF GOING DOWNHILL.

I CAN TELL THAT THINGS ARE GETTING BAD,

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M JUST WAITING TO DIE.

Lee: THE ONLY OPTION THAT I CAN SEE THAT WE HAVE LEFT

IS THAT WE GO TO HOUSTON TO SEE DR. NOW,

BECAUSE IF WE DON'T GET HELP,

I WILL PROBABLY JUST KEEP GETTING BIGGER...

AND BIGGER...

UNTIL MY HEART CAN'T TAKE IT NO MORE.

AND I DON'T WANT THAT FOR ME OR RENA.

**

**

Rena: OUR APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW

IS TOMORROW AFTERNOON,

AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO THE WHOLE DRIVE IN A DAY.

IT WOULD NORMALLY BE ABOUT A 12-HOUR TRIP,

BUT I THINK THAT IT'S GONNA BE HARD,

'CAUSE I THINK THERE'S GONNA HAVE TO BE MORE STOPS

THAN WHAT EVERYBODY'S EXPECTING.

MAKE SURE YOU GET MY TATER CHIPS.

GOTTA HAVE SOME ROAD SNACKS.

THAT'LL PROBABLY GET US FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.

THEN WE'LL STOP AND GET SOME MORE.

**

WE'VE NEVER DONE A TRIP LIKE THIS.

AND WHAT'S SCARING ME IS NOT JUST HOW HARD

IT'S GONNA BE TO TRAVEL THIS LONG,

BUT HOW I'M GONNA BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF LEE ON THE ROAD.

HE CAN'T GO TO THE BATHROOM HIMSELF

OR DO ANYTHING,

SO WHATEVER HE NEEDS, I HAVE TO DO IT IN THE CAR.

SO ALL OF THIS IS A LOT OF UNCHARTERED TERRITORY FOR US,

AND IT'S SCARY.

**

Lee: I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS TRIP,

BUT I'VE BEEN VERY NERVOUS FOR THE LAST WEEK,

ESPECIALLY TO SEE HIM AND THIS LONG TRIP.

I'M EXCITED, NERVOUS,

AND EVERYTHING ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

HEY, BUDDY. WHAT'S UP?

NOTHING MUCH. Y'ALL READY TO GET STARTED?

YEAH, ARE YOU READY FOR THIS DRIVE?

IT'S GONNA BE A LONG TRIP.

Lee: WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE.

SO, THANKFULLY, I HAVE ONE OF MY FRIENDS, DAVID,

WHO'S GONNA HELP US DRIVE DOWN TO HOUSTON.

I'VE KNOWN DAVID SINCE HE WAS 3 OR 4 YEARS OLD.

AND HE AGREED TO COME WITH US

JUST IN CASE SOMETHING GOES WRONG,

BECAUSE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, LIKE THE CAR OVERHEATING AGAIN,

IT'S TOO RISKY TO BE WITHOUT ANYONE THERE FOR US.

AND RENA CAN'T DO IT ALL.

PLUS, I CAN SEE SHE'S ALREADY STRUGGLING.

I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M HAVING SO MUCH TROUBLE BREATHING TODAY.

USUALLY ONCE I WAKE UP, IT CALMS DOWN.

BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S NERVES OR WHAT.

-RELAX, RELAX. -I'M ALL RIGHT.

I'M JUST CATCHING MY BREATH.

-ALL RIGHT. -Y'ALL READY?

Lee: ME AND RENA BOTH KNOW THIS COULD ALL BE FOR NOTHING.

BUT THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE, I KNOW IT.

IF WE DON'T DO THIS,

I DON'T THINK THERE'S GONNA BE TOO MANY TOMORROWS.

**

LET'S STOP AND GET SOME FOOD, BABY.

I'M STARVING.

**

I NEED THREE CHICKEN STRIP SANDWICHES,

A NUMBER-ONE WITH THE BACON

BUT I WANT MAYONNAISE AND SMOKE SAUCE ON IT.

AND WE NEED AN ORDER OF CHEESESTICKS, TOO.

WOMAN: All righty. Anything else for ya?

-NO. -Okay.

It's gonna be $44.01.

**

Lee: ONE OF MY GOALS SINCE I'VE BEEN WITH RENA

IS TO MAKE OUR RELATIONSHIP OFFICIAL AND MARRY HER.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO FIND A PLACE TO PARK.

BUT I DIDN'T WANNA DO IT TILL I COULD GET DOWN ON ONE KNEE.

THERE'S YOUR DRINK. THANK YOU.

I'VE DREAMED OF THAT FUTURE.

BUT NOW I AM SO AFRAID THAT

I AM NOT GOING TO LIVE LONG ENOUGH

TO MARRY THE WOMAN THAT I LOVE,

AND THAT I NO LONGER EVEN HAVE A FUTURE

UNLESS SOMEONE CAN SAVE ME FROM MYSELF.

**

-YEAH. -WHEN THEY'RE DRIVING BY.

IT'S LIKE THEY'VE NEVER SEEN A FAT GUY

SHOVE A HAMBURGER IN HIS FACE.

**

I HOPE WE FIND A TOWN SOON.

I JUST GOT TO PEE REAL BAD. I DRANK THAT BIG-OLD DRINK.

Lee: WE'VE ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR A FEW HOURS,

AND IT'S ALREADY STARTING TO GET TOUGH.

AND WHEN YOU'RE A PERSON OF MY SIZE,

YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

BUT THERE'S NO WAY I COULD EVEN THINK ABOUT

WALKING INTO A STORE AND PEEING.

I'M GONNA PULL OVER HERE OUT OF EVERYBODY'S LINE OF VISION.

SO WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT.

Rena: JUST USING THE BATHROOM,

WHAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD TAKE FOR GRANTED,

MOST MEN CAN JUST STAND, WHIP IT OUT ANYWHERE,

AND PEE ANYWHERE.

WITH LEE, HE HAS TO BE LAID DOWN

AND SOMEONE ELSE HAS TO HOLD THE URINAL FOR HIM IN PLACE

JUST FOR HIM TO BE ABLE TO PEE.

THAT PERSON, 9 TIMES OUT OF 10, IS ME.

AND WHEN I DO IT, I HAVE TO STAND TO DO IT.

SO THEREFORE, IT EXERTS ME, ALSO.

I'M SORRY, BABY.

ONE OF THESE DAYS, I'LL BE ABLE TO JUST GET OUT

AND STAND AND PEE.

**

AND AFTER I'M DONE, I'M SO EXHAUSTED.

Lee: RENA SACRIFICES HERSELF EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE

MY NEEDS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

PEOPLE SAY, "WHAT'S YOUR GOAL WEIGHT?"

I DON'T HAVE A GOAL WEIGHT.

MY GOAL WEIGHT'S TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF,

NOT TO HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY HELP ME.

-SWEETHEART? -YES?

-DO YOU STILL LOVE ME? -YES.

CAN I HAVE A BAG OF THAT POPCORN BACK THERE?

YES.

**

**

**

Lee: WE'RE RUNNING FURTHER BEHIND THAN I WANTED.

SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GET TO DR. NOW.

Rena: WE'RE GETTING CLOSE,

AND I'M NERVOUS THAT DR. NOWZARADAN

WON'T ACCEPT ME AND LEE AS PATIENTS,

THAT HE WON'T HELP US.

**

ME, I'M AFRAID IT'S BECAUSE OF MY HEALTH.

AND WITH LEE, I'M AFRAID IT'S 'CAUSE OF HIS SIZE.

**

I NEED THIS SURGERY TO LIVE.

I NEED THIS SURGERY TO BE ABLE TO GO ON WITH LIFE,

TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A NORMAL LIFE.

Lee: THIS APPOINTMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US TODAY

BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY MUCH A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH.

WHAT DR. NOW TELLS US DETERMINES WHETHER WE HAVE ANY HOPE

FOR OUR FUTURE OR NOT,

SO IF DR. NOW REJECTS US FOR ANY REASON,

THEN WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT THAT OUR LIVES ARE OVER,

WE JUST DIDN'T KNOW IT YET.

**

**

Rena: IT'S BEEN SUCH A LONG RIDE DOWN HERE TO HOUSTON.

AND NOW THAT WE'RE FINALLY HERE,

WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT WHAT WE WEIGH

AND IF DR. NOW CAN HELP US.

AND I'M JUST NERVOUS ABOUT ALL OF IT.

**

Woman: 549.

WOW.

