My name is Jessica Thompson.
I'm 32 years old, and I'm from Eastman, Georgia.
[Danielle] All right, Miss Jessica,
what lotion are we going to use today?
We can use the big bottle.
[Danielle speaking]
[Jessica] Because of my size,
there's a lot of things I can't do.
[Jessica speaking]
I feel like I'm a stronger person than someone of regular size
because you don't have to go through half of the things that I go through.
[Jessica speaking]
I'm a nine-volt battery.
You get more power. [laughs]
[Danielle speaking]
It feels good.
[Danielle speaking]
[Jessica speaking]
[Danielle laughs]
[Jessica speaking]
I've tried to lose weight, I've done diet pills,
I've done diet programs.
Nothing seems to work.
[Jessica speaking]
All of a sudden,
[Jessica speaking]
I think that really is when
my world started spiraling down.
[Jessica speaking]
I really didn't care.
[Danielle speaking]
- Feel like I got every spot? - Yes, ma'am.
[Jessica speaking]
I was a CNA, a certified nursing assistant.
- [Danielle] Okay. - Um...
Then I have... That one keeps me from killing you,
- and this one keeps you from killing me. - [Danielle laughs]
[Jessica] At my current size, the doctors can't do the hysterectomy,
and so now I'm just taking the medicine,
just hoping that, you know, it keeps the cancer asleep, so to speak,
because there's no other way
to do anything else about it until I lose enough weight.
[Jessica speaking]
Those things are things people don't live through.
Those things are known to kill you.
So a lot of times I can't rest at night
because I'm scared somebody's gonna find me dead.
Like, I'm just gonna quit breathing in my sleep or something.
I just don't want to live like that.
[Danielle speaking]
I know.
I know it, and I'm here to help you
in any way I can, any way.
- Thank you. - You are so welcome.
[Jessica speaking]
Just 'cause I'm big, so what?
[Jessica] But you know, I can't get the clothes that everybody else is wearing.
You know, these slogans that everybody has, I can't,
you know, unless I do it myself, so that's what we do.
- [machine beeping] - And it's done.
[Jessica speaking]
My grandma said, "Jessica, you can't wear that shirt nowhere."
I said, "Yes, I can, Grandma."
She said, "No, Jessica, you cannot wear that out."
So I would wear it to the store in town. [laughs]
Um, this is my finished product.
[Jessica speaking]
But it's got to change.
Tired of living like this. Just tired of it.
- Hi, it's Amanda. - [Jessica] Come in.
[Jessica] Today, I asked my friend Amanda to come over.
Well, thanks for inviting me over.
[Jessica speaking]
Thanks for coming. I'm just finishing up.
[Amanda] It's good.
[Amanda] I've known Jessica for a couple of years.
We met online in a weight loss support group,
and she has a very similar story to what I had.
[Amanda] Three years ago, I was 715 pounds,
I was on the verge of being completely homebound,
and I was diagnosed with endometrial cancer.
Maybe it was my punishment
for abusing my body.
But then Dr. Procter performed weight loss surgery on me,
and now my whole life has changed.
I've lost close to 500 pounds,
and I'm endometrial cancer-free, and I've even gotten married
to someone else that had weight loss surgery.
Surgery has completely saved my life,
and now I'm trying to help others do the same thing,
by getting my life coach, wellness, nutritionist certification.
Jessica called me and she's looking into losing weight
so I'm really excited to talk to her.
I just wanted somebody to talk to that understands, I guess, you know.
I've watched your journey, and you've kind of...
[Jessica speaking]
I've watched how you've gotten your life back,
and I really want my life back.
[Jessica speaking]
[Amanda] Mm-hmm.
[Amanda] Right.
I made the choice to have bariatric surgery,
I mean I had weight loss surgery
because I had that moment where it was either,
"You're gonna do this or you're gonna die."
And I had to be honest with myself and stop lying to myself, you know?
And that's what I was doing, I was kidding myself,
saying, "This one pizza's not gonna hurt me,"
but it was. Like, every pizza that I ordered was hurting me.
