Original subtitles

Robert: THE TASKS THAT KATHRYN HAS TO ENDURE EVERY DAY,

IT'S NOT WHAT SHE SIGNED UP FOR, COMING INTO MY LIFE.

**

AAH, GOD!

AAH!

MY LIFE IS WASTING AWAY, AND I HATE IT.

I TRIED TO CHANGE, BUT SOMETHING ALWAYS KNOCKS ME DOWN.

**

[ GASPS ] I AM VERY MISERABLE IN THIS BODY,

AND I FEEL LIKE I'M A TICKING TIME BOMB.

OH, JUST PRAY FOR ME.

OH, MY LEG!

SIT DOWN RIGHT THERE. WAIT.

YOU'RE MAKING ME MAD, NOW.

THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE.

Robert: MY LIFE, IT'S LIKE LIVING A DEATH SENTENCE.

AAH.

OOH. OW, [ BLEEP ]!

THIS IS NO LIFE FOR ANYONE.

**

Kathryn: NO MATTER HOW SCARY THE ROAD AHEAD LOOKS,

WHEN THE PERSON YOU LOVE DESPERATELY NEEDS HELP,

YOU'LL FIGHT WITH ALL THAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT TO THEM.

**

**

**

OH.

THE FIRST THING I THINK OF WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING

IS THAT I FEEL BLESSED AND SHOCKED AT THE SAME TIME

BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE THAT I WOKE UP.

THE PAIN I FEEL WHEN I WAKE UP IS ALL OVER,

AND I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES THAT I CAN'T TAKE

OR LIVE THIS LIFE ONE MORE MINUTE.

HEY, KATHRYN? Kathryn: YEAH?

I NEED TO GO TO THE BATHROOM.

ALL RIGHT.

I GUESS AFTERWARDS, WE CAN SHOWER?

YEAH. I'LL GIVE YOU A BATH.

TO CARRY ALL THIS WEIGHT, IT'S PHYSICALLY DRAINING,

MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY TAXING.

IT'S NOT A PAIN OR LIFE

I WISH ON ANYONE BECAUSE I CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

I CAN'T DO ANYTHING FOR ANYONE, ESPECIALLY MYSELF,

SO I AM COMPLETELY DEPENDENT UPON MY FIANCéE,

KATHRYN.

YOU READY?

YEAH.

Kathryn: EVERY DAY, YOU JUST WAKE UP AND SAY, "ALL RIGHT.

I HAVE HIM HERE WITH ME, AND I GOT TO DO WHAT I GOT TO DO."

KNOWING THE KIND OF PAIN THAT ROB IS IN IS DEVASTATING

BECAUSE I CAN MAINTAIN HIM, BUT I CAN'T FIX HIM.

OH, CAREFUL. I KNOW.

I SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF.

SIMPLE THINGS THAT PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED,

I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO,

BUT IF I DIDN'T HAVE KATHRYN TO HELP ME LIKE SHE DOES,

I WOULD BE IN THE NURSING HOME FULL-TIME

FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.

Kathryn: ROB IS COMPLETELY HELPLESS.

HE DOESN'T HAVE AN AID, SO BETWEEN ME AND HIS MOTHER,

WE TAKE CARE OF HIM, BUT I GIVE HIM HIS BATH.

AND UNDER THE SKIN FOLDS, HE'S GETTING BOILS AND SORES,

AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE CLEAN

AND TRYING TO KEEP HIM AS INFECTION-FREE AS POSSIBLE

BECAUSE WHEN HE GETS AN INFECTION, HE GETS AN INFECTION.

BUT IT'S HARD TO DO THIS EVERY DAY.

ONE, TWO.

AND IT'S KILLING ME TO SEE HIM LIKE THIS

BECAUSE HE'S NOT LIVING LIFE AT ALL.

AND SEEING SOMEBODY STRUGGLING ALL THE TIME

AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TELL HIM,

"EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY."

I DON'T KNOW THAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF, IN THE MORNING, HE'S GOING TO WAKE UP.

**

OH.

**

ONE, TWO, EASY.

READY?

MANAGING TO MOVE THIS WEIGHT IS TAKING EVERYTHING I HAVE,

EVERY OUNCE OF STRENGTH.

OKAY.

I'M TRAPPED IN THIS BODY. I CALL IT PRISON.

I AM TRAPPED IN MYSELF, AND THE TASKS THAT KATHRYN

HAS TO ENDURE EVERY DAY

JUST TO EVEN TAKE CARE OF ME,

I CAN SEE IT WEARING DOWN HERSELF.

IT'S CERTAINLY NOT WHAT SHE SIGNED UP FOR,

COMING INTO MY LIFE.

BUT THAT'S THE POSITION I FORCED US BOTH INTO RIGHT NOW.

AND I FEEL GUILTY,

SO THEN I'M USUALLY GETTING AGITATED OR UPSET,

THEN WE END UP FIGHTING, AND IT'S JUST THE WORST-CASE

SCENARIO.

BUT IT HURTS ME INSIDE TO THINK

THAT I HAVE BECOME DEPENDENT ON THIS WOMAN,

AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO HER.

Kathryn: IT'S HARD TO DO THIS.

AFTER I'M DONE GETTING HIM DRESSED AND READY FOR THE DAY,

ME OR HIS MOM COME IN TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HE WANTS TO EAT.

Marlene: ROBERT? YEAH?

I'M GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE.

WHAT'S ON THE MENU FOR OUR DINNER TONIGHT?

WELL, YOU HAD ASKED ME THE OTHER DAY TO GET KIELBASA.

AND YOU WANT PEROGIES?

IF THEY HAVE THEM, YEAH.

OKAY. OKAY.

ANYTHING ELSE?

THE REALLY GOOD BREAD THERE, ITALIAN BREAD?

PLEASE, YEAH. GET THE BREAD?

HOW MANY, ROB? TWO LOAVES?

TWO LOAVES, YEAH, THAT WOULD BE FINE.

NO VEGETABLES, RIGHT? NO VEGETABLES, ROB.

NO VEGETABLES.

NO GREEN OR RED.

YOU KNOW HOW I LIKE IT.

I KNOW.

I'M GOING TO BE GONE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.

IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEM, TEXT ME 911.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT?

AND I'LL KNOW IT'S YOU.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

YOU GOING TO BE OKAY? YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.

I'M PROBABLY GONNA TAKE A NAP. I'M REALLY TIRED SO...

ALL RIGHT. MAKE SURE YOU PUT YOUR MASK ON.

OH, THE CPAP, YEAH. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, HONEY. ALL RIGHT, LOVE YOU, THANKS.

SEE YOU, BABY. SEE YOU LATER, BYE-BYE.

BYE.

MY MOM HAS BEEN THERE THROUGH A LOT OF TOUGH TIMES FOR ME,

BUT HER HEALTH IS VERY POOR RIGHT NOW.

AND I SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF MY SICK MOTHER,

BUT I CAN'T, SO I FEEL WORTHLESS AS A MAN.

I JUST WISH I COULD BE THE MAN THEY NEED ME TO BE.

USUALLY, KATHRYN GETS ROBERT'S GROCERIES,

BUT TODAY I'LL HANDLE IT.

I TRY TO CONTROL ROBERT'S FOOD, BUT HE'S QUITE MANIPULATIVE,

AND HE THROWS TANTRUMS AND GETS ANGRY.

THE TYPE OF FOOD THAT ROB WANTS IS ALWAYS GREASY,

SPICY, FILLING, SALTY.

THAT'S WHAT HE LOVES, AND, MOST OF THE TIME,

HE'S WITH KATHRYN, AND KATHRYN EATS THE SAME WAY HE DOES,

SO THEY'RE QUITE COMPATIBLE THAT WAY.

I WISH I COULD WAVE MY MAGIC WAND BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO DIE,

AND I THINK HE'S TRYING TO KILL HIMSELF WITH FOOD.

THIS IS LIKE A SLOW SUICIDE.

ROBERT DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF ENJOYMENT OR HAPPINESS

IN HIS LIFE EXCEPT FOR FOOD.

FOOD ACTUALLY EXCITES HIM,

AND WHEN HE DOESN'T GET WHAT HE LIKES,

HE BECOMES EXTREMELY ANXIOUS.

Robert: LIVING LIFE LIKE THIS, I'VE RISKED RELATIONSHIPS,

AND I HAVE TREMENDOUS GUILT AND SHAME

BECAUSE I'M STILL PUTTING THE ONES THAT LOVE ME THROUGH THIS.

BUT I ALWAYS INCORPORATED FOOD WITH FEELING BETTER

BECAUSE IT JUST MADE THINGS BETTER FOR ME TO DEAL WITH.

DAMN THE CONSEQUENCES.

THAT SIMPLE PLEASURE OF EATING SOMETHING,

AS BAD AS IT WAS FOR ME, JUST MADE ME HAPPY.

ROBERT, I'M HOME.

BUT THEN, AFTERWARDS, I WOULD START TO PRESSURE MYSELF

WHY I'D EAT THAT MUCH,

AND I COULDN'T EVEN CONTEMPLATE HOW I LET MYSELF GET LIKE THIS.

WHEN I WAS BABY, I WAS BORN WITH A CLUBFOOT

WITH ALMOST PERMANENT HEARING LOSS.

MY CLUBFOOT EVENTUALLY WAS CORRECTED

WHEN I WAS 2 OR 3 YEARS OLD.

THEN I WAS ABLE TO WALK NORMAL AGAIN,

BUT IT MADE ME FEEL DIFFERENT,

AND IT MADE ME FEEL LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF AN OUTCAST.

BUT, GROWING UP, I WAS HAPPY.

Marlene:ROBERT WAS THE MOST DELIGHTFUL OF ALL MY CHILDREN.

HE WAS A JOY, ABSOLUTE JOY,

AND HE NEVER TOOK HIS EYES OFF ME,

SO WE WERE VERY MUCH BONDED.

BUT HE HAD TWO BROTHERS WHO WERE NOT THAT TOLERANT OF ROBERT

BECAUSE HE WAS SICK A LOT OF THE TIME,

AND, PROBABLY, THEY WERE JEALOUS OF THE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION

I GAVE HIM, SO ROBERT ALWAYS FELT THAT REJECTION.

Robert: MY FOOD ISSUES STARTED VERY YOUNG

BECAUSE WHEN I WAS 6 YEARS OLD,

WE MOVED DOWN FROM NORTH JERSEY TO SOUTH JERSEY,

AND MY PARENTS OPENED UP A FRIED-CHICKEN STORE,

AND BEING AROUND ALL THAT AVAILABLE FOOD

WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING NEW FOR ME.

IT'S SOMETHING I'D NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE IN MY LIFE.

YOU KNOW, I COULD HAVE ANYTHING MADE FOR ME ANY TIME I WANTED.

I WAS ABLE TO HAVE AS MUCH SODA AS I WANTED,

AND MY PARENTS WERE SO BUSY

THEY REALLY HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WAS EATING.

BUT THINGS GOT BAD FOR ME ONE SUMMER AT 9 YEARS OLD

WHEN I MET A BOY WHO HAPPENED TO LIVE TWO OR THREE HOUSES AWAY,

AND HE STARTED INVITING ME OVER TO HIS HOUSE FOR LUNCH,

AND, ONE DAY, I WAS PUT IN A VERY BAD SITUATION WITH HIM.

WE WERE WATCHING TV, AND HIS GRANDPARENTS WEREN'T HOME,

AND HE ENDED UP FORCING ME INTO A SEXUALLY MOLESTING SITUATION.

AND AFTER THE MOLESTATION OCCURRED,

THE BOY THREATENED ME AND BASICALLY SAID

IF I TOLD ANYBODY THAT HE WOULD KILL ME THE NEXT TIME HE SAW ME.

SO I WAS VERY SCARED FOR MY LIFE,

AND, UNFORTUNATELY,

THOSE WERE THE BUSIEST TIMES THAT MY PARENTS HAD,

SO NO ONE REALLY PICKED UP ON THAT

SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH ME.

SO I DEFINITELY FOUND COMFORT IN FOOD,

AND MY PARENTS WERE SO WRAPPED UP IN THE BUSINESS

THAT I COULD GO GRAB A PAPER PLATE

AND JUST FILL IT UP WITH CHICKEN OR FRENCH FRIES,

AND, NINE TIMES OUT OF 10, THEY NEVER EVEN NOTICED.

SO I STARTED GAINING MORE WEIGHT,

AND BY THE TIME I WAS 12 OR 13 YEARS OLD,

I WAS 225 POUNDS, AND IT ONLY GOT WORSE.