**

I KNEW I'D STILL BEEN GAINING SOME OVERALL,

BUT THAT'S HIGHER THAN I WAS EXPECTING.

**

AND I'M REALLY JUST DISAPPOINTED IN MYSELF RIGHT NOW.

Lee: I AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS.

I CAN TELL RENA ISN'T TOO HAPPY ABOUT HER WEIGHT,

BUT I'M WORRIED THAT MINE'S GONNA BE MUCH MORE OF A SHOCK.

I'M JUST HOPING I'M STILL IN THE 600 RANGE.

**

714.

OH, MY GOD. REALLY?

**

REALLY HEARTBREAKING TO REALIZE THAT MY WEIGHT

HAD GOTTEN SO OUT OF CONTROL.

**

I JUST HOPE DR. NOW'S GONNA BE ABLE TO HELP US CHANGE THIS

AND GET OUR LIVES BACK.

-GUESS I'LL SEE YOU LATER. -OKAY.

I'LL BE OUT HERE WAITING FOR YOU ALL.

**

ME, TOO.

[ KNOCKS ON DOOR ]

HELLO. I'M DR. NOWZARADAN.

I'M LEE.

-NICE TO MEET YOU, LEE. -NICE TO MEET YOU.

-RENA. -RENA, NICE TO MEET YOU.

Dr. Nowzaradan: SO, YOU BOTH COME ALL THE WAY FROM MISSOURI.

HOW ARE Y'ALL FEELING?

WELL, WE'RE TIRED, BUT WE'RE HERE.

WELL, I'M GLAD YOU MADE IT OKAY.

SO, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY

AND YOUR CURRENT SITUATION.

ALL RIGHT. LEE, YOU'RE 714 POUNDS.

AND RENA, YOU ARE 549 POUNDS.

AND YOU BOTH HAVE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH ISSUES

AS A RESULT OF YOUR WEIGHT.

RENA, YOU'RE A DIABETIC,

AND YOU'RE TAKING AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF INSULIN.

YES.

THE SAME SEEMS TO BE THE CASE FOR LEE, TOO.

AND I SEE YOU'RE ON OXYGEN,

SO YOU'RE NO LONGER ABLE TO BREATHE ON YOUR OWN

BECAUSE OF YOUR WEIGHT.

AND LEE, YOU HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

YOU HAVE SLEEP APNEA.

YOU HAVE GOUT.

YOU HAVE ACID REFLUX, HIGH CHOLESTEROL, DEPRESSION.

THERE IS NOW WAY YOUR BODY IS GOING TO BE ABLE

TO SUSTAIN YOUR WEIGHT FOR MUCH LONGER AT ALL.

YOU NEED TO FULLY UNDERSTAND

HOW CLOSE TO DEATH YOU ARE RIGHT NOW,

AND THAT YOU TWO ARE IN A VERY BAD PLACE.

YOU REALIZE THAT?

YES, SIR.

THE REALITY IS,

YOU HAVE BEEN ENABLING EACH OTHER FOR YEARS.

AND, LEE, YOU'RE ALMOST COMPLETELY IMMOBILE NOW.

ARE YOU ABLE TO STAND UP AT ALL?

I'M PRETTY ACTIVE.

I CAN WALK 20, 30 FEET WITH THESE CANES PRETTY GOOD.

IF YOU THINK THAT'S PRETTY ACTIVE,

THEN YOU'RE A LITTLE DELUSIONAL ABOUT THAT.

**

LEE AND RENA'S BODIES ARE STARTING TO COMPLETELY FAIL,

SO MY BIGGEST CONCERN

IS WHETHER THEY CAN STOP ENABLING EACH OTHER IN TIME

TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE

BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

SO, ARE YOU BOTH HERE TO TELL ME

THAT YOU'RE READY TO MAKE THE CHANGE YOU NEED

TO TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND?

-OH, YEAH. -YES.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ALL RIGHT.

THIS HERE IS YOUR NEW 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET,

AND HIGH-CALORIE FOOD THAT WE'RE GONNA AVOID.

YOU ARE TO EAT ONLY WHAT'S APPROVED

IN THIS HIGH-PROTEIN AND LOW-CARB DIET

AND NOTHING ELSE.

AND I WANT YOU BOTH TO GET UP AND FIND SOMETHING ACTIVE

TO DO EVERY DAY, NO MATTER WHAT.

NEITHER OF YOU WOULD BE ABLE

TO SURVIVE ANY SURGERY RIGHT NOW.

TO CHANGE THAT, YOU BOTH NEED TO LOSE A LOT WEIGHT.

RENA, I WANT YOU TO LOSE 75 POUNDS,

TO GET ALL YOUR MEDICAL ISSUES UNDER CONTROL

SO WE CAN SAFELY DO THE SURGERY.

LEE, I WANT TO LOSE 150 POUNDS AND GET DOWN TO AROUND 560.

STICKING TO THE DIET I'M GIVING YOU

WILL GET YOU TO THESE GOALS.

AND WHEN YOU WALK OUT OF THIS OFFICE,

YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOUR OLD WAYS BEHIND,

IF YOU WANT TO LIVE.

THIS REALLY IS A RACE AGAINST TIME.

AND HOPEFULLY, THEY REALIZE THAT ENOUGH

TO MAKE THE CHANGES THEY NEED NOW

OR THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SURVIVE.

I'M GOING TO SEE YOU IN TWO MONTHS,

AND I WANT YOU TO HIT THESE GOALS.

ALL RIGHT.

-ALL RIGHT. -ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

**

WE GOTTA DO THIS.

I KNOW.

IT'S GONNA BE HARD, REAL HARD.

**

YOU GUYS READY?

-YEAH. -YES.

I AM WORE OUT.

BEYOND READY.

**

Rena: IT WAS HARD TO HEAR EVERYTHING DR. NOW HAD TO SAY

ABOUT HOW CLOSE TO DEATH WE ARE

AND HOW BAD OUR SITUATION REALLY IS.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WORSE --

TO DIE TOO EARLY, OR TO LOSE LEE FIRST.

Lee: IF WE DON'T DO THIS,

WE AIN'T GOT A CHANCE IN HELL.

SO IT'S NOT REALLY A CHOICE.

SO WE HAVE TO FIGHT, AND WE HAVE TO FIGHT TOGETHER.

**

**

Rena: COMING HOME AFTER SEEING DR. NOW

WAS LIKE TRYING TO START A WHOLE NEW LIFE...

OKAY.

...BECAUSE OUR WHOLE LIVES HAVE REVOLVED AROUND EATING

UNTIL WE GO BACK TO SLEEP.

SO IT WAS LIKE, "WHAT CAN WE DO?"

ALL RIGHT.

Lee: SO FAR, I'M NOT ABLE TO GET UP AND DO MUCH.

SO RENA AND ME STARTED PLAYING VIDEO GAMES

THAT REQUIRE US TO GET ACTIVE.

**

AT FIRST, I COULD ONLY DO IT FOR A FEW MINUTES.

BUT NOW WE'RE PLAYING WHOLE GAMES AND GETTING COMPETITIVE.

YES. HA!

BUT BY THIS TIME NEXT MONTH,

I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO GET UP AND GET AROUND THE HOUSE

A LITTLE BIT FOR MY EXERCISE.

AND THE SCORE IS...

163 TO 124!

I BEAT YOU.

[ LAUGHS ] HOW 'BOUT A REMATCH?

ALL RIGHT. LOVE YOU.

LOVE YOU.

BUT THE HARD PART HAS BEEN CUTTING BACK OUR DIET.

**

Rena: MY BIGGEST FEAR WAS WHEN LEE GETS CRAVINGS

AND HE DOESN'T GET WHAT HE WANTS.

HE CAN GET VERY ANGRY.

BUT HE HASN'T BEEN DOING THAT...

**

...AND THAT'S BEEN A HUGE RELIEF,

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER.

**

Lee: HONEY, WE READY TO DO A LITTLE EXERCISING?

**

Rena: I FEEL LIKE THIS LAST MONTH AND HALF HAS BEEN GOOD.

IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE, BUT LEE IS ABLE TO DO A WHOLE LOT MORE.

AND I FEEL THAT IT'S EASIER TO HAVE SOMEONE TO DO THIS WITH.

Lee: I'VE BEEN TRYING TO EXERCISE MORE,

GET AROUND MORE, STAY OUT OF BED MORE,

JUST PUSH THROUGH THE PAIN AND KEEP ON KEEPING ON.

AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET UP

AND DO SOME WALKING AROUND THE HOUSE,

SO I FEEL LIKE WE'RE BOTH MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

ALL RIGHT, SWEETHEART.

YOU READY FOR SOME BREAKFAST?

BUT THE FOOD HAS BEEN A LITTLE HARD, STILL.

AND WE'VE CAVED A FEW TIMES

BECAUSE THE PORTION SIZES ON THE DOCTOR'S PLAN

ARE JUST REALLY SMALL

SO I'M STILL REALLY HUNGRY WHEN I FINISH MY MEAL.

**

BUT I WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT FOR RENA AS WELL AS MYSELF,

SO I HAVE TWO REASONS TO DO IT INSTEAD OF ONE.

SO I'M NOT GIVING IN.

**

Rena: ME AND LEE ARE IN HOUSTON AGAIN

TO SEE DR. NOW FOR OUR SECOND APPOINTMENT,

AND I AM ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED.

**

OH, GOD, IT HURTS.

WE'VE TURNED OUR WORLDS UPSIDE-DOWN TO DO THIS.

**

LEE AND RENA?

AND AS HARD AS I KNOW WE'VE WORKED,

I'M SO SCARED IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH

BECAUSE IF EITHER OF US FAIL,

THEN WE BOTH WE DO AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED.

SO, ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING IS RIDING ON THE NUMBERS

WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE.

**

**

Rena: LEE AND ME ARE AT OUR SECOND APPOINTMENT

WITH DR. NOW,

AND THERE'S SO MUCH RIDING ON US HITTING OUR GOALS TODAY.

THE DOC WANTED ME TO LOSE AT LEAST 75 POUNDS

OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS AND GET DOWN TO 474,

SO I'M MUST PRAYING THAT I'VE GOTTEN DOWN TO THAT.

**

PART OF ME IS HAPPY TO SEE SUCH A LOSS,

BUT I'M DISAPPOINTED

BECAUSE IT'S NOT AS MUCH AS I WAS SUPPOSED TO LOSE.

OH, GOD.

Lee: IT'S THE MOMENT OF TRUTH FOR ME.

I'M SUPPOSED TO HAVE LOST 150 POUNDS

TO GET DOWN TO 564 TODAY.

AND I'VE WORKED REALLY HARD TO HIT THAT GOAL.

**

ALL RIGHT, GOOD JOB.

AWESOME.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT,

BUT IT'S STILL 50 POUNDS AWAY FROM DR. NOW'S GOAL.

SO I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT RIGHT NOW.

**

BUT I'VE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH PAIN,

AND I'M WORRIED SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY STOMACH.

BUT, HOPEFULLY, THE DOCTOR CAN HELP ME.

I DON'T FEEL GOOD AT ALL.

**

[ KNOCKS ON DOOR ]

COME IN.

-HELLO. -HELLO.

-HI. -HOW ARE Y'ALL DOING?

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

SO, LET'S SEE HOW MUCH YOU'VE LOST.

RENA, YOU MADE IT DOWN TO 507 POUNDS.

-RIGHT. -YEAH.

AND LEE, YOU'RE DOWN TO 619 POUNDS.

SO I'M ENCOURAGED BY YOUR PROGRESS,

BUT IT'S TOO LITTLE WEIGHT LOSS TO BRING THE RISK FACTOR

FOR SURGERY TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL.

SO YOU BOTH ARE STILL NOT READY

FOR ANY KIND OF WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

BUT WITH THE PROGRESS THAT YOU'VE MADE,

YOU SHOULD NOTICE SOME DIFFERENCE

IN HOW YOU'RE FEELING AND IN YOUR MOBILITY.

ARE YOU BOTH FEELING ANY BETTER?

-NO, I'M HAVING A LOT OF PAIN. -WHAT'S GOING ON?

MY STOMACH -- RIGHT HERE THROUGH TO MY SIDE,

AND BACK -- IT'S JUST REALLY PAINFUL.

HOW BAD IS THE PAIN?

ANY TIME I MOVE OR WALK OR STRAIN,

IT PULLS AND JUST REALLY BURNS AND HURTS,

AND IT JUST KILLS ME.

I CAN'T GET ANY RELIEF.

WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL ME ABOUT THIS?

I FIGURED I'D SEE YOU.

SO YOU LET IT GET WORSE

UNTIL IT'S CAUSING YOU SEVERE PAIN NOW,

AND THIS MAY BE AN EMERGENCY ISSUE.

ONE LITTLE THING CAN KILL YOU.

SO RIGHT NOW, I WANT TO ADMIT YOU TO HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY

TO DO AN ENDOSCOPY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

Dr. Nowzaradan: LEE AND RENA SHOULD HAVE MADE MORE PROGRESS.

BUT MY CONCERN RIGHT NOW IS LEE'S STOMACH PAIN

AND THAT THE CAUSE IS GALL STONES,

WHICH CAN BECOME A DEADLY SITUATION

IF THEY'RE NOT TREATED.

IF THEY GET TOO BAD,

THERE'LL BE NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR LEE

BECAUSE HE WON'T BE ABLE TO SURVIVE SURGERY.

OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO DISCUSS WHAT YOU BOTH NEED TO DO LATER.

BUT RIGHT NOW, I WANNA GET YOU TO THE HOSPITAL, LEE,

AND FIND OUT WHAT'S CAUSING YOU PAIN.

AND, HOPEFULLY, THIS IS NOT AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

OKAY.

**

IT'S JUST SCARY.

YOU READY TO GO?

I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL.

**

OH, OH!

EASY.

[ GROANS ]

**

Lee: I CAN'T BELIEVE I LET THIS HAPPEN.

I GUESS I DIDN'T REALIZE HOW DANGEROUS THINGS

COULD BE FOR ME NOW.

**

I'M JUST PRAYING THAT EVERYTHING IS

GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.

Rena: I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT HIM,

SO HE HAS TO BE OKAY.

**

I JUST CAN'T LOSE HIM.

**

**

WE CAN ONLY PUT LEE UNDER VERY BRIEFLY

BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT SURVIVE LONG-TERM SEDATION.

AND OUR OPTIONS ARE LIMITED IF THERE ARE

ANY SIGNIFICANT HEALTH ISSUES

WITH LEE RIGHT NOW.

SO IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN THERE MAY NOT BE ANYTHING

WE CAN DO TO SAVE HIM.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: YESTERDAY, I RUSHED LEE TO THE HOSPITAL

AND DID AN ENDOSCOPY AS WELL AS SOME OTHER TESTS

TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING HIS SEVERE STOMACH PAIN,

AND IT LOOKS TO BE GALL STONES.

BUT LEE IS LUCKY BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE NOT ADVANCED

TO ANY SORT OF INFECTION OR ATTACK IN HIS BODY.

BUT THAT WILL INEVITABLY BE THE OUTCOME

IF WE DON'T TREAT THEM.

HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS THAT HIS BODY

IS IN EXTREMELY POOR CONDITION MEDICALLY,

AND THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT ISSUES HE CAN DEVELOP QUICKLY

THAT WILL END HIS LIFE.

SO HE AND RENA BOTH NEED TO KEEP LOSING WEIGHT

SO WE CAN ADDRESS THE ISSUES BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

HOW ARE YOU FEELING, LEE? YOU READY TO GO HOME?

-YES. -ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL GET YOU ALL ON THE ROAD NOW,

BUT I WANT TO SEE YOU BOTH BACK HERE IN ONE MONTH.

OKAY.

AND I WANT YOU TO HIT THE WEIGHT-LOSS GOALS

THAT I GAVE YOU BECAUSE WE NEED TO GET YOU

TO A MUCH HEALTHIER PLACE IMMEDIATELY.

AND YOU BOTH HAVE NO MORE TIME TO WASTE.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

YEAH.

OKAY, SEE YOU ALL SOON.

THANK YOU, DR. NOW.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

Rena: I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT NEITHER OF US GOT QUALIFIED

FOR THE SURGERY THIS TIME.

BUT WITH WHAT LEE'S GOING THROUGH

AND WHAT THE DOCTOR'S SAYING,

I KNOW THIS NEXT MONTH IS GONNA BE

EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE LAST TWO...

BECAUSE THIS LIKELY OUR LAST CHANCE.

**

Lee: I GOT YOU SOME BOXES SWEETHEART.

AFTER GETTING HOME, ME AND LEE TALKED,

AND WE KNOW WE CAN'T KEEP DOING THIS TRIP BACK AND FORTH.