Um, it's not easy. I mean, there's a lot of steps
to even get approved for weight loss surgery,
but I promise you, it's so worth it.
The effort is so worth it.
Is that something that you will consider?
You hear so many horror stories, like, you know,
Mm-hmm.
So I can tell that Jessica's resistant to surgery
and just making excuses as to why she wouldn't want to get it.
But right now, with Jessica's health,
like, she already has health issues.
She already has kidney issues, she already has all these problems.
It's only gonna get worse if she doesn't do anything about the weight.
I honestly can tell you,
I would be dead today if I did not have the surgery.
Like, 100 percent.
Yeah, it's risky, but how risky is it for you to stay where you're at right now?
[Jessica speaking]
It's a lot of weight to lose on your own.
So, for me as your friend, I would suggest that you have bariatric surgery.
[Jessica] I don't want surgery
but Amanda can give me the best advice because she's already had the surgery.
She's losing the weight, it's working for her.
[Jessica speaking]
- [Amanda] You'll do great. - Thank you.
- See you later. - All right.
- Bye. - Bye-bye.
Where's Robert Earl?
Hey, Robert.
Hey, baby.
- What you doing? - Nothing.
[Jessica] Robert is my nephew.
Robert is like the match, you know, the little red thing on the end of the match?
You just touch it and fire just goes.
That's how Robert is,
that's the kind of energy he gives off.
Robert just makes me forget all my problems.
[producer speaking]
From the solar system to heaven.
Doing what I do best, sleeping.
[Jessica laughs]
Yeah, you got to get out and exercise.
[Diane] Jessica stays home because it's hard for her
to maneuver to get out of the house.
If she gets out of the house then you got to be right there
so she doesn't have to walk very far 'cause she's got to rest,
she can't breathe, but she's a good kid.
She'll help the world. I don't care who it is,
if you come in and you need something she's got,
she'll give you anything she owns.
Okay, Robert Earl, I got a surprise.
You gonna work with Aunt Jessica with her surprise?
Maybe.
[Crystal speaking]
[Jessica speaking]
Ain't nobody asked you what you wanted, ma'am.
Did I ask you what you want?
[Jessica and Robert laughing]
[Jessica speaking]
[Diane speaking]
[Diane] That tree is good.
[Jessica speaking]
I ain't eating that stuff. I'm not eating broccoli
if it's the last thing on this earth.
[Diane speaking]
[Robert speaking]
If you can't put cheese on it and make it taste good,
you don't supposed to eat it.
If you can't dip it in ketchup and make it taste good,
it should have never been invented.
[Robert] No.
[Robert speaking]
[Jessica] Mm-hmm. [laughs and coughs]
[Robert speaking]
[exclaims] Why?
'Cause it's not as easy to get it off as it was to get it on.
So, you know what?
I've been looking at stuff and researching,
and I was thinking about having surgery.
Bariatric surgery.
They go in and surgically make your stomach smaller.
You'll hold my hand through it all?
And you'll help me out?
[Robert speaking]
I know.
Tell her, that's why we got to change, we got to do better,
and we can do it together, so we don't lose her.
[Robert] Mm-hmm.
Robert always inspires me to be better, get better.
You know, he don't really understand why Aunt Jessica can't come to school.
You know, school events and functions.
I miss all of that, and I should be there for that.
Well, at this point, I'm scared,
but it ain't no different than being scared of not waking up in the morning.
If this is what you want, I'll stand behind you,
but, I want you to know this is gonna be really hard.
[Jessica] I know.
[Jessica crying]
I mean, you're in a situation where you're unsafe either way you go.
If you keep living like this, you know the outcome.
If you have the surgery, you know the risk of the outcome.
But it could all work, it could.
And you could train your mind,
and you could do the right thing.
- I'm just tired of living like this. - [Crystal] I know.
I wanna be able to do stuff with Robert.
[Jessica] I wanna be somebody. Like, I wanna
be out in the world. I don't want to be stuck behind a wall.
[Jessica speaking]
I feel like this is where my road has led to.
This is my last chance.
I have to take control of this. I want to live.
[Robert speaking]
[Jessica] Thank you.
