(calm music)
- (Monteil) I come from a rough background.
Back in those days, we'd run out of food.
We was eating syrup sandwiches, sugar sandwiches,
where you just take the syrup and put it on the bread.
We drunk Hawaiian Punch, Capri Suns, all that type of stuff.
I'm a junk food addict.
I eat candy, all type of sweets.
It's been a real battle and a real struggle
to where now I'm at this point.
- Monteil Lee, at really the prime of his life,
at the age of 36, almost 37, he's facing a really
big challenge, which is is he gonna lose his foot?
- One of my cousins rushed me to the hospital
and they checked my levels, and they was looking at me like
how are you even standing here on your feet?
You're supposed to be in a coma.
- [Dean] Right.
- I thought I was about to die.
And so they told me that I had diabetes
and at that moment my life changed.
- Can we look at your foot?
- [Monteil] Yeah.
- Would that be all right?
- Got an infection on the top of my toe.
- [Dean] Just out of nowhere?
- Yeah.
- [Dean] Yeah, I can see that.
And but they said you might lose the toe.
Okay, but I'm gonna tell you you don't want to put
any weight on it.
- [Monteil] Yeah, I'm fighting it.
(papers rustling)
- Okay, okay my friend.
- Appreciation.
- You too.
Good luck.
- Thanks a lot.
(sad music)
I used to think only old people got diabetes.
So now waking up every day... having to check blood
and make sure these levels are correct
and all this different stuff.
I'm trying my best here.
Yeah, the more I do this, I'm getting better.
I watched the doctors do this, so now I'm trying
to be just as good as them wrapping it.
Whew!
Mission complete.
(bag scrunching)
(television in the background)
When I'm at the house, doctor's orders to stay off my foot,
so it's like a bed rest thing.
It's been a challenge, but I'm maintaining,
staying prayed up and I've been getting blessed.
(door opening)
Hi, son.
- Hi.
- How are you?
- Good.
- How was school today?
- Good.
- [Monteil] My son his name is Monteil.
He's a junior.
He has my whole name.
His nickname is Lil Money.
Everybody calls him Lil Money.
- What's up fella?
- What's up?
- Not much.
Yeah, I be just chilling.
What's wrong?
- I was praying that you wouldn't have
to get your toe cut off.
- Yeah, they did.
- The prayer came true.
- Yes, see that was good.
And Daddy glad you was able to pray for me too,
because I was scared.
That's what my main worry is,
is for you to do good in school.
- [Lil Money] And play sports.
- And also take care of yourself.
- [Lil Money] And to follow my dreams.
- Yep and to take care of yourself,
because health is wealth,
and Daddy don't want you to be sick like me,
with this disease that I got, so you gotta...
- [Lil Money] I'm not eating too much sugar.
- And you gotta eat your vegetables and drink milk
and drink a lot of water, so your body and your bones
can be strong.
(ball bouncing)
My son, I love him to death.
He's like my whole world.
So I'm talking to him about not eating so much candy
and the sweet stuff that could build up
and might make you feel good now
but affect your body later type stuff.
So he's learning.
(ball in basket)
♪ Likes the other track
I mean it feel great to be back in the studio,
active, working on good music again.
Got some good news from the doctor,
saying I'm healing right.
Everything is coming along.
Here I am with Dr. Schillinger all excited,
talking about man, it look like everything is closed up.
I'm not 100% but I'm getting close.
So it's definitely a great feeling to be able to be back
doing what I love.
♪ But I'm still out here.
♪ Oh my God, I'm going crazy.
♪ No way can I get left behind. ♪
♪ I'm going crazy.
- [Man] You're in better health, because I see you uh...
I see this video 'cause these people stand up
this whole time.
- Yeah, I know, man.
I'm gonna get in trouble,
but at least he could see I'm doing something positive
and enjoying myself while I'm doing it.
(knocking)
- Remember me? - [Monteil] Look,
here's the famous guy.
- [Dean] Hey buddy.
- How you doing, doctor?
- Good to see you.
- You too.
(keyboarding)
- Just to be frank with you, I love you,
but we didn't make any progress since the last visit.
You didn't pick up your cholesterol medicine.
- Yeah, I know.
- You didn't change your insulin.
- I remember a lot of days I was just like ready to give up.
And I was like... - [Dean] I know you were.
- I can't give up.
I had a talk with my son.
It kind of cheered me up too
just to let me know that it's on his mind,
as well as mine.
When I see that he's concerned,
it just makes me want to fight harder, pretty much.
Yep.
(sad music)
- My name's Marco.
I'm one of the nurses here.
I'm gonna help get you ready for your procedure.
- Okay.
(bed being adjusted)
And can you tell me in your words
what procedure you're having done today?
- They're about to cut my toe off.
- You remember me?
I'm Dr. Annon.
I'm gonna be your anesthesiologist today.
So I know you've had multiple of these operations
for that foot.
All right.
Hopefully this is one of the last ones, right?
- It better be the last one.
- Yeah.
(indistinct talking over PA system)
(sad music)
(happier music)
As of now, the way I feel, I feel great.
I got my shoes on.
I got the inserts in there
and you'll see me.
I'm in the gym, trying to run around a little bit
and I'm just thankful that I was able to have
a successful surgery and be able to move forward afterwards.
(optimistic music)