My 600-Lb Life first introduced Ashley Randall, a 24-year-old from Killeen, Texas, during the show's inaugural season in 2012 and told one of the most heartbreaking stories in the show's history. From her troubled childhood to adulthood tragedies, Ashley garnered sympathy and support from her appearance on My 600-Lb Life, and there was considerable hope she would be able to overcome all the negativity within her life and reach her goals. Unfortunately, Ashley’s weight-loss journey would come to a tragic end in 2021.
My 600-Lb Life season 1 followed four patients throughout a seven-year period as cast members participated in Dr. Younan “Now” Nowzaradan's weight-loss program. At the time, Ashley was one of the youngest cast members to appear on TLC’s long-running medical reality series and weighed 617 pounds. While she was not the heaviest of season 1's patients, Ashley’s young age made her more vulnerable to gaining even more weight before she reached her 30s, which concerned her greatly.
My 600-Lb Life's Ashley Randall's Weight Loss Journey
Like most cast members on My 600-Lb Life, Ashley Randall faced not only weight issues, but a lot of personal trauma throughout her life. While appearing on the show, Ashley revealed that she lost her father, who was one of her biggest supporters, to cancer. The death of her father left Ashley feeling alone and isolated, and she turned to food to cope with her grief. While her father was her biggest supporter, Ashley’s mother was her biggest critic, constantly belittling and demeaning her daughter because of her weight.
Ashley's Mom Added To Her Trauma On My 600-Lb Life
While Ashley’s mom wasn’t an enabler like some families on My 600-Lb Life, fans were quick to point out how her toxic behavior and unkind words negatively affected Ashley during her weight loss journey. In a Reddit thread by u/Stolovich, one fan proclaims that, “There is no greater wound that can be inflicted in a child than to not have their mother’s love and acceptance. Her mom had no idea how truly hostile and mean-spirited those harsh remarks about Ashley’s weight were.” The fan continued, “How healthy is someone going to be who believes that their mother doesn’t love them?”
Despite her personal trauma, Ashley would end her stint on My 600-lb Life weighing 253 pounds, losing nearly 400 pounds while on the TLC hit reality TV series. Ashley's inspirational weight-loss on My 600-Lb Life was notable. Subsequently, she seemed to be on the fast track to being approved for her much needed weight-loss surgery on her legs. Unfortunately, her positive trajectory was short-lived.
When Ashley returned for a special My 600-Lb Life: Where Are They Now? episode in 2015, fans were shocked to discover that she was no longer an active participant in Dr. Now's weight-loss program and had actually gained more weight since they had last seen her. At 312 pounds, Ashley was unable to get the weight-loss surgery that she needed and was told by Dr. Now that she would have to lose at least 100 pounds in order to receive the surgery.
Sadly, Ashley passed away on October 2nd, 2021, at the age of 40 years old, joining the long list of former My 600-Lb Life participants to die young. Ashley passed away after her body became septic. She had been fighting a terrible infection leading up to her death and had even caught pneumonia while at the hospital. While her death is tragic and premature, she is hopefully at peace and reunited with her father.
Source: u/Stolovich/Reddit