IN JANUARY OF MY SENIOR YEAR, MY FATHER HAD A HEART ATTACK

AND HE WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AND HAD TRIPLE BYPASS.

FEELING LIKE MY FATHER WAS GOING TO DIE,

AND I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT,

I WOULD EAT, BE DEPRESSED,

AND MY FATHER EVENTUALLY CAME HOME,

BUT HE CAME HOME JADED.

HE CAME HOME ANGRIER THAN HE EVER WAS,

AND A LOT OF STUFF JUST SEEMED LIKE IT

WAS ABOUT TO EXPLODE IN MY HOUSE.

LIKE, THINGS WERE NOT GOOD FOR MY FAMILY,

AND THEN, FINALLY, MY MOTHER HAD ENOUGH.

SHE THREW HIM OUT.

AS I WAS GETTING OLDER, THINGS GOT WORSE

BECAUSE, WHEN I WAS 19,

I HAD A PHONE CALL ONE DAY

THAT MY BROTHER, CHRIS, HAD A HEART ATTACK.

HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL.

CHRIS WAS 3 1/2 YEARS OLDER THAN ME.

WE RAN TO THE HOSPITAL.

WE CAME IN, AND THE DOCTOR

[ Tearfully ] PRONOUNCED HE WAS DEAD.

I FELT LIKE MY WORLD CRASHED DOWN, JUST CRASHED RIGHT DOWN.

AND, THE NIGHT MY BROTHER DIED, MY SISTER SAYS,

"BOY, I THOUGHT YOU WOULD'VE HAD A HEART ATTACK, NOT CHRIS."

SO I FELT THAT IT SHOULD'VE BEEN ME.

I WAS SO DEPRESSED,

AND I WAS OVEREATING LIKE I NEVER ATE BEFORE,

JUST NOT CARING.

SO AFTER MY BROTHER PASSED,

I WAS DEFINITELY OVER 600 POUNDS,

AND IT WAS BECOMING HARDER AND HARDER TO HOLD A JOB.

ANYTHING PHYSICAL, I JUST COULDN'T DO IT,

SO MY MOM HELPED ME GET DISABILITY.

AFTER THAT, I KEPT GAINING WEIGHT THROUGH THE YEARS,

AND I MET KATHRYN WHEN I WAS 28,

AND I LIED TO KATHRYN WHEN I FIRST MET HER

ABOUT HOW MUCH I WEIGHED.

I DIDN'T THINK SHE'D BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT

OR WANT SOMEONE THAT OVERWEIGHT.

I MET ROB ABOUT 14 YEARS AGO.

ROB'S SIZE DIDN'T BOTHER ME.

HE WAS SUCH A FUN PERSON TO BE AROUND.

IT NEVER REALLY OCCURRED TO ME TO WORRY ABOUT HIS SIZE.

Robert: WHEN KATHRYN AND I FIRST STARTED DATING,

I WAS VERY MOBILE. WE WERE GOING OUT.

WE WERE BOWLING, GOING TO THE MOVIES,

ALL STUFF NORMAL COUPLES DO,

BUT I WAS HIDING HOW MUCH I REALLY ATE IN FRONT OF KATHRYN.

AND WE KEPT DATING,

BUT NOT UNTIL WE SPENT MORE TIME TOGETHER

AND SHE STARTED STAYING OVER AT MY HOUSE

DID SHE START TO SEE HOW MUCH I WAS EATING.

Kathryn: OUR RELATIONSHIP HAS DEFINITELY CHANGED BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,

WE WENT FROM HAVING LIMITED LIFE

TO, BASICALLY, NO LIFE.

AND I BLAME MYSELF TO AN EXTENT, YOU KNOW?

I SHOULD'VE TRIED HARDER AND MADE HIM, YOU KNOW, LOSE WEIGHT.

Robert: I WAS 36 WHEN I REACHED 700 POUNDS,

AND THE LYMPHEDEMA GOT REAL BAD UNDER MY LEG.

BUT I PROPOSED TO KATHRYN WITH THE HOPE

AND THE PROMISE THAT I WAS GOING TO KEEP TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT.

BUT, ABOUT A YEAR INTO OUR ENGAGEMENT,

WHEN I STARTED HAVING BALANCE PROBLEMS WITH MY LYMPHEDEMA

STARTED GETTING REAL BAD, I WAS WALKING OUT OF THE DOOR,

LOST MY BALANCE, FELL,

AND I COULDN'T GET UP.

I TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET UP OFF THE GROUND.

I WAITED FOR A BARIATRIC AMBULANCE.

THEY GOT ME UP, TOOK ME TO THE HOSPITAL,

AND I SPENT MY 40TH BIRTHDAY IN THE HOSPITAL.

IT WAS AWFUL, HEARTBREAKING.

WHEN I WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL,

I WENT TO THE NURSING HOME.

I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AND NURSING HOME FOR OVER 4 YEARS.

WHEN I WAS RELEASED FROM THE NURSING HOME,

I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GO HOME TO MY MOTHER'S.

I'VE BEEN FIGHTING THIS WEIGHT-LOSS BATTLE FOR 31 YEARS,

AND I MADE MY LIFE A PRISON.

AND I'VE IMPRISONED KATHRYN AND MY MOTHER, TOO,

WITH ME.

THANKS.

OH, YOUR FAVORITE FOOD. MM-HMM. [ LAUGHS ]

DOES THE SMELL BRING BACK MEMORIES OF THE CHICKEN STORE?

YES.

CAN I HAVE THE FRIES, MOM, PLEASE?

THANK YOU.

Kathryn: I HATE THAT THIS IS OUR LIFE AND THAT THIS IS ROB'S LIFE.

GOOD CALL ON THE WINGS. I LOVE WINGS.

Kathryn: BUT NOTHING STOPS HIM FROM EATING.

FOOD IS KILLING HIM AND TAKING OUR FUTURE.

WELL, I'M GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER PIECE OF CHICKEN.

I KNOW ROB WANTS TO KEEP THE PROMISE HE MADE

TO ME TO LOSE THE WEIGHT, BUT HE'S ONLY GOTTEN BIGGER.

AND NOW HE'S TO THE POINT WHERE I DON'T KNOW

IF HE CAN SURVIVE MUCH LONGER.

I WANT TO HAVE A FAMILY WITH HIM,

BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN HIM THIS BAD.

Robert: I'M FULL, BUT THIS IS JUST TOO GOOD. [ SIGHS ]

I MAY HAVE, LIKE, TWO MORE OF THE WINGS,

BUT OTHERWISE I'M DONE, YEAH.

I DIDN'T HAVE THAT MANY WINGS.

DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

YES, IT MATTERS.

NO, FORGET IT. WHY DON'T YOU JUST TAKE ONE?

NO, NO, FORGET IT. IT'S ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL TAKE ONE.

YEAH, YOU TALKED ME INTO IT.

[ LAUGHS ]

Kathryn: NO MATTER WHAT, NOTHING HELPS HIM

OR STOPS HIM FROM COMPULSIVELY EATING,

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE.

THERE ARE DAYS I FEEL LIKE THERE'S NO HOPE,

AND THEN I JUST GIVE UP AND MAKE HIM HAPPY WITH THE TIME HE HAS.

THANK YOU.

IT WAS GOOD.

OOH, MY BACK. I LOVE YOU, THANK YOU.

Kathryn: BUT I CAN'T JUST GIVE UP AND LOSE HIM,

SO WE HAVE TO FIND HELP.

BUT SOME DAYS, I'M JUST SO SCARED IT'S TOO LATE.

Robert: IF I KEEP CONTINUING TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS,

I WON'T BE ABLE TO FUNCTION MUCH LONGER.

UNLESS I MAKE THE CHANGES, MY LIFE IS ONLY HEADED ONE PLACE.

I DO FEEL CLOSE TO DEATH.

I FEEL LIKE I'M KNOCKING ON HEAVEN'S DOOR.

IF I DON'T CHANGE, I'M GOING TO DIE.

**

**

**

Robert: TODAY, WE ARE HEADING TO HOUSTON TO MEET

DR. NOWZARADAN FOR THE FIRST TIME

AND HOPEFULLY TO GET HELP TO SAVE MY LIFE,

AND I'M PRETTY NERVOUS.

Marlene: SO, ARE YOU READY FOR THIS, ROBERT?

ARE YOU CONFIDENT THAT YOU CAN DO THIS?

YEAH. OKAY.

I'M GOING TO GET IT. I'M CONFIDENT, TOO.

I THINK YOU CAN DO IT.

YOU'LL BE A WHOLE NEW PERSON.

I'M TIRED OF MY WEIGHT AFFECTING EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE.

IT'S BEEN HARD ON EVERYONE, NOT JUST MYSELF.

IT'S BEEN HARD ON MY FAMILY.

IT'S BEEN HARD ON MY FRIENDS, AND IT'S BEEN HARD ON KATHRYN,

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS MY LAST AND FINAL CHANCE.

Kathryn: I'M EXTREMELY SCARED AND NERVOUS RIGHT NOW

BECAUSE IT'S AT LEAST A 25- TO 30-HOUR DRIVE.

LOVE YOU. THANK YOU.

I LOVE YOU.

Kathryn: AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO MANAGE

OR WHAT HOTELS WE CAN EVEN STAY IN.

Kathryn: READY TO GET UP? YOU ALL RIGHT?

I'M HURTING. HURTING?

HERE, I'LL HELP... GET YOUR WALKER.

Kathryn: I'M SCARED THIS TRIP COULD BE TOO HARD FOR HIM,

BUT THIS IS OUR LAST CHANCE, SO WE'RE DOING IT.

ALL RIGHT. ONE, TWO, THREE.

OH, NO.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

NOPE. ONE MORE. NO, THE HIP.

WE'LL GET IT.

DRY YOUR HAND.

ONE, TWO, THREE. WE GOT IT.

WE GOT IT, WE GOT IT. WE GOT IT, COME ON.

COME ON. OH, OKAY.

I'M GOING TO STAND FOR A SECOND.

YEAH, I GOT TO MOVE THE CHAIR OUT OF YOUR WAY ANYWAY.

MY BUTT IS HURTING ME.

I KNOW.

THIS JOURNEY, IT'S GOING TO TAKE EVERYTHING OUT OF ME,

BUT I'M THROWING ALL MY CARDS IN,

AND I'M WILLING TO RISK MY WHOLE LIFE

BECAUSE I DO WANT TO LIVE,

AND I DO WANT A LIFE WITH KATHRYN

AND TO COME BACK TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

YEAH. GO AHEAD.

I HAVE TO DO THIS.

OH, YOU'RE IN.

OH. GO OVER.

GOOD.

GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.

GOT IT. ALL RIGHT.

YOU IN? NOT YET.

ALL RIGHT.

Marlene: I'M REALLY GOING TO MISS ROB.

I'M GOING TO DO A LOT OF HOPING AND PRAYING

THAT HE'LL COME THROUGH IT OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE.

I'M TURNING HIM OVER TO GOD AND DR. NOWZARADAN,

AND I'LL PRAY FOR BOTH OF THEM.

Kathryn: AT THIS POINT, NEITHER ONE OF US HAVE A LIFE,

SO THERE REALLY IS NO LIFE FOR US

UNLESS DR. NOWZARADAN CAN HELP HIM.

BYE-BYE. I LOVE YOU.

Kathryn: BUT I KNOW THAT ROB CAN'T MAKE THIS TRIP MORE THAN ONCE,

SO IT'S AN ALL-OR-NOTHING DEAL FOR US.

IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS, WE HAVE TO MOVE OUR WHOLE LIFE

DOWN THERE,

AND THAT'S SO SCARY

BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO BE

COMPLETELY ON OUR OWN IN HOUSTON.

BUT, THANKFULLY, OUR FRIENDS CHIP AND SANDY

ARE GOING TO GO WITH US TO HELP US

AT LEAST GET DOWN TO HOUSTON

AND SETTLE US IN BECAUSE,

IF I HAD TO DO THIS ON MY OWN, I KNOW I WOULDN'T MAKE IT.

ROB IS HAVING TROUBLE BECAUSE SITTING LIKE THIS

IS REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE FOR HIM,

AND WE HAVEN'T MADE IT VERY FAR

BECAUSE WE'VE HAD TO STOP CONSTANTLY TO EAT.

AND NOW WE NEED TO FIND A PARKING LOT TO STOP AT AGAIN

BECAUSE ROB NEEDS TO TAKE A BATHROOM BREAK,

SO WE'LL DO THAT AND GET BACK ON THE ROAD AS FAST AS WE CAN.

IT IS TIME TO GO PEE PEE.

OKAY.

