All language subtitles for My 600-lb Life S10E10

[Margaret groans]

[sobbing]

- [Millie] Every step's gonna make it easier, I promise.
- [Margaret moaning]

[woman 1] Somewhere in
me is this little glimmer of hope.

I just wanna be a normal person.

[exhales sharply and pants]

[man] You can't do it
and then I just get mad.

[woman 2] If I don't make a change
now, I'm scared it's gonna be too late.

No. [sobbing] It hurts!

[woman 3] I refuse to stop fighting.
I have to do this for my children.

I don't know what went wrong.
I don't know.

You wanna argue all that
with the scale? Be my guest.

[Dr. Now] A couple hours ago, Margaret
and her mom showed up here at the hospital.

Margaret apparently fell yesterday
and she went to emergency room.

She was transferred to here
because they didn't have any facility

that will take care of
somebody that is 750 pounds.

She is 35 years old,

and she managed
to become 750 pounds.

She is only 5 foot 4 inches
tall, and her BMI is 129,

which is one of the highest
BMI I have ever seen.

And that is very dangerous BMI.

That, combined with the fact
she is not mobile,

has created a very
dire situation for her.

And she can barely stand up
from her bed to bedside commode.

When she fell,
she was short of breath.

And she and her mom were
worried she was having a heart attack.

So we ran some tests on her to make sure
she doesn't have any life-threatening issues

we need to address right now.

But regardless, it's clear if
Margaret doesn't do something

to turn her life around, it's
only gonna be a matter of time

before her body gives out.

But at this point, I'm still
not sure she has any intention

to get the help
she needs to do that.

Hello.

[Margaret] Hello.

Hi, Margaret.
I'm Dr. Nowzaradan.

- [Margaret] Nice--
- How are you?

Doing pretty good.
Nice to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

You weigh 750?

[Margaret] Mm-hmm.

So how long have you
been at that weight?

I don't know.

I haven't weighed myself
in three or four years.

Do you get up and walk?

The last time I was able to
really walk was six months ago.

Who take care of you at home?

My mom.

Uh... so... Your mom
has any weight problem?

She's had the gastric bypass.

So if she had gastric bypass,
uh, why is she providing you

too much food and keep you
in, uh, this way?

Because it's easier
not to fight with me

and just pacify me.

So if she doesn't bring it
to you, what happen?

I get mad at her and I tell
her that she doesn't love me.

Okay.

And so what do you think is gonna
happen to you if you continue that?

I'm gonna die.

I don't wanna die.
I wanna change.

So why haven't you done anything to
change your situation up to this point?

I've had abusive...

Abusive life.

What do you mean abusive? By
your parents? Or your family or who?

My family. Especially my dad.

I see.

So you ate to deal with that.

Yes.

Food's my comfort.
I can hide underneath it.

And nobody knows
what's going on in my life.

So how motivated are you
to change your life

and do your part and be able
to lose some weight?

I'm willing to do
whatever I have to

to have my surgery.

All right.

Okay, let's check a couple
thing and see how things are.

I think we're gonna have our
work cut out for us with Margaret.

She says she wants
to change her situation,

but so far she hasn't done
anything to change her life.

Can you lift your foot
up and down?

Margaret said that she ask for the food
but, uh, I think the mother is enabler.

Amazing to me that her mother
had weight loss surgery herself,

is continuing to help her
to eat as much as she wants,

and get her weight
up to 750 pounds.

So this is a very
pathological situation,

and I don't see any motivation.

I don't see any goal
from Margaret.

But I'm ready to give her all the
tools she need to change her life

and try to lose some weight.

Margaret, your BMI is 129.

129 is very high BMI, okay?

So this is very dangerous
situation you're in.

So you have to change your life,

and you have to try
harder, okay?

While you're here, we can
control your eating habit.

But when you go home,
you're gonna be on your own.

And this is gonna be
the test for you.

If you go home and you're not
able to change your eating habit,

there's nothing
we can do for you, okay?

So I'm gonna give you some
research that I want you to read.

It will break down what
you can eat and cannot eat

to do the diet
and what healthy eating is.

So you need to follow it to where
you have some meaningful changes

in your eating habit that's
gonna show on your scale.

Okay? All right.

Right now, we will get her
going in the right direction here

in a controlled environment.

But any progress we make
with her is going to be short-lived

if she doesn't take
responsibility for her life.

So what I want you to do is,
uh, every day, you read this.

Three factor that control your weight,
your frequency, amount, and type of food.

But she doesn't have
any time for playing games.

Because if she doesn't change
her situation soon,

then her time is gonna run out.

This is gonna be something that you're
gonna have to work harder on, okay?

- Okay.
- You think you can make all the changes?

Yes.

You think your mother
is gonna be on board1

- with these changes?
- Yes.

- So--
- She's on board.

Okay. All right,
any questions?

Just please help me.

Well, we're gonna give you all the
tools you need, one step at a time.

But you're gonna have
to do the hard work. Okay?

I totally understand.

Okay. Stick with healthy
eating habit and then try harder.

And if you need anything,
give me a call.

I will do, thank you.

All right, I'll be back
and see you later, okay?

[Margaret] I'm thankful
I made it here.

And that I've been able
to see Dr. Now.

It's an answered prayer.

Because I know I've let myself
get to a breaking point.

And I could have easily
died especially when I fell.

So I have to change now.

Because if I don't, it's going
to be too late for me.

[Margaret] I'm here
in the hospital.

I've been here
for about two weeks,

and that was not part of the
plan when I left the house.

But Dr. Now said I might be able to go
home today, so I'm excited about that.

I'm ready to get on
doing his program

and showing him I can do it.

I need his help
because things are bad,

and they're just getting worse.

- Hey, you ready?
- [Margaret] Yes.

- Ready to go home soon, baby?
- Yes.

I'm ready to go home.

[Millie] I'm just glad
to see you.

[knocking at door]

[Margaret] Who?

Hello, how are you all doing?

Hi, Doctor.

Hi, Margaret, how are you doing?

Doing pretty good.

So how is your mom doing?

You finally get
to meet me in person.

All right, you doing okay?

Yeah, working 42 hours
a week doesn't cut it.

[laughs] I don't get to meet
very many people.

Well, you know, Margaret
is in very poor shape.

She came in at 750 pounds.

- [Millie] That's the starting
point-- - And we kept her on a diet.

In a few days,
she lost 30 pounds.

- So that is what we need to continue at home.
- [Millie] We are.

But I'm gonna give you a goal
of at least 30 pounds each month,

when we wanna see you in
the office and get your weight.

I expect that you lose
100 pounds in three months.

- All right?
- In three months? Okay.

Yeah. If you continue to lose
weight, then we can work with you

and get you to a point
that you're gonna be able

to hopefully have
weight loss surgery.

[Millie] Margaret, how bad
do you want this surgery?

[Margaret] Bad.

- How bad do you want this surgery?
- Bad, Mama.

Then we're gonna work
at every point to get it,

- are we not?
- Yes.

We will order physical therapy and
home health to come and see her.

Get her stamina up so
she can get up and walk

and perhaps come to the office.

And home health is gonna help
with the personal hygiene.

And we already had the
dietician come to talk to her.

She has written the stuff that she need
to read every day and follow the diet.

If she's not able to follow the
diet, we're not gonna be able

- to do anything for her.
- We're going to follow this diet.

No sugary drink
and a lot of exercise, okay?

And you need to have
a positive influence on her.

I had the gastric bypass
seven years ago.

All right, so you should
know better, right?

- You help her.
- Oh, I know all about that.

No, it makes me have the heart
palpitations, the dumping syndrome.

It makes me just
feel plain miserable.

No, I know my limits.

