What happened to Shakyia Jackson? 'My 600-lb Life' star admits to lying about hospice while filming TLC show
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA: TLC's popular reality TV show 'My 600-lb Life' follows the weight loss experiences of very obese people around the country who seek the advice of renowned bariatric surgeon Dr Younan Nowzaradan. On the show, we've seen people of all ages struggling with various health issues as they try to recover control of their bodies and lives.
However, it might be challenging when additional health conditions arise and the individual does not have a strong support system. Shakyia Jackson of Charlotte, North Carolina, appeared in a Season 12 episode and is now speaking out about how being in a coma just before filming influenced her experience.
Shakyia, one of the youngest people to feature in 'My 600-lb Life', was 26 years old and weighed 655 pounds when filming began. She had asthma and lymphedema, which made walking difficult and unpleasant.
From foster care to sexual assault, multiple painful incidents in her past caused her to turn to food for comfort, but she was ready to make a substantial difference in her life.
Shakyia lived with her mother Natasha, stepfather, sister Shaniqua, and her three children at the start of her episode. She looked to have a solid support system surrounding her.
In actuality, Shaniqua and Shakyia's friend Delilah took her to Houston, Texas, for three days to visit with Dr Now. But things changed dramatically when Shakyia arrived home.
She skipped her two-month follow-up visit with Dr Now, who had set a weight loss goal of 50 pounds for her, and then seemed to disappear for months. Soon after the episode aired, Shakiya shared her side of the story on a Facebook fan page.
She wrote, "Let me just put this out here i was in a coma for 28 days but in the physical hospital from July until March . They started back fliming in April of last year . I didn’t even get a chance to really participate
Like other cast members . So my episode has loops and questions you wanting answers to . Some answers I can’t give and some I can give . I don’t like this narrative that’s going around . "
As this may still not clear the timeline for some of the viewers but Shakyia had reasons to hold back information even though she doesn't want to. Soon before the episode aired, Shakyia again took to Facebook but this time from her own account wrote, "I didn’t want to really talk about it but I have no other choice now that it’s about to be viewed by millions of people tonight . This was filmed almost 2 years ago and finish filming last year no I don’t look the same . I am under a NDA I can’t talk much but if you will like it comes on at 8pm est . *** KEEP THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS TO YOURSELF ****."
Was Shakyia Jackson was in Hospice care?
Upon eventually reestablishing contact with Shakyia, Dr Now discovered that she had experienced respiratory failure. She recalls going to bed one night and waking up the next morning on a ventilator and requiring a walker to move about.
She informed Dr Now that her mother had kicked her out, and she was placed in hospice care. Furthermore, she was living alone in an extended-stay motel after leaving hospice care, and it didn't seem like anyone was trying to help her.
Shakyia's primary network of support, which consisted of her family and friend Delilah, seemed to vanish from view.
However, in her live sessions, Shakyia also revealed in a live stream that TLC made her mention hospice as she claims she was in a hospital at the time.
Unhappy of her narrative shown on the series, she further wrote on Facebook, "It’s so crazy how they said I stole money I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE STOLEN FROM ANYBODY EVER . I WILL ASK BEFORE I TAKE ANYTHING. ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ME WILL TELL YOU THAT . I AM THE MOST HUMBLE , SWEETHEART, KIND GIVE YOU MY LASTTYPE OF PERSON .."
Did Shakyia Jackson lose weight?
Shakyia continued to work with Dr Now, but struggled greatly. Despite his attempts to connect her with a therapist, Shakyia did not attend the appointments.
Shakyia shed 21 pounds over a year, falling short of Dr Now's 50-pound weight loss goal. Dr Now dropped her from his program due to her lack of commitment, indicating that if she got back on track and lost the 50 pounds, she may contact him, and he would consider taking her on as a patient again.
Where is Shakyia Jackson now?
Shakyia declared at the end of her episode that she was going to travel to Houston to participate in Dr Now's program, lose weight, and get back in touch with him. Shakyia looks to have launched her own craft company, yet she still resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Among other things, she offers snowglobes, pencils, phone covers, and beaded tumblers with decorations. Shakyia creates bracelets as well.