IT'S AN EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, SINCE HE CAN'T

GO INTO A PUBLIC RESTROOM

LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO DO THIS

WHILE HE'S IN THE MATTRESS IN THE BACK OF A VAN.

SO THIS WILL TAKE SOME FINESSE

TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS NOW.

ALL RIGHT.

WE GOT TO HAVE YOU ROLL.

Robert: WHAT? WE HAVE TO HAVE YOU ROLL.

Kathryn: OH, JEEZ.

[ BLEEP ] THERE WE GO.

I GOT IT. KEEP GOING.

OH, THERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT. ROLL BACK FOR A MINUTE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

OH. [ GRUNTS ] ALL RIGHT.

READY? Robert: OW, EASY!

I'M SORRY, [BLEEP].

IT'S YOUR OWN FAULT.

DON'T HAVE TO PEE NEXT TIME.

HOLD IT?

NOPE. OW.

THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT.

Kathryn: WE HAVEN'T MADE IT AS FAR AS I'D HOPED AT THIS POINT,

AND I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FIND A BED FOR HIM SOON

BECAUSE HE'S HURTING TOO BAD RIGHT NOW.

I'M COMING AROUND.

AND I DON'T WANT TO PUSH HIM, SO, AS SOON AS IT GETS DARK,

WE'LL GET A HOTEL SO HE CAN REST.

BUT AT THIS RATE, IT'S GOING TO TAKE US

A FEW DAYS TO GET TO HOUSTON.

**

**

I CALLED AHEAD AND FOUND A HOTEL

THAT SAYS THEY HAVE A HANDICAP ROOM,

SO WE JUST NEED TO GET THERE,

AND I CAN TRY TO GET ROB OUT AND INTO A BED.

**

**

ALL RIGHT, SO, WHILE YOU CHILL, I'M GOING TO GO CHECK IN.

ALL RIGHT. JUST HURRY UP.

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS THE REGULAR BED.

OKAY. IT'S THE VERY LAST ROOM

AT THE END OF THIS HALLWAY. OF COURSE IT IS.

Kathryn: ALL RIGHT, SO I HAVE THE ROOMS.

I'LL GET YOUR WHEELCHAIR FIRST.

BRING YOUR WALKER TOO, YES?

Robert: YES. PLEASE HURRY.

I'M TRYING, HONEY.

I CAN ONLY GO AS FAST AS I CAN.

Kathryn:THIS HOTEL TOLD ME THEY HAD A HANDICAP ROOM,

AND WE RESERVED IT, BUT NOW THEY ONLY HAVE A KING BED,

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

I'M GOING TO GO CHECK TO MAKE SURE HIS CHAIR GOES TO THE DOOR.

ALL RIGHT. COME ON, COME ON.

Kathryn: AT HIS SIZE, IT'S JUST SO HARD TO SHOW UP SOMEWHERE

AND HOPE EVERYTHING CAN HOLD HIS WEIGHT

OR HE CAN FIT IN PLACES,

SO I'M JUST TIRED AND NERVOUS RIGHT NOW,

AND I KNOW ROB IS GETTING FRUSTRATED.

[ BLEEP ]

Kathryn: YOU'RE WALKING?

NO. I'M GOING TO SIT DOWN.

THE WHEELCHAIR DOESN'T FIT THROUGH THE COLUMN

TO GET THROUGH TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HALLWAY.

I'LL HAVE TO GET YOU BACK OUT OF THE WHEELCHAIR.

NOBODY TOLD YOU TO GET UP YET. I KNOW.

BECAUSE I WAS FALLING.

CAN YOU MOVE THOSE REAL QUICK, CHIP?

TURN IT.

OH, OH, OH, OH. I GOT YOU.

I GOT YOU. YOU GOT HIM.

I GOT YOU. Robert: WHAT?

YOU KEEP START GOING THE OTHER DIRECTIONS.

OW.

ALL RIGHT, GO ON, CHIP.

**

PUSH, CHIP. PUSH.

HOLD ON.

COME ON. ONE, TWO, THREE.

WE GOT IT IF YOU KEEP PULLING!

ALL RIGHT.

**

**

QUEEN.

WELL, THEN, YOU SLEEP IN IT, AND I'LL JUST SLEEP ON THE FLOOR.

ACTUALLY, IT'S A FULL.

NO. THAT'S NOT A FULL BED.

GO, MOVE THIS TABLE. I CAN'T MOVE IT.

WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO MOVE IT?

**

THAT'S AS FAR AS IT'S GOING. FINE.

JUST STAY HERE.

I'LL SLEEP ON THE FLOOR.

NO. YES.

HONEY, I'M TOO TIRED FOR THIS. OKAY.

YOU CAN SLEEP IN THE BED WITH ME.

NO, I CAN'T.

BECAUSE THIS IS A DOUBLE, THAT'S WHY, ISN'T IT?

HONEY, WE BARELY GOT INTO A QUEEN TOGETHER.

CAN I PUT YOU IN THE BED?

FINE. PUT ME IN BED.

LET ME GET YOU IN.

I'M SORRY.

HOLD ON.

SORRY.

WELL, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE RESERVATIONS AND --

**

**

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

THERE'S NO HANDICAP ROOMS THAT HAVE KINGS.

YEAH.

CALL AND TALK TO THE MANAGER.

I WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. IT'S FINE.

LET ME GO TALK TO THEM.

Robert: I'M BEYOND PISSED OFF, LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE.

WE HAD A PERFECTLY GOOD RESERVATION.

THEY SAID THEY HAD A KING BED, HANDICAP ROOM.

THIS IS NOT A HANDICAP-ACCESSIBLE ROOM.

I WON'T BE ABLE TO TO SLEEP TONIGHT,

ESPECIALLY WITH KATHRYN ON THE FLOOR,

KNOWING THAT SHE'S DONE SO MUCH FOR ME,

AND SHE'S DONE SO MUCH TODAY,

ALL THE DRIVING SHE DID AND THE HEAVY MOVING,

AND IT MAKES ME FEEL HORRIBLE

BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY ALL MY FAULT.

THEY HAVE A KING ROOM.

IT'S WAY BETTER THAN THIS ROOM.

I JUST HAVE TO GET YOU BACK IN THE WHEELCHAIR

TO TAKE YOU TO IT.

ALL RIGHT.

**

MY WHOLE UPPER BODY AND LOWER

IS JUST RIDDLED WITH PAIN RIGHT NOW.

**

YEAH.

WATCH YOUR SIDE, AND IT DOESN'T GO THROUGH.

[BLEEP] [BLEEP]

NO. OH, MY GOD.

[ WEEPING ]

NO, IT'S NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH.

I HAVE YOU STRAIGHTENED OUT.

KEEP GOING.

**

ALL RIGHT. NOW, WHAT'S YOUR PLAN?

THE CHAIR IS TOO WIDE.

YOU'RE BREAKING THE CHAIR.

I'LL GET UP. I NEED HIS WALKER.

WE GOT IT.

OKAY.

Kathryn: SO FAR, THIS IS THE TRIP FROM HELL.

WE'RE ONLY A THIRD OF THE WAY TO HOUSTON,

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS

AT THE RATE WE'RE GOING.

I GOT TO GO FIND THE REST OF YOUR STUFF.

I JUST HOPE TOMORROW, AT LEAST, GOES BETTER.

**

AFTER GETTING SOME SLEEP, WE HIT THE ROAD EARLY,

BUT WE'RE NOT MOVING ANY FASTER THAN WE DID YESTERDAY

BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT STOPS TO EAT OR TAKE BATHROOM BREAKS.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER HOTEL TONIGHT,

AND I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO REPEATING ALL THAT AGAIN.

**

**

Kathryn: I'M COMING. THERE WE GO.

OKAY.

Kathryn: I JUST WANT TO GET THIS WHOLE TRIP OVER WITH.

WATCH THAT RUG.

SO I'M JUST GOING TO TRY AND GET ROB IN SO WE CAN REST

AND THEN GET BACK ON THE ROAD TOMORROW

AND HOPEFULLY MAKE IT TO HOUSTON.

**

I'M GOING TO GET SOME FOOD FOR US,

AND THEN WE'LL GET ON THE ROAD.

I'M HOPING THIS IS OUR LAST DAY ON THE ROAD

BECAUSE I REALLY WANT TO GET TO HOUSTON TODAY.

**

OH. AH! [ BLEEP ] [ BLEEP ]

[ BLEEP ] OH, [BLEEP].

[ SIGHS ]

**

OH!

OH, [ BLEEP ].

OH, [ BLEEP ]!

OH, THIS IS NOT GOOD!

THIS IS NOT [BLEEP] GOOD.

I'M NOT GOING TO GET UP.

**

OH, [BLEEP].

OH, MAN.

**

**

**

**

OH!

I FELL. [ KATHRYN GASPS ]

I'M SORRY.

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.

YEAH. DAMN IT.

DID YOU GET UP WITHOUT YOUR WALKER?

I DID. [ SIGHS ]

NO, I WAS UP, AND I WAS TRYING TO TURN AROUND IN BED AND SIT

BECAUSE I WAS HANGING OFF THE BED.

MY NAME IS KATHRYN, K, A, T, H, R, Y, N.

MY FIANCé -- HE'S FALLEN DOWN, AND I CAN'T GET HIM UP.

HE'S ABOUT 700 POUNDS, SO I PROBABLY NEED TWO TEAMS.

THANK YOU.

[ Tearfully ] I'M SORRY. NO, DON'T CRY.

YOU WERE JUST FEELING TOO GOOD TODAY.

DO YOU WANT A PILLOW?

[ KNOCKING AT DOOR ]

**

MY FIANCé FELL OFF THE BED.

WHEN HE GETS DOWN, HE CAN'T GET BACK UP.

WE'RE ACTUALLY TRANSPORTING HIM DOWN TO HOUSTON TO SEE A DOCTOR

TO HELP HIM WITH THE WEIGHT. SURE, OKAY.

OKAY.

WE NEED TO GET A LOT OF THIS STUFF OUT THE ROOM.

Robert: OKAY.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

MAKE SURE IT'S ALL FLAT BEFORE HE GETS MOVED.

ALL RIGHT. READY, ROBERT? YEP.

Man: GET READY. ONE, TWO, THREE.

LIFT HIM UP.

Woman: OKAY. I NEED A HOLE.

THAT'S OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

EVERYBODY, PICK UP AND PULL.

YOU GUYS ARE STRONG.

SORRY ABOUT THAT. NO.

I'M SORRY TO DO THIS TO YOU GUYS.

YOU'RE GOOD.

YEAH, I'LL PULL IT RIGHT UP FRONT SO HE CAN

JUST SLIDE RIGHT IN.

ROBERT, HOLD TIGHT.

YEAH, I GOT IT.

ALL RIGHT.

ROBERT? OKAY.

OKAY, RIGHT.

EVERYBODY READY? ONE, TWO, THREE.

FALL IN, ROBERT. WE GOT YOU.

YEP.

CAN YOU SCOOT? YEAH.

LOOK AT YOU. GOOD JOB.

WATCH YOUR FEET, ROB. THANK YOU.

HOW'S THAT, ROBERT? GOOD, THANKS.

I'M VERY IMPRESSED. TAKE CARE, OKAY?

THIS IS NORMALLY A 2-HOUR PROCESS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I DIDN'T MEAN THIS TO HAPPEN, AND I DIDN'T BREAK ANYTHING,

BUT I'M DEFINITELY IN PAIN FROM THAT.

LIKE, I'M GOING TO FEEL IT IN A COUPLE HOURS.

LIKE, THE PAIN IS GOING TO BE TREMENDOUS,

BUT IT'S, LIKE, A REMINDER THAT

I'M NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO DO THINGS ON MY OWN,

AND I HAVE TO GET HELP.

IF I CAN'T GET THE HELP I NEED, I HAVE NOTHING LEFT.

Kathryn: IT COULD'VE BEEN A LOT WORSE,

BUT ROB HAS ALREADY GOT HIS BREAKFAST IN THE VAN.

THANK YOU.

IT'S A LITTLE COLD, BUT, I MEAN, THIS MAN LOVES COLD FAST FOOD

AND WHATNOT ANYWAYS, SO HE'LL BE OKAY, BUT THINGS HAPPEN.

BUT WE GOT TO GET HIM WHERE HE'S GOT TO BE.

**

ROB IS IN A LOT OF PAIN.

BEING IN THIS CAR FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS NOW,

AND THEN WITH HIS FALL THIS MORNING,

HE'S JUST REALLY SUFFERING.

AND THE PAINKILLERS HE'S TAKING AREN'T EVEN HELPING NOW,

SO HE MAY NEED MORE.

