S13.E04: Gary’s Journey

[CrazyInAlabama]

New, 1/22/2025

“A man who doesn’t leave his bed anymore, and depends on his mother and a team of caretakers for basic needs, struggles to lose weight”

[Scratches19]

Laying odds this does not end well. At least not from the synopsis. But of course we will watch.  

[Nerfect Drifty]

6 hours ago, Scratches19 said:

Laying odds this does not end well. At least not from the synopsis. But of course we will watch.  

I agree.  It rarely goes well when the patient is immobile.  Cillas and Marla are the only ones I can think that succeeded, and Marla only succeeded after a lot of struggle and because Dr. Now was more lenient during her time.

[CrazyInAlabama]

There was a bed bound patient last year that did pretty well.  He had injuries from an auto accident I think.    I think it was Abi from Austin TX.   

Edited January 21 by CrazyInAlabama

[Nerfect Drifty]

It went poorly, just as some of us thought.  Gary lost almost no weight over the course of the year, and didn't make much progress with physical therapy.  At least he was cooperative with physical therapy and he was a pretty nice guy.  Another name for the amiable screwup file.

He says that if his mother doesn't bring the food, he will order it for delivery.  I wonder how well that works out.  I do DoorDash part time and in about 2200 deliveries only once did I enter a customer's home.  The guy was paraplegic so I was willing to go in.  But I know in the Dasher community a lot of people are unwilling to enter a customer's home.

Also if his mother works, how does he get the food when she's gone?

Edited January 23 by Nerfect Drifty

[Pi237]

I miss the live chats these days which is a bummer.  

Gary's Mom said, 'its hard on me because I have to do Everything for him". No, you dont. That's a grown man who chose to get into that state. Yes, its a mental affliction too, like all addictions. But, its Still, ultimately, an individual's choice to participate in their recovery or not. 

And by his complaints about previous caregivers not being up to his standards, he's become very accustomed to beIng waited on hand and foot, literally.  So, Mom-Dont. If you love him, love him enough to say No. Let him use his app and go broke. 

Never saw a super morbidly obese meth addict. Wow. 

Ah well, no inflated stomach for Dr Now to play with this week. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

Gary's not the only obese addict they've shown.   Doug from Wichita Falls was an meth addict (I think meth), Kirsten had a lot of  issues too, Angie was on hard drugs according to Dr. Now's blood tests.   I'm sure there have been others.    Some are obviously stones or drunk.   

Edited January 23 by CrazyInAlabama

[Pi237]

2 hours ago, CrazyInAlabama said:

Gary's not the only obese addict they've shown.   Doug from Wichita Falls was an addict, Kirsten had issues too, Angie was on hard drugs according to Dr. Now's blood tests.   I'm sure there have been others.    Some are obviously stones or drunk.   

True, but meth is a whole ‘nother animal. I figured the other addicts were on downers, from pot to heroin. But hey anything’s possible. 

[Elizzikra]

Quote

He says that if his mother doesn't bring the food, he will order it for delivery.  I wonder how well that works out.  I do DoorDash part time and in about 2200 deliveries only once did I enter a customer's home.  The guy was paraplegic so I was willing to go in.  But I know in the Dasher community a lot of people are unwilling to enter a customer's home.

That's a good question. It's possible they leave it at the door and his mom brings it into him. She is a classic enabler so I can see her doing that. Or maybe the neighbor brings it in to him or one of his aides.

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And by his complaints about previous caregivers not being up to his standards,

I can see his point about improper bathing but at the same time, bathing Gary must be exhausting for him AND the caregiver. And not to get too graphic but how does he go to the bathroom? I didn't see a bedside commode and I can't imagine he can use a regular toilet so I guess urinal? And maybe a bedpan or just soiled sheets when he poops. That would require cleaning all over again.

[Mollywolly555]

So we had 2 hours of lying....in bed and online to Dr. Now. 

2 hours of camera shots of 2 feet barely walking 2 feet. 

Lord in Heaven, how does a mother let that happen to her child? 