[Jessica] I don't have a clue what my current weight is,
but I know it's gonna be a big number.
I'm worried about you, I really am.
You are a very, very unhealthy person,
and we're starting from a very bad place here.
[Jessica speaking]
[Lori] You're welcome.
I'm glad I got to do it. Really glad.
[Jessica] Today, I'm going to see Dr. Procter,
the bariatric surgeon I found through Amanda.
And my friend Lori is bringing me to the appointment
because she has a vehicle that I can get in and out of,
that's more accommodating for my size.
[Jessica gasps]
[Lori speaking]
- [Lori] Okay, hold on. - [Jessica laughs]
I got it, you got it. Okay.
[Jessica wheezing]
[Jessica gasping for breath]
Hey.
[receptionist speaking]
- Yes, ma'am. - [receptionist speaking]
[Jessica] I'm walking in to Dr. Procter's office.
I'm nervous because
what if he tells me, "I'm not comfortable working on you
because you're bigger than anybody I've ever worked on."
- Hello. - Hey.
- Jessica? - Yes, sir. How are you?
- Hi, I'm Charlie Procter. - Yes, sir.
- Nice to meet you. - You, too.
You want to talk about weight loss surgery?
Yes, sir, I do.
Well, good, well, tell me a little about yourself.
- Um, the past two years have been hell. - How so?
I've had to stop driving these last nine months, I haven't driven
because my legs swell so bad that I'm not comfortable.
You know, it's not living.
Do you have a lot of medical problems?
I have high blood pressure, sleep apnea,
and the endometrial cancer.
[Jessica speaking]
So you're having difficulty now just even with surveillance
- to see where your cancer is. - Right.
[Jessica speaking]
[Dr. Procter] I've had high-risk patients here before
but Jessica is one of the younger patients I've seen.
She already has endometrial cancer.
She understands that at any night,
she could just quit breathing and die.
So, Jessica's stakes are extremely high.
[Dr. Procter] You are trapped in a body that's gonna kill you.
- You know that. - Yes, sir.
- We have to change this today. - Yes, sir.
So, let's start by getting on the scales and see where we're starting from.
[Jessica speaking]
I don't have a clue what my current weight is.
So when I step on the scale,
you know, I know I don't want to see a big number
but I know it's gonna be a big number.
[weight scale beeps]
[Dr. Procter] All right, 708 pounds. Go ahead and have a seat.
[Jessica speaking]
Um, I'm worried about you. I really am.
You are a very, very unhealthy person,
and we're starting from a very bad place here.
We have to make some major changes
before we can ever even think about getting you to the operating room.
- [Jessica] Oh. - All right?
That starts, number one, with weight loss.
[Dr. Procter] Jessica, at 31 years old
is on her way to a quick grave.
"At a height of 5' 4", weighing 708 pounds,
that puts her at a BMI, a body mass index,
of 125 kilograms per meter squared.
A BMI of 40 is morbidly obese.
A BMI of 121 really doesn't even have a name.
I want to see you drop 50 pounds over the next month.
You ever done that before?
You think you can lose 50 pounds in 30 days?
You're gonna amaze yourself,
that if you make a commitment to yourself,
to your health, to you living longer,
that if you just make these incremental changes in your diet,
you're gonna see that weight come off.
I can try. If it's meant to be, it'll be.
[Dr. Procter] It's worrisome when somebody tells me
what they can't do right at the start.
It tells me they're already somewhat defeated.
She's more than capable of losing 50 pounds over the next month,
and really, even more.
You know, if she wants to live,
she has to completely change her mindset and commit to this.
This is life or death for you, that's what you have to think about
every time you want to cheat on your diet,
every time you want to eat a little bit later,
every time you're gonna do something that moves you further away from
a potential surgery that's gonna save your life,
that's what you have to think about.
- We have a deal? - I'm ready.
- All right. Jessica, it was great to meet you. - You too.
I'm looking forward to joining you
- with this journey. - Yes, sir. Thank you.
- All right, I'll see you son. - Yes, sir. Thank you.
Fifty pounds sounds like a big number.