Okay. So we got
a lot of work to do.

And now that you know in one week
we can lose 30 pounds in the hospital,

you should be able
to do that at home too.

- Is that not awesome?
- [Margaret] Yes, it is.

We'll send her home today
and in a year and a half,

- we can get her under 200.
- Yes.

So this is gonna
be the goal, okay?

I want her to be looking
like her mama.

All right then. You're all looking
good and take care, okay?

- I'll see you later.
- 'Cause you got some pretty eyes

and you're a beautiful child.

[Dr. Now] We had Margaret in the
hospital for couple of weeks now.

Most of the tests we ran
on her when she arrived

didn't show any immediate issues
with her except an infection in her leg

that cleared up
after we treated it.

While she's been here, we
had her on a controlled diet.

And in two weeks, we have
been able to get her weight down

67 pounds from when she arrived.

She was 752. Now she's at 685.

So we have made some progress
on that front with her.

And we have also been
providing her physical therapy

to help her get up and walk.

She pushed back some,
but overall she's doing well.

And we have her moving
in the right direction now.

So the next step is for her to
show me she can do this on her own

if she wants to continue.

Hopefully, Margaret
and her mom, Millie,

are as serious
as they are telling me.

Because they both need
to make a lot of changes

if Margaret is gonna have any
chance of success in the long term.

I know it's rough,
but guess what?

This is that miracle we
prayed for, isn't it? Mm-hmm?

-[sobbing] -We finally
got it. Give me a high-five.

- You prove to him you can do it.
- [crying]

[Millie] Okay?

You don't have to prove
to me, I already know it.

- Prove him wrong.
- [crying]

I'll put a picture
on the end of the bed

and let you look at it every
day when you think about it.

You say, "I'm gonna
prove them wrong."

Oh, I need to put
some powder right here.

You're rashed.

[Margaret] It's been a week since
I've come home from the hospital.

And since then, I've been
trying to eat like Dr. Now says

and to do the exercises
he wants.

But ever since then, I've been
really scared of falling like I did before

because my legs have such a
hard time supporting all my weight.

Look, look!
Isn't that something?

Yes! Yes!

[Margaret] And I don't wanna
let her down,

so I'm doing what
Dr. Now told us to do

'cause I know I need
to get this surgery

so I can live a life
more than this.

Ready, honey? You ready?

One, two, three!

Up, one more time.

Now.

- All right, you want a salad?
- Mm-hmm.

[Margaret] But food has always
been there for me.

And if you take that
away from me,

I'm not sure how
I'm supposed to get by.

I've been eating
wrong my whole life.

Not just the wrong foods
but for the wrong reasons too.

In my kid years,
we were starving

because my daddy
ate up all the food.

My dad was 1,000 pounds.

I have two other sisters,
Becky and Tiffany.

And between us, all we
got to do is eat his leftovers.

If we ever complained, Mama would
shush us so we wouldn't upset him

because my dad
was a terrifying man.

[crying] My dad was
very controlling.

And if he said, "You be right
here," she had to be right there.

That's how he was.

You'd wanna hide your feelings away
from him 'cause if you argued with him,

then he would call us names
and just be very mean.

So I learned to sneak
into the kitchen

and I ate his food
to get back at him.

When I ate my dad's food
it was for revenge,

so he wouldn't have it
for his self.

[Millie] She'd get up
in the middle of the night.

If we had something leftover
in the ice box,

she'd go in there
and she would make it

look like she didn't eat it,
but she did eat it.

[Margaret] That's how I got to
120 pounds by the time I was 6.

That's when I was diagnosed with early
signs of diabetes and an eating disorder.

My mom, she started preparing
me my own special meals,

just like she did for my dad.

Except mine was healthier.

And it worked,
I started to lose weight.

And I was happier because I was getting
the attention and the love I was craving.

But my dad did not like not
having all the attention on him.

My dad would make my
mom leave us and go with him.

[Millie] He demanded that I had to be at
the hospital with him every time he went.

I had to go with him
to the doctor's.

He had to go to Dallas.

And for two months, I had to
be completely away from my kids

and live in Dallas, while
they stayed back in Arkansas.

[Margaret] My mom sent us
down the road

to live with our grandmother
on my dad's side.

She was the reason my dad
is as messed up as he was.

I'd call her "Evil Grandma."

Or, "The Wicked Witch."

She's the reason why my dad
has so much hate in his heart.

I remember one of the ways that
she would abuse me was with food.

She made me eat 10 eggs in a
row 'cause I said I was hungry.

But my mama must have figured
it out how my grandmother was,

because she sent us to go stay
with my aunt Carla.

Oh, Aunt Carla,
I really loved her.

I really, really loved her.

When we got to go
to Aunt Carla's,

it was the first time
in my life where I could eat

without being attacked
or ridiculed.

The time we spent there were
the happiest times of my life.

We got to be real close.

And then, around when I started
high school, I lost my aunt Carla.

She was like a second mama
to me, a guardian angel, my hero.

She died very courageously

from a blood-clot that broke off
from her heart and went to her lungs.

Losing my aunt Carla
took a piece of my heart.

I was crushed.

So again, I resorted to food,

because food was the only thing
I had to make the pain go away.

And by the time I was 15,
I was pushing 300 pounds.

Everybody was cruel to Margaret
about one thing or the other.

By the time she was 16, she was so
depressed that she just wanted to die.

It was all due to her needing
to feed what was wrong in here.

When she looked in the mirror,

apparently she didn't love who
she was even though I loved her.

I don't know why she felt like
she wasn't important.

I didn't know how to help her.

[Margaret] I finished my
senior year without friends.

And I just kept eating.

So after I left high school,
I was about 400 pounds.

I tried looking for a job
but nobody wanted me.

By the time I was 20,
I was pushing 500 pounds.

It was hard for me to drive
or do things for myself.

I went on disability.

My dad became more abusive.

After that, my mom reached
a point of no return.

So she packed her stuff

and left
with my older sister, Tiffany,

to take shelter with a friend.

I woke up the next morning and
my sister and my mama were gone.

So my dad told me she had abandoned
me because I was a fat pig and useless

and she couldn't take care
of me no more.

Losing her was the most
upsetting part of my life.

I didn't care if I lived or
died, so I would eat to escape.

I was so terribly lonely.

She would just sit there
and urinate on herself

and that's pretty much
where she stayed.

I mean, she was always
a lonely child to begin with,

and now she was
being alienated and thinking,

"Mama don't love me,
she's abandoned me,"

then self-destruct.

[Margaret] I found out that my
dad told lies to my mama about me.

He was telling her I hated her,

and that I was furious
that she left without me,

and that I was glad
she was gone.

Hearing all of this for the first
time put me in a state of shock.

I never wanted
to see my dad again.

I begged my mom to take me back.

[crying] Mama said, "Baby, you can
live with me, I never said you couldn't.

I never told you
I didn't want you.

I just didn't want your daddy
no more."

I was so relieved, I kept
eating like I always did.

And before I knew it, I was 750
pounds, dependent on my mama.

My cellulitis infection
had gone into my blood stream.

The infection kept getting worse,
and that took me down more.

And before I knew it, I had
become dependent on my mama.

But this feels like a stroke of
luck to be working with Dr. Now.

I know he helps a lot
of people like me.

And I have my daddy's voice in my
head telling me I'm a no good failure,

and that just makes me
wanna give up.

My biggest fear is
what if he's right.

So I know I have to do this.

I am just afraid that
I won't be able to.

Because if I can't,
that's really the end for me.

So I just gotta give it my best

and hope and pray
that's good enough.

[Millie] All right, let me get
you up and let's get you going.

You want some coffee?

[Margaret] No.

[Millie] One of them days?

