600-Pound Woman Dies After Being Surgically Removed From Couch

wftv.com ^ | 5:09 pm EDT August 11, 2004 | wftv.com

[Calpernia]

Right where she sat. Rescue workers had to force air into the house.

[Xenalyte]

When I catch sight of myself in the mirror after my bath tonight, I will NOT be upset.

[SheLion]

Thanks for posting this. We get good days and we get bad days. Today I thought was not so good for me. Then I read this, and believe me, I have had a GREAT day!

[Calpernia]

She didn't fit in the ambulance. They brought in a trailer.

[SheLion]

When I catch sight of myself in the mirror after my bath tonight, I will NOT be upset.

Amen! Things sure could be worse, right? ~whew

This is heart breaking.

We never know how good we have it until we read something like this. It's an eye opener.

[Bacon Man]

What the...

What you said.

[SheLion]

Check this out!

[SheLion]

How did she go to the bathroom?

In the COUCH. The stench was so bad, the firemen had to keep pumping in fresh air!

[COUNTrecount]

Calling John Edwards ... La Z Girl class action suit.

[Calpernia]

bump!

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[Searching4Justice]

I have heard of becomming one with the universe but a couch ? or wouch ?

[cyborg]

40-year-old


*** How sad.

[Judith Anne]

oh Dear God! Can you even begin to imagine?! Sounds like neglect to me. How could a family let her go that long in this condition. Very sad story here.

Extremely obese people have a great deal of discomfort in simple movement. They become obstinate, to avoid pain; also the embarrassment of being unable to take care of their own hygiene; she may not have fit through the bathroom door...I know of a patient like this whose weight broke a regular ceramic commode...

Just my own opinion, from my own observations, anyone please feel free to disagree, but I've found that the extremely obese are very demanding, very obstinate, and will not take any sort of delay in the gratification of eating. They become so obese that they cannot even roll to the side for a bedpan. They DO break ordinary hospital beds. There is a huge problem with elimination (to put it delicately) and minimal cleanliness. Most have yeast infections in skin folds.

[wimpycat]

I think I'm gonna hurl...

Was she retarded? Who fed her? Who saw her? Who paid her bills? I've got lots of questions, but OMG, this is just, well, sad and totally disgusting.

[harrycarey]

Removing her would be too painful, since her body is grafted to the fabric. After years of staying put, her skin has literally become one with the sofa and it must be surgically removed

You gotta feel bad for her. But gimme a break! Years on the sofa without getting off of it?

How did she even use the restroom?

[Chad Fairbanks]

Detectives are investigating whether they have a case of neglect

Ummm hello? Detectives? I didn't go to detective's college or anything, but I'd say that "Neglect" is one of the leading causes of reaching 600 pounds...

Glad I could help. I'm available for consulting any time.

[blackdog]

My advice to the morbidly obese who are couch captive and immobile.............Vinyl slip covers. They are stainproof, childproof, petproof, and are easily separated from your skin by the persistant layer of aqueous sweat which buffers you from sticking.

All kidding aside, there has got to be a psychiatric condition complete with definition regarding these people and their enablers.

[Calpernia]

Someone had to help her stay this way though. She couldn't leave the couch.

[wimpycat]

How did she even use the restroom?

She never left the couch...you figure it out.