Obese 600lb twins who turned to food when they were molested as kids shed 200LBS each following gastric bypass surgeries, despite one sister's heart STOPPING hours after the procedure

• e-mail

A morbidly obese woman who weighed more than 600lbs had her heart stop and faced brain damage after she and her twin sister underwent life-saving gastric bypass surgery.  

Brandi and Kandi Dreier, 30, from Vancouver, each weighed roughly 600lbs when they embarked on their weight loss journeys on the TLC reality series My 600lb Life.

'I don’t want my sister to die,' Brandi said after her sister was put in a medically induced coma. 'I need my sister to pull through this. She promised she wouldn’t leave me. I can’t do this without her.' 

Scroll down for video  

Twins in every way: Brandi and Kandi Dreier (from left to right) each weighed roughly 600lbs when they embarked on their weight loss journeys on the TLC reality series My 600lb Life

Scary times: Kandi's heart stopped and she had to be put in a medically induced coma after she and her sister underwent gastric bypass surgery 

The identical twins, who have never lived apart, had a traumatic childhood that led them to turn to food for comfort from a very young age.

Their mother was an alcoholic, their father was dealing drugs out of the house, and they were molested by one of his acquaintances.  

'As twins my sister and I have lived together our whole life, and we've had the same struggles our whole life,' Kandi explained at the start of the episode.  

'We started gaining weight when we were young, as soon as we were able to eat solid food because our biological dad used food as a babysitter.' 

Looking for love: The 30-year-old from Vancouver explained that they started turning to food for comfort the moment they could eat solid foods 

Traumatic childhood: When they were kids, their mother was an alcoholic, their father dealt drugs, and they were molested by his acquaintance

Brandi recalled that when she and her sister would cry, their father would dump an entire box of cereal on the table because he didn't want to deal with them. 

Both sisters agreed that they had a very lonely childhood, and Brandi noted that they 'only had each other — and food'. 

The twins' mom, Bobbie, admitted that they had a lot of strangers in and out of their home because their father was dealing drugs.   

'We didn't have anyone to protect us and we were molested by an acquaintance of our biological father,' Brandi explained, and Bobbie noted that no matter what proof she had, the girls' father refused to believe it. 

Sisterly bond: Brandi and Kandi have never lived apart, and they relied on each other to get ready and take care of themselves 

Out of control: Before they met with a weight loss surgeon, Kandi feared that she wouldn't be able to drive because she couldn't fit behind the steering wheel of her car 

Bobbie said that there was 'a lot of anger, a lot of violence, and a lot of fear' in their family home.

After decades of overeating, Brandi weighed 587lbs, while Kandi clocked in at 604lbs. 

The two admitted that they hardly ever left the house, noting that the only way they could function was if they helped each other get ready.  

'I am so big it is getting difficult to fit into my car. It's gotten to the point of being super uncomfortable,' Kandi said. 'I am worried that I won't be able to drive much longer because I am scared I won't be able to fit behind the wheel. But we go out because we have to.'

Horrible cycle: The two had so much anxiety when they left their house that they would immediately grab fast food to calm themselves down 

Difficult lives: The twin's mother admitted that her daughters dealt with a lot of fear and anger in their home while they were growing up 

Getting help: Brandi and Kandi traveled to Houston, Texas, to meet with obesity and weight loss specialist, Dr. Younan Nowzaradan

When they did leave their home to get food, they struggled with anxiety because people would stare at them. 

Kandi said the anxiety would cause her to have a panic attack, and when that would happen, they would get fast food to help calm them down.   

Brandi and Kandi traveled to Houston, Texas, to meet with obesity and weight loss specialist, Dr. Younan Nowzaradan. 

The doctor immediately put them on special diets to lose 50lbs each before they could qualify for weight loss surgery.

Support system: Brandi was approved for surgery first and went ahead with the operation while Kandi continued to diet. Kandi is pictured checking on her sister after her operation 

Nightmare: Kandi had a blood clot that had become dislodged and caused a pulmonary embolism and her heart to stop following her surgery 

After one month on the strict, 1,200 calories-per day diet, Brandi lost 70lbs while Kandi lost 68lbs.

Although they both lost another 30lbs each the following month, heart tests showed that Kandi's EKG was abnormal.

Brandi was approved for surgery first and went ahead with the operation while Kandi continued to diet, and after eight months, she lost enough weight that her heart readings were normal.

However, just hours after Kandi had surgery, her heart stopped and she went into cardiac arrest. 

Getting their sweat on: Following their surgeries, Brandi and Kandi focused on their weight loss and started a workout regimen 

Losing it: The twins followed a healthy diet of salads, turkey burgers, and vegetables

Life-saving surgery: After a year, Brandi and Kandi had both lost 200lbs each 

Dr. Nowzaradan explained that Kandi had a blood clot that had become dislodged and caused a pulmonary embolism and her heart to stop. Kandi was revived and put into a medically induced coma for seven days, although there were fears she suffered brain damage. 

However, when she woke up, Kandi was able to move her toes right away, and she rebounded to full consciousness without any brain damage.   

'I was terrified I lost her,' Brandi said. 

'I’m so happy you’re awake,' she told Kandi. 'I didn’t like you being asleep.'

After following a healthy diet of salads, turkey burgers, and vegetables, each sister lost more than 200lbs in one year.