Tammy Slaton skilled tragedy when her husband, Caleb Willingham, died on the age of 40 in June 2023. The couple met at a weight reduction rehab middle, and their relationship has been documented on the TLC sequence 1000-Lb. Sisters.
Caleb has been featured within the newest season of the present, which premiered on TLC in December 2023. Within the December 26 episode, Caleb scheduled a gathering with Dr. Smith, Tammy’s physician. “It’s been 2 weeks since Tammy left rehab, and I can’t let you know how a lot I miss my spouse,” Caleb mentioned. “In fact, me being the emotional eater that I’m, my weight loss plan has gone to hell.”
At his weigh-in, Caleb weighed 537 kilos. Dr. Smith informed Caleb that he didn’t need to do the burden loss surgical procedure till Caleb acquired all the way down to 500 kilos. Nevertheless, Dr. Smith warned Caleb that he must return to rehab after the surgical procedure.
Through the January 9 episode, Tammy traveled to see Caleb in rehab for the primary time in 2 months. When he stepped on the dimensions once more, Caleb weighed 524.6 kilos. “I’m conflicted,” Caleb mentioned. “On one hand, I’ve misplaced 12.5 kilos, however in my head and in my coronary heart, I do know that I must be beneath 500. It’s all lack of self-discipline on my half.”
Tammy was involved about her husband, and he or she was disillusioned when she noticed snacks in his room. “I don’t wanna be the explanation for stress and burdens,” Caleb informed Tammy. “I wanna be the explanation that issues assist get fastened and simpler for you. And I haven’t performed that. And I really feel like sh*t for it. It’s simpler to leap in and simply eat a bunch of junk than to speak to you.”
Later, Caleb vowed to “battle” so he may come residence to Tammy. “It’s not all concerning the snacks,” Tammy mentioned. “Meals dependancy is lethal, and I want you to know that that is critical. It’s life or dying.”
Tammy’s go to continued within the January 16 episode, and he or she was “decided” to get Caleb again heading in the right direction. She had Caleb throw away his unhealthy snacks. “I can’t afford to go backwards,” Caleb mentioned. “There’s extra to life than meals. I’ve my spouse who loves me, and he or she’s confirmed that point and time once more. So now it’s time to indicate her the identical respect.”
Earlier than Tammy left, Caleb performed a romantic date evening. However all of the meals he acquired for them was fried, which left Tammy “perturbed.” He picked what “was her favorites” for his or her date. “After what we went by, you bought meals we’re actually not speculated to be consuming,” Tammy informed him.
She added in a confessional, “I’m not simply upset that Caleb isn’t making wholesome decisions. He was simply within the hospital, and clearly the meals dependancy is worse than I believed it was.” Caleb knew that Tammy was disillusioned. “After this dinner, I really feel torn aside,” he mentioned. “I let her down. I made a nasty resolution. There was no moderation on this meal. I want to make things better, not make them worse.”
Later, Caleb informed Tammy that dropping 25 kilos shouldn’t be that onerous for him. “Show it,” Tammy mentioned. Caleb cried when Tammy left the rehab middle. “I really feel such as you’re working away without end,” he mentioned.
Within the subsequent episode, Caleb despatched Tammy a candy care package deal. Tammy admitted that it was “good” that Caleb was attempting to indicate his love “even from a distance.” Caleb confessed that he missed Tammy a lot. Regardless of texts and FaceTime calls, it’s not sufficient for him. “On the finish of the day, you at all times need extra,” he mentioned.
Tammy requested about him getting on the dimensions once more, however Caleb was hesitant. She mentioned she’s “disillusioned” in him and bummed that he can’t go on trip along with her to Florida. Caleb promised that he would work “exhausting” to get the burden loss surgical procedure and get again on monitor. “I’m gonna bust my ass to see you once more,” Caleb informed Tammy.
The January 30 episode picked up with Tammy nonetheless on the seashore along with her household. She spoke to Caleb by way of FaceTime, and he was upset that he couldn’t be there along with her. “Initially, I used to be speculated to be on this household journey,” he mentioned. “I used to be speculated to be dropping this weight, and it hurts all of the extra pondering that this might have been like a honeymoon. You already know, that was the plan. And right here I’m nonetheless in rehab.”
Tammy confessed that she felt like she was “leaving” Caleb “additional behind” now that she was out of rehab. Nevertheless, she did say that Caleb sounded “constructive” for the primary time shortly, so she thought this was a great step in the best course.
Caleb admitted that his “emotional consuming” had began “spiraling uncontrolled.” He added, “I used to be actually pondering that her arising right here would make issues so significantly better. However like, meals is the dependancy that I’ve as a result of I want an escape for all my feelings and that’s what consuming does.”
He revealed that he’d been coughing much more just lately and had been getting 2 respiration remedies a day. “We’ve acquired to stay to the constructive within the scenario. There may be extra to go, however not less than we’re headed in the best course,” he mentioned. “Tammy Slaton, I like you. I’m getting this surgical procedure. I’m getting a greater life.”
Through the February 6 finale, Tammy opened up about Caleb’s dying. Tammy admitted that she was “undecided precisely” how Caleb died. “At first, they informed me it was like a coronary heart assault as a result of he was understanding,” she mentioned. “However every thing is up within the air till I get the post-mortem again. I feel I used to be in shock greater than something at first, and all I may do was sit and stare at my sofa and I may simply image his face sitting there. At occasions, I nonetheless don’t know course of it. My greatest good friend’s gone.”
She later added, “As a result of I’m Caleb’s spouse, I’ve a whole lot of choices to make. However I’m going to speak to his household about it. I need to respect their needs.” Two weeks later, Tammy acquired again from Ohio after getting preparations collectively and packing up Caleb’s issues. Tammy determined to have Caleb cremated after talking along with his household.
