An obese man who was bed-ridden for more than two years because he tipped the scales at 729lbs (330.6kg) has shed half of his body weight.
Cillas Givens, 35, lost a whopping 416lbs (188.7kg) when he realised he was at risk of losing his life and not seeing his step-daughters grow up.
He traveled from his home in Fairview, Oklahoma, to Houston, Texas to meet Dr Younan Nowzaradan, a weight loss surgeon.
The journey was so difficult for Mr Givens that firemen had to assist with lifting him in and out of a van.
But with sheer determination, he managed to beat his food addiction and celebrated by proposing to his girlfriend, Jessica, whose surname is unknown.
Mr Givens’ story was told on what has been dubbed the ‘most dramatic’ episode ever of the TLC show My 600lb Life.
Cillas Givens, 35, of Fairview, Oklahoma, lost a whopping 416lbs (188.7kg) when he realised he was at risk of losing his life. Pictured before weight loss
Mr Givens shed half of his 729lb (330.6kg) body weight. Pictured after
Mr Givens had the help of Dr Younan Nowzaradan, a weight loss surgeon, on the TLC show My 600lb Life. Pictured with Dr Now and his girlfriend, Jessica
Mr Givens celebrated by proposing to his girlfriend, Jessica, whose surname is unknown
Mr Givens, thought to have struggled with his weight since he was a child, said his size was affecting his family life.
He was missing out on spending time with Jessica and his three step-daughters Brooklyn, Emily and Nevaeh.
In a heartbreaking promotion video, one of Mr Givens’ step-daughters said: ‘My dad needs to lose a lot of weight so he can play with me.’
‘I’m extremely determined to make my family proud,’ Mr Givens said. In the clip, he struggled to get out bed and needed a walker.
He had been confined to the medical bed for two and a half years, struggling to breathe without an oxygen supply or move normally.
But he put his faith in Dr Nowzaradan, also known as Dr Now, who, depending on a patient’s progress, offers surgery.
This is normally a gastric bypass surgery where staples are used to create a small pouch at the top of the stomach, therefore bypassing the rest of the stomach and making the person feel fuller quicker when they eat.
During his journey to Houston, Mr Givens had to stop in Denton, Texas, because his oxygen was running low.
Old photos show that Mr Givens had struggled with his weight from a young age
Mr Givens had been confined to a medical bed for two and a half years, struggling to breathe or move normally. Pictured in the consultation room
The journey to Houston, Texas, to meet Dr Now, was so difficult for Mr Givens that he needed to go to hospital immediately for an infection in his legs
‘We’ve made it to Denton, Texas, and I’m at my limit right now,’ he said in a voiceover.
‘My back is really hurting real bad so I just need to get out but this isn’t going to be simple for me.’
Mr Givens was worried the hotel wouldn’t have a bed that could hold his weight, or how he would get to the hotel room in the first place.
On leaving the van, Jessica called the fire department who arrived a short time later in a truck.
Mr Givens explained to the firefighters that he weighed over 600lbs and needed an extra hand getting out of the van before the camera cut away.
Although nervous and anxious about the journey to come, Mr Givens said it was better than being stuck in a van.
He met Dr Nowzaradan at the hospital and was admitted immediately as he had an infection in his legs.
Mr Givens was missing out on spending time with Jessica and his three stepdaughters Brooklyn, Emily and Nevaeh. Pictured at what is believed to be his home with family
Mr Givens has difficulty moving and so needed the help of firefighters to transport him from a van to a hotel room on his journey to see Mr Now. Pictured being pushed in a wheelchair
In the first two months Mr Givens shed a whopping 211lbs under the care of Dr Now (pictured)
After undergoing the surgery, Mr Givens continued losing weight, didn’t need an oxygen supply anymore and was able to walk for the first time in years. Pictured with Jessica
Over the following two months, Mr Givens lost a whopping 211lbs under the care of Dr Now.
He was then transferred to a physical therapy centre, although it is not clear for how long, before being released home.
But at home Mr Givens struggled without the support of a doctor and lost just 5lbs over the next two months.
However, he got back on track and was finally approved for weight loss surgery after shedding a total of 271lbs (123kg).
After undergoing the surgery, Mr Givens continued losing weight, didn’t need an oxygen supply anymore and was up and walking for the first time in years.
He began doing things with his family and at the end of 12 months he was down to 313lbs (142kg) after shedding a total of 416lbs (188.7kg).
To celebrate he proposed to girlfriend Jessica – who wiped away tears as she said: ‘Yes!’
After putting a ring on her finger and then going to a trampoline park with his stepdaughters, Mr Givens said: ‘I am so close to the having the life I dreamed of.’
The popular show sees a number of people in dire situations losing hundreds of pounds. But it’s a rarity they are able to lose more than half their body weight.