Coliesa McMillian, ‘My 600-Lb. Life’ Star, Dead at 41

Coliesa McMillian, a star of My 600-Lb. Life has died at the age of 41. According to an online obituary, McMillian passed away earlier this week. “Coliesa a loving, mother, sister, aunt and friend passed away peacefully at The Crossing on Tuesday, September 22, 2020,” the obituary reads. It also revealed that a memorial will be held on Thursday, with a funeral service taking place on Friday.

While McMillian’s cause of death is currently unknown, TLC confirmed the news in a post on Twitter. “TLC is saddened to learn of the loss of Coliesa McMillian, who shared her story on My 600lb Life,” the network wrote. “Our deepest condolences to her family at this difficult time.” McMillian appeared in Season 8 of My 600-Lb. Life, and has suffered a heart attack just prior to filming, per Us Weekly. At the time of her My 600-Lb. Life appearance, McMillian weighed 643 pounds.

“I wasted my life on food. Just the hunger and the need and the desire. It has taken over my life, and I am exhausted. I am exhausted from this life. Life like this is not life,” McMillian said of her eating habits, while on camera. “It feels like my body is trying to give up, I can feel it, but I can’t give up. I have to be here for my children.”

McMillian sought the help of a bariatric surgeon to get her weight under control. By the end of her episode, McMillian had lost nearly 150 pounds and stated that she was feeling “better than ever” about the future. Sadly, she suffered complications from the surgery, which had a significant impact on her health. Us Weekly notes that, in March, McMillian’s niece revealed via Facebook that the reality TV star had been placed in a medically-induced coma.

She also required the use of a ventilator. McMillian is survived by her daughters Hannah and Sadie Gail Marie McMillian, Kadelynn Lee and Victoria Noel Lee Courville — as well as her parents, Jerome and Sadie Courville. She also leaves behind seven sisters and six brothers.