BABE, IF YOU'RE IN THIS MUCH PAIN, YOU SHOULD CALL DR. NOW

AND SEE IF HE CAN HELP YOU.

OKAY.

[ PHONE RINGING ]

Dr. Nowzaradan: HELLO.

HI, DOCTOR. HOW YOU DOING?

I'M DOING OKAY. SO, WHAT'S GOING ON?

NO, WE'RE JUST ON OUR WAY, AND I'M JUST HAVING A LOT OF PAIN.

I ACTUALLY FELL, AND, I MEAN, LIKE, NOTHING GOT HURT REAL BAD,

BUT I'M ALL BRUISED UP, LIKE, GOING UP MY LEGS AND MY TOES.

LIKE, THERE'S DEFINITELY, LIKE, BRUISING AND SWELLING,

AND IT JUST, YOU KNOW, LAYING DOWN THE WHOLE TIME,

IT'S JUST BEEN A LITTLE ROUGH ON ME.

OKAY. WHERE ARE YOU NOW?

I BELIEVE IT'S ANOTHER HOUR AND A HALF, 2 HOURS TO LITTLE ROCK.

OKAY, SO WHAT ARE YOU TAKING FOR PAIN?

FOR MY WORST PAIN, I TAKE DILAUDID, 8 MILLIGRAMS.

**

ALL RIGHT. SO YOU JUST WANT US

TO PUSH THROUGH THEN? YES.

OKAY, DOCTOR. NO PROBLEM.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

OKAY. BYE-BYE.

**

WE'RE THANKFULLY IN HOUSTON AND ALMOST TO THE HOSPITAL,

AND DR. NOW IS GOING TO MEET US THERE AND GET ROB ADMITTED,

AND HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE THE START OF HIS NEW LIFE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ROBERT BUCHEL IS SHOWING UP HERE SHORTLY.

HIS WEIGHT IS UNKNOWN, BUT HE'S BEEN AS HEAVY AS 800 POUNDS.

AND HE'S ALMOST COMPLETELY BEDRIDDEN,

SO I'M CONCERNED HOW HIS BODY IS HOLDING UP.

BUT HE'S ALREADY CALLED ASKING FOR PAINKILLER,

SO I'M HOPING HE DOESN'T HAVE ADDICTION

TO THAT AS WELL AS FOOD TO DEAL WITH.

BUT WE WILL ASSESS HIS SITUATION WHEN HE GETS HERE

AND SEE WHAT THE ISSUES WE NEED TO START ADDRESSING ARE.

**

Kathryn: I'M NOT SURE WHERE TO GO TO WAIT,

SO I'M JUST GOING TO PULL AROUND BACK

AND LET DR. NOW KNOW WHERE WE ARE.

Robert: BUT IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE.

IT WAS TOUGH TO GET HERE,

BUT IT FEELS GREAT THAT THERE'S SOMEONE OUT THERE

WHO IS WILLING TO EVEN PUT AN EFFORT TOWARDS ME

TO HELP ME HAVE A BETTER LIFE.

A LOT OF WORK IS GOING TO HAVE TO COME FROM ME,

BUT, DR. NOW, HE'S GOING TO HELP ME

GET TO WHERE I CAN START LOSING WEIGHT AGAIN.

**

HI, ROBERT. Robert: HI, SIR.

HOW ARE YOU? NICE TO MEET YOU.

HOW WAS YOUR TRIP?

KIND OF ROUGH.

ROUGH?

WAS YOU ABLE TO GET UP AND WALK?

YOU CAN WALK A FEW STEPS?

WITH THE WALKER, YEAH. MY FIANCéE IS GOING TO GET

THE WALKER AND STUFF.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, HOW WAS EVERYTHING ELSE?

AS GOOD AS CAN BE, YOU KNOW?

RIGHT.

SO, WHAT MEDICATION ARE YOU TAKING?

I'M ON DILAUDID FOR PAIN.

I'M ON LASIX FOR MY SWELLING.

I'M ON AMBIEN.

I'M ON MELATONIN.

BABE, WHAT ELSE AM I ON?

SYNTHROID, PROZAC, BACID, BABY ASPIRIN, MELATONIN.

OKAY. THAT WILL DO.

GOT IT.

LET'S GET YOU IN WHEELCHAIR AND GET YOU CHECKED OUT.

I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED RIGHT NOW.

ROBERT IS ON FAR TOO MANY PAINKILLERS,

AND IF WE DON'T ADDRESS THAT,

THAT ISSUE WILL LIKELY KILL HIM FIRST.

AND THE FACT THAT HE'S ALIVE AND HIS BODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO ENDURE

THAT IS TRULY A MIRACLE.

AND THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE ON THE PLANET

THAT COULD SURVIVE ALL THAT.

JUST MADE IT.

DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GET IN THIS BED?

YES. I'M GOING TO GET HIM UP.

Robert: TWO, THREE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

BRAKES ARE ON.

WATCH YOUR FOOT.

ALL RIGHT. GOT IT?

YEAH. GO AHEAD.

OKAY, GOOD.

SO WHAT IS WITH THIS DILAUDID MEDICINE

THAT YOU'VE BEEN HOOKED ON?

ONLY FOR DEALING WITH EXTREME PAIN IN MY LEG.

MM-HMM.

AND I TRY TO TAKE AS LEAST AS POSSIBLE.

WHEN I WALK, OR WHEN I DO EXERCISES,

THEN THAT REALLY PUTS PRESSURE ON IT.

WELL, I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT ALL THE PAIN MEDICATION

YOU'RE ON,

SO I'M ADMITTING YOU TO THE HOSPITAL

TO START YOU ON A 1,200-CALORIE-A-DAY DIET.

OKAY. BUT WE ALSO ARE GOING TO

CUT YOU OFF FROM THE PAINKILLERS...

OKAY.

...BECAUSE THE RATE AND AMOUNT YOU'RE TAKING

IS GOING TO KILL YOU.

SO WE'RE GOING TO RUN SOME TESTS

AND SEE WHAT IS IN YOUR SYSTEM NOW,

AND IF YOU TAKE ANYTHING MORE, I'M GOING TO KNOW.

BUT THIS IS GOING TO BE A TOTAL LIFESTYLE CHANGING FOR YOU.

ABSOLUTELY. WHATEVER YOU THINK

IS GOING TO WORK FOR ME, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

I WANT MY LIFE BACK.

OKAY. GOOD,

BECAUSE YOU LOOK LIKE YOUR BODY

IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE YOUR WEIGHT MUCH LONGER,

BUT LET ME CHECK YOUR WEIGHT NOW.

YOU'RE AT...

842.

SO, YOUR BODY IS NO DOUBT AT ITS LIMIT,

AND WE NEED TO TURN THAT AROUND FAST,

SO YOU READY FOR THIS, ROBERT?

ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S NO -- YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HEAR NO FROM ME.

ALL YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR IS, "YES, DOCTOR."

THAT'S IT.

THEN WE'LL DO ALL WE CAN AS LONG AS YOU WORK HARD.

ALL RIGHT. SO YOU NEED TO GET SOME REST.

THIS IS MY ANGEL, DOCTOR.

SHE'S WORKING HARD FOR YOU.

SHE'S WORKING OVERTIME FOR ME.

THIS IS THE GIRL I HAVE TO MARRY.

I CAN'T LET HER GO.

SHE'S MY EVERYTHING, DOCTOR.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOME GOOD MOTIVATION.

SO WE'LL GET YOU ON THE RIGHT TRACK, OKAY?

THANK YOU SO MUCH, DOCTOR.

ALL RIGHT.

ROBERT IS IN FAR WORSE SHAPE THAN I'VE SEEN IN A WHILE,

SO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO

WITH HIM AND VERY LITTLE TIME TO DO IT.

HIS BODY IS BARELY HANGING ON AT THIS POINT,

BUT WE'LL DO EVERYTHING WITHIN OUR POWER

TO GET HIM TO A HEALTHIER PLACE AND TRY TO SAVE HIS LIFE.

I'M HAPPY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW IF DR. NOWZARADAN

WOULD JUST COME IN AND LOOK AT HIM AND SAY,

"I'M SORRY. YOU'RE TOO FAR GONE FOR ME TO HELP YOU."

BUT AT LEAST WE HAVE A CHANCE,

AND AT LEAST NOW HE'S WHERE HE NEEDS TO BE.

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: ROBERT HAS BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A COUPLE DAYS NOW,

AND WE HAVE RUN A NUMBER OF TESTS ON HIM,

AND THERE ARE SOME CONCERNING ISSUES THAT WE ARE FINDING,

THE BIGGEST ONE BEING THE AMOUNT OF PAINKILLERS

HE HAD IN HIS SYSTEM.

IT'S THE HIGHEST I HAVE EVER SEEN, AND I'VE SEEN A LOT.

AND THAT ELEMENT HAS DETERIORATED HIS BODY

SIGNIFICANTLY ON TOP OF THE AMOUNT OF WEIGHT HE HAS ON HIM.

BUT I DON'T THINK HE EVEN REALIZES

THE AMOUNT OF PAINKILLERS HE'S BEEN TAKING IN,

AND MY BIG CONCERN RIGHT NOW

IS THE PAINKILLERS HE'S BEEN TAKING ARE VERY STRONG,

AND THAT EXCESS USE CAN CAUSE ULCERS THAT CAN FORM A HOLE

THAT WILL LEAD TO THE STOMACH ACID

LEAKING INTO THE BODY

AND CAN LEAD TO SEPSIS AND THEN DEATH.

CAN YOU GET THAT LIGHT?

Nurse: RED LIGHT, PLEASE.

SO I'M DOING AN ENDOSCOPY TO SEE IF THERE ARE

ANY LIFE-THREATENING ISSUES LIKE THAT CAUSED BY THE PAINKILLERS

OR ANY OTHER FACTORS HE HAS RIGHT NOW,

BECAUSE HIS SITUATION CAN TURN DEADLY QUICKLY

IF WE DON'T IDENTIFY AND TREAT IT.

OKAY, WE CAN GET HIM TO RECOVERY.

ROBERT DOES HAVE ULCERS IN HIS STOMACH.

THE GOOD NEWS IS IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE ANY HOLES HAD FORMED

IN HIS STOMACH LINING.

BUT THAT ISSUE CAN DEVELOP FAST,

SO WE NEED TO START TREATING HIM IMMEDIATELY FOR THAT.

SO WE'VE GOT HIM ON MEDICATION TO ADDRESS HIS STOMACH ULCERS

BEFORE THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO GET ANY WORSE.

THAT COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT WE ARE MAKING HIM

DO A COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL FROM ALL THE PAINKILLERS

WILL HOPEFULLY GET HIM BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

**

ROBERT HAS BEEN DOING WELL WITH THE TREATMENTS

WE HAVE BEEN GIVING HIM,

AND HE'S STAYING ON THE DIET.

SO WE HAVE IMPROVED HIS SITUATION A GOOD BIT,

BUT HE STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO

BEFORE HE IS OUT OF THE WOODS.

HEY, BABE.

Kathryn: I'M REALLY ENCOURAGED AND PROUD AT HOW WELL ROB HAS BEEN DOING.

BEFORE WE GOT DOWN HERE, I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS

BECAUSE YOU CAN PUT SOMEBODY IN AN INSTITUTIONALIZED

SETTING ALL YOU WANT,

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY'RE READY TO DEAL WITH IT.

HE'S BEEN PRETTY CALM, AND IT'S COMFORTING

BECAUSE THAT MEANS THAT,

TO ME, HE'S FINALLY READY TO GO

AND DO WHAT HE HAS TO DO TO GET OUR LIFE BACK.

I'M GOING TO...

ARE YOU? OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, READY?

Robert: I CERTAINLY HAD MY DOUBTS AT FIRST

WHEN I THOUGHT ABOUT COMING DOWN HERE.

BUT THEN WHEN THE REALIZATION OF JUST THE PRISON

I'VE BEEN IN ALL THESE YEARS,

IT CERTAINLY MAKES IT EASIER COMING HERE

AND KNOWING WHAT I HAVE TO DO AND GET DONE.

THE MOST THING I WORRY ABOUT IS DEFINITELY

GETTING QUALIFIED FOR SURGERY.

I KNOW THE DOCTOR WANTS ME TO CERTAINLY GET MY WEIGHT DOWN.

THAT'S WHY I'M MAKING EVERY EFFORT

I POSSIBLY CAN TO REACH THAT GOAL OF SURGERY IN TIME.

LIKE, MY ARMS ARE HURTING ME RIGHT NOW.