IT'S TOO HARD ON US.

SO WE'RE MAKING THE MOVE, AND WE'RE PACKING UP

AND SAYING GOODBYE TO OUR FAMILY HERE.

I HATE PACKING AND MOVING.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK.

I WISH I COULD SNAP MY FINGER, AND WE'RE THERE, AND IT'S DONE.

THE ONLY PERSON WE'LL HAVE BESIDES EACH OTHER IS DAVID,

BECAUSE HE'S COMING TO TEXAS WITH US

FOR THE WHOLE YEAR TO TWO YEARS, HOWEVER LONG WE'RE THERE.

BUT I'M JUST A BUNDLE OF EMOTIONS RIGHT NOW.

I FEEL SCARED, OVERWHELMED,

BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS WE'VE EVER DONE.

NEED SOME HUGS. I LOVE YOU, BABY.

I'M GONNA MISS YOU.

LET ME GET A HUG.

I JUST HOPE IT WON'T HAVE BEEN FOR NOTHING.

**

WELL, THIS CHICKEN'S ABOUT READY, GUYS.

Lee: MOVING TO HOUSTON IS THE FIRST BIG STEP IN OUR JOURNEY

TO CHANGE OUR LIVES.

AND ME AND RENA ARE STICKING TO OUR DIET

AND EXERCISE EXACTLY LIKE WE'RE SUPPOSED TO,

INCLUDING OUR PORTION SIZES.

I AM GONNA KEEP LOSING WEIGHT UNTIL DR. NOW SAYS

"YOU ARE APPROVED FOR THE SURGERY,"

NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES.

BECAUSE I WANT TO LIVE A LONGER LIFE.

RENA HAS LOST HER WHOLE FAMILY,

AND I DON'T WANT HER TO LOSE ME, TOO.

Rena: WE KNOW EVEN MORE THIS TIME

HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO DO THIS,

AND I'M NOT LETTING LEE GET IN A SITUATION LIKE HE WAS AGAIN.

I WANT BOTH OF US TO GET SURGERY,

BUT I DEFINITELY WANT HIM TO GET APPROVED

BECAUSE I FEEL HE HAS LESS TIME THAN ME.

BUT I KNOW I DON'T HAVE MUCH LONGER, EITHER,

BECAUSE I CAN FEEL HOW SICK AND RUNDOWN I'M GETTING.

SO NO MATTER WHAT, WE CAN'T FAIL AT THIS.

**

IT'S BEEN A REALLY HARD MONTH, MOVING HERE

AND WORKING TO LOSE MORE WEIGHT.

I JUST HOPE IT'S ALL ABOUT TO PAY OFF,

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE MY BODY'S BREAKING DOWN LIKE LEE'S,

AND I FEEL TERRIBLE RIGHT NOW.

LEE AND RENA?

DR. NOW TOLD ME TO LOSE ANOTHER 25 POUNDS THIS PAST MONTH.

SO THAT MEANS I NEED TO BE JUST BELOW 482 TODAY.

AWESOME. GOOD JOB, BABY.

I'M REALLY HAPPY WITH THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M NERVOUS, BECAUSE I NEED TO HAVE LOST

ANOTHER 50 POUNDS TO GET BELOW 569 TODAY.

BUT I'M HOPING I JUST BLEW PAST THAT NUMBER AND LOST EVEN MORE.

WOW.

AWESOME.

I'M FEELING GOOD ABOUT MY PROGRESS.

IT MAKES ME PROUD OF MYSELF THAT I WORKED EXTRA HARD,

SO THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON THAT ME AND RENA

DON'T GET APPROVED FOR SURGERY TODAY.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ] YEAH, COME ON IN.

-HELLO. -HELLO.

HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?

-DOING ALL RIGHT. -GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. SO, LEE, HOW'S YOUR STOMACH PAIN?

IT HURTS FROM HERE ALL THE WAY THROUGH MY BACK,

BUT THE PAIN MEDICINE HELPS A LOT.

WELL, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.

BUT LET'S SEE WHERE BOTH OF YOUR WEIGHT LOSS IS AT.

RENA, YOU LOST 31 POUNDS WITH A TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS OF 73 POUNDS.

AND, LEE, YOU LOST 47 POUNDS.

THAT'S 142 POUNDS SO FAR, HUH?

YEAH.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS,

YOU BOTH ARE APPROVED FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

WE'LL RUN SOME TESTS TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO ISSUES,

BUT YOU'VE BOTH DONE WELL AND I'M PROUD OF YOU.

YEP.

AND I'LL BET YOU BOTH ALREADY FEELING BETTER

WITH ALL THAT WEIGHT OFF OF YOU.

Rena: I'M FEELING REALLY GOOD.

I'VE BEEN ABLE TO STAND AND WALK MORE, ACTUALLY.

BUT I'VE BEEN FEELING REALLY SICK FOR ABOUT A WEEK,

MAYBE A LITTLE LONGER.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

I'VE GOT SOME KIND OF PAIN IN MY CHEST,

AND IT FEELS LIKE SOMEBODY'S JUST PULLING MY CHEST APART.

AND THEN I STARTED COUGHING STUFF UP YESTERDAY,

AND IT STARTED OUT BEING CLEAR,

AND THEN LAST NIGHT IT STARTED HAVING

A LITTLE BIT OF BLOOD SHOW IN IT.

AND WHEN I STARTED SEEING THE BLOOD, I REALLY GOT WORRIED.

ALL RIGHT, LET ME CHECK AND SEE

WHAT YOUR BREATHING SOUNDS LIKE.

NOW BREATHE NORMAL, JUST NORMAL.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT MORE I CAN DO TO GET LEE AND RENA

TO UNDERSTAND HOW DANGEROUS IT IS

FOR THEM TO IGNORE ANY ISSUE WITH THEIR BODY RIGHT NOW...

ALL RIGHT, SO WE'RE GONNA GET SOME CHEST X-RAYS,

AND I'LL BE BACK AND LET YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, OKAY?

OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ...ESPECIALLY RENA, BECAUSE I THINK

HER PHYSICAL CONDITION IS MUCH WORSE OFF THAN LEE'S.

AND HER BODY IS STARTING TO PALE ALREADY.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

ALL RIGHT.

I JUST LOOKED AT YOUR CHEST X-RAY,

AND YOU DO HAVE PNEUMONIA IN THE RIGHT LUNG,

SO WE NEED TO SEND YOU TO THE HOSPITAL, OKAY?

WE NEED TO START TREATING YOU FOR THIS IMMEDIATELY

SO THAT YOUR CONDITION

DOESN'T START TO DETERIORATE ANY FURTHER.

AND YOU NEED TO BE SEPARATED AND QUARANTINED FROM LEE,

BECAUSE HE CAN'T AFFORD TO GET SICK RIGHT NOW AT ALL, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT.

RENA, I'LL SEE YOU IN THE HOSPITAL, OKAY?

-THANK YOU. -ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

SO, RENA IS ONLY GOING TO NEED TO RECOVER.

BUT WE'LL NEED TO MAKE SURE SHE'S NO LONGER CONTAGIOUS

BEFORE SHE GOES HOME.

AND THIS, UNFORTUNATELY,

MEANS THAT BOTH THEIR SURGERIES ARE DELAYED

BECAUSE NOW THE PRIORITY IS MAKING SURE

RENA EVEN SURVIVES TO GET IT.

**

Rena: THE TREATMENT HERE HAS HELPING ME GET BETTER.

IT'S JUST HARD BEING AWAY FROM LEE.

SINCE I'VE KNOWN HIM, WE REALLY HAVEN'T SPENT ANY TIME APART

SO THIS IS ALL SO MUCH HARDER THAN I EVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE,

AND UNTIL YOU GET SURGERY,

YOU DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF IT IS GOING TO PAY OFF.

SO HOPEFULLY AFTER LEE HAS HIS SURGERY,

I'LL BE ABLE TO GET MINE,

AND WE CAN BOTH START THE LIFE WE'VE DREAMED OF FOR SO LONG.

**

**

Lee: I'M VERY NERVOUS, TERRIFIED,

AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY

THAT I MAY NOT WAKE UP.

BUT IT'S A CHANCE I'M WILLING TO TAKE,

BECAUSE IF I DON'T DO THIS,

I COULD FALL BACK AND EAT MYSELF TO DEATH.