My mom woke me up this morning
and I hurt in the leg.

All right,
get your bearings together.

I'm gonna fix me a cup of coffee
and I be in here to get you up.

[Margaret]
Everyday is a new struggle.

Today my leg
is really bad swollen.

And so it... It just...
It hurts.

All right, Margaret.

PT called me and they're
gonna be out this morning,

but I need to get you up
before they come.

Okay?

So let's get this show
on the road.

Today, I'm supposed to go
to physical therapy,

but usually I don't have
this swollen leg.

And so, I just didn't really
want to do nothing today.

I did call and try to get her
on the schedule for next week,

and it's just been tough.
I mean, it's been tough.

I can't tell you how many times
a week she tells me she quits.

[Millie] PT's gonna be in here.

- [Margaret] Shut up!
- [dogs barking]

[Millie] Dr. Now, he needs you
to get up 'cause of the blood clot.

And every [bleep] damn
thing else.

You already have a history
of diabetes.

[Margaret] Yeah, I know. But they keep
pushing on you, and they keep pushing on me.

[crying] I'm sick of it!

- [dogs barking] - [Millie]
We're not coming today.

[Margaret] Told you to just
leave me alone, Mom.

[Millie] No, I'm not.

[woman] I'm assuming
that was her mom.

[Margaret] It's all about
what you want.

[Millie] Okay, fine, I quit.
You want that?

[Millie speaking]

[woman] Okay, I don't know how quickly
we'll be able to get scheduled next week

'cause we really moved
things around to see her.

There's not any way
she'll do any PT today

to make sure that she can get
scheduled for surgery?

[Millie] Hello.

Hi, Miss Margaret, I'm Mallory.

So I'm the physical therapist.

I think they just wanted us to
kind of do a general assessment

and see kind of where you're at.

Um, normally are you able
to, like...

Right now, you're not...
I'm not gonna make you sit up.

- But if you needed to sit up, are you able to sit up?
- Yes.

- You're able to sit up all by yourself?
- Yes.

- Not... No help, no nothing?
- No help.

- Okay, what about like getting up from sitting to standing?
- I can get up like that, too.

- You can?
- I can do it by myself.

- Okay, you can do all that part by yourself?
- Yes.

- No issues?
- It's just I'm having problems walking.

- And so-- - Is it, like,
balance problems walking--

- Yes.
- or pain problems?

It's balance and pain.

And pain. Okay, where is
the pain when you're walking?

- My knees.
- In your knees.

- Okay, is it the whole knee, or
like-- - Oh, yes. It's the whole knee.

- Everywhere?
- Uh, they... I have no cartilage in them.

- Okay, no cartilage in either knee.
- So they hurt.

Okay, um, how far are you
normally able to walk

before you have to sit?

From here to the computer table.

Okay, can you lift
this foot up toward you?

Okay, hold it right there.
Don't let me push.

- Does that hurt?
- Nope.

No. Okay, can you push down
into my hand?

Good what about this side?
Can you bring it up?

Hold it up, don't let me push.

- [Margaret groans]
- Ooh, that one hurt?

- Or is it hard to do?
- It's hard to do it because it's making that knee hurt.

[Mallory] That's making your knee
hurt when you try and hold it up?

Okay, can you push down?

- Does that make--
- Mm-mm.

That makes
your knee hurt, too? Yeah?

Here. Can you pull like
you're trying to pull me?

Okay, what about push?
Can you push? Okay.

Okay, can you hold your arm right
here? Don't let me push it down.

Hold it right there.
Any pain? No?

Can you lift it up above?
Yeah, you can? Okay.

- All right, you have any weakness in your arms?
- No.

Like, in your hands
or anything? No?

We made you kind of a goody bag so
you have some stuff that you can do.

'Cause I've got the purple one.

Yeah, so this... This is blue.

I don't know what...
They're just...

- Different brands have
different colors-- - See?

- Oh, yeah.
- But watch.

I can...

- Does that hurt?
- Nope.

Okay, when you're standing, do
you have to hold on to something?

- Yes.
- Yes? Okay.

- If you don't hold on to
something-- - I'm wobbly.

I just have to have
something to hold on to

because I'm not
stable in the feet.

Okay.

- Okay, you have pain in your feet?
- No.

-No, only in your knees? No hip pain?
-Nope.

- No back pain?
- Mm-mm.

Nothing? Okay.

- We gave you a stress ball.
- [laughs]

[Mallory laughs]
Girl, squeeze away.

- You know how much I'm gonna be using this?
- [Mallory] That's okay.

I can give you one of these
in each hand.

[Margaret] I feel better after
meeting the physical trainers.

They're nice people and they
got my best interests at heart.

So they can come back
on the right day

and we can work together
some more.

That will be good
when we do that.

In the meantime, I'll do more
on my own and with my mama.

All right, it was good
working with you

and we will, hopefully,
see you soon.

- Okay, yes.
- Okay? All right.

-Bye, nice to meet you.
-All right, yeah, you too. All right.

- Thanks.
- No problem.

[Millie] Margaret,
we have got to get up.

- Come on.
- I'm coming, Mama.

No, I don't have
a lot of time, Margaret.

[bleeping].

[Millie] Come on.

[exhales]

Push, push, push, push.

It'll be worth it.

Is this not what we've wanted
for seven years?

You remember?
You were my partner then.

[Millie] I know it's rough.

[Margaret] Yeah,
you don't know nothing.

[dog barking]

I got you.

I'm done.

[Millie] I just want you to walk
one more time, and then back--

I'm done.

This is really hurting
me right now.

Get over this "I feel sorry
for Margaret" stuff.

- Mom, shut the hell up!
- [Millie] No, I'm not.

It is very important
that he sees you're moving.

I've let you get away
with this way too long.

Now, it's time to get up.

- [Margaret cries]
- Now, come on!

- Why are you pushing me so--
- [Millie] Because I am.

I'm gonna run
go get my clothes on.

This is your last shot,
so come on.

[sighs]

[groaning]

- Every step.
- [Margaret cries]

[Millie] Yes, it will.
Every step.

[Margaret] One, two.

Now, because this leg
is so edematous,

- scoot over some more in bed.
- I will.

It's just swollen and it hurts.

I'm getting sick.

That's that shot.

[groaning]

Oh.

[Margaret] I've been working
really hard this past month.

And I've worked out a lot
and got a lot more mobile.

But I've had to do it all on my own
because PT has not been coming.

But I've been doing fine
on my own.

I got a little bit more slower,

and maybe the PT
won't like that.

But it's better to me that way
because my leg has been hurting me.

And it keeps getting worse.

I don't wanna push myself
so far that I injure myself.

But I've been able to get a lot more
mobile and that feels really good.

I'm really happy about that.

And I really want Dr. Now to
see how much weight I've lost,

and how much I can get around.

But my mom had to work today, so
she can't drive me to my appointment.

So I'm not going to the clinic
because I had to cancel it.

But Dr. Now set up a video
call to see me anyways.

And I'm worried that he's gonna
say I'm not taking it seriously.

But I really am.

If it wasn't for my leg hurting so
much, then I'd be doing even more.

It's just really that
my mama's gotta work.

[video call rings]

Hi, Margaret.

Hi.

How are you today?

In pain.

[Dr. Now] So is that why you're
not making it in to see me today?

Because last I talked to you, you said
you're gonna be able to come to office,

and frankly,
that's not happening.

So give me some idea
what's going on with you.

Mom had to work today,
and so I had no way of coming.

I'm in pain but I'm willing
to deal with that to see you.

Your mom had to work today?

And I didn't have a ride.

[Dr. Now] Come on, Margaret, we
had this scheduled for a while now.

And you could have called me
to let me know that before today.