[Jessica] It's gonna be a lot on my end...
but life is hard, so...
It's hard where I'm at now, so it can't get any harder.
Okay.
I'm just gonna come in here and watch you.
[Danielle] All righty.
Dr. Procter gave me a goal to lose 50 pounds in a month
before I can have surgery.
I'm starting my diet
[Jessica speaking]
...for my, um, healthy diet.
Salad, a good old salad.
We're gonna let Miss Jessica taste this
and we're gonna prep the rest of it.
I'm gonna get you a fork, Miss Jessica.
It's good. Thank you.
- It's good? All right. - Yes, ma'am.
- Thank you. - Got this.
Amanda.
- How are you doing? - Good. How are you?
- So wonderful to see you. - You too.
Oh my goodness!
[Amanda] Jessica has told me that she decided to do surgery,
so since I'm due for my two year check-up anyway,
then it gave me a chance to talk to Dr. Procter
about Jessica.
- It's amazing. - Thank you.
So, uh...
Very different from our first meeting
- two and a half years ago, right? - Yes.
So, I wanted to thank you for taking on my friend Jessica.
She told me she had an appointment a few days ago.
Yes, I really enjoyed meeting her,
but I worry for her
because I sort of feel like she is trying to go this somewhat alone,
- Yeah. - and as you know, that's not a very easy thing to do.
Right. And she lives by herself, so it's really just her.
But I'm hoping that I can help her
since I'm getting my certifications
as a licensed nutritionist and wellness coach.
- Good for you. - Thank you.
[Amanda] I decided to become a wellness coach
because I wanted to be able to give back.
Hey, guys.
Thank you for hopping on for another motivational Monday.
So, this week we're going to talk about food guilt.
[Amanda] Jessica is the first person that I'm really working with
one on one since I've started this whole process of becoming a certified nutritionist
and life wellness coach.
I have a lot riding on this, not only for her but for me, because I want to see
if the skills that I've learnt and my life experience can actually help somebody
that is in the situation that I was once in.
I just really wanna be there for Jessica.
Well, that's something that's going to be great for her.
It's a tremendous asset.
As you know, this is a tough journey to go on
and just having that kind of encouragement along the way
is going to do her a lot of good, so...
Let's weigh you in. See how things are going here.
[Amanda] I was 715 pounds at my highest weight,
and it's been about three years
since I have been on my weight loss journey.
Right, right, step up.
[Amanda] There was a point where I was obsessed with
what the number on the scale said.
So, for me, I try not to look at the scale as much.
[machine beeps]
- 220 pounds. - Yeah.
- It's a big difference from 715 pounds. - Big difference, yeah.
That's great.
[Dr. Procter] I am really proud of Amanda,
not only physically, but such a huge change mentally with her
and the things that she's done.
I really hope that seeing everything that Amanda has accomplished
will be a big inspiration for Jessica.
What's next on the horizon?
Um, anything I can do to help Jessica, like, I'm on board with...
Like I told you before, she reminds me so much of me
'cause our stories are so similar.
[voice breaks] My heart just goes out to her so much
because I know what it's like [crying]
to be that way and it just breaks my heart.
So, if I can use
my experience to help someone, then that's what I want to do.
You know, you've, you've...
literally worked your tail off.
- Yeah. Right. - [both laughing]
I am terrified for Jessica right now
because I don't think that she has the choice of wasting time.
And I hate to say this because it sounds crude
but she basically has one foot in the grave right now.
And what she does with her other foot is gonna decide
whether she steps backward or she falls in.
I don't think she realizes how sick she is
and she won't be independent much longer.
Right.
- Hey. - Hi girl.
Do you feel like you've lost weight?
I don't think that I have.
What you've done before up to this point hasn't worked.
I don't wanna get a phone call saying that you didn't make it.
[cell phone ringing]
Good morning, Jessica.
Good morning. How are you?
I am well. How are you?
It's nice to meet you.
Yes, ma'am.
[Jessica] These past few days,
I've changed a lot of things in my diet
and overall, I do feel better from changing them.
I think that I'm doing everything right.