SO I'M RISKING MY LIFE TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY WE'RE DOING A GASTRIC BYPASS ON LEE,

AND IT'LL ALSO RECTIFY HIS ISSUES WITH HIS GALLBLADDER

DOING THIS PROCEDURE.

HE LOST ENOUGH WEIGHT FOR HIS BODY TO EVEN TOLERATE SURGERY.

BUT THIS IS STILL A VERY HIGH-RISK OPERATION FOR HIM.

CAN WE TURN THE ROOM LIGHT OFF?

ANY NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WOULD NORMALLY BE A SMALL ISSUE

DURING SURGERY COULD LEAD TO HIS BODY SHUTTING DOWN

OR HIM GOING INTO CARDIAC ARREST,

AND IF IT GETS TO THAT POINT

WE LIKELY WON'T BE ABLE TO PULL HIM BACK.

SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE CATCH ANYTHING BEFORE IT HAPPENS.

Rena: HE'S BEEN IN THERE FOR A WHILE,

AND THE LONGER IT TAKES THE MORE NERVOUS I GET.

LEE MEANS THE WORLD TO ME,

AND HE'S THE ONLY PERSON I HAVE LEFT IN MY LIFE.

IF SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN TO LEE,

I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD GO ON.

Dr. Nowzaradan: GASTRIC BYPASS IS AN OPERATION THAT --

WE REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE STOMACH BY 90%,

AND LEAVE A SMALL PORTION OF THE STOMACH.

WE ALSO RE-ROUTE THE CONNECTION TO THE SMALL INTESTINE

TO THAT PORTION OF STOMACH.

THIS LIMITS THE AMOUNT OF FOOD

THAT THE PATIENT CAN EAT AT ONE TIME

AND CHANGES THE PATIENT'S METABOLISM

SO THEY FEEL LESS HUNGRY.

ALL RIGHT, LOOKS GOOD.

TURN THE LIGHT ON.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE DONE.

ALL RIGHT. LEE'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

NOT ONLY WERE WE ABLE TO GIVE HIM THE FULL GASTRIC BYPASS,

WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO REMOVE HIS GALLBLADDER.

THAT ALONE SHOULD HELP HIM FEEL A LOT BETTER.

AND IN A FEW DAYS, WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEND HIM HOME,

AND ONCE HE FULLY RECOVERS

WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO RENA'S WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

AND THEN THEY BOTH CAN CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS TOGETHER.

**

**

Rena: LEE'S BEEN HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL FOR ABOUT A MONTH,

AND HE'S BEEN OFF HIS LIQUID DIET, AND HE'S FULLY RECOVERED.

SO I'VE BEEN MAKING HIM START TO DO THINGS FOR HIMSELF

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG WHILE

BECAUSE I'M INTENT ON GETTING MY SURGERY NOW.

SO HE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF ME,

AND HE HAS NO CHOICE ABOUT IT.

OKAY.

BUT I KNOW IT'S BEEN HARD FOR LEE TO TRY TO CLEAN HIMSELF

AND USE THE BATHROOM ON HIS OWN.

I GOT TO GET THE STENCH AND THE FILTH OFF ME ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

A MONTH AND TWO AGO,

I WOULDN'T HAVE NEVER EVEN BEEN ABLE TO DO THIS.

I HAD TO HAVE THE WHEELCHAIR FOR EVERYTHING.

OH, MY GOD.

I FEEL LIKE I'VE RAN A MARATHON.

I KNOW.

I'M PROUD OF LEE FOR TRYING, BUT WHAT I'M WORRIED ABOUT

IS HOW HE'S FALLING BACK INTO HIS OLD EATING HABITS.

NOW THAT LEE'S HAD SURGERY, IT'S LIKE HE'S STOPPED

TRYING TO STICK TO THE DIET,

AND THAT'S WORRYING ME.

I CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY HE'S DOING THIS NOW.

AND HIS TEMPER HAS BEEN COMING BACK

WHEN HE'S CRAVING SOMETHING.

Lee: I KNOW RENA HASN'T BEEN TOO HAPPY

WHEN I MAKE POOR FOOD CHOICES.

BUT NOW THAT I HAD THE SURGERY,

I THOUGHT IT WOULD TAKE AWAY ALL THE CRAVINGS FOR THE FOOD

THAT I SHOULDN'T EAT.

BUT IT HASN'T, SO I NEED HER TO LET UP A LITTLE

AND TO GET OFF MY BACK, BECAUSE THIS ISN'T EASY.

REALLY START DOING THE BEST WE CAN...

-I KNOW. -...AND NOT JUST SAY THAT.

I KNOW.

I KNOW I FELL BACK, AND I KNOW THAT I'VE MESSED UP,

BUT THE WHOLE OVERWHELMING OF THE MOVE

AND THE NOT HAVING MY NOR--

I WENT THROUGH THAT, TOO.

I KNOW.

THAT'S WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

WILL YOU ADMIT THAT WE'RE NOT DOING AS WELL HERE

AS WE SHOULD DO?

WE AREN'T.

BUT I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT JUST EATING.

I KNOW. NO, WE'RE NOT.

I'M TALKING ABOUT EVERYTHING.

**

**

Rena: THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY HARD MONTH

BECAUSE THINGS HAVE BEEN HARDER BETWEEN ME AND LEE,

AND IT'S STARTING TO FEEL LIKE ALL WE DO IS FIGHT.

HE'S STILL BEEN OVEREATING AND DOING THINGS HE SHOULDN'T,

AND HE'S EVEN STARTING TO TELL ME

THAT I SHOULDN'T GET SURGERY, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY.

WE'VE MISSED OUR LAST APPOINTMENT WITH DR. NOW

BECAUSE LEE DIDN'T WANT TO GO

BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE'S OVEREATING,

BUT IT WAS COMPLETELY SELFISH OF HIM

BECAUSE IT'S MY TURN TO GET WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

THINGS ARE EVEN WORSE THAN EVER.

Rena: EVERY MORNING YOU START A FIGHT.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CAN'T BACK OFF.

YOU JUST KEEP PUSHING MY BUTTONS.

BUT THAT DOESN'T GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO MISTREAT SOMEBODY.

THE ONLY TIME YOU ARE EVER NICE TO ME OR TALK TO ME LIKE A HUMAN

IS WHEN YOU NEED OR WANT SOMETHING.

YEAH. WHAT AM I THE REST OF THE TIME?

YOU CALL ME AN "F'ING B" OR A "C" --

WHEN YOU START CALLING ME NAMES.

-NO, I DON'T. -YEAH.

-YOU'RE ALWAYS -- -LAST NIGHT, YOU SAT THERE --

RENA, YOU CALL ME A LIAR MORE THAN YOU CALL ME "LEE."

NO, I DON'T.

EVERYTHING THAT GOES WRONG YOU TAKE OUT ON ME.

-NO, I DON'T. -CONSTANTLY TAKE OUT ON ME.

I AM NOT PHYSICAL WITH YOU.

NO, YOU DRIVE ME THERE.

THERE IS NOTHING TO DRIVE A PERSON TO PSYCHICAL...

ABUSE.

YOU CONSTANTLY PUT ME DOWN, TELL ME I'M LOW.

I TELL YOU THAT?

YEAH.

LEE, YOU TELL ME ON A DAILY BASIS HOW WORTHLESS I AM.

RENA, I'VE SAID ALL ALONG I'VE GOT A PROBLEM.

YOU HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS.

YOU HAVE AN ANGER PROBLEM, YOU HAVE A VIOLENT PROBLEM.

YOU'RE HEAD HAS A PROBLEM.

DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE -- IT AIN'T GONNA WORK.

I DO NOT DESIRE TO BE WITH YOU.

WE ARE NEVER EVER GOING TO SEE EYE-TO-EYE, NO MATTER WHAT.

BEEN WITH HIM 11 YEARS, AND HE'S NEVER BEEN VIOLENT.

IT'S LIKE HE'S JUST CHANGED INTO THIS PERSON

THAT'S SO MEAN AND SO HATEFUL.

Lee: OUR LIVES ARE CHANGING.

WE'VE BECOME TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

I'M NOT THE MAN THAT'S STUCK IN THE BED

NO MORE THAT SHE TAKES CARE OF.

NOW I WANT TO BE MY OWN PERSON.

AND, PERSONALLY, I DON'T WANT DAVID HERE.

I'VE TOLD HIM TO LEAVE SO MANY TIMES

BECAUSE HE STANDS UP FOR HER, THEY TAKE UP FOR EACH OTHER.

