All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S06E08

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.