[CrazyInAlabama]

18 hours ago, Elizzikra said:

That's a good question. It's possible they leave it at the door and his mom brings it into him. She is a classic enabler so I can see her doing that. Or maybe the neighbor brings it in to him or one of his aides.

I can see his point about improper bathing but at the same time, bathing Gary must be exhausting for him AND the caregiver. And not to get too graphic but how does he go to the bathroom? I didn't see a bedside commode and I can't imagine he can use a regular toilet so I guess urinal? And maybe a bedpan or just soiled sheets when he poops. That would require cleaning all over again.

Gary had pads under him, so I'm guessing that's what he uses for bathroom needs.  

I bet if the mother doesn't give Gary the food deliveries, then some of the neighbors or the aide do.  

[Natalie68]

On 1/23/2025 at 5:11 AM, Nerfect Drifty said:

It went poorly, just as some of us thought.  Gary lost almost no weight over the course of the year, and didn't make much progress with physical therapy.  At least he was cooperative with physical therapy and he was a pretty nice guy.  Another name for the amiable screwup file.

He says that if his mother doesn't bring the food, he will order it for delivery.  I wonder how well that works out.  I do DoorDash part time and in about 2200 deliveries only once did I enter a customer's home.  The guy was paraplegic so I was willing to go in.  But I know in the Dasher community a lot of people are unwilling to enter a customer's home.

Also if his mother works, how does he get the food when she's gone?

The mother is a huge problem.  It looked like she did make him food.  I knew it wouldn't end well when he called her mommy.  

[IvySpice]

This episode was like, "What if we shot an episode of Intervention and never did the intervention?" His mom needed to say she was done, and without that, there's no hope.

Watching this made me feel like I'm wasting my life worse than Gary.

[CrazyInAlabama]

Actually, it wasn't a waste of time watching.   It clearly showed how delusional Gary was, and how enabling by the mother and others hurts someone.      His delusion that getting that huge motorized chair was the same as walking showed how out of touch with reality he is.    Since this was obviously filmed at least two years ago, I wonder if anything changed with him since?    

[Pi237]

Can’t wait to see the bonus scenes…of Gary lying in bed, eating. Most boring episode yet? 

[xls]

On 1/23/2025 at 7:55 PM, Elizzikra said:

And not to get too graphic but how does he go to the bathroom? I

I wondered that too; dont feel bad.

And his income? 

[Pi237]

Ugh bonus scene-Therapist touched his feet without gloves on 🤮

[CrazyInAlabama]

On 1/25/2025 at 7:39 PM, xls said:

I wondered that too; dont feel bad.

And his income? 

When Gary was moving off the bed, there was a pee pee pad under him.   

[zengirl1215]

Did anyone else catch when the mom told the transport guys that Gary would fit through the door because he goes out it a lot via the chair? Yet, when Gary got outside that first time, he himself stated it had been a LONG time since he had been outside. That was before the physical therapist had gotten him outside. Someone was lying. Sad situation all around. Not sure if it was just the editing or what, but we never did see him eating the alleged salads he was only eating towards the end. Or his mom cooking 'lighter' meals for him. I got the feeling there was a lot about him we didn't know...medically. Like what was in all those boxes lined up in the hallway? Medical supplies...pads? And it looked like colored tubes and stuff next to the bed...what were those? Maybe my mind just wondered because the same thing happened over and over. 😕

[Nerfect Drifty]

On 1/25/2025 at 7:39 PM, xls said:

And his income? 

Could have been on disability.  But also, his mother worked, so that would take care of the income.

[Elizzikra]

Quote

I got the feeling there was a lot about him we didn't know...medically. Like what was in all those boxes lined up in the hallway? Medical supplies...pads? And it looked like colored tubes and stuff next to the bed...what were those? 

I wondered about that too. I'm thinking it was pads, skin care supplies, gloves, etc. He also had a CPAP.

Quote

But also, his mother worked, so that would take care of the income.

I don't think he lived with her though, did he? I don't know what mom does, but it's hard to imagine that she can support two separate households.

[Mahamid Frauded Me]

On 1/26/2025 at 8:10 PM, Pi237 said:

Ugh bonus scene-Therapist touched his feet without gloves on 🤮

I almost lost it with his talon toenails