My 600-Lb Life<\/em> alum Amber Rachdi<\/strong> is reflecting on her survival journey \u2014 and the many tragedies that have befallen her fellow cast members.<\/p>\n \u201c[M]ost people in the 600lbs have [a] mental disorder hence the addiction, attitude and etc., but you, you seem to be very normal and in fact an intelligent one. I wonder what made you let it happen to get to be that big before,\u201d read a comment Amber, 35, told fans \u201clived rent-free in my head for days\u201d via an Instagram Reel<\/a> shared on December 12.<\/p>\n \u201cMy name is Amber, and ten years ago I survived an ordeal. I was told by a doctor when I was young that I would not likely live past age 25. I survived, I should feel proud,\u201d she said, addressing the comment head-on. \u201cThe worst possible outcome of my suffering for me is that other people\u2019s struggles are compared to my success. That is not who I want to be to other people. That I am here today as an adult of 35 years old is an intense privilege. I have peers and friends who have died.\u201d<\/p>\n Amber then listed the names of other series alumni who have died either since leaving the show or while filming. The list included Henry Foots<\/strong>, Rob Buchel<\/strong>, L.B. Bonner<\/strong>, Lisa Fleming<\/strong>, Kelly Mason<\/strong>, Sean Milliken<\/strong>, James King<\/strong>, Coliesa McMillian<\/strong>, Renee Biran<\/strong>, Gina Krasley<\/strong>, Ashley Randall<\/strong>, Laura Perez<\/strong>, Destinee LaShaee<\/strong>, Angela Gutierrez<\/strong>, Larry Myers Jr.<\/strong>, Paul MacNeill<\/strong>, Vianey Rodriguez<\/strong>, Latonya Pottain<\/strong>, Dottie Perkins<\/strong>, Lupe Samano<\/strong> and Pauline Potter<\/strong>.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of us are trying to improve our lives and live,\u201d Amber continued. \u201cAnd so many of us never got that opportunity. It is so unfair and unfathomably cruel when people tell me, \u2018You\u2019ve done so well\u2019 in one breath and then say, \u2018But so-and-so from the show, I hated them.\u2019 Everybody who has been cast as a hero or a villain is playing some flanderized versions of themselves. These people are complicated.\u201d<\/p>\n She added, \u201cPeople like to praise my diligence, my resilience, my ability to persevere. And yeah, I\u2019m just lucky. I\u2019m better supported, better educated, better surrounded with care. And I think what people are trying to say is that because they perceive some of my more difficult peers as the architects of their own misery, that they are not owed any shred of human compassion.\u201d<\/p>\n You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n Amber went on to point out that the \u201ctrouble with this rhetoric\u201d is that it normalizes \u201cwho does and does not deserve compassion,\u201d which she argued can \u201clead us to some really dark conclusions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t get care, you smoked your whole life. Why would we offer you cancer treatment? Your fact, you did it to yourself,\u201d she argued. \u201cYou didn\u2019t come illegally. You get to be put in a cage. I was one of four people present at Sean Milliken\u2019s funeral. I only learned today that Dottie died.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThank You!<\/h3>\n
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\n Amber Rachdi<\/span> Courtesy of Instagram\/Amber Rachdi<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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