SOMETIMES I WONDER IF SOMETHING'S GOING ON.

I DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S A LOT OF OUR PROBLEM, TOO.

Rena: I CAN CONTINUE ON MY JOURNEY, CONTINUE WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS

AND DO WHAT I GOT TO DO TO FINISH MY JOURNEY,

EVEN IF IT'S BY MYSELF.

I'VE BEEN REALLY DISCOURAGED LATELY

BECAUSE WE'RE STILL FIGHTING A LOT.

AND IT'S MAKING IT SO DIFFICULT,

SO I'VE BEEN JUST FOCUSING WHAT I NEED TO DO TO TRY

AND GET APPROVED FOR SURGERY TODAY.

LEE AND RENA.

HELLO.

Lee: IT'S BEEN HARD SINCE MY SURGERY,

BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M STILL MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

WHEN I LEFT THE HOSPITAL, I WAS DOWN TO 546,

AND DR. NOW TOLD ME I SHOULD EASILY

LOSE 20 POUNDS A MONTH.

SO I SHOULD BE AT OR BELOW 500 POUNDS.

WOW.

I THOUGHT I'D BE FURTHER ALONG.

YEAH. IT'LL BE BETTER.

I GOT TO START MAKING BETTER FOOD CHOICES.

BUT YOU CAN ONLY EAT SO MUCH YOGURT.

IT GETS OLD.

WELL, YOU'RE IN FRONT OF THE JUDGE NEXT.

Rena: I HAD ALREADY HIT MY WEIGHT-LOSS GOAL,

BUT DR. NOW TOLD ME

THAT I'VE HAD TO KEEP MAKING PROGRESS.

I WAS DOWN TO 476 AT OUR LAST APPOINTMENT.

I'M HOPING TO HAVE LOST 20 TO 30 POUNDS AND BE AROUND 450.

AWESOME.

OH, WOW!

**

NOW THAT I AM RECOVERED FROM THE PNEUMONIA,

I HOPE THAT DR. NOW SAYS THAT HE'S PROUD

OF THE PROGRESS THAT I'VE MADE

AND THAT I AM APPROVED FOR GASTRIC BYPASS.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

-HELLO. -HELLO, DR. NOW.

HOW YOU ALL DOING?

Lee: SURVIVING.

SURVIVING, HUH?

SO, IS THAT WHY YOU'VE MISSED YOUR LAST APPOINTMENT?

UM...

OKAY, YOU JUST HAD YOUR BYPASS ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO,

AND WHEN YOU LEFT THE HOSPITAL YOU WERE DOWN TO 546,

SO YOU LOST ONLY 9 POUNDS TO THIS DAY.

BUT RENA HAS LOST ALMOST 50 POUNDS AT THE SAME TIME,

AND SHE HASN'T EVEN HAD HER BYPASS YET.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON WITH YOU?

I GUESS I'M EATING THE WRONG THINGS. [ CHUCKLES ]

AND YOU THINK IT'S FUNNY?

YOU HAD A GASTRIC BYPASS...

-I HAD A GASTRIC BYPASS, YES. -...TO LOSE WEIGHT...

TO LOSE WEIGHT.

...AND YOU'RE NOT LOSING WEIGHT.

I DON'T EAT A THIRD

WHAT I ATE BEFORE I HAD THAT SURGERY.

NO, JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION, OKAY?

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT -- -YOU'RE ASKING ME QUESTIONS

THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND NO MORE THAN YOU UNDERSTAND.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

YOU'RE CHOOSING TO OVEREAT, AND YOU THINK IT'S OKAY?

NO, I DON'T THINK IT'S OKAY AT ALL.

SO WHAT IS GOING ON?

I GUESS I'M NOT EATING THE RIGHT THINGS. I MEAN --

WE GAVE YOU THE INSTRUCTION

THAT YOU NEED TO FOLLOW, AND YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING.

YOU PLAYED YOUR CARDS RIGHT UNTIL YOU GOT THE SURGERY,

AND YOU'RE PLAYING THIS KIND OF GAME,

AND YOU THINK THAT'S OKAY?

HOW IN THE WORLD IS SOMEBODY --

I DON'T SEE HOW I'M PLAYING ANY GAME.

I THROW UP CONSTANTLY.

I EAT WHAT I CAN KEEP DOWN.

THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.

YOU THROW UP CONSTANTLY BECAUSE THE SURGERY

FORCES YOU TO WHEN YOU OVEREAT NOW.

I THINK MY PROBLEM IS I'M HOLDING A LOT OF FLUID.

I CAN'T HARDLY PEE.

REALLY?

I DON'T -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT -- I MEAN...

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON'T KNOW?

YEAH.

AND YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE NOT EATING, AND YOU'RE GETTING --

I DON'T WANT TO GET MALNOURISHED, EITHER.

DO YOU LOOK LIKE YOU ARE MALNOURISHED?

YOU'RE OVEREATING, AND WHATEVER YOU'RE OVEREATING

YOU'RE THROWING UP.

IT MEANS THE SURGERY IS WORKING TO HOLD YOU BACK

WHEN YOU MAKE BAD CHOICES,

AND IT'S THE ONLY REASON THAT YOU DIDN'T GAIN

100 POUNDS THESE PAST 2 MONTHS.

DO YOU NOT WANT ME TO EAT AT ALL?

YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING AT ALL.

YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN A TOOL TO HELP YOU CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

NOW THAT YOU'VE HAD THE SURGERY,

THE PHYSICAL DRIVE TO EAT IS GONE,

SO YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHAT IS DRIVING YOU TO EAT.

THAT'S THE HARD PART, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT,

AND YOU'RE RUNNING FROM IT AND SELF-DESTRUCTING.

I'M DONE WITH THIS CONVERSATION. GO TO HER.

NO, NO, NO. WE GOT TO -- WE GOT TO FINISH WITH YOU.

NO, WE'RE NOT FINISHING WITH ME.

YOU'RE MAKING ME MAD. I'M LEAVING.

AND YOU'LL SIT DOWN RIGHT THERE. LEE, LEE!

YOU'LL SIT DOWN...

NO, I'M --

LEE, SIT DOWN.

-OKAY. -LET GO OF ME, RENA.

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

[BLEEP] YOU.

LEE'S BEHAVIOR RIGHT NOW IS VERY ALARMING,

BUT HE'S STARTING TO REALIZE SOME OF THE ISSUES

THAT HAVE BEEN DRIVING HIM TO EAT,

AND IF LEE CHOOSES TO AVOID THOSE ISSUES AND RUN RIGHT NOW,

THEN HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE ON THE SAME PATH

THAT HE WAS WHERE HE'S NOT GOING TO SURVIVE ANOTHER YEAR.

RENA, YOU STAYED ON TRACK DESPITE HOW LEE'S BEHAVING,

AND I'M PROUD OF YOU FOR THAT.

SO YOU SHOULD BE READY FOR WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY.

HOWEVER, LEE IS CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT

THAT YOU CAN'T SUCCEED IN LONG TERM.

NO ONE CAN DO THIS WITHOUT SUPPORT, NO ONE,

AND IF I GIVE YOU SURGERY NOW

WITHOUT ADDRESSING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH LEE,

I WILL BE SETTING YOU UP FOR FAILURE.

SO I'M GOING TO SEND YOU BOTH TO THERAPY,

AND I WANT YOU TO CONVINCE LEE TO GO.

IF HE STARTS TO GET BACK ON TRACK AND I'M CONFIDENT

YOU'LL HAVE THE SUPPORT YOU NEED AT HOME,

THEN I'LL APPROVE YOU FOR SURGERY.

-OKAY. -ALL RIGHT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?

-NO. -OKAY, I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

**

Rena: I'M SO UPSET WITH LEE RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE, ONCE AGAIN, HIS ISSUES ARE TAKING PRIORITY OVER MINE,

AND I'M WORRIED I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE UP

ON OUR RELATIONSHIP.

BECAUSE IF LEE WANTS TO MESS UP HIS LIFE AND HIS CHANCE,

I CAN'T LET IT DESTROY MINE.

**

Rena: TODAY, ME AND LEE ARE HEADED TO TALK

TO A THERAPIST THAT DR. NOW'S SENDING US TO.

HE WANTS US TO WORK ON OUR RELATIONSHIP,

AND HE'S CONCERNED IF WE DON'T THAT

I WON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT I NEED.