LIKE, I'VE NEVER...

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN YEARS SINCE I'VE DONE ANY KIND OF PULL-UP,

LIKE, TRIED A PULL-UP.

EVEN JUST DOING EXERCISE HURTS.

WELL, THAT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME.

IT'S STUFF THAT YOU HAVEN'T DONE.

YOU'RE USING MUSCLES YOU HAVEN'T HAD TO USE.

YEAH, I TOLD YOU, HE LOWERED MY PAIN MEDS

FROM WHAT I WAS GETTING, SO...

YES, THAT I KNEW, YEAH.

SO I'M DEFINITELY HURTING, YEAH.

YEAH, THAT I KNEW.

ROBERT STILL STRUGGLES WITH WANTING PAINKILLERS,

BUT WE ARE CONTINUING TO CUT HIM OFF FROM THAT.

HE DOESN'T FULLY REALIZE HE HAS AN ADDICTION TO THEM,

AND EVENTUALLY HE WOULD PUSH HIS BODY

TO SUCH A POINT THAT IT WOULD GIVE OUT.

SO IT WAS VERY GOOD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ADDRESS

THAT WHEN WE DID.

AND WITH THE ISSUE UNDER CONTROL AT THE MOMENT,

OUR FOCUS NOW IS ON HIS CONTINUED WEIGHT LOSS,

AND WE ALREADY HAVE HIS WEIGHT DOWN TO 718,

WHICH IS 124-POUND WEIGHT LOSS IN 1 MONTH,

SO HIS PROGRESS IS COMING ALONG, BUT HE STILL HAS A WAYS TO GO.

**

**

Robert: I'VE BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR A WHILE,

AND I'M FEELING BETTER NOW THAN, OF COURSE,

I HAVE IN A LONG TIME.

THE DIET HAS BEEN AN ADJUSTMENT.

IT'S VERY STRICT. IT'S VERY REGIMENTED,

AND THAT WAS A LITTLE SLOW GOING AT FIRST,

YOU KNOW, TRYING TO GET ADJUSTED TO THE PORTIONS.

AND I'M GETTING THERE, BUT IT HAS BEEN HARD SOME DAYS.

I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP MY EYE ON THE PRIZE

AND LOOK TO THE FUTURE.

ROBERT HAS CONTINUED TO MAKE GOOD PROGRESS.

AND WITH WHERE HE'S AT NOW,

IT'S TIME THAT HE START DOING MORE

AND GETTING UP AND OUT OF BED,

SO WE ARE GOING TO TRANSFER HIM TO A REHAB FACILITY

TO HELP HIM DO THAT.

AND IF HE'S ABLE TO GET MORE ACTIVE,

WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONSIDER HIM FOR SURGERY.

HI, ROBERT. HEY, DR. NOWZARADAN.

HOW ARE YOU DOING? HOW ARE YOU?

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE WHAT THE WEIGHT IS AT TODAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE DOWN TO 625.

WOW. THAT'S SUPER!

WE HAVE YOU DOWN OVER 200 POUNDS SINCE YOU GOT HERE.

SO, LIKE WE DISCUSSED, TODAY WE WILL HAVE A TRANSPORT

COMING TO TAKE YOU TO THE REHAB FACILITY...

OKAY. ...TO HELP GET YOU UP

AND WALKING MORE.

OKAY.

AND IF EVERYTHING IS IMPROVED, YOU GET YOUR STAMINA BACK,

WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE ONE OF THESE MASSES OFF,

WHICH I THINK THAT ONE IS BIGGER AND HANGING MORE, RIGHT?

I THINK SO.

I MEAN, DEFINITELY THIS IS THE ONE

THAT HANGS ON THE BAD LEG.

SO THAT WILL BE THE FIRST CHOICE THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE OFF.

OKAY.

AND ONCE YOU HEAL AND SEE HOW THINGS ARE,

WE CAN REMOVE THE OTHER ONE.

SOUND GOOD?

ABSOLUTELY. OKAY.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU GET MORE ACTIVE.

OKAY, OKAY. YOU UNDERSTAND?

OKAY, I'M GOING TO TRY MY HARDEST.

I KNOW YOU CAN DO THIS.

OKAY. SO YOU'RE GOING TO

STICK WITH DIET? ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU DON'T LOSE WEIGHT,

THEN I KNOW YOU'RE NOT FOLLOWING YOUR DIET.

ABSOLUTELY. OKAY.

WE'LL GET TRANSPORT HERE SOON TO TAKE YOU OVER.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR. ALL RIGHT.

TAKE CARE.

ROBERT IS IN A BETTER PLACE, BUT UNTIL HE GET MUCH MORE ACTIVE,

THEN HIS BODY WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE

AT A SIGNIFICANT RATE

UNTIL IT ACCELERATE TO THE POINT

THAT HIS BODY JUST GIVES OUT.

AND, EVEN WITH ALL THE PROGRESS HE HAS MADE,

HIS LACK OF MOBILITY STILL KEEPS HIM IN A PLACE

WHERE ONE SMALL THING CAN LEAD HIM TO A SITUATION

WHERE HIS BODY STARTS TO FAIL,

AND WE'LL BE POWERLESS TO HELP HIM,

SO THIS WILL BE A VERY SIGNIFICANT MONTH FOR ROBERT.

**

**

**

**

[ KNOCKING AT DOOR ]

ALL RIGHT, MR. BUCHEL. Robert: WHAT'S UP, TIM?

HOW YOU DOING? ALL RIGHT.

SO I KNOW WE'RE GOING FOR THE LONG HAUL.

OKAY. YEAH.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S DO IT.

OKAY.

PHYSICAL THERAPY IS GOING REALLY GOOD.

WE STARTED OFF A LITTLE SLOW.

AND EACH TIME WE GO OUT NOW, IT'S A LITTLE MORE HARD.

THAT -- YEAH, THE HEAD GOES DOWN.

BUT I HAVE A NEVER-GIVE-UP ATTITUDE,

AND I'M JUST GOING TO KEEP GOING.

ALL RIGHT.

ANY LENGTHS I HAVE TO GET TO TO WALK WITHOUT A WALKER,

WITHOUT A WHEELCHAIR, WITHOUT A CANE OR ANYTHING,

I'M GOING TO GET TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN LIVE A NORMAL LIFE.

YOU'RE OFF.

YOU KNOW, THE LAST PLACE THAT WE STOPPED,

WE'RE GOING TO GO AFTER THAT.

DOING GOOD.

ALL RIGHT.

**

Kathryn: I'VE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED WITH HOW HARD ROB IS WORKING.

ALL RIGHT, I'M READY. ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GO.

WHEN HE FIRST GOT HERE, HE COULD BARELY MAKE IT OUT OF HIS ROOM

WITHOUT NEEDING TO QUIT.

NOW HE CAN MAKE IT DOWN THE HALL

AND ALMOST TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

ALL RIGHT. THAT'S IT.

OKAY. BRING IT UP.

AND, EVERY DAY, HE'S GOING A LITTLE FURTHER.

Tim: BRAVO. HE'S DOING GOOD.

THAT'S IT.

BUT THEY SAY HE WORKS HARDER WHEN I'M HERE.

LOOK, IS THAT WHAT IT TAKES?

WE HAVE TO HAVE THE LADY HERE?

IS THAT WHAT IT TAKES?

SO I'M TRYING TO BE HERE AND SUPPORT HIM AS MUCH AS I CAN.

Male: [INDISTINCT] YEAH, YEAH.

WELL, HAS HE EVER TOLD YOU WHAT HIS GOAL

IS WHEN WE DO GET MARRIED?

NO.

NEITHER ONE OF OUR FATHERS ARE STILL HERE,

SO THERE'S NOBODY TO REALLY WALK ME DOWN THE AISLE.

SO WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO

IS WE WERE GOING TO MEET HALFWAY UP THE AISLE,

AND THAT WAS THE GOAL, IS HE'S TRYING TO GET HIS STRENGTH BACK

SO NOT ONLY CAN HE STAND DURING THE CEREMONY

BUT ACTUALLY DO THE WALK.

YEAH, SHE'S A BIG INSPIRATION TO ME.

THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES. YOU'RE MOVING REAL WELL.

ALL RIGHT. KATHRYN IS VERY SUPPORTIVE,

AND SHE'S BASICALLY PUT HER LIFE ON HOLD

TO HELP TAKE CARE OF ME, AND I JUST WANT TO REPAY HER.

WE HAD MANY TALKS ABOUT OUR FUTURE,

ABOUT US GETTING MARRIED,

AND I REALLY WANT TO GIVE HER THE WEDDING OF HER DREAMS

ONE DAY, SO YEAH.

I CAN'T GIVE UP.

AND THAT WAS FARTHER THAN I'VE EVER GONE BEFORE.

YOU'RE DOING GOOD. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. SEE YOU, GUYS.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND. TAKE CARE, YOU TOO.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

THANKS. TAKE IT EASY.

THAT WAS THE BEST I'VE EVER SEEN YOU DO.

DR. NOW IS COMING BY FOR A CHECKUP TODAY,

AND I'M REALLY HOPING HE SEES ALL OF ROB'S PROGRESS

AND APPROVES HIM FOR HIS LYMPHEDEMA REMOVAL

BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS A RACE AGAINST TIME,

AND I WANT ROB TO KEEP TAKING STEPS FORWARD

WITH NO EXCUSES TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN RIGHT NOW.

**

[ DOOR OPENS ]

HI, ROBERT. Robert: HEY, DR. NOW.

HOW'S EVERYTHING COMING ALONG?

GOOD.

I HEAR YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPY IS GOING WELL,

AND YOU'VE BEEN DOING A LOT MORE.

I WALK EVERY DAY.

THAT'S GOOD. YEAH.

WE STARTED OUT, MAYBE IT WAS MAYBE 50 OR 60 FEET HERE,

AND WE'VE GOTTEN TO OVER 200.

THAT'S EXCELLENT!

SO YOU'RE DOING GREAT, AND YOU MAY BE READY

TO HAVE YOUR LYMPHEDEMA REMOVED.

OKAY, GOOD. THAT'S GREAT.

WHAT WAS YOUR WEIGHT DOWN TO AT YOUR LAST WEIGHT CHECK?

HE'S DOWN TO 547.

THAT'S GREAT. ABSOLUTELY.

BUT LOOKING AT YOUR MASSES, I CAN'T TELL WHICH

ONE IS GETTING SMALLER AND WHICH ONE GETTING BIGGER.

WELL, WHY DON'T YOU PULL THAT SIDE DOWN FOR HIM SO HE CAN SEE?

OKAY, THIS IS GOING TO BE A REALLY GOOD HELP

TO GET RID OF THIS MASS.

YEAH.

IT'S EXTREMELY HEAVY, MAYBE EVEN 40 POUNDS,

AND I CAN IMAGINE IT CAUSING YOU A LOT OF ISSUES.

YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO YOU'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS, SO WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU BACK

IN THE HOSPITAL AND RUN SOME TESTS.

OKAY. IF EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD,

WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND REMOVE THIS.

A WEEK FROM TODAY, OKAY, GREAT.

OKAY? ONCE THAT HEAL,

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE OTHER ONE OFF.

GREAT, GREAT.

IT WILL TAKE AT LEAST 100 POUND OFF OF YOU

BECAUSE THE PRIORITY IS TO GET YOU MORE MOBILE.

RIGHT.

AND WE DON'T WANT YOU TO GET TO THE POINT THAT IT GIVES OUT.

AND, RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE NOT HEALTHY ENOUGH

TO SURVIVE ANY INVASIVE SURGERY,

SO THE LYMPHEDEMA REMOVAL IS THE FIRST BIG STEP

WE'RE TAKING TO TRY TO GET YOU WHERE YOU NEED.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A POSITIVE THING

FOR YOU TO GET RID OF THIS MASS. YEAH, OH, ABSOLUTELY.

I CAN'T WAIT. IT'S LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE.

OKAY. YEAH, THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THAT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

AND I'LL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR TRANSFER TO HOSPITAL HERE SOON.

KEEP WORKING ON YOUR EXERCISE. I WILL, I WILL.

AND I'LL SEE YOU THERE. ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, DOCTOR. ALL RIGHT.

ROBERT IS DOING VERY WELL, AND HE'S IMPROVING DAILY.

HE CERTAINLY IS NOT READY FOR ANYTHING TOO INVASIVE

LIKE WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY,

SO LYMPHEDEMA REMOVAL IS OUR ONLY OPTION FOR ANY PROCEDURE,

IF HE EVEN IS ABLE TO HANDLE THAT.