The next step is
I have to talk with the bariatric psychologist.
It's part of the check list before you can have surgery.
It's a lot to go through.
So, one of the things
that I want you to try on
is just visualization of what you want your life to be like.
Picture as many, you know, real life scenarios
that would bring you happiness and joy,
um, as you can.
It's like mentally rehearsing what you're gonna do,
when you get healthier.
I just wanna get back to work.
I was a CNA in the nursing home
and there are still some of the residents that are still alive.
They still ask about me.
And, you know, for somebody to be able to remember you
from so long ago. That means you meant something to them.
Sure does.
Yes, I want my... And I want to...
I love, I love to buy clothes and dress and...
They don't make stuff for...
for fat people that you can afford anyways.
And then they wanna put flowers on everything
and I don't wanna look like no flower garden.
I just wanna be one flower in the garden, not the whole garden
[both laughing]
We're going to use that little analogy of a flower because you're gonna have
to take good root in this new way of life so you can grow.
Yeah, right now, I don't have a green thumb.
[both laugh]
So, continue to mentally rehearse
those things that you wanna do
because I hear some really great goals.
Dr. Stapleton's bedside manner is very good.
I like talking to her.
My next appointment with Dr. Procter is coming up in two weeks
and I really do feel like surgery is my last chance,
so I need to just keep pushing.
I look forward to meeting with you again and hearing
about your visualizations for what's to come in your life.
- Yes, ma'am. - All right, talk to you soon.
- All right. - Bye-bye.
-Jessica, it's Amanda. I'm here. -Come in.
I'm back here.
- Hey. - Hi, girl.
[Amanda] After talking to Dr. Procter, I called Jessica the other day
and asked her if it would be okay if I came over.
I know she has to see Dr. Procter again in a few weeks.
And hopefully, I can help motivate her
and get her moving in the right direction.
You mind if I take this off?
- Not at all. Go ahead. - You know I'm always extra safe. Okay.
- We're both high risk, so. - Yeah.
- It's real crazy. - I have a bag full of goodies.
I know it's been difficult lately that you've been going through some things,
and I'm just concerned. I want you to stay on track
and get to where you need to be.
Do you think that right now
that you feel like you've done well or that you've lost weight?
[sighs] I don't think that I have.
I'm a bit more short of breath,
you know, so I don't feel like I'm progressing the way I should.
I want to join a gym, you know,
and exercise daily but I can't breathe to get started, you know.
I know you can't go to the gym right now,
but there is a lot of other workouts
you can do right here at your house.
So, I brought these resistant bands.
Put it on, on your arms as far up as you can get them and just, like,
and pull them out and stretch them out, so you try it.
Oh, wow.
This is kind of hard.
- Yeah, it's tough. - [both laugh]
Are you able to put things over your feet and pull a little bit.
- And that would help with-- - Kind of like this?
Yeah, and see that it helps some of the circulation in your legs.
See, you can exercise so don't tell yourself that you can't.
- Do you feel like you're eating better? - Um...
It's really hard for me to eat as many times in a day as they want me to.
What you've done before up to this point hasn't worked.
So, you have to trust the process,
you have to trust Dr. Procter and you have to trust the nutritionist,
and you have to do what they say.
All right, this is not...
I don't like it, it's, my life depends on it.
So, you have no choice.
You have to do this because if not,
I don't wanna get a phone call saying that you didn't make it.
Like, I want to get a phone call
from you telling me to come pick you up
so we can go get our nails done. That's what I want.
At this point, I need Jessica to face reality
and know that she has to put forth her full effort
because if Jessica doesn't meet her goal and doesn't get the surgery,
she's not gonna be here much longer.
So, I'll continue our workouts and communicate with her
and do everything I can to help her.
So, we need to get serious, okay?
- Promise? - Yes.
I woke up today.
I really don't feel good.
I haven't peed in a few days and...
I'm freezing to death, I can't get warm.
I just feel horrible.
I hurt really, really bad. I can't get comfortable.
I am kind of short of breath
and that always scares me...
that it could be another blood clot in my lungs.