SO HE'S NOT WILLING TO GIVE ME WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY

UNTIL HE FEELS LIKE THAT'S ADDRESSED.

Lee: THESE LAST FEW MONTHS I FELT LIKE RENA

HASN'T BEEN THERE TO SUPPORT ME,

SO I'M REALLY UPSET AT HER.

AND I'M NOT SURE TALKING TO A THERAPIST

WILL CHANGE ANY OF THAT.

-HELLO. -HI.

I'M LOLA. IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.

SO GLAD YOU ALL COULD COME TODAY.

SO, WHAT'S BEEN THE STRUGGLE SINCE GETTING HERE TO TEXAS.

SINCE THIS JOURNEY HAS STARTED,

HE HAS CHANGED AND BECOME A DIFFERENT PERSON.

AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT PERSON?

I DON'T LIKE IT. I DON'T LIKE HIM.

IS THAT DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO HEAR, LEE?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF PERSON SHE WANTS ME TO BE.

I WANT YOU TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME.

I WILL CONVERSATE WITH YOU...

I WANT YOU TO --

...IF YOU DON'T TURN AROUND AND TELL ME

I'M NOT PAYING ATTENTION. -THAT'S PART OF --

WHEN I SAY SOMETHING, CALL ME A LIAR.

THAT'S PART OF CONVERSATING.

HEAR HER -- HEAR HER OUT.

OKAY.

BUT THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T COMMUNICATE,

BECAUSE HE EITHER OVER-TALKS ME,

INTERRUPTS ME, OR WON'T LET ME FINISH.

WHAT I AM SEEING IS THAT

WHEN RENA STARTS TO EXPRESS HERSELF...

YES. ...AND SHE'S EXPRESSING EMOTIONS

RELATED TO HOW SHE EXPERIENCES YOU,

YOU KIND OF FLARE UP.

SO, AT WHAT POINT DID YOU ALL START TALKING

TO EACH OTHER IN THIS WAY?

OH, WE HAD SOME PRETTY GOOD FIGHTS.

HE BECAME VIOLENT.

-PHYSICALLY? -PHYSICALLY VIOLENT, YEAH.

AND HE HAS NEVER BEEN LIKE THAT.

THERE'S ONLY BEEN A COUPLE INCIDENTS.

IT AIN'T LIKE I HIT HER EVERYDAY, BUT --

BUT, LEE, IT'S IMPORTANT NOT TO MINIMIZE --

YOU GOT TO REALIZE WHAT SHE HAS DONE TO ME,

YOU KNOW, THE VERBAL, YOU KNOW, SCREAMING AND THE...

SO, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TWO OF YOU --

I HAVE NEVER CUSSED YOU, CALLED YOU NAMES LIKE YOU DO ME.

YOU CUSS ME, YOU CALL ME NAMES,

YOU CONSTANTLY ARE PUTTING ME DOWN.

AND SO LET ME ASK THIS --

WHEN YOU BEGAN THIS RELATIONSHIP WHAT'D YOU EXPECT?

THE ONE MAIN REASON I AM TRYING THERAPY

AND TRYING TO MAKE THIS WORK

IS BECAUSE I KNOW THE FIRST 10 YEARS

THAT ME AND HIM WERE TOGETHER, HE WAS NEVER ABUSIVE.

-OKAY. -THAT'S NOT WHO HE WAS.

I'VE NEVER PUNCHED HER, NEVER SLAPPED HER...

-[ CHUCKLES ] -...ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, LEE --

SHE RAN AT ME WITH HER FIST UP.

I GRABBED HER BY HER HANDS, AND I KICKED HER

BECAUSE SHE WAS GONNA HIT ME.

I WAS HOLDING HIS HANDS.

UNFORTUNATELY, PHYSICAL ABUSE IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS WRONG.

I KNOW THIS, BUT IT AIN'T LIKE I DOUBLED MY FISTS

AND KNOCKED THE PISS OUT OF HER.

WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO REALIZE IS

THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS PROGRESSIVE.

IF SOMEONE YELLS AT YOU...

-YEAH. -...THEY'LL SMACK YOU.

IF SOMEONE SMACKS YOU, THEY'LL KICK YOU.

IF SOMEONE KICKS YOU, THEY'LL STOMP YOU.

IF SOME WILL STOMP YOU,

THEY WILL KILL YOU. PEOPLE DIE.

...AND WE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER ALL THIS TIME,

AND HE HAD NEVER BEEN ABUSIVE, EVER.

YOU'VE NEVER BEEN IN MY FACE LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN LATELY.

IN THE TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN IN THIS ROOM TOGETHER, GUYS --

I MEAN, THERE'S TIMES, RENA, YOU GET SO BAD YOU WON'T STOP.

-IN THE TIME THAT WE'VE BEEN -- -WHEN YOU WAS IN --

EXCUSE ME, GUYS.

I NEED YOU GUYS TO GET THE SEVERITY OF THIS.

IN THE TIME THAT WE'VE SAT IN THIS ROOM TOGETHER,

THERE HAVE BEEN WOMEN...

HE GETS ANGRY --

...MEN AND CHILDREN THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES

WITHIN THE MINUTES THAT WE'VE BEEN SITTING IN THIS ROOM

TOGETHER FROM FAMILY VIOLENCE.

IT'S A REAL ISSUE.

AND, LEE, WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND

IS THE SURGERY REMOVED YOUR DRUG OF CHOICE AS AN OPTION,

AND THAT WITHDRAWAL IS BRINGING AN ANGER ISSUE

TO THE SURFACE THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH

AND THAT YOU NEED TO GET UNDER CONTROL.

ANGER IS THE MANIFESTATION OF UNMET NEEDS,

DESIRES, AND EMOTIONS,

AND THE ONLY WAY TO BREAK PATTERNS OF ABUSE

ARE TO DEVELOP NEW AND HEALTHY COPING SKILLS,

AND YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO WALK AWAY

FROM UNHEALTHY CONFRONTATION.

AND IF YOU FIND THAT YOU CAN'T ABSTAIN FROM ACTING OUT IN ANGER

AND GETTING PHYSICAL WITH HER, YOU LEAVE THE RELATIONSHIP,

BECAUSE IT'S A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH FOR THE BOTH OF YOU.

I SEE WHAT I'M DOING WRONG.

YEAH.

AND NOW I FEEL I KNOW THAT I NEED TO CHANGE,

AND I'M VERY SORRY FOR THE WAY I'VE TREATED YOU, RENA,

AND I'M GONNA DO MY BEST TO DO BETTER.

I LOVE YOU.

LET'S JUST TRY TO WORK THROUGH THIS.

RENA, I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT HIM REALLY STERNLY,

AND I WANT YOU TO TELL HIM

HOW IF HE EVER LAYS A HAND ON YOU AGAIN,

THAT'S IT, NO DISCUSSION, YOU'RE OUT OF THERE.

LEE, IF YOU EVER TOUCH ME AGAIN...

-YEAH. -...PHYSICALLY, I AM GONE.

I WILL LEAVE, AND I WILL GO BACK HOME.

-OKAY. -AND THAT'S A PROMISE.

I ACCEPT THAT.

SO, GUYS, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT. -YOU, TOO.

ALL RIGHT.

CARE TO GIVE ME A LITTLE HAND, BABY?

OH, YEAH, I KNOW.

Rena: I FEEL LIKE THAT WENT AS WELL AS IT POSSIBLY COULD.

I THINK HE ACTUALLY LISTENED TO WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY,

AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN WORK ON OUR RELATIONSHIP

AND MAYBE EVEN REKINDLE WHAT'S BEEN BROKE

AND LEARN TO LOVE EACH OTHER AGAIN.

Dr. Nowzaradan: OVER THE PAST MONTH, LEE HAS BEEN WORKING...

THE NEED TO DEAL WITH SOME ISSUES,

AND I FEEL HE HAS MADE ENOUGH PROGRESS

TO WHERE RENA WILL HAVE ENOUGH OF THE SUPPORT

THAT SHE NEEDS TO SAFELY GO THROUGH SURGERY AND RECOVERY.

BUT IN THE OFF CHANCE THIS IS ALL JUST ANOTHER ACT

FROM LEE RIGHT NOW,

WE ARE STANDING READY TO INTERVENE

AND REMOVE RENA FROM HER ENVIRONMENT

IF LEE STARTS TO FALL BACK INTO HIS OLD BEHAVIOR.