Main as much as the memorial service, Tammy was “nervous.” Billy, a house care nurse who married Tammy and Caleb, attended the funeral. Caleb’s household couldn’t make it, so his associates got here on their behalf. Tammy broke down in tears on the service, and certainly one of Caleb’s associates performed certainly one of his songs.
“Listening to Caleb’s track kinda felt like a hug from him. He was truly actually good. He had expertise. He couldn’t sing, however he may rap,” she mentioned. Caleb’s good friend additionally learn a poem that Caleb wrote whereas he was in rehab with Tammy. “The poem was one of many final issues Caleb wrote me,” Tammy revealed. “Caleb and I had a whole lot of plans. We needed to develop previous collectively. We needed to take a seat on the entrance porch and watch the sundown. We even needed youngsters. And now, that’s not going to occur.” Maintain studying to find out about Caleb, his relationship with Tammy, and his tragic dying.
What Occurred to Caleb Willingham?
One week after getting back from her Florida trip, Tammy obtained the surprising information about Caleb. She was on the telephone along with her cousin when “out of nowhere” she acquired a textual content from a good friend that learn, “Caleb’s non-responsive. And no pulse.” An hour later, her good friend texted once more and mentioned Caleb was textual content. He handed away on June 30, 2023, at 2:56 p.m. Tammy confirmed her husband’s passing in a heartbreaking assertion to PEOPLE a day later.
“I’m devastated to share the information of my husband’s passing,” the truth star mentioned on July 1. “He was my greatest good friend and I liked him dearly. Once I met Caleb he turned my guardian angel and now he actually is watching over me. Our households respect everybody’s sympathy and ask that you simply respect our privateness presently.”
TLC additionally addressed Caleb’s dying in an announcement. “We’re deeply saddened to be taught of Caleb Willingham’s passing. Our condolences exit to Tammy, his household and associates at this tough time,” the community mentioned.
Tammy Shared How She Discovered Out About His Loss of life
Tammy recalled the second she realized about Caleb’s dying in an interview with PEOPLE. “I acquired a textual content message from his good friend up there and the textual content mentioned, ‘Caleb’s not doing good. They’re in there engaged on him.’ 20 minutes later he texted me again and mentioned he was gone,” she mentioned.
Since his passing, Tammy revealed that he had his ashes made into jewellery, and he or she feels nearer to him by carrying it. “Understanding that he’s with me, it’s serving to me move the day. I discover myself grabbing my necklace and holding it loads. Once I take off my jewellery, I really feel prefer it’s bizarre, separation anxiousness. I begin panicking,” she informed the outlet.
What Was Caleb Willingham’s Job?
It’s unclear what Caleb did for work. Earlier than the fifth season, he appeared on just one episode of 1000-Lb Sisters. The episode aired in March 2023 and documented his and Tammy’s wedding ceremony that passed off in November 2022.
How Lengthy Have been Caleb Willingham and Tammy Slaton Married?
After assembly on the Windsor Lane Rehabilitation Heart in 2022, Tammy and Caleb acquired engaged in October and have been married by November. They mentioned “I do” on the identical rehab middle in Gibsonburg, Ohio the place they met.
“Once I noticed Caleb on the altar, I used to be simply picturing doves and butterflies throughout like God had opened up the clouds and let the daylight in,” Tammy informed Folks on the time. “It was magical. Our wedding ceremony day was good, there was a lot love within the room. I actually married my greatest good friend.”
After 5 months of marriage, The Solar reported that Tammy was within the means of submitting for divorce from Caleb. Allegedly, the couple broke up due to Caleb’s weight achieve, whereas Tammy was making progress in reducing weight. “He has gained 30 lbs and hasn’t been working his program,” a supply near Tammy informed The Solar. “They acquired into an enormous battle over it and he informed her he needed a divorce, however then he tried to backtrack.”
It’s unclear if Tammy and Caleb have been formally damaged up on the time of his dying.
Within the season 5 premiere, Caleb opened up about how he wasn’t but prepared to go away the power, and he admitted to being afraid of dropping Tammy. “The final time I’m going to see Tammy on this room. The final time I maintain my spouse’s hand, that I’ll kiss her. In my head, all that I preserve saying is, ‘Tammy’s gonna go away you. Tammy doesn’t assume that you simply’re sufficient,’” he mentioned.
At one level, Tammy spoke about how she didn’t need to go away with out Caleb within the season premiere. “I can’t think about strolling out of this place with out my husband,” she mentioned. “I let the world move me by, greatest a part of my life, due to my weight. It’s simply I’m not mentally ready to go away you.”
Within the December 26 episode, Caleb was heartbroken that he had gained weight within the 2 weeks after Tammy had left rehab. “We’ve acquired plans. We wish a household. We need to journey. It’s kinda exhausting to do this if you’re a couple of hundred miles away,” Caleb mentioned about his relationship.
Caleb informed Tammy the unlucky information about his assembly with Dr. Smith in a FaceTime name. “It sucks. I hoped Dr. Smith informed Caleb he’s misplaced sufficient weight to have surgical procedure and get his trach eliminated,” Tammy mentioned. “It bothers me that he’s backsliding, however Caleb’s very delicate, so I really feel like I can’t say something. It’s simply, I really feel like I’ve to be robust for him.”
Tammy started to cry as she thought of Caleb. She added, “I’m frightened about Caleb. I feel he’ll let melancholy set in earlier than he hits all-time low once more and will get decided to return residence. I really feel responsible, unhappy. I’m numb. I don’t know really feel… Overwhelmed, wired, simply every thing.”
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