My 600-Lb. Life alum Dolly Martinez’s cause of death has been revealed.
Martinez’s sister, Lindsey Cooper, told Us Weekly on Monday, April 13, that Martinez died of congestive heart failure. TMZ was first to report the news.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the passing of my beautiful sister, Dolly,” Cooper wrote via Facebook on Saturday, April 11, confirming her sibling’s death at 30. “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.”
The statement 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.”
Cooper told Us on Monday that Martinez had been hospitalized in Fort Worth, Texas, for two weeks prior to her death. Cooper and loved ones were able to spend time with Martinez before she died. Funeral arrangements have yet to be made, according to Cooper, who added that she is focused on maintaining a relationship with Martinez’s daughter during this tragic time.
Before Martinez’s death, Cooper took to Facebook to ask for prayers while her sister was in the hospital.
“Today is national siblings day and it for sure was a hard one,” she wrote via Facebook. “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.”
Martinez was best known for appearing on My 600-Lb. Life season 10, which premiered in 2021. At the beginning of her episode, Martinez weighed just under 600 pounds. She also used supplemental oxygen. Martinez opened up about how she used food to cope with her personal struggles.
“The only thing powerful enough to distract me from darker thoughts is food. Food is my go-to drug that takes my pain away,” she shared on the TLC series. “Food is more than just a pleasure. It’s my reason for existing.”
Martinez continued, “I can’t wait for the first bite of something. That will make me forget about all the misery of my life. … Food has caused all of the things I hate about my life, but it is the only thing I have ever had to help me feel good and I don’t know where to even begin to change that. Ever since I can remember, food was just a coping thing, I guess. It just made me happy. It still does. Food just makes me happy.”
While on the show, Martinez met with bariatric surgeon Dr. Now. She moved to Houston to be closer to the medical professional’s office. Martinez ultimately lost 40 pounds, but was not approved for the weight-loss procedure.