SO HOPEFULLY HIS TESTS LOOK GOOD AND WE ARE ABLE TO MOVE AHEAD.

WHAT'S THE MATTER, BABE?

[ Tearfully ] I NEVER ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD EVER HAPPEN FOR YOU.

NO ONE EVER WANTED TO HELP. THEY JUST SAID MEAN THINGS.

I CAN'T BELIEVE SOMEBODY IS ACTUALLY DOING THIS FOR YOU.

LONG TIME COMING, 4 1/2 YEARS OF EVERYBODY SAYING NO.

STARTED TO WONDER IF OUR FUTURE

WAS EVER GOING TO ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

I TOLD YOU IT WAS GOING TO. I KNOW.

JUST, AFTER 13 YEARS, WE NEVER GOT THAT FAR.

JUST, LIKE, THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL

IS US GETTING MARRIED.

YOU'LL HAVE YOUR PRINCESS WEDDING.

AS LONG AS WE'RE TOGETHER, I DON'T CARE WHAT IT IS.

WE'LL GET THERE.

**

**

Robert: I'M NERVOUS.

I'M SCARED.

I'M PETRIFIED, BUT I HAVE TO DO THIS.

Kathryn: YESTERDAY AND TODAY WAS THE FIRST TIME

HE EVER ASKED ME TO PRAY WITH HIM,

SO I KNOW IT'S SERIOUS WHEN HE STARTS ASKING FOR THAT

BECAUSE THAT'S NOT SOMETHING HE DOES NORMALLY.

THIS IS ALL FOR A GOOD THING, HONEY.

DOESN'T MEAN I DON'T WORRY ABOUT LOSING YOU.

Robert: IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE KATHRYN CRYING

BECAUSE I KNOW SHE GENUINELY LOVES ME.

I LOVE YOU. I'LL COME BACK TO YOU.

COME BACK TO ME.

I KNOW SHE CARES ABOUT ME.

MY BIGGEST HOPES IS THAT THIS IS THE STEPPING STONE ON

TO GETTING MARRIED, HAVING A FAMILY.

THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TODAY.

I AM TAKING A HUGE RISK.

NOT WAKING UP IS PROBABLY MY BIGGEST FEAR,

BUT I HAVE TO DO THIS TO SAVE MY LIFE.

Dr. Nowzaradan: TODAY, WE'RE DOING LYMPHEDEMA REMOVAL ON ROBERT

TO TAKE OUT THE LARGE MASS ON HIS RIGHT SIDE.

HE WILL STILL HAVE THE LEFT ONE

BECAUSE IT WILL BE TOO MUCH FOR HIS BODY

TO REMOVE BOTH IN THE SAME SURGERY.

SO IF HE DOES WELL WITH THIS ONE,

WE CAN REMOVE THE OTHER ONE IN 5 OR 6 WEEKS.

GO DOWN.

AND RIGHT THERE.

BUT THIS SURGERY CAN BE VERY HIGH-RISK,

AND WE HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WITH ROBERT

BECAUSE HIS BODY HAS BEEN PUSHED TO THE LIMIT FOR SO LONG.

SO THIS PROCEDURE NEEDS TO REMAIN AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE,

AND WE NEED TO COMPLETE IT AS QUICKLY AND AS SAFELY AS WE CAN

BECAUSE HE WON'T SURVIVE UNDER ANESTHESIA FOR TOO LONG.

SO WE ARE MONITORING HIM CAREFULLY,

AND IF, AT ANY MOMENT, WE EXPERIENCE COMPLICATIONS,

WE WILL NEED TO STOP.

BUT THE MOST TIME-CONSUMING PART OF REMOVING A MASS LIKE THIS

IS TYING OFF THE HUNDREDS OF BLOOD VESSELS

WE HAVE TO AS WE OPERATE.

BUT HOPEFULLY WE WON'T ENCOUNTER ANY ISSUES

THAT WILL PREVENT US FROM COMPLETING THE REMOVAL TODAY

SO THAT ROBERT TAKES A BIG STEP IN THE DIRECTION

HE NEEDS TO GET HIS LIFE BACK.

Kathryn: HE HASN'T HAD SURGERY IN OVER 20 YEARS,

SO HE'S NEVER BEEN THIS BIG DURING SURGERY.

ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN TO HIM.

HIS HEART COULD STOP. HE COULD STOP BREATHING.

JUST HOPING AND PRAYING HE WAKES UP.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WELL, THIS HERE IS NOT GOING AS WELL AS I THOUGHT

BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF INTRA-ABDOMINAL FAT,

AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN TAKE TOO MUCH OF IT OFF.

ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GETTING CLOSE.

YOU HAVE IT.

PICK IT UP.

ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO CLOSE THE BELLY

AND PUT A FEW MORE STITCHES,

AND WE'LL BE ALL DONE.

OKAY, ALL FINISHED.

WE'LL GET ROBERT TO RECOVERY NOW.

AND ONCE HE HEALS A BIT,

HE SHOULD NOTICE A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN HIS MOBILITY,

AND THAT SHOULD BE A BIG ENCOURAGEMENT FOR HIM.

BUT THIS RECOVERY WON'T BE EASY FOR HIM IN THE BEGINNING

BECAUSE NO ONE CAN UNDERGO SOMETHING LIKE THIS

WITHOUT ANY PAINKILLERS.

BUT TO PREVENT A SITUATION LIKE WE HAD WHEN HE ARRIVED,

WE WILL HAVE TO MODERATE HIS USAGE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN LIFT IT.

ALL RIGHT.

THIRTY-NINE POUNDS.

SO HIS RECOVERY WILL NEED TO TAKE A LITTLE TIME.

AND AFTER HE GETS PAST THE FIRST WEEK,

THEN HE WILL HAVE TO START PUSHING THROUGH ANY PAIN

HE HAS BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW HIM TO FALL BACK

INTO THE HABIT OF USING PAIN MEDICATION LIKE HE WAS.

**

Kathryn: IT'S BEEN A COUPLE DAYS SINCE ROB HAD HIS SURGERY,

AND EVERYTHING IS FINE EXCEPT HE'S IN A LOT OF PAIN.

HE'S CONSTANTLY ASKING ME TO GET HIM PAINKILLERS,

BUT HE'S ON A REGIMENTED SCHEDULE RIGHT NOW

FOR WHAT HE CAN TAKE,

SO OUTSIDE OF THAT, THERE'S NOTHING I CAN DO.

HEY, MR. BUCHEL. HOW ARE YOU?

ALL RIGHT. HOW YOU DOING?

ARE YOU FEELING PAIN OR DISCOMFORT?

PAIN, YEAH. AND ON A SCALE OF ONE TO 10,

WHAT WOULD YOU DESCRIBE? LIKE, NINE OR EIGHT.

A NINE OR EIGHT? YEAH, YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, LET ME GET YOU TAKEN CARE OF, OKAY?

OKAY, THANK YOU.

Robert: TODAY HAS BEEN THE WORST OF RECOVERY SO FAR.

IT WASN'T THAT BAD AT FIRST.

TODAY, THE PAIN HAS REALLY SET IN,

AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO MOVE.

I'M REALLY STRUGGLING TODAY, HAVING A HARD DAY.

KNOWING THAT RECOVERY HAS NOW TAKEN A TURN

FOR THE WORST A LITTLE BIT,

NOW I'M STARTING TO THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE WORSE

THAN I ANTICIPATED.

I WOULDN'T TELL YOU IT WAS BAD IF IT WASN'T, LIKE, SERIOUSLY.

NO, I BELIEVE YOU.

IF I SAW ANYTHING OF CONCERN, I WOULD CALL DR. NOW,

BUT FOR NOW, LET'S JUST MONITOR IT.

ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE I CAN DO FOR YOU?

NO, I'M GOOD. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL BE BACK IN. I'LL HAVE 5:00 MEDS FOR YOU...

THANK YOU. ...AND WE'LL TURN HIM.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

HE'S BEEN ON PAIN MEDS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS,

SO HE'S A LITTLE LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THEIR EFFECTS.

AND HE'S HAVING A TOUGH TIME WITH THE PAIN,

BUT HE'S PUSHING THROUGH IT.

**

**

Dr. Nowzaradan: ROBERT HAS HAD A TOUGH MONTH.

HE'S BEEN STRUGGLING WITH WANTING PAIN MEDICATION

SINCE HE HAD SURGERY.

MOVE YOUR ARM. LIFT YOUR ARM UP.

WE HAD ROBERT ON MINIMAL PAINKILLERS,

AND HE WASN'T HAPPY WITH THE LIMITS WE PUT ON HIM.

AND ONCE WE STARTED TO TAKE HIM COMPLETELY OFF,

HE GOT SO UPSET THAT HE TORE HIS SUTURES OPEN

JUST SO HE COULD GET THEM AGAIN.

SO WE FIXED HIS SUTURES, AND NOW THAT HE HAS RECOVERED,

HE'S NOT MAKING THE PROGRESS HE NEEDS

BECAUSE HE'S CLAIMING HE'S IN TOO MUCH PAIN

TO CONTINUE TO WALK,

BUT IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

THAT HE GETS BACK TO WALKING AGAIN

BECAUSE, IF HE DOESN'T, THEN HIS BODY WILL START TO REGRESS.

SO WE HAVE DROPPED ALL THE PLANS FOR BOB'S SURGERY

TO REMOVE HIS UDDER LYMPHEDEMA MASS,

AND WE ARE TRANSFERRING HIM TO THE REHAB FACILITY AGAIN

SO WE CAN GET HIM UP AND WALKING.

Kathryn: DO YOU WANT TO SIT UP NOW?

OH. OH!

IT'S RIGHT HERE.

WELL, THAT'S WHERE YOUR INCISIONS ARE AND YOUR DRAINS.

IT HURTS WORSE THAN EVER.

OKAY, FINE.

**

HEY, ROBERT. HEY, DOC.

HOW ARE YOU THIS MORNING?

ALL RIGHT. HOW YOU DOING?

ALL RIGHT.

SO TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU GO DOWN TO THE REHAB

AND START WORKING TO GET YOU WALKING AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT? YOU READY FOR THAT?

YEAH. ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE WHERE YOUR WEIGHT IS AT.

LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE DOWN TO...

502.

YOU'RE ALMOST IN THE 400s AGAIN, SO YOU SHOULD FEEL A LOT LIGHTER

TO GET UP AND MOVE AROUND

WITHOUT ANY MORE EXCUSES ABOUT THE PAIN.

ALL RIGHT?

NOW LET ME ASK YOU, DOC, BEFORE I GO,

COULD GET A LAST SOMETHING FOR PAIN BEFORE WE GO?

ROBERT, LET ME ASK YOU A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

HOW LONG YOU BEEN ON DILAUDID?

I DON'T KNOW. FOR A FEW YEARS.

FEW YEARS? OKAY.

YOU KNOW THAT MEDICINE IS HIGHLY ADDICTIVE,

AND YOU KNOW THAT EVERYBODY THAT HAS BEEN ON DILAUDID,

WE HAVE HARD TIME TO GET THEM OFF.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS MEDICATION

CREATES TWO PROBLEMS.

ONE IS A CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY.

THE OTHER ONE IS PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCY.

YOU'RE NOT IN PAIN, BUT THIS MEDICATION IS MAKING YOU

TO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE IN PAIN.

SO WE GOT YOU OFF OF THIS MEDICATION,

AND WE'RE NOT GETTING YOU BACK ON,

OR IT'S GOING TO RUIN YOUR LIFE.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

RIGHT. OKAY.

SO WITH THIS OPERATION, WHAT I'M TELLING YOU,

NOBODY HAS PAIN THIS FAR OUT, AND YOU'RE NOT THE EXCEPTION.

SO YOU HAVE NO NEED FOR PAIN MEDICATION RIGHT NOW.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

YEAH, I MEAN, I'M IN PAIN.

I MEAN, I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING

HOW IT'S NOT GOOD TO BE...

I MEAN, I'M NOT TRYING TO SIT HERE AND BE ADDICTED TO IT,

BUT I AM IN PAIN NOW.

I MEAN, I AM.

IN REALITY, YOU'RE NOT,

BUT THE ADDICTION IS CAUSING YOU TO FEEL THAT YOU'RE IN PAIN.

BUT YOU CAN'T GIVE IN TO IT,

OR IT WILL NEVER STOP UNTIL IT KILLS YOU.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE FINE.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TOUGH UP.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HARD.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE RESISTANT TO IT,

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT, OKAY?

RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

SO WORK THROUGH IT OR THINGS ARE GOING TO START

GETTING MUCH WORSE FOR YOU,

AND YOU WILL END UP BACK UP IN THE SAME SPOT

YOU WERE WHEN YOU ARRIVE HERE.