So I don't believe
that's the reason.

[Margaret]
It's the only reason, Dr. Now.

My leg hurts
but that wouldn't stop me.

I just need my mom
to drive me and she can't.

[Dr. Now]
Now, physical therapy says

you haven't been cooperating
with them most days.

[Margaret] No, that's not it.

They haven't been coming
consistently for physical therapy.

[Dr. Now] They have, but you
turn them away a lot of times.

But we're gonna make sure we have physical
therapy come to you no matter what.

But right now,
I want to see your progress.

So you need
to come see me today.

[Margaret]
I don't have a ride.

Margaret, you can use METROLift.

I'm not heard nothing
about METROLift.

You have to call METROLift and you
set a time, they come and pick you up.

I'll get Rosie to give you
the information about that

so you can set it up. And you
can get in a wheelchair, right?

Yes.

Okay, they can pick you up with the
wheelchair and bring you to office, okay?

Okay.

[Dr. Now] You don't have to
be up walking the whole way,

but if you aren't able to at
least walk around the clinic,

then that's gonna be an issue.

But METROLift can help you.

Okay.

I need to make sure
you're making progress

and not gaining
your weight back.

Are you feeling
that you lost any weight?

- Yes, sir.
- You are looking like

you have lost some weight.

So that's good,
but you don't look like

you have lost a whole lot
in two months.

So what you have done
with your eating habit?

I have cut everything down.

I'm... I don't eat nothing but salads,
uh, baked chicken, baked fish.

I don't eat nothing...
If it don't...

If it don't swim, fly,
I don't eat it.

How is your mother, uh,
cooperating with your eating?

Oh, my gosh, she's
doing good with it.

She... Matter of fact, she's
even on the diet with me.

All right, so she's not
over feeding you?

No. No, she's not but there
is times where I'm not hungry

and she tells me I have
to eat something,

but that's just to keep
my nutrition up.

So if you're not hungry, you
can skip a meal, can't you?

Oh, I can skip a meal if
I'm not hungry?

Yeah.

Oh, well, thank you, 'cause we thought
we had to put three meals in every day.

[Dr. Now] You... You don't
have to eat three times a day,

you can skip a meal
if you're not hungry,

but make sure you drink plenty
of liquid.

- Okay?
- Oh.

You ain't gotta worry about
that, I drink a lot of water.

Yeah, that'll... That'll
be fine, that'll be fine.

That's all I drink,
is water, water, water.

Good and if you
not doing anything,

just make sure
you do some exercise, okay?

I do that.

All right, so you're going over
the instruction I gave you everyday,

and read it and get yourself more
efficient with your eating habit?

Yes.

Okay. All right. How is your
activity and exercise doing?

It's doing really good, uh...

I'm able to get around a lot
more when my leg's not hurting.

We're gonna go out and make
arrangement for you to get the transport

to bring you to the office today
so we can check your weight

and see how
you're getting around.

- Okay?
- Okay.

So we can give you the
information to call METROLift

and they gonna be able
to bring you in,

so you don't have to depend
on your mom to take off the work.

- Okay?
- Okay, thank you.

All right, and I'll see you
in a little bit.

- Okay?
- All right, thank you, bye-bye.

[Margaret] My appointment
with Dr. Now is today.

After the call with Dr. Now last time,
when I missed my appointment with him,

my mom called him back
and told him I couldn't go

because my leg was hurting
and it was becoming infected.

Then, Dr. Now prescribed me
some antibiotics

and gave me more time by
rescheduling one month later.

But he was serious that I had
to make it this time,

and that I had to be up and
walking on my own into the clinic.

So I've been working very hard.

But I'm still scared though,

to find out that I don't
qualify for weight-loss surgery.

Margaret?

[Margaret] At the hospital,
I was 685.

Dr. Now wanted me
to lose at least 60 pounds.

And I know I made good progress.

So I'm hoping I'm at the 625
goal that Dr. Now wanted me at.

But whatever my weight is,
I know I've lost a lot.

Come around here.

Ready? One, two, three.

Now, let go of Mom.

- [laughs] It keeps going--
- Don't move, okay? Don't move.

Your weight is 632.

She's lost 100 pounds.

[cheers]

I knew we were eating
like rabbits.

- Didn't we, Margaret?
- Oh, my God.

[Millie] Isn't it worth
them rabbit eatings?

Oh, my God.

[kisses]

Cowabunga! Give me them up!
That's it. [laughs]

We did it, didn't we?

Yes.

Yes, we did.

We got it.

Okay, we're gonna be going
to room five now, okay?

We gotta walk it, mama.

[Margaret] Oh, my goodness.
I can't believe this.

I've never lost that much
in my life.

All right, let me get
on the other side of you.

And I'll roll up to it.

I just hope that Dr. Now says
that's enough

and I'm gonna have
weight-loss surgery.

[Millie] One, two, three.

Let me help you get over here,
and then I'm gonna get you.

Just tell me how you want me.

[Margaret] This is incredible.

Dr. Now is really
a miracle worker,

because I never thought
I'd be able to do it like this.

This just changes everything.

I'm gonna prove my daddy wrong
and show him I'm good at something.

[knock on door]

Hello, how y'all doing?

- [Margaret] Doing good.
- We're excited.

Great.

Well, Margaret, last month
I saw you on a video call.

And then,
you didn't make it back in.

I never thought we gonna see you
in here, so I'm glad to see you here.

- Yeah.
- [Millie laughs]

[Dr. Now] Even though it's been a
month since you were supposed to be here,

I'm very happy you made it.

And on top of that, you lost
weight and you're more mobile.

So you're down to 632.

So you lost 120 pounds.

All right.

So that's positive.

But, uh, we got
a long way to go.

So what I wanna do next
is talk to you

going to psychotherapy
with your mom

to help you to work on your
dieting a little bit more.

Then, I want you to get
to work with PT,

to get you a little bit more
mobile over the next month.

And if you do those things,

providing that you continue
losing like you have been

and you stick with the program

and we do some tests and see if you're
gonna be safe to do weight-loss surgery,

then we're gonna, um,
approve you for that.

- But all those things--
- [cries]

Okay?

You just made her day.

I told her we'd left all the Debbie
Downers and we were gonna get this.

Not the same girl you met back
at the hospital, is it?

We got it baby, we got it.

Oh, my God.

- We've tried this so many times.
- I'd love to give you a kiss.

You are my Godsend.

You're gonna be one of
her first dance partners

after she gets down to where
she can stand up and walk.

You're my Godsend.

Well,
I'm proud of your progress.

And if you keep it up, we can get
you to weight loss surgery, safely.

And make sure that everything
is gonna be all right for you.

So keep up the good work.

Don't think that you have a made it
and relax and go back to eat habits.

- Oh, no! No, no, no.
- [Millie] No, no, no, no.

- [Dr. Now] Okay.
- I went this far, I'm not going back.

We want to be down to
200 pounds before next year.

That's a good goal.

And weight loss surgery
will help her do that.

So, try to work on improving your
hygiene if you want your leg to improve.

So keep it up.
And stick with the program.

[Margaret] I'm sticking with it.

- All right, I'm proud of your progress.
- Thank you.

- Give me a call if you need anything.
- [Margaret] Okay.

All right,
I'll see you next month.

- Thank you, see you next month.
- [Millie] Yeah, yeah.

I'm so excited,
I can't stand it, Margaret.

- I'm so excited. Gosh, dang.
- Come here, please.

[Dr. Now] I'm very proud of Margaret
and Millie despite my concerns.

When Margaret left the hospital, I
gave them the benefit of the doubt.

But with her resistance
to PT at home,

and after she made excuses
and didn't show up last month,

I was very skeptical that she
would make the progress she needs.

