A morbidly obese woman whose weight spiraled to 680lbs and left her bed-bound for years has made the decision to undergo extremely dangerous weight loss surgery in hopes of getting her independence back.
Chitoka Light, 49, and her cousins Naomi Anderson, 30, and Drew Stewart, 43, have been documenting their weight loss journeys on the TLC series Family By the Ton, and on Wednesday night’s season finale of the show, she is heading to the hospital for her surgery.
‘This surgery represents freedom, a freedom that I haven’t experienced in a long time,’ she explains in a preview clip for the episode. ‘A freedom to make a schedule without having to take into consideration who is going to be here to help me…I mean the freedom to just even be in my home alone without having to have someone here.’
Start of it all: Chitoka Light, 49, weighed 680lbs when she started her weight loss journey on the TLC reality series Family By the Ton
Life-changing decision: Chitoka is getting ready to undergo extremely dangerous weight loss surgery on the season finale of the show
Chitoka stresses that she is ‘ready to be self-reliant and independent,’ but thanks to her support system at home, she doesn’t have to face surgery alone.
When her trainer helps her make her way outside, she is surprised to see her family holding up signs and cheering her on.
Her cousins Drew and Naomi have already had their weight surgeries, and they are both there to support Chitoka now that it is her turn to go under the knife.
Drew is holding up a sign that reads, ‘Stay Calm It’s Chitoka’s Surgery Day, and he is determined to be there for her like she was for him.
Support system: Chitoka’s trainer Robyn helps her walk out of her house as she makes her way to the hospital
Ready to move on: Chitoka was bed-bound for years before she started working with Robyn, and she explains ‘this surgery represents freedom’
Surprise: Chitoka sees her family and friends cheering her on when she steps outside
‘Today is finally Chitoka’s surgery day and I never thought this day would come, but it’s here and I am so proud of her,’ he says during a testimonial.
‘Watching Chitoka get ready for her surgery makes me reflect on this journey that we’ve all taken this together.’
When the show first premiered, Chitoka, Drew, and Naomi weighed a combined 2,000lbs, but they are all ready to change their lives for the better by losing weight.
‘I started this journey at 673lbs, and so far I have been able to get down to 580,’ Drew explains. ‘But I still have a long way to go. It would have been a lot more difficult without Naomi and Chitoka. I wanted to reciprocate that love back to Chitoka.’
Next up: Chitoka’s cousins Naomi Anderson (far left) Drew Stewart (center) recently had weight loss surgery
Getting there: Since his surgery, Drew, 43, has gone from 673lbs to 580lbs, while Naomi, 30, was 400lbs and now weighs 317lbs
Chitoka was bed-bound for three years, and didn’t step outside of her house until she started working with a personal trainer.
She was finally approved for weight loss surgery after she was able to walk out of her house, get into a vehicle, and make her way to the hospital to meet with her bariatric surgeon Dr. Proctor.
‘Chitoka has come so far, but today is the beginning of the rest of her life,’ Naomi explains. ‘Now we begin. Now the real work starts.’
Naomi was the first of her cousins to have weight loss surgery, and she has gone from 400lbs to 317lbs.
Touched: Chitoka breaks down in tears over her family’s encouraging words and signs
Worried: As she heads to the hospital, Chitoka admits that she is still concerned about the risks involving surgery
Afraid: Chitoka explains that her biggest fear is that the surgery won’t work for her
‘It was like climbing a mountain this entire time. Each family member was a different stepping stone to get to the top,’ she explains.
‘Now it’s Chitoka’s turn and we’re at the top. We’re at the peak. We just gotta get over it.’
As she heads to the hospital, Chitoka admits that she is still concerned about the risks involving surgery, noting ‘those concerns and fears have not gone away.’
However, her biggest fear is that the surgery won’t work for her and her efforts will all be for nothing.
‘Dr. Proctor is going to get my stomach ready, but is my mind ready for it?’ she asks.