OKAY. OKAY.

WE'LL GET YOU TRANSFERRED NOW, AND I WANT YOU TO WORK HARD

BECAUSE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT, OKAY?

OKAY, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.

ROBERT NEED TO TAKE HIS SITUATION

AND CHOICES SERIOUSLY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE

IF HE DOESN'T, HE'S GOING TO END UP BACK IN VERY DIRE PLACE.

BUT IF HE WON'T DO WHAT HE NEEDS,

THEN IT'S ONLY MATTER OF TIME HE STARTS TO DETERIORATE,

AND HIS BODY GIVES OUT, AND AT THAT POINT,

HE WON'T SURVIVE MUCH LONGER.

**

**

**

**

Kathryn: ROB HAS BEEN IN THE REHAB FACILITY FOR 2 MONTHS NOW,

AND THE WAY IT'S BEEN GOING IS NOT HOW I HOPED AT ALL.

AFTER HIS SURGERY, HE WAS IN A FAIRLY GOOD MOOD,

AND FIRST FEW DAYS, HE WAS NORMAL ROB.

AND THEN IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY FLIPPED A SWITCH,

AND HE HAS BEEN A NASTY PERSON SINCE THEN.

IT'S BEEN VERY DIFFICULT BEING NEAR HIM.

I STAY WITH HIM ALMOST EVERY NIGHT,

[ Voice breaking ] AND HE TOLD ME ONE NIGHT THAT I DON'T DO ANYTHING FOR HIM,

SO IT'S BEEN HARD.

AND HE STILL FEELS LIKE PAIN IS KEEPING HIM

FROM EXERCISING LIKE HE NEEDS,

SO I'M STARTING TO GET REALLY WORRIED,

AND HE JUST DOESN'T CARE.

ARE YOU STAYING TONIGHT?

REALLY?

CLARIFY.

GEE, I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, THE WAY YOU'VE BEEN TREATING ME,

MAYBE THE WAY YOU'VE BEEN, YOU WON'T DO ANYTHING.

YOU'RE NASTY TO EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY ME.

OKAY, YOU TRY TO MAKE ME LOOK BAD IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.

I DON'T TRY TO MAKE YOU LOOK BAD.

I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THE FACTS

RIGHT THAT YOU'RE NOT GETTING RIGHT!

YOU KNOW, I'M EATING THE REGIMENTED FOOD.

I'M DRINKING THE WATER.

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?

DO THE LEG EXERCISES.

I BROUGHT YOUR STUPID EXERCISE BAR.

YOU HAVEN'T TOUCHED IT ONCE.

CAN YOU GET ME A CRYSTAL LITE, PLEASE?

[NO AUDIO]

YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU. YEAH, RIGHT.

IF THERE'S EVER BEEN A TIME I DOUBT YOU, IT'S NOW.

COME HERE. NO.

NO, COME HERE. NO, JUST GO AWAY FROM ME.

NO, JUST COME HERE, PLEASE.

COME HERE. NO, LEAVE ME ALONE.

PLEASE COME HERE FOR A SECOND. NO, YOU'VE SAID YOUR PIECE.

PLEASE? NO.

NO, I DIDN'T SAY MY PIECE. AND LET ME GUESS.

YOU DON'T THINK YOU'VE SAID ANYTHING WRONG TO ME.

YOU HAVEN'T BEEN A NASTY JERK LATELY.

YOU'RE NOT A NASTY JERK SOMETIMES?

YEAH, SOMETIMES, NOT LIKE YOU.

YOU'RE EVERY DAY NOW...

NO. ...LIKE SOMEBODY FLIPPED

A SWITCH ON YOU. YOU ARE NOT ROB ANYMORE.

AND YOU COULD BE DOING MORE, BUT YOU'RE NOT.

THERE WERE A FEW TIMES WHERE I DID ARM EXERCISES IN BED

WHEN YOU WEREN'T HERE.

FUNNY BECAUSE, WHEN I COME, THE EXERCISE BAR

IS IN THE EXACT SAME POSITION.

NO, BECAUSE THEY PUT IT BACK FOR ME.

RIGHT. THEY KNOW EXACTLY HOW

YOU GOT TO PUT IT BACK, YEP.

SO JUST GO BACK TO JERSEY, KATHRYN.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THIS WAY, I THINK I SHOULD...

I THINK YOU SHOULD.

LET ME GO.

...BECAUSE YOU'RE DEFINITELY NOT IN IT FOR US ANYMORE.

OH, OKAY. BECAUSE YOU ARE.

OH, I'M NOT? NO.

I HAVEN'T SLEPT HERE EVERY NIGHT?

ARE YOU KIDDING? EVERY NIGHT? NO.

EXCEPT FOR THREE NIGHTS? NO, THREE NIGHTS? NO.

THREE NIGHTS... NO.

...TWO THAT I HAD TO GO TO AN INTERVIEW FOR AND THEN ONE

BECAUSE I NEEDED TO GO HOME.

SHOULD'VE NEVER DID THIS, SHOULD'VE NEVER CAME HERE

AND DID THIS.

YEAH, SO YOU WOULD'VE JUST DIED AT HOME.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO ANYMORE OR HOW TO GET THROUGH TO HIM,

BUT THANKFULLY, DR. NOW IS COMING TO SEE HIM TODAY,

AND I'M HOPING HE CAN CONVINCE ROB TO GET UP

AND GET BACK TO WALKING AGAIN.

Dr. Nowzaradan: WE'RE STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH ROBERT,

AND I THINK THE SITUATION IS THAT, WHEN HE ARRIVED,

HE KNEW HE WOULD BE PUT ON A DIET,

BUT HE DIDN'T EXPECT TO BE TAKEN OFF PAINKILLERS

BECAUSE HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT HE WAS ADDICTED TO THEM.

SO IT WAS A SURPRISE TO HIM WHEN WE CUT HIM OFF TO SAVE HIS LIFE.

AND AT THAT POINT, HE KNEW HAVING SURGERY

WAS THE ONLY WAY HE'LL BE ABLE TO GET THEM AGAIN,

SO HE BECAME EXTREMELY MOTIVATED

TO MAKE THE PROGRESS HE NEEDED TO QUALIFY FOR THAT.

BUT WE STILL RESTRICTED HIS USE,

SO THE REALIZATION SUNK IN THAT

AS LONG AS HE'S IN THIS PROGRAM, HE'S DONE WITH THE PAINKILLERS.

AND HE BELIEVES NOW HE CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT THEM.

SO WITH ROBERT REFUSING TO GET UP, WE CAN NO LONGER JUSTIFY

KEEPING HIM HERE ANY LONGER,

AND WE ARE ARRANGING TO TRANSPORT HIM

TO A LONG-TERM-CARE FACILITY

THAT DOESN'T HAVE AS MANY REHAB OPTIONS

BUT STILL WILL WORK WITH HIM TO GET HIM UP.

Robert: HEY, DR. NOW.

HI, ROBERT. HOW YOU FEELING?

NOT TOO BAD.

SO WE HAVE TRANSPORT COMING BY TODAY

TO TAKE YOU TO YOUR LONG-TERM-CARE FACILITY.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE TO SEND YOU THERE,

BUT YOU'VE BEEN HERE TOO LONG,

AND YOU AREN'T DOING WHAT YOU NEED,

AND THAT HAS TO CHANGE, OKAY?

YEAH.

YOU DON'T SOUND VERY SURE.

NO, I'M JUST A LITTLE UPSET TODAY.

BAD DAY?

HIS BROTHER WOULD'VE BEEN 45 TODAY IF HE LIVED.

OH, OKAY.

SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

NO, JUST PLUS EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON,

IT'S JUST A HARD DAY, YOU KNOW, JUST NOT FEELING GREAT.

MY SKIN UNDERNEATH IS HURTING,

THE SORES AND THE RUBBING OF THE SKIN AND...

I'M SORRY TO HEAR SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

YEAH. BUT YOU STILL NEED

TO GET UP AND WALKING,

AND YOU DON'T SEEM TO REALIZE HOW DANGEROUS THIS IS GETTING.

IF YOU CONTINUE TO REFUSE TO DO WHAT YOU NEED,

YOUR SITUATION IS GOING TO START TO GET WORSE AGAIN, ROBERT.

I DON'T THINK YOU WANT THAT.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN,

AND I KNOW KATHRYN DOESN'T WANT TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.

YEAH.

SO YOUR NEW FACILITY IS GOING TO BE YOUR LAST CHANCE.

IF YOU DON'T START DOING WHAT YOU NEED THERE,

THEN THERE IS REALLY NOTHING MORE WE CAN DO TO HELP.

OKAY.

BEFORE YOU COME TO HERE, YOU WERE WALKING

PRETTY GOOD DISTANCE, RIGHT?

WELL, ONLY WITH SOMEBODY FOLLOWING ME WITH A WHEELCHAIR.

BUT YOU WERE WALKING?

YES, BUT I WAS NEVER GETTING UP FREELY ON MY OWN.

MM-HMM.

IT'S NOT -- THIS IS MORE OF A LEG PROBLEM,

NOT ME WANTING TO DO THIS PROBLEM.

JUST STOP WITH THE EXCUSES AND GET OUT OF THIS BED.

SEE, I FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN.

THE ONLY THING IS THAT MY LEG IS NOT LETTING ME DO IT.

ROBERT... IT'S NOT BECAUSE...

...THAT'S WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.

EVERY TIME WE BRING IT UP, HE JUST GO BACK TO,

"I CAN'T GET UP. I CAN'T GET UP."

WELL, YOU CAN, SO YOUR EXCUSES ARE OVER.

THEY'RE DONE. ALL RIGHT.

JUST TO REITERATE REAL QUICK, WHEN I GET OVER THERE,

IT'LL JUST BE ANOTHER WEEK OR TWO

AS FAR AS SURGERY AFTER THAT?

NO, SURGERY IS NOT PART OF THE DISCUSSION NOW.

YOU HAVE A LOT TO PROVE TO ME

BEFORE WE EVEN CONSIDER ANY MORE SURGERIES.

NO, I KNOW. I KNOW.

RIGHT NOW, YOU NEED TO WALK AS MUCH AS YOU CAN,

AS FAR AS YOU CAN.

I WILL.

YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS BED FOR TOO LONG, OKAY?

OKAY.

AND THINGS NEED TO CHANGE, AND THEY NEED TO CHANGE NOW,

OR YOUR SITUATION WILL GET TO A PLACE

WHERE WE WON'T BE ABLE TO HELP YOU,

AND YOUR BODY WON'T BE ABLE TO GO ON, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL SEE Y'ALL LATER. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MM-HMM.

Dr. Nowzaradan: ROBERT HAS TO START WORKING WITH US

AND GET UP AND BE ACTIVE AGAIN

BECAUSE HE'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE HIS BODY

IS NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO ON MUCH LONGER,

AND HIS WINDOW TO DO THIS BEFORE HIS BODY GIVES OUT

IS GETTING SHORTER AND SHORTER.

**

**

**

**

Kathryn: ROB SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND WORSE,

AND I'M SO SCARED RIGHT NOW.

HE SEEMS TO HAVE NO ENERGY,

AND HE DOESN'T REALLY WANT TO DO ANYTHING.

GOT IT?

ALL RIGHT.

AND HIS HAPPINESS HAS STALLED.

IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY POPPED A BALLOON FROM HIM,

AND IT'S BEEN GETTING HARD FOR ME NOT TO BREAK.

THERE'S BEEN A FEW TIMES THAT I'VE ACTUALLY CONSIDERED

GOING HOME

BECAUSE NOTHING IS WORKING ON MY END.

AND NOW WITH HIM FEELING THE WAY HE'S FEELING,

I DON'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BE POSITIVE FOR BOTH OF US.

I'M HAVING A HARD ENOUGH TIME WITH MYSELF,

SO I JUST DESPERATELY WANT HIM TO START TRYING MORE

AND TO DO WHAT HE'S SUPPOSED TO DO TO GET BETTER.

[ KNOCKING AT DOOR ]

THERAPY. HI!

HI. HOW ARE YOU?

ALL RIGHT. HOW ARE YOU?

IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU DRESSED AND READY TO GO.

[ LAUGHS ] YOU READY? YEAH.

OKAY. LET'S DO IT.

IT'S ALL YOU. YOU GOT IT.

WE'RE GOING TO GET IN THE HALLWAY.

IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR KNEE IS GOING TO BUCKLE, LET ME KNOW,

AND I'LL PULL THE CHAIR UP, OKAY?