Or that she would
ever show up again.

But it is a pleasant surprise
to see Margaret's progress.

And it shows me they are both
taking this seriously.

But before we move ahead
with weight loss surgery,

Margaret needs to make a little
more progress with her mobility.

And it's important
that both of them

start the process of going
to psychotherapy together.

It's very clear that it was in the
disfunction dynamic she has with her mom

is going to be essential to making sure
Margaret maintains her lifestyle change

for the long term.

[panting]

[Margaret]
This is so exciting.

I'm so excited to be getting
surgery from Dr. Now.

And that I have this chance
to change my life.

It's an answer to prayer
and a dream come true.

So I'm gonna keep working
my butt off.

I know this is my last chance
to turn my life around.

So I'm not going to
mess this up.

I'm a do all the things
I should be doing.

And I'm not gonna let up,
no matter what.

[Millie] One, two.

Got ya.

[Margaret] Because now I can
see the light at the end of the tunnel

and I'm just moving faster
towards it.

[Margaret] It has been
two weeks since

my last appointment
with Dr. Now.

And I've been doing
really good with my progress.

I've been doing all my physical
therapy every time they come.

I like Brandon, he's good.

- Hello?
- [dogs barking]

How are you?

Ready for some fun and games?

All right, go ahead and sit up.

[sighing in exhaustion]
Now we're up.

Now, I don't want to wear out
the legs with exercise.

So let's walk. Okay,
slow. Slow and controlled.

You're doing great.

[Margaret] Walking with my
physical therapist still scares me,

but I know he's got me.

He's not gonna let me fall.

Doing great, Margaret.

[Margaret] I am very, very, very
determined to get back up on my feet.

And to do it for myself.

I know I can do this and I
have a big glimmer of hope.

Good job.
Very good.

Great job.

Now, lean forward and press up.

[Margaret] The only thing I
haven't had time to figure out

is therapy for me and my mom.

Like Dr. Now wants us to do.

The hard part is momma has
to find time to take off from work.

And that's gonna
take a whole day.

So when my momma can figure out
the schedule we'll be doing that for sure.

But that's the only thing.

Other than that,
I've been a good girl.

So I think this is gonna be really
good when I get in there to see Dr. Now.

Because there's progress
I'm making for sure.

And the best of that is I can
move a lot better, hither and yon.

And I can't wait to show him,
because I want that surgery.

And it's time for me to get it.

You made it.

All right, you did great.

We'll keep it up.
I'll be back on Friday.

All right, ma'am you
take care. I'll be back.

Keep up with
the exercises, okay?

-Yes, sir. I'll see you Friday.
-Okay.

Give me your hand.

All right.

[Margaret] Today, I'm going
back to see Dr. Now at his clinic.

Just get behind me.

Okay.

And I'm hoping today's the day
that I get scheduled for surgery.

I've worked so hard
and it feels so long

that I really think
it's gonna happen today.

The last time I was here,
I weighed 632 pounds.

If I was still losing
at a steady pace,

I would have lost
another 50 pounds this month.

That means I would have
been down to the 500's.

And I really hope
I made it there.

[Millie] And we'll find out what we
are today, I hope we're in the 5's.

Wouldn't that be cool?

Wouldn't that be cool?

But even if we're in the
low six, we don't care.

But I'm betting we are.

Margaret.

All right.

- Oh, don't dump me out!
- I'm not gonna dump you out.

- I just got you through the door.
- All right.

Just got to give me a second.

[Millie] Once you get up there
you gotta let go.

[sighing in exhaustion] Come on,
hurry, calculate. Hurry, hurry, hurry.

Come on, come on, come on.

Your weight is 626.

I didn't lose enough.

Well, we're still doing good.

It's fine.

[panting]

[Margaret] I don't know what
happened or how that's right.

I just hope Dr. Now
can be happy with what I did.

[Millie] I'm going.

[Margaret] And that
he'll see that.

And he'll go ahead and schedule
me for weight loss surgery.

I think I'm just having
a bad day.

How about that?

[Margaret] I'm all swolled up.

[knocking at door]

Hello, how y'all doing?

- [Millie] Okay.
- Doing pretty good.

Good.

Well,

Margaret how's everything
going with you?

I'm disappointed.

Well, uh, what do you mean
you're disappointed?

Cause I thought I would lose
more than what I've lost.

Well, if you were
doing your part,

you would have lost 50 pounds
this past month.

So, it looks like you backslid.

And you're still not
fully cooperating with PT.

And you refused
to do psychotherapy.

So, this isn't good.

Because you're still 626 pounds.

Your BMI today is 107.5.

So, you basically, both of you,
went back to your old habits.

We don't know what we did wrong.

She's still eating the same way.

- I mean yesterday-- - Okay,
hold on right there. Okay?

- Overeating--
- [Dr. Now] Just hold on.

And, like, you don't know
what is going on?

There's a simple, simple math.

You're eating too much,
you're not gonna lose weight.

Which part of this
is very hard to understand?

That she's eating at least four times
as much as what she should be eating.

So, why we overeating and playing
like we don't know what's going on?

But she didn't overeat.

- She's still eating the same-- -
You want to argue that with the scale?

Don't argue with me.

- But she didn't overeat.
- You argue that with the scale.

She couldn't overeat
I gave her proportioned meals.

And it's the same
as I've always given her.

The only thing that we know
that might have been different

is she quit eating the vinaigrette
and ate honey mustard dressing.

Is she eat, what,
a gallon of honey mustard?

Now, I don't know how much
she put on her salad.

- [Margaret] The two cups.
- But I can tell you that's the only difference.

So she's gaining
from thin air, right?

[Millie] Well, I don't know
how she done it.

This is what I know.

Now, I'm the one
who fixes her meals.

- And unless she's getting up when I'm not there.
- No.

I'm not getting up
and I promise you that.

I don't know what
went wrong, I don't know.

- Did you quit exercising during the day?
- No.

For her to be 600 pounds
and keep that 600 pounds,

she's eating
5,000-6,000 calories a day.

If she eat a 1,000
or 1,200 calorie

she gonna lose 100 pounds
in one month.

Okay?

And don't come and tell me
what you're eating.

You want to argue all that
with the scale? Be my guest.

Okay?

If she's not losing weight,
she's eating too much.

You know, she's eating the food that
belongs next five years ahead of time.

Unless you drink your shake in the
morning and you drink a shake at night,

and that's only
300 calories a day.

Who said she should
be drinking a shake?

You are the enabler
in that house.

- You are telling her something that is not correct.
- [Millie] A protein shake.

Well, who said protein shake

- was okay to drink?
- [Millie] Nobody.

So between you two, whatever
is going on, we're killing her.

And if you don't go to therapy and do
what you need, and take this seriously,

my bet is you come in next month
you probably gain some weight.

- [Millie] We didn't even do a month before we came here.
- And give me the same story

that you're not eating
very much,

and between you two, you know, was
maybe honey mustard, and, you know.

I don't want to hear excuses.

I don't want to see the tears.

I don't want to see
any drama in here.

That we don't know
what's going on

and all these stories
that none of it is believable.

So, from here it is simple.

I want you to lose 35 pounds
by next month.

And start seeing psychotherapy.

If not, then we are not
moving ahead with you.

Just because we did not lose it
Margaret, does not mean we can't--

I want to go home.

That's all I want. I just want
out of this office and go home.

Try harder.
You can do it.

Like you're mom said.

Okay?

We have faith that
you can do this, Margaret.

- We're not quitting.
- And you quit, you're never gonna make it.

Okay?

We're gonna get on this horse and
we're gonna do what Dr. Now says.

All right, if you need
anything, give me a call.

- Sure will.
- All right.

