The story of Charity Pierce is one of courage, heartbreak, and the relentless fight against overwhelming health challenges.
The TLC star, once labeled the “world’s fattest woman,” has passed away at the age of 50.
Her death, surrounded by family, marks the end of a life spent battling obesity and related medical conditions that often left her housebound.
Final Moments Surrounded by Loved Ones
Pierce passed away peacefully at 1:20 AM on Tuesday, according to a family source who spoke to TMZ. In the weeks leading up to her death, she had been in hospice care due to several serious health complications.
Among these were lymphedema—a condition causing significant swelling in her legs—and fluid accumulation in her lungs, which may have contributed to her passing.
While an official cause of death has not been confirmed, the toll of her chronic illnesses was clear.
Her daughter, Charly Jo, confirmed the sad news on Facebook, expressing both grief and relief that her mother was now “finally at peace.”
She wrote emotionally about being present during her mother’s last moments, describing the experience as a mixture of love, gratitude, and heartbreak.
A Journey Captured on Television
Charity first gained national attention through TLC’s My 600-lb Life in 2014. At the time, she weighed 778 pounds and faced severe limitations in mobility.
Motivated by a desire to see her mother before she passed away from brain cancer, Pierce asked TLC to film her journey, convinced that public accountability and medical intervention were her only hope.
Dr. Younan Nowzaradan, a Houston-based surgeon known for treating patients with extreme obesity, took her case despite her weight being nearly 200 pounds over the recommended threshold for gastric surgery.
Over five months, Charity lost 128 pounds, allowing her to undergo a life-saving procedure that reduced her stomach to the size of a baseball.
Life After Surgery and Ongoing Struggles
Despite the surgery, Charity faced further challenges.
She lived with her daughter Charly and fiancé Tony Sauer, who was 17 years her junior and served as her primary caregiver.
Tragically, she could not see her mother before she died, as Charity was still recovering from surgery.
Her long-standing food addiction, rooted in trauma from witnessing her father abuse her mother, continued to affect her health.
Charity underwent additional procedures, including the removal of 57 pounds of fatty deposits from her legs and 38 pounds of excess skin, the latter of which nearly led to septic shock after a post-surgery infection.
Yet she continued to persevere, sharing her journey publicly to inspire others.
Turning Her Life Around with Family Support
In 2016, Pierce returned to TLC for My 600-lb Life: Where Are They Now?, joined by her daughter Charly.
The two shared their progress and explained how therapy helped them confront the psychological roots of their food dependency.
Together, they developed healthier eating habits, cooking meals and shopping for groceries as a team.
Over the years, Charity achieved an impressive 440-pound weight loss through surgeries and lifestyle changes.
Her transformation not only improved her physical health but also strengthened her bond with Charly, who had initially mirrored some of her mother’s unhealthy eating habits.
Challenges That Defined Her Life
Charity’s fight was about more than just numbers on a scale.
Lymphedema left her left leg so swollen that it felt like carrying an extra person, making even simple movements a struggle.
She turned to doctors and television shows for help, even creating a GoFundMe to cover ambulance transportation to Dr. Nowzaradan’s clinic.
Her health issues began decades earlier.
In 2001, after a fall down the stairs, she developed lymphedema and later survived a severe case of necrotizing fasciitis in her abdomen, losing 40 pounds of tissue during treatment.
Despite these setbacks, she remained determined to reclaim her life, often sharing her journey online to inspire others facing similar struggles.
Legacy of Resilience and Love
Charity Pierce’s life was marked by extraordinary resilience, unwavering determination, and deep love for her daughter and family.
She transformed from a woman weighed down by trauma and illness into an inspiring figure who showed the power of persistence, medical intervention, and emotional support.
While her passing is a profound loss, her story continues to inspire countless people who face their own battles with health and adversity.
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