ALL RIGHT.

I'M DEFINITELY DOUBTING MYSELF MORE, I THINK,

BECAUSE I'M STILL THINKING ABOUT THE ROAD AHEAD TO HOW LONG

I HAVE LEFT AND HOW MANY SURGERIES I HAVE LEFT,

AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY STARTING TO GET TO ME, TOO.

AND THAT HURTS ME, THAT I'M ADDING MORE STRESS ON KATHRYN,

AND I HAVE FEAR THAT, ONE DAY, KATHRYN

IS JUST GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH, AND SHE'S GOING TO LEAVE.

BUT I'M NOT PREPARED FOR HER TO LEAVE,

SO I HAVE TO KEEP GOING.

ALL RIGHT. I GOT TO SIT.

OKAY. GOOD JOB.

OH.

TRYING TO KEEP HIM GOING HAS BEEN DIFFICULT,

ESPECIALLY WHEN HE'S NOT WILLING TO MEET ME HALFWAY.

WHETHER IT'S WILLING OR WHETHER HE JUST MENTALLY CAN OR CAN'T,

I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONE IT IS,

AND I'M SCARED HIS BODY IS GETTING TO A POINT

WHERE IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO ON.

STAND UP AND THEN WALK TO YOUR BED.

ALL RIGHT, GIVE ME A SEC.

YOU DID GOOD.

BUT AT THIS POINT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

WHAT I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT WAS HARD WAS EASY COMPARED

TO WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH NOW.

Robert: I KNOW IT'S HARD ON KATHRYN.

SHE IS PLAYING THE ROLE OF TRYING TO KEEP ME UP

TOO AS WELL AS HERSELF.

I KNOW IT'S TOUGH ON HER,

AND I'M NOT TRYING TO DO

THAT PURPOSELY TO HER.

BYE. BYE.

MY LIFE, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY REVOLVES AROUND HER,

BUT MY LIFE IS PLANNED WITH HER.

I WOULD BE LOST WITHOUT HER, SO I HAVE TO DO IT FOR HER.

**

**

Kathryn: I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, AND THE BEST WAY I COULD PUT IT WAS

I WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT I WOKE UP.

I REALLY WAS HOPING THAT IT WAS JUST THE MOST SURREAL NIGHTMARE.

IT'S NOT.

AND I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I'VE LOST HIM.

LAST NIGHT, I WAS GETTING READY TO GO, AND HE SAYS,

"PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME TONIGHT. I DON'T FEEL GOOD.

I WANT SOMEBODY HERE WITH ME,"

SO WE WERE SITTING THERE, AND HE WAS LOOKING AT ME,

AND HE SAYS, "I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW,"

HE SAYS, "I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO MAKE IT

THROUGH TONIGHT."

AND I SAID, "OF COURSE YOU'RE GOING...

YOU'LL BE FINE," AND HE SAID, "WELL, JUST IN CASE,"

HE SAYS, "JUST UNDERSTAND I LOVE YOU, AND I ALWAYS HAVE,"

AND I TOLD HIM.

I SAID, "I LOVE YOU, TOO," AND WE LAID DOWN

AND WE WENT TO BED.

RIGHT AROUND 6:00, YOU KNOW,

I HEAR HIM SITTING HIMSELF UP, AND I LOOKED AT HIM.

I SAID, "WHAT'S THE MATTER?"

HE SAID, "THE PAIN TO MY BACK," AND HE STARTS,

AND HE FELT LIKE HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING.

SO I HIT THE BUTTON, AND THE NURSE CAME IN,

AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS TELLING THEM WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE SAYS, "I CAN'T BREATHE.

I CAN'T BREATHE."

I WAS HOLDING HIS HAND. I SAID, "IT'S ALL RIGHT.

JUST FOCUS ON ME,"

AND HE JUST -- HE KEPT TRYING TO GET A BREATH IN,

AND THEN HIS EYES JUST WENT BLACK, COMPLETELY DILATED OUT,

AND HE JUST BEGAN TO FALL BACK, AND I HELD ONTO HIM.

I SAID, "NO, PLEASE," AND I'M SMACKING HIS HAND.

I SAID, "PLEASE, NO, DON'T DO THIS," AND I SAID,

"DON'T DO THIS."

I KEPT THINKING TO MYSELF.

I SAID, "I'M NOT WATCHING THIS.

I CAN'T BE WATCHING THIS," AND HE JUST...

THAT WAS IT.

[ Tearfully ] I STILL CAN FEEL HIS HAND, AND I KEEP SEEING HIS FACE.

AND I REALLY FEEL LIKE I'M JUST TRYING NOT TO FALL TO PIECES

EVERY TIME I THINK ABOUT HIM.

BUT I ACTUALLY DIDN'T LOSE IT

UNTIL I WENT TO GO PUT OUR WEDDING RINGS ON

BECAUSE I FIGURED, "WELL, WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET A CHANCE.

AT LEAST LET ME DO IT NOW."

NEXT YEAR, WE WERE PLANNING TO GET MARRIED

WHEN HE WAS OKAY AND WALKING AND BETTER,

AND AGAIN, THAT REALITY HAD TO SET IN THIS MORNING,

THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

EVERYTHING THAT WE WERE PLANNING IS GONE, ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING,

AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO PROCESS THE FACT

THAT I LOST MY BEST FRIEND AND PERSON

I WAS SUPPOSED TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH.

HE WORKED SO HARD AND MADE SO MUCH PROGRESS,

AND I AM ALWAYS GOING TO BE PROUD OF HIM FOR THAT.

BUT RIGHT NOW, ALL I CAN DO IS GET THROUGH THE DAY.

I HAVE TO PICK UP HIS MOM, MARLENE, AND DR. NOW

REQUESTED TO SEE US, SO WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH HIM TODAY.

HIS MOM WAS COMING TO VISIT HIM TO TRY TO RAISE ROB'S SPIRITS,

AND NOW HE'S GONE.

AND THE THING THAT KEEPS BREAKING MY HEART

IS THE FACT THAT SHE MISSED HIM BY HOURS, HOURS.

**

**

**

[ WEEPING ]

I'M SO SORRY.

OH, DON'T BE SORRY. IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.

IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.

YES, IT IS. I SHOULD'VE KNOWN.

I'M SORRY, MA.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO HURT YOUR SON.

YOU DID THE BEST YOU COULD.

IT WAS THE BEST YOU COULD.

I SHOULD'VE COME SOONER.

NO, YOU WERE DOING EVERYTHING TO HELP US.

I KNOW. I'M SORRY.

OH. I'M SO SORRY.

NONE OF US DESERVED THIS, CERTAINLY NOT HIM.

[ SNIFFLES ]

**

**

Kathryn: DR. NOW REQUESTED TO SEE US,

SO WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH HIM TODAY.

AND I KNOW I HAVE TO GO AND DO THIS,

AND I DON'T WANT TO

BECAUSE IT'S JUST ANOTHER WAY

OF PROVING IT'S REAL,

AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO BE REAL.

**

**

[ KNOCKING AT DOOR ]

HELLO. HI, DR. NOWZARADAN.

DR. NOWZARADAN, MARLENE BUCHEL.

I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.

ROBERT HAD A STRUGGLE WITH HIS WEIGHT ALL HIS LIFE,

AND HE KNEW THAT HE WAS RUNNING AGAINST THE CLOCK,

AND HIS BODY GAVE UP, BUT HE NEVER DID GIVE UP.

I KNOW, AND THANK YOU FOR TRYING.

HE WAS SO EXCITED THAT YOU WERE GOING TO HELP HIM, SO EXCITED.

I'M VERY GLAD TO HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO MEET HIM

AND TO KNOW HIM, SO, KATHRYN DOING OKAY?

SHE'S INCONSOLABLE.

YEAH, THAT WAS A REALLY BIG LOSS FOR EVERYBODY.

YES.

Dr. Nowzaradan: IT IS OBVIOUSLY VERY UNFORTUNATE

AND SAD RESULT WE HAD WITH ROBERT,

BUT IF SOMEONE HAD INTERVENED AND HELPED HIM YEARS AGO,

THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.

BUT WE HAVE A SYSTEM TODAY

THAT TURNS AWAY MOST PATIENTS HIS SIZE,

AND INSTEAD OF DEALING WITH THEIR ISSUES AND HELPING THEM,

THEY WOULD RATHER GIVE HIM PAINKILLERS

AND QUIET THEM UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE.

AND I THINK, BEFORE ROBERT GOT HERE,

THE SYSTEM DID THAT TO HIM BECAUSE THERE WAS A SIDE OF HIM

THAT WAS UPBEAT, DETERMINED, AND POSITIVE.

I HOPE HIS STORY WILL COME OUT AND SHOW EVERYBODY WHO HE WAS

AND HOW HARD HE HAD TRIED...

YES. ...AND WILL BE INSPIRATION

FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

NICE TO MEET YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CALL ME ANYTIME YOU NEED ANYTHING, OKAY?

[ Tearfully ] THANK YOU, DR. NOWZARADAN.

I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR US.

WELL...

YOU AT LEAST GAVE HIM HOPE AGAIN.

YEAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

I'LL SEE Y'ALL LATER, OKAY?

THANK YOU, DR. NOW. OKAY.

Dr. Nowzaradan: PEOPLE CAN SIT BACK AND JUDGE, BUT TO OVERCOME THE THINGS

ROBERT WAS TRYING TO DO ISN'T EASY.

BUT WE REMEMBER PEOPLE FOR THEIR FIGHT,

NOT FOR THEIR WEAKNESSES.

AND ROBERT BATTLED ADDICTION AND LOST,

BUT HE DIDN'T GIVE UP BECAUSE THERE IS NEVER A GOOD REASON

TO GIVE UP ON LIFE.

**

**

Kathryn: ROB'S HEART WAS SO BIG THAT HIS BODY COULDN'T CONTAIN IT.

I USED TO TELL HIM THAT ALL THE TIME.

I SAID, "THE REASON YOU'RE A BIG GUY

IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE TOO MUCH LOVE FOR EVERYBODY,

DOESN'T FIT YOUR HEART."

HE SHOULD BE HERE.

WE SHOULD BE GETTING MARRIED NEXT YEAR

AND BE HAVING A FAMILY,

AND THERE'LL NEVER BE THAT CHANCE NOW.

KEEP TELLING MYSELF,

"THIS HAS TO BE REALLY JUST REALLY BAD DREAM,"

AND IT'S JUST NOT.

IT'S REALITY.

ALTHOUGH I'VE ONLY BEEN HERE ON THIS EARTH FOR 33 YEARS,

I CAN EASILY SAY THAT I'VE NEVER MET ANYONE LIKE ROB.

HE WAS EXCITING, HE WAS LOVING,

HE WAS ROMANTIC, AND HE WAS, ABOVE ALL, MY BEST FRIEND.

I CAN ONLY SAY THAT THIS WORLD DIDN'T JUST LOSE A GOOD MAN,

BUT IT WAS ROBBED OF A GREAT MAN,

AND MY HEART WENT WITH HIM.

TO SEE YOU ALL HERE, MANY OF YOU WEARING ROB'S FAVORITE COLOR,

ORANGE, IT IS WARMING MY HEART, AND I KNOW,

IF HE WERE HERE TO SEE YOU,

HE'D BE SO HONORED TO CALL YOU ALL HIS FAMILY.

[ Voice breaking ] THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

**

THANK YOU. THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL.

GOOD JOB.

FOR ROBERT'S LEGACY, I WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO REMEMBER THAT,

AS BIG AS HIS WEIGHT AND HIS BODY,

HE HAD THE BIGGEST LOVING HEART.

AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE IN ROBERT'S SITUATION

DON'T LET IT GO AS LONG AS HE DID,

BECAUSE HE CAME TO THE POINT OF NO RETURN.

AND EVEN THOUGH HE BLAMED HIMSELF FOR IT,

HE REALLY NEEDED HELP.

Kathryn: NO MATTER HOW BAD THINGS GOT,

THERE WAS ALWAYS SOME LIGHT OF HOPE FOR HIM.

HE HELD ON AS BEST AS HE COULD TO A DREAM OF A FUTURE

TO GET MARRIED AND HAVE A FAMILY,

WHICH WAS HIS ULTIMATE GOAL.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

AND THANKS TO DR. NOW GIVING HIM A CHANCE, HE FOUGHT EVEN HARDER,

KNOWING THERE WAS THAT LIGHT AT THE TUNNEL.

AND HE ALWAYS HAD THAT DREAM,

AND HE JUST KEPT BELIEVING THAT,

MAYBE ONE DAY, HE'D GET THERE.