[Dr. Now] I'm obviously
disappointed

from what I see from Margaret
and Millie's choices this past month.

There are elements where
Millie tells Margaret positive things.

And pushes her to keep going
and not quit.

But those are all cliches.

What matters is action.

And it is very dangerous when you have
a dynamic where someone talk's the talk,

but doesn't support it with
any of the choices they make.

I have no doubt that Millie loves
Margaret and wants the best for her.

She talks supporting then
contradicts that with her actions.

So whatever progress they have
will be short-lived.

And unless they both
start that process,

we won't be moving ahead
with Margaret.

[Margaret]
I was disappointed.

Let down.

Because I thought I did better
than what I did.

I'm angry at myself
cause I could have did better.

Just disappointed.
[heavy sigh]

But don't give up.

You'll have your
disappointments, but don't give up.

Here, wash your face down.

Make ya feel better.
Get you started.

[Margaret] It's been a week
since my appointment with Dr. Now.

Since then,
me and my mom has talked,

and decided that surgery is the most
important thing that could happen in my life.

- Through with the wash rag?
- Yeah, I just threw it there.

Okay.

[Margaret] So we told Dr. Now
we would do therapy.

- [knocking at door]
- [dogs barking]

All right, get back.

- [Paradise] Hi there, I'm Dr. Paradise.
- Hello.

- I'm Millie, I'm Margaret's mom.
- [Paradise] Hi, Millie.

Would you like to sit
over here where she's at?

[Paradise] You have a
lot of protectors, don't you?

- [Margaret] Yes, sir.
- [Millie] All right!

All right, enough!

Enough!

They don't bite.
They're all friendly.

- I'm Millie and this is Margaret.
- Millie and Margaret, okay.

-I'm Mom.
-Good. Hi, Mom. Good to meet you.

So, Margaret,
I'm glad to see you.

Um, thanks for having me
in your house.

Tell me about growing up in
your house. What was it like?

Hell.

You're getting sad pretty
quick talking about that.

[Millie] We got this.

Give me your hand.

We got this.

We've got to heal now,
do we not?

So you had a tough childhood.

So tough that you
can't even talk about it.

When did you start getting big?

[Millie] She was about...
In kindergarten she was big.

I was bullied.

Okay. Who protected you?

I didn't have anybody
to protect me.

You know, I get the sense
that your mom protects you,

even in just a couple minutes
talking together,

your mom steps in
and says stuff.

She wasn't there.

- What do you--
- [Millie] I had to work.

Did you work all the way
through her growing up?

- [Millie] Yes. I still work.
- Okay.

- You still work now.
- Yes.

What is... Margaret's
by herself during the day?

- Yes.
- [Millie] Okay.

Um, how do you do when
you're by yourself, Margaret?

I talk to her on the phone
while she's a work.

So you talk to each other
all day on the phone?

[Millie] Yes, we may have a
seven-eight hour [laughs] phone call.

- It sounds like you were a very active mother.
- [Millie] Yes.

- My babies are my world.
- [Paradise] Right.

She's not a baby.

She's my baby.

She's your baby and she's 35.

She's still my baby.
She'll always be my baby.

You know, the word "baby"
implies a lot of care.

She's my baby,
she's the youngest.

[Paradise] I'm a little
worried... So yeah, I...

You know, I don't know you very
well Margaret, we just started talking.

But I think that's gonna be my theme
with you, is making you not a baby.

I think you must believe that
the world is a dangerous place.

- It is, and I'm scared-- -
[Millie] We don't trust nobody.

- [Dr. Paradise] And that,
and that-- - I don't let nobody in.

And that people
will hurt you, right?

They'll hurt me.

- That's the thing.
- [Millie] And we have a trust issue.

- I have to say, cause I'm there too.
- I have trust issues.

That's why I become her
comfort zone. Her security blanket.

And I know
you've been doing it forever.

But I'm gonna push you guys to
be a little bit more independent.

- And, and--
- All right.

[Margaret] How do you do that?

You practice.

I want you guys to practice more and
more times of independence for her.

And you get to step back.

And you get to
attend to your job,

and your relationships, and you're
always gonna be there for her.

But you're gonna be there
for her in a way that's healthy

and appropriate
for a 35-year-old woman.

[Margaret] So more or less you're saying
[voice breaks] that I don't need her.

- No.
- [Millie] No, Margaret.

He's not saying
that you don't need me.

- He's more of less saying that my comfort zone is gone.
- He's saying...

Margaret, you will always--

[Margaret] I need to let go
of my comfort zone.

[Millie] He's not saying
you need to let go of me.

Let's take the food from her,
so that's a comfort zone gone.

Okay, now let's take
the mother away from her,

that's another
comfort zone gone.

Maybe we'll just
keep breaking her,

- and breaking her, and breaking her.
- [Mille] Margaret.

Margaret, your mother
can be very present.

I'm just, I'm done.
[crying]

-I'm done, I'm done, I'm done.
-[Millie] We're a team. We're a team.

I'm always gonna love you.
Give me a team.

Millie, Millie, do you notice in
this moment that you're jumping in?

Because I know how stressful
she is and it is a meltdown.

And she will
want to resort to food.

And here's an opportunity,
even in this little tiny moment.

We're gonna let her
have her feelings,

'cause I think she's capable
of working through this.

[yelling] You don't know me!

[crying continues]

See the resistance?

Just get out of my house, just
go, just go, get out of my house.

I'm done.

-He's not saying Margaret that I'm
abandoning you -I'm done. I'm done.

It's interesting she's
getting up in response to this.

Isn't it neat that she's getting
out of bed in response to this?

But I want you to notice
the urge, right now,

that you have to jump in
and comfort her.

- And I--
- That's my job.

I think of her
as a grown up adult.

And we've gotta
let her self soothe.

Work on this on her own, in
order for her to realize that.

The solution is to, um...
to watch her

- take care of herself.
- [Millie] Margaret, do you want your walker?

Margaret, please, do not
try to walk without nothing.

She's trying to get away
from y'all.

Okay.

But again, I want you to watch she's
doing this without anybody's help.

I want her to go in and feel
her feelings and be okay.

She's a grown up. She's
gonna go deal with her feelings.

She's gonna come out
in a couple hours

and I'm sure you guys will
have a fine time after that.

And I think this is really good.

This is the push
and pull, right?

You may see that as really
negative, I'm proud of her.

- She basically said--
- I'm proud of her, in a way.

But I've seen the setbacks.

I don't think
this is a setback at all,

I think this is a breakthrough.

She just stuck up for herself.

Somebody pushing her
and she got space from it.

[Margaret] It's been a week since
my appointment with Dr. Paradise.

I've been trying to think
about what he told me to do.

It's been really hard because I'm
scared of facing this world alone.

But today I'm gonna try and do some of
the homework that Dr. Paradise gave me.

He told me it would be
a big improvement,

if I could go longer
and longer amounts of time

without needing to call
my momma on the phone.

And today's gonna be a
good day for me to try that out,

because she's got
a new schedule.

So she ain't gonna be home
in time for dinner.

And that scares me,
but I'm gonna give it a try.

I know it's life or death
for me to lose this weight.

So I'm trying it,
even if I don't like it.

Because I'm going back
to see Dr. Now in a few weeks.

And I don't want the appointment
to go like it did last time.

I intend on getting approved
for surgery.

So if I've gotta go outside
my comfort zone, I'll do it.

Because I know my future
depends on it.

I'm really dizzy today.

[panting and straining]

You got it.

Have we not?

[Margaret] I'm nervous
about today,

and how it's gonna go.

[Millie] Well, don't
scoot it up too much,

I gotta shut the door.