I want to just gonna lay here
and try to make it go away.
But if I lay here and wait too long,
what if something is really, really wrong?
Then what if it's too late?
I don't understand.
Why, why can't you get up
and go to the doctor?
You're never gonna get better if you don't do something.
[siren wailing]
[Danielle] All righty, ma'am. How you feeling?
- Tired. - Tired.
- You can give me that. - Okay.
I look at it as the worst...
- Okay. - ...hospital stay.
- It was? - Yeah.
-Sorry to hear that. Sorry to hear that. -I just wanna lie down.
- And rest. - She looked tired,
funny breathing and everything,
So, I'm just concerned, I'm just worried.
She is feeling depressed, she is down.
So, I'm worried that Jessica is not gonna push herself to lose the weight.
But, she just can't give up. She got to keep pushing.
She will get that goal, she just got to keep pushing.
- Make sure you get some rest now, okay? - Yes, ma'am.
- Thank you. - See you later.
[Jessica] I'm supposed to go see Dr. Procter in a few days
and I'm nervous 'cause I don't feel close to my goal.
But at the same time, I just need to get better first.
I just wanna sleep
and just be left alone for a while.
Let's try with the beginning.
Let's put a little heart and soul.
- Start with the basics? - Yes.
- We're supposed to put this in there first? - Yes.
Yeah, because you wanna kind of, you know, irrigate it a little bit.
Thank you.
So, how is the coaching going?
I went over to Jessica's house
to just get her started on...
- try and get her more active. - Mm-hmm.
But I don't think she is taking any of it seriously.
- I don't know. - Really?
I told her several times, I'll continue our workouts
and communicate with her and do everything I can to help her.
But since then,
she doesn't answer my calls.
- Really? - Yeah.
[Amanda] I heard through a mutual friend
that Jessica had to spend time in the hospital
and I'm very worried about her.
Jessica has to lose weight and get this surgery
in order to take care of her cancer and save her life.
She is just mentally... I don't know if she is ready or not.
But the problem is, she's at the point
where she doesn't have a choice to take her time.
Okay.
Because if she doesn't do something right now, she is not gonna be here.
And that's what my fear is with her is that
when she decides to do something, it's gonna be too late.
Well, you just have to keep trying.
My weight loss journey started out with 578 pounds.
I met Amanda at my initial appointment with Dr. Procter,
and I know I couldn't have gotten through my surgery process without her,
and I hope that
Jessica will understand that she has a team that's behind her.
And that Amanda will walk with her through the entire process.
I mean one thing I can say personally is
when I had those times when I wasn't on track, you didn't give up on me.
-You still were right there calling, you know, -Right.
"Lashandria girl, get it together."
- Um, so, you know, you just have to keep trying. - Right.
I think I need to find a way
to get through to Jessica from a different perspective.
Because this is a life or death situation.
If I don't get Jessica to have this surgery,
I don't see her having another year.
You ready to go?
You've got to go to the doctor.
Excuse me?
[Jessica] Today, I'm supposed to see Dr. Procter
to see if I met my goal,
but I don't feel that I've lost what I need to in my journey
So, it's gonna be
such an inconvenience, such an embarrassment to go to the doctor.
I'll just stay home. I just rather be here.
I don't understand, I don't understand.
Why? Why can't you get up and go?
You're never gonna get better if you don't do something.
[sighs]
But, the bottom line is...
you gotta step up, you gotta be who you gonna be,
regardless of whatever is going on in life.
You do understand?
Yes, ma'am.
So, bottom line,
we gotta do what we gotta do to get to what we gotta get.
I don't know.
You got your hair up, you ready to go, right?
[sighs]
This makes no sense.
Not coming back until you decide,
you're gonna get out of this house
and you're gonna live your life.
[Jessica] I don't need anybody's opinion.
At the end of the day,
I'm the one who carries the weight,
so at the end of the day, if I wanna get rid of it
then that's my choice.
God might allow me to live another 50 years overweight. I don't know.
Either way, if I live another five years
or if I die tomorrow, I mean, at least I know I did what I wanted to do.
[knocking at door]
[Amanda] Jessica?