TODAY, I'M GOING TO BE PERFORMING

A GASTRIC SLEEVE OPERATION ON RENA.

EVEN THOUGH RENA HAS MADE A GOOD AMOUNT OF PROGRESS,

HER BODY IS IN EXTREMELY POOR CONDITION.

TURN THE LIGHT OFF.

SO THIS OPERATION WILL KEEP HER UNDER ANESTHESIA FOR LESS TIME,

MAKING IT LESS RISKY.

BUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SLEEVE AND GASTRIC BYPASS

IS THAT WITH A SLEEVE WE DON'T BYPASS ANY PART OF THE STOMACH.

WE JUST REDUCE THE SIZE OF IT BY TAKING OUT 70%

TO 80% OF THE STOMACH AND LEAVE IN A SMALL, SKINNY TUBE.

IT'S A LONG STOMACH.

IN A SHORT TIME, THE SLEEVE CAN BE JUST

AS EFFECTIVE AS A FULL BYPASS,

BECAUSE THE PATIENT'S FOOD INTAKE IS PHYSICALLY LIMITED.

SO THIS IS GOING TO HELP RENA TO STAY ON TRACK EASIER,

SO SHE CAN START TO DEAL WITH HER EMOTIONAL ISSUES

THAT HAVE BEEN DRIVING HER TO EAT, TOO.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE DONE.

ALL RIGHT. RENA'S SURGERY WENT VERY WELL.

SHE HAD BIG...

WE GOT FIXED, AND THE SLEEVE WILL WORK VERY WELL FOR HER.

SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO HOME IN A FEW DAYS,

BUT WE CAN'T ALLOW RENA TO UNDERGO ANY ABUSE

WHILE SHE RECOVERS.

AND IF LEE SO MUCH AS THREATENS TO HIT RENA,

THEN WE WILL HAVE TO INTERVENE

AND TO SEPARATE THEM TO KEEP HER SAFE

AND ALLOW HER TO RECOVER WITHOUT ANY LIFE-THREATENING INCIDENTS.

SO WE'LL STAND READY JUST IN CASE THINGS

AREN'T AS THEY SEEM WITH LEE.

BUT HOPEFULLY IT WON'T COME TO THAT.

**

Lee: TODAY I'M GONNA GO TO THE FLOWER SHOP

AND TRY TO PICK OUT SOME NICE FLOWERS FOR RENA --

'CAUSE IT'S HER BIRTHDAY --

AND TRY TO FIND SOMETHING THAT SHE REALLY LIKES

AND TRY TO SURPRISE HER.

SHE'S BEEN HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL FOR A MONTH NOW,

AND I'VE BEEN A BIG EFFORT TO BE THERE FOR HER

AND SUPPORT HER AND TAKE CARE OF HER,

AND I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A REALLY GOOD PACE RIGHT NOW.

IN FACT, NOW THAT WE'RE LOSING SO MUCH WEIGHT,

WE'RE FINALLY ABLE TO DO SOMETHING WE NEVER HAVE BEFORE.

WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 10 YEARS -- OR 11 YEARS,

AND WE HAD NEVER HAD INTERCOURSE BEFORE, BUT NOW IT'S POSSIBLE

'CAUSE WE'LL LOST 350 POUNDS TOGETHER.

I WANT TO MARRY RENA, AND I NEVER THOUGHT

I'D HAVE THE CHANCE TO ACTUALLY DO THAT.

SO I'M GOING TO KEEP WORKING TO MAKE THAT REALITY

FOR BOTH OF US.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO SCREW THAT UP

FROM HERE ON OUT.

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?

I'M LOOKING FOR SOME CARNATIONS.

ALL RIGHT. WHAT KIND OF CARNATIONS?

MAYBE -- CAN I SEE WHAT YOU HAVE?

SURE.

WOW, THAT'S BEAUTIFUL!

WHAT WOULD IT BE FOR, LIKE, A BOUQUET,

WITH THAT MONKEY, OF DIFFERENT COLORS PUT TOGETHER?

WOULD YOU DO THAT FOR ME? -SURE, NO PROBLEM.

I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SURPRISE RENA WITH FLOWERS.

THIS IS A SYMBOL OF MY LOVE,

IT'S A SYMBOL OF WHAT I HAVE TO GIVE,

AND I HOPE SHE SEES THAT.

I LOVE RENA WITH ALL MY HEART, AND I WANT HER TO KNOW THAT --

JUST CAN'T SEE MYSELF SPENDING THE REST OF MY LIFE

WITH NO ONE ELSE.

* HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU *

-CAREFUL. -* HAPPY BIRTHDAY *

* DEAR RE-NAY-NAY *

-OH, MY GOSH. -* HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU *

WOW. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THEY'RE MY FAVORITE.

I NAMED HIM ERNIE.

A MONKEY.

YOU LIKE HIM?

YEAH.

THANK YOU.

GOT SOMETHING ELSE -- WE AIN'T DONE YET.

**

"ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, I CELEBRATE THE UNIQUE

AND SPECIAL PERSON YOU ARE

AND ALL THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT YOU,

AND I REALIZE, ONCE AGAIN, HOW VERY MUCH YOU MEAN TO ME.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

LOVE YOU, LEE."

[ SNIFFLES ] THANK YOU.

YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

IT MEANT VERY MUCH TO ME --

FOR LEE TO BE ABLE TO GO DO IT HIS SELF, IT MEANT A LOT.

I'VE BEEN REALLY ENCOURAGED BY THESE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS

BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER

INSTEAD OF AGAINST EACH OTHER.

SO I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR HOW THINGS ARE RIGHT NOW

AND FOR HOW HARD LEE HAS BEEN TRYING TO IMPROVE HIMSELF.

OKAY, LEE, IT LOOKS YOU'RE DOWN TO 441,

AND THAT'S TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS OF 273 POUNDS.

GREAT.

AND, RENA, YOU'RE DOWN TO 306,

AND THAT IS TOTAL WEIGHT LOSS OF 243 POUNDS.

THAT'S EXCELLENT.

A FEW MONTHS AGO, I WASN'T SURE IF LEE WAS GOING TO BE ABLE

TO GET BACK ON TRACK

AND WHAT THE EFFECT OF THAT WOULD BE ON RENA.

BUT THEY'RE BOTH DOING WELL, AND I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC

ABOUT THEIR LONG-TERM PROGRESS.

SO, HOW DO YOU FEEL, RENA?

I'M VERY, VERY BLESSED TO BE WHERE I'M AT,

BUT I'M NOT WHERE I WANT TO BE YET.

I'M GONNA KEEP GOING.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET THERE.

I'M PROUD OF YOU BOTH.

BOTH OF THEM ARE GETTING CLOSE

TO NEEDING EXCESS-SKIN REMOVAL,

AND IF THEY'RE BOTH READY IN THE NEXT COUPLE MONTHS,

I THINK LEE WILL AGREE THAT RENA SHOULD GO FIRST.

Rena: I KNOW I STILL NEED TO LOSE A GOOD AMOUNT OF WEIGHT,

BUT I'M STARTING TO LIKE THE WAY I LOOK.

AND THAT'S BIG PROGRESS FOR ME.

AND AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR,

I WOULDN'T EVEN BE ABLE TO TRY ON CLOTHES AT A STORE.

IT'S VERY EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO TRY SMALLER THINGS ON,

TO BE ABLE TO COME IN A REGULAR STORE AND DO THIS.

**

IT USED TO BE I WOULD GET UP,

AND I DIDN'T CARE WHAT I LOOKED LIKE

BECAUSE I HAD TO TAKE CARE OF LEE,

AND THEN I FELT REPULSIVE SO I DIDN'T EVEN TRY.

AND NOW I LOVE GETTING READY FOR THE DAY.

SO MY WORLD, LEE'S WORLD, AND OUR RELATIONSHIP --

THEY'VE ALL CHANGED FOR THE BETTER.

Lee: I LOOK AT RENA, AND I JUST LOVE HER SO MUCH.

SO ONCE WE HIT OUR GOAL WEIGHTS, I'M GOING TO PROPOSE TO HER.

AND THE THOUGHT OF BEING ABLE TO DO THAT IS WHAT'S DRIVING ME

RIGHT NOW TO DO BETTER AND BE BETTER,

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SHE DESERVES.

Rena: WE BOTH DREAMED OF A NEW LIFE,

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER,

WE CAN FINALLY SEE THAT LIFE AHEAD OF US.