[Margaret] And I know

what it feels like
to get my hopes up about it,

and then be disappointed
if I didn't reach my goals.

I gotta open the door.

[Margaret] So I've been
working extra,

trying my hardest
to do everything I can

to make sure
it goes better this time.

'Cause right now, Dr. Now
will get fed up with me.

Margaret?

So that you can get up.

You're not
supposed to be scared.

Foot.

At my last appointment,
I was 626,

and I was supposed to lose
35 pounds in a month.

So if I did that, the number
I need to see is 591.

I'm on it.

Okay, can I get off?

[softly] Wait, wait.

Momma, get that wheelchair.

Oh my, oh my goodness.

I did it, I did it.

[nurse] We're gonna go
to room five, okay?

[Margaret] That's pretty
close. I really hope it is.

I hope Dr. Now says it's okay.

I'm only four pounds off.

Oh, boy, I sure hope
he says that's okay.

I feel proud of myself
for that weight loss.

I'll be devastated if Dr. Now
is not happy with that.

[knock on door]

Hello, how you all doing?

Doing good, you?

Good.

All right, Margaret,
how you getting along?

I'm doing really good.

I can see that.

You're finally under 600,

- so how does that feel?
- [Margaret] It feels great.

[Dr. Now] So, are you
getting around easier,

and your stamina getting better?

- Yes.
- All right.

We've got her showers down to
in about 30 minutes time,

and that's getting up,
out of the bed,

walking into the bathroom,
getting in the shower,

and getting back out and getting
back in bed, about 30 minutes.

Where it used to take us
probably an hour and a half.

Okay, well, you're making
some improvement, though.

And she fits in
this wheelchair now,

and this is your wheelchair.

[Dr. Now] Okay. So going in
the right direction.

So, what are you doing different

with your eating habits?

I'm not eating. [chuckles]

You're what?

I'm not eating.

[chuckles] It might be
three or four o'clock

in the afternoon
before I finally do eat.

[Millie and Margaret] And it's
a salad.

[Millie and Margaret]
With no dressing.

Well, you lost 31 pounds,

- so this is...
- In 14 days.

It's not a whole lot of weight
lost when you are 600 pounds.

So what do you mean?

You maybe think
you're not eating,

but you're still eating.

Well, like I said, I'm just...

It's three or four o'clock
in the afternoon before I eat,

and it's salad with
just a handful of protein.

It's mostly salad. It's mostly
lettuce and tomatoes and...

[Millie] It's not even
an ounce and a half

of baked chicken.

So, what do you call
a handful of protein?

That's what, I weigh it out.
It's about an ounce of...

'Cause I weight it up,

it's an ounce of baked chicken.

Okay, and what are you drinking?

Water.

Okay.

I will not go
from anything but water.

All right.
If all that is accurate,

you would have lost

two to three times what you did.

So you're still eating
more than you realize.

But you're making some progress.

But let's tighten up
a little bit more, okay?

- You're taking the vitamins?
- Yes.

[Dr. Now] Okay.

I used to be all about carbs.
All about carbs.

I don't care
about carbs no more!

- Good.
- [Margaret] I don't want them.

I've learned that
the carbs and sugars

is what makes you
gain the weight.

I don't want that no more.

[Millie] We dropped
the carbs, the fat,

and the sugar.

I don't need that
in my life no more.

At least we are on
the right track now.

We just need to keep pushing,
and go harder.

And the most important thing is

that you both
started psychotherapy.

So I'm proud of
both of you for that.

Okay, thank you.

So, with all
your progress, Margaret,

I'm willing to schedule you
for endoscopy in one month.

You've still got
a long way to go.

Stay focused and don't give up.

And if you lose
another 30 pounds

and keep doing
the psychotherapy and PT,

and if everything looks good
in your endoscopy and tests,

then I will schedule you

for weight loss surgery
at that point.

Yes, sir.

Okay. So, have
a positive attitude

and work hard, and you're
gonna get there, okay?

All righty.
Thank you, Dr. Now.

- All right, bye.
- [Margaret] All right.

We got that one.

I'm happy to see that
Margaret and Millie

have gotten back on the wagon,

and that they both
have started psychotherapy.

That may be helping them
turn things around.

But they both will need
to stick with that

if they expect to make
any of these changes.

And before I feel like

Margaret is ready to move ahead,

I need to see a little more
consistency from her.

So if she keeps moving
in the right direction,

doing what she needs,

by going to psychotherapy
and sticking to her PT,

and then loses another
30 pounds by her endoscopy,

we will move ahead and do
weight loss surgery on her.

So, we'll see
how she's doing next month

and go from there.

But right now, I'm encouraged

by what I'm seeing
from both her and Millie.

[Margaret] I'm so happy
and excited

to move forward like this.

It feels like I'm so close.
I'm almost there.

There's no way in no hell
I'm gonna stop trying now.

Not now and not ever.

I'm gonna make
Momma and Dr. Now proud

for sticking with me.

'Cause I still got
a lot to live yet.

Just you wait and see.

I'm here at the hospital
for my endoscopy,

so Dr. Now can look
down in my stomach.

'Cause here lately
I've been feeling

a lot of pain in my stomach.

At first, I thought it was
just because I was hungry.

But Doc says
it might be something else,

and that he better check it out,

and to find out if I'm going
to be fit to get the surgery.

[choked up] We're gonna
get this done.

[Millie] Yes, we are.

But promise me you'll be here
when I wake up.

Yes, Margaret,
I am not gonna leave you.

Have I left you?

I keep telling you,
when I left your daddy,

it was I left your daddy,
I didn't leave you.

Look at me.

Who did I leave?

Dad.

I didn't leave you. You had
a choice to go, did you not?

- Yeah.
- I don't leave my kids.

And I will be here
when you wake up.

Uh-uh.

Have I not been with you
every step of the way?

So why would I stop now?

Quit them tears.

It's gonna be okay.

I'm gonna be sitting right here

waiting on you
when you come back.

Got it?

[Millie] Where am I gonna be
when you wake up?

Right here.

[Millie] I'm not going anywhere.

Ah, don't start your bawling.

We got this.

Love you.

I love you.

[Millie] Get back here.

Today, we're gonna do
an endoscopy on Margaret

to make sure there are no issues

that would prevent us

from doing weight loss surgery
on her.

She started working
with psychotherapy,

which was the big step
I wanted her to take.

So because of all that,

and the fact that she hasn't
started gaining weight,

and she's working
with physical therapy

off and on now,

I am willing to start
the process with her

to do weight loss surgery,

starting with the testing.

She has been complaining
of stomach pain recently,

so the priority is figuring out

what could be causing that,

and see if there is something
we need to address with her

before we move ahead
with anything.

All right, we can go now.

[woman speaking]

[Dr. Now speaking]

[Dr. Now] We're gonna begin
the endoscopy.

We're using the camera,
go into her esophagus

and looking at her stomach.

Open.

We got a very huge stomach.

Very big stomach.

And everything for
the most part looking good.

The opening of that
does look good.

The rest of it looks good.

So she does not have a hernia.

But she has a big stomach.

Okay, everything looks good,

so we're gonna remove the scope.

All right, well done.

Ooh, time to lie down.

All right, you're looking great.

How's everything?

Hey, Margaret.

Are you awake?

All right, your endoscopy
looked good.

- [Margaret] Oh, that's good.
- [Dr. Now] Okay?

So, everything looked good,

except you got some gall stones.

That looks to be the issue
behind your stomach pain.

And probably that triggers

some nausea and abdominal pain.

Just take it easy
in what you're eating

to help minimize any discomfort,

and we will address that for you

when we do
your weight loss surgery.

The other issue is that

the infection in your leg
has come back

because of poor hygiene.

So we need to keep you here
to address that.

