Where is Abi Ruiz now? 'My 600-lb Life' Dr Younan Nowzaradan travels to Austin to help bedridden patient lose over 300lbs
AUSTIN, TEXAS: 37-year-old Abi Ruiz has been bedridden for the past seven years owing to his weight and a horrible car accident that left him half-paralyzed. Abi from 'My 600-lb Life' Season 12 is not extremely active on social media; therefore, it's unknown where he is at present.
Brenda did upload photos of Abi and their dogs on March 16, 2023, with the message, "The boys are so happy that Daddy's home." This appeared to imply that Abi had lately seen doctors.
It looks like Abi has just come home after surgery or an operation. While it is unclear if the appointment was a follow-up or for a critical surgery, the photos show Abi making significant progress in his weight-loss effort.
Abi's smile in the shot is bigger than ever. He is still bedridden, which makes sense given that he is unlikely to regain his mobility after a single procedure and would most likely require many months of physical therapy before being able to stand.
On August 13, 2023, the TLC star celebrated the seventh anniversary of his marriage to his lovely wife, Brenda. The pair appears to be still very much in love, as Brenda frequently posts images of them together on social media.
His health remains a major concern for his family, but Abi and Brenda are determined to find happiness in their lives despite the obstacles they have encountered. The couple now lives happily in Austin with their two dogs, Teddy and Rocky, whom they appear to adore.
Who is Abi Ruiz on 'My 600-lb Life' Season 12?
In Season 12 of 'My 600-lb Life', we meet Abi from Austin, Texas. Abi, originally from Puerto Rico, was involved in a catastrophic car accident in 2014 that changed the course of his whole life.
He had fought with his weight all his life, but this accident robbed him of his mobility. "I lost feeling from my chest down," Abi, who has been bedridden for seven years, explained how a whiplash led to the displacement of his neck.
Abi had developed a bulge on his spine and was unable to feel his legs. When the swelling in his spine subsided, he was able to move his legs somewhat. Abi had been on perpetual bed rest for several years due to his injuries before appearing on the show.
His leg muscles had atrophied as a result of inactivity, and Abi wanted to manage his weight increase. He went on to say, "I've developed bed sores and lymphedema."
What happened to Abi Ruiz on 'My 600-lb Life' Season 12?
Abi's journey on 'My 600-lb Life' was unlike others we'd seen. While many of the patients featured on the show travel to Houston, Texas, where vascular and bariatric surgeon Dr Younan Now's practice is located, Abi was unable to stand on his own, making a visit to his office appear unfeasible.
When Dr Now first met Abi and his wife, Brenda, who has been his primary caregiver, he referred Abi to a physical therapist and put him on a special diet. Yet, it was not until Dr Now flew to Austin and visited with Abi in his apartment that he discovered how bad Abi was.
Abi was making every effort to adhere to the prescribed schedule, but his lack of clear objectives was beginning to get to him. Due to his bed rest, he was unable to determine his present weight and, as a result, lacked a goal weight to reach.
After five months of his journey on TV, Dr Now arranged for Abi to be moved to a medical institution. He was given a rigorous diet, cleanliness routine, and rehabilitation program when it was determined that he weighed 728 pounds.
Abi lost 605 pounds in less than a month, but he missed Brenda terribly because she couldn't stay at the facility with him because of her job. Additionally, it didn't appear that his physical treatment was progressing as Dr Now had planned.
Everyone was still pleased with the weight decrease trajectory, though.
Abi showed remarkable progress in weight, weighing 527 pounds in the seventh month. This convinced Dr Now that he was prepared for the weight-loss procedure, which led to an 80% reduction in Abi's stomach size.
When Dr David Lin, an orthopedic specialist, checked on Abi later, he discovered that his femur, and lower leg bones had fused and that surgery was required. But to have that specific operation, Abi needed to lose less than 350 pounds.
Abi weighed around 477 pounds a month after his weight-loss treatment, and he was sent home with the intention of ideally losing about 60 pounds in the next two months. As of the eleventh month, Abi weighed just 421 pounds.
At the end of his twelve-month trip, Abi shed a minimum of 325 pounds, bringing his weight down to 403 pounds.
How much does 'My 600-lb Life's Dr Younan Now charge?
Dr Now performs procedures free of charge for all patients who appear on the reality program. 'My 600-lb Life' covers the expenses required after life-saving procedures.
The show includes all medical appointments, operations, and hospital stays. Furthermore, the patients are paid a small sum of money as recompense for participating in the show.
Each patient earns $1500 for simply turning up, and $2500 for relocating closer to his clinic.
Watch 'My 600-lb Life' Season 11 on TLC on Wednesdays at 8 pm EST