At this point, I feel like Jessica has just completely shut down.
I don't know what else to do.
[Amanda] We're finally here. That was a long drive.
[Lashandria] Yes it was.
Well, I'm hoping that you can help me get through to Jessica
'cause I don't really... I don't know what else to do.
So, I'm hoping that you can help me
bring a different perspective to her, so we can get through to her.
[Amanda] Jessica hasn't been answering my calls for weeks now.
I called Dr. Procter. He said that she canceled her weigh-in last week.
So, honestly, I'm going in with a hopeful attitude
to Jessica's house with Lashandria
but at this point, I feel like Jessica has just completely shut down,
so I'm not very optimistic right now.
[knocking at door]
Jessica?
[Amanda] I know she is home.
- Let me try and call her. - All right.
[cell phone ringing]
I'm gonna leave her a message.
'Cause it's not just me. She is not even going to her doctor's appointments.
[operator] Your call has been forwarded
to an automated voice messaging system.
- At the tone, please record your message. - [beep]
Jessica, this is Amanda. I'm outside your house. I know that you're home.
I have a friend here, Lashandria that I brought to talk to you.
She's been through some of the same things
that you've been through,
so we are just trying to get you the help that you need
because we both care about you.
[Amanda] I know she's home because she doesn't go any places with her mobility.
Please just call me back.
She is in a defensive mode right now which I understand because I was there.
It was like I was trapped in my own body.
Like, it's constant excuses,
that one after the other.
I am so sorry that she is not responding.
It's just frustrating when you give 100%,
but then you can't get at least 50% back.
[Amanda] I'm terrified for Jessica right now.
This is not about letting me down,
but she is also letting herself down.
She has people in her life that depend on her.
And she is not doing them any justice either by avoiding this,
because by the time she decides to do something, it's gonna be too late.
- [Dr. Procter] Hi, Amanda. - Hi.
How are you?
Good. How are you?
Just got tested for work,
so if you don't mind, take this off. I know you have also.
Yeah.
So, what's going on?
Well, I was coming by to talk about Jessica.
After Jessica not answering the door
and not responding to messages or anything else,
I came to see Dr. Procter because I don't know what else to do.
And for me,
Dr. Procter is more than just my physician.
He is more like a friend and a mentor.
Um, actually, I took Lashandria over to her house the other day
to try and get in contact with her.
We went there and nothing, she wouldn't come outside, she wouldn't answer the door.
And I know she's home 'cause and I know she didn't go off anywhere.
So, I was just gonna see
if there is anything else that I can do to try and help her, or...
- You know, all we can is be here at this point. - Right.
We can't force anybody to wanna come in
and walk into a bariatric surgeon's door, right?
You can't force them to want a lifestyle change.
It is just gonna have to happen within her first,
just like it did with you.
I just wish there was more that I could do because I know where she is at mentally.
She makes appointments because that's what we do to avoid it.
We just try and pacify you, so that...
or whoever, so that they know,
okay, "I'm gonna give you enough so you'll leave me alone,
and I can continue to do what I want to do."
You know, this never comes easy, right?
Um, you know, you've been a life coach now and you don't win 'em all.
Right.
I wish we did, but we don't.
[Dr. Procter] Well, I'm afraid that Jessica is...
I don't think she is gonna live much longer
at her current weight with her medical conditions going on.
And unfortunately, a patient who is unable or unwilling to work with us,
we just don't have time to continue with that.
There are so many patients out there that need our help.
We'll go ahead and focus on the folks that we can help
and hope that Jessica comes around one day.
I'm gonna try to keep trying, but I just...
I want it for her but at this point I feel like
I want it for her more than she wants it for her
and it just don't work that way.
Yeah.
With Jessica, it just makes me...
I mean, it really hurts to be honest.
And it's hard to let go when you know that someone can change their life,
but they don't believe that they can do it.
It's really hard, but I'm not gonna give up.
Well, thank you for seeing me so late and for always having your doors open.
Absolutely, keep trying to save the world, okay.
- Thank you. - Come on.
Bye.
- Have a good night. - You too.