But it shouldn't take too long.

And keep up your good work.

And since you lost
some weight...

Mm-hmm?

[Dr. Now] We're gonna go ahead
and put you

in the schedule
for weight loss surgery.

[both laughing joyfully]

Told you, teamwork!
Come on, gimme teamwork.

We been waiting to hear
them words, ain't we?

Pretty good words
right there, ain't it?

Pretty good words.

- We got it, Momma!
- [Millie] We got it!

That's what we sought.

- We got our surgery.
- We got it.

And we're making our way there!

- You in for the ride?
- [Millie] I'm ready.

[Dr. Now] But here's
the situation.

It's gonna take about a month
to make sure that

there are no issues
with your infection,

and to be safe before we move
ahead with the operation.

So I'm gonna keep you here
until next month

to do that,
and during that time,

I want you to work with
physical therapy

to build up your stamina,

get yourself ready for surgery.

And you did very good
with anesthesia today,

so you can do well
with that too.

Okay?

You hear what he said?

Thank you, Dr. Now.

Hey, you're welcome.

You did the hard work, huh?

I did.

- I've worked my butt off.
- It has been a journey.

[Dr. Now] I'm proud of you.

So far, you have lost
161 pounds.

One adult person she lost.

Yes.

She's done lost
as much as I weigh. [laughs]

All right, keep the good work,
and we'll get you ready

for weight loss surgery
soon, okay?

Thank you, Dr. Now.

Thank you so much.

You're welcome.

You did the hard work,
you did the work.

No, thank you, because now
my baby's gonna live.

We're gonna get you down
to your ideal body weight

in 18 months, okay?

- [Margaret] Thank you.
- [Dr. Now] You're welcome.

All right, Margaret,
I'll see you later, okay?

Okay. Thank you,
thank you, thank you.

You're welcome.
Well, take care.

I'm proud of Margaret
and how hard she's worked.

But I have a concern
that if we schedule her,

she will go back home and relax,

and start to slip a little.

So keeping Margaret here
in a controlled environment

will help make sure
that doesn't happen.

We will help her to do that,

because she has shown me
she's ready,

and putting in the hard work.

So aside from
any new issues that come up,

we will move ahead

with her weight loss surgery
in one month.

- I love you.
- I love you.

I love you.

You got this.

[Margaret] It's been
a hard, long month

here in the hospital.

But I feel really good
about all my progress.

Especially because today I'm
getting my weight loss surgery.

[Millie] I'll be here
when you wake up.

[Margaret] It's a really
good feeling

after everything
I've been through.

[Millie] Well, I have to come
back for her wheelchair anyway.

[Margaret] All my trials
and tribulations

has led me up to this moment.

[nurse] This is where
we say goodbye.

I love you.

[nurse] And no more crying.

- [Margaret sobs]
- Love you.

It's okay, Margaret.
Promising you.

This is the opportunity

that we've been waiting for
forever, isn't it?

Isn't it?

Let's make a deal.

We run the good thing.

It's gonna be okay, Margaret,
I promise you.

It's gonna be okay.

Quit crying.

Come on, they've got to go.
Everyone's waiting on you.

I love you. And I'll be here
when you wake up, I promise.

[Dr. Now] Today we are
attempting to perform

a gastric sleeve on Margaret.

We have her weight down to 516,

so we've gotten her to lose
another 51 pounds

over the past month
on a controlled diet.

And we've been able to get her
more active with PT.

So I'm confident that she's
ready to take this step today

and get her weight loss surgery.

What the surgery will do
for Margaret

is that it will reduce
the stomach by 90%,

leaving a small, narrow tube

that looks similar to a sleeve,

so the patient's food intake
is physically limited

and the patient is less hungry.

So this operation
will give them an opportunity

to lose even more weight.

So this operation will not
only help curb her appetite,

but it will limit
her ability to eat

so that she stays on track
with her weight loss...

MAN: Room lights off,
please, guys.

[Dr. Now speaking]

while we continue
to work with her

on the emotional
and psychological issues

behind her unhealthy eating.

So this surgery will be a big
and important step for her

in her journey to get healthy.

All right, we are almost done
removing her stomach.

[Millie] On our way here
this morning,

I had to just keep
reassuring Margaret

she was gonna make it
through this surgery,

and I was gonna be fine.

We've had a long time
getting here,

we're just glad
we're finally here.

She was nervous, she was upset.

And of course
I couldn't let her know

that I was just as nervous
and as upset,

because, I mean,
she cried really bad

going into the OR, scared.

She's scared
she wouldn't wake up.

But she was more scared for me.

Because Margaret's afraid

that if something happened
to her, that I'd fall apart.

And I probably would.

Mommas don't bury their babies.

[Dr. Now speaking]

[man] Keep pulling,
keep pulling, keep pulling.

[Dr. Now speaking]

[Dr. Now] Margaret's surgery
went very well.

We were able to do some
gastrectomy safely on her.

We didn't have any issues
with anesthesia.

There were no complications,
and surgery went very well.

With this operation,

Margaret should be able to lose

30 to 40 pounds in one month,

then after that, lose 20
to 30 pounds each month

until she gets close
to her target weight.

Margaret, after she recovers
from the surgery,

she loses a little more weight,

she's going to need to have
her gall stones addressed.

So it's either that,
or she's going to need to have

the gall bladder surgery.

But right now, she's doing well

and I'm proud of her.

She has worked hard
to make progress,

and to make the important
changes she needs.

But we need to make sure

that Margaret is gonna be
able to cope

with all the issues that she had

with the household dynamic

if she's going to be able
to do this for the long term.

So it's going to be
very important

that she keeps going
to psychotherapy to do it.

If not, then it will only be
a matter of time

before she starts to slip back
into her old habits

to undo all her progress,
and gain all her weight back.

But up to this point,
I am proud of Margaret

for losing the weight she has,

and for getting out of her bed
to become more mobile.

That took a lot
of determination from her.

And my hope is that
she keeps fighting hard

to move forward towards
where she needs

more and more each day.

And if she does that,
then I'm confident that

we'll be able to get her
to her target weight

in the next 18 months,

to give her the chance

to start pursuing all the dreams

she has never been able
to pursue and chase,

and a chance to finally start
living the life she wants.

[Margaret] It's been about
a month since my surgery,

and I'm still recovering,

though I'm feeling stronger

and I'm starting to get better.

And I'm feeling really good,

because my food craving's
almost all the way gone.

It's still hard for me
to believe

that I made it as far as I did.

And a year ago, I didn't know

if my life
was worth fighting for.

But now I'm here,
and I'm not only living,

I'm making plans for the future.

One thing, Margaret.

You can tell
you had the stomach done.

[Margaret] Yeah.

It's all yours now, you own it.

Now you just gotta rock it.

[Margaret] Dr. Now says I need
to keep going to therapy,

and how that's really important

if I wanna be a success story,

so I had one other session
with Dr. Paradise,

and it went a little better
than the first one.

This time, he was real careful
to reassure me

that he wasn't trying to take
my mom away from me,

and I started to trust him
a little more.

I honestly know that my momma
ain't gonna be here forever.

Then one day, I'll be here
and she'll be gone,

so I can live my own life.

And it doesn't feel good
to say that.

But Dr. Paradise says I need
to fake it till I make it.

So here goes nothing.

Hello, world, I'm Margaret.

It took a lot.

You wouldn't believe
the stuff that I've overcome

to be here today.

But now
I'm an independent woman.

And Momma taught me
everything I need to know.

So when she's up and gone,
and I'm here all by myself,

I'm gonna do just fine
on my own.

And that's gonna be
the best gift

I could ever give her.

To live my life for me.

You know what, Momma?
I'm gonna thrive.