A cause of death has emerged for My 600-Lb. Life participant Dolly Martinez, who passed away at age 30 from congestive heart failure. Her mother, Staci Thurman, confirmed the details, noting that Martinez was surrounded by loved ones at a Fort Worth hospital when she died.
Martinez sought medical care on March 29 after experiencing illness and related complications. Doctors discovered fluid around her heart and lungs, leading to a medically induced coma and ventilator support the following day. Despite treatment, she did not recover.
Family Pays Tribute
Half-sister and close friend Lindsey Cooper was present during Martinez’s final moments. Cooper shared a heartfelt Facebook post announcing the loss: “It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my beautiful sister, Dolly. Dolly had the brightest personality. She could light up any room with her laughter, her kindness, and her loving spirit. She had a way of making everyone feel special, and her warmth will stay with us forever.”
Cooper continued, “While our hearts are broken here, I find comfort in knowing she is now reunited with our dad in heaven. I can only imagine the joy of that reunion. Rest peacefully, Dolly. You will always be loved, always be missed, and never forgotten.”
Days earlier, on National Siblings Day, Cooper posted an urgent appeal: “Today is national siblings day and it for sure was a hard one. I haven’t made any post or let many [people] know but my sister Dolly is in the hospital and is fighting for her life. At this time I ask for prayers and privacy as we as a family navigate through this hard time.”
Struggles Featured on My 600-Lb. Life
At 25, Martinez weighed 593 pounds and required oxygen during her 2022 episode. She worked with Dr. Nowzaradan to shed weight, dropping 40 pounds but falling short of qualifying for surgery.
Martinez openly discussed her emotional battles, describing food as “the only thing powerful enough to distract me from darker thoughts.” She added, “Food is my go-to drug that takes my pain away… more than just a pleasure, it’s my reason for existing. I can’t wait for the first bite of something that will make me forget about all the misery of my life.”
She explained, “Food has caused all of the things I hate about my life but it’s the only thing I’ve ever had to make me feel good.” Her challenges with eating stemmed from childhood: “Ever since I can remember, food was just a coping thing… It just made me happy. It still does. Food just makes me happy.”
Martinez linked her habits to family dynamics, raised by a single mother after her father left due to drug addiction. “I was left alone a lot and that’s how it started, my relationship with food,” she shared. “Whenever I would think of my dad, I would turn to food and I liked the feeling I had when I was eating.”
Her mother, Staci Thurman, reflected on Dolly’s upbringing: “Dolly [was] always a bit different than other children. And other kids [were] harsh and cruel so I’ve always been the overprotective mother. Being singled out as the fat girl is quite uncomfortable.”
Post-Show Progress
After the show, Martinez updated her Instagram bio to note she was no longer homeless, losing weight, and feeling good. She described herself as “living day by day” and prioritizing “God and Family.” In a June 2024 post, she wrote, “I can see how much I’m losing. It’s a journey and I’m seeing my worth now.”
