A 1,000-pound Rhode Island man who has spoken openly about his struggle with his weight was moved to a new living facility Monday, an effort that took weeks of planning, seven hours of transportation and the help of a crane and a flatbed truck.
A coalition consisting of the Providence and Cranston Fire Departments, Lifespan, the Hospital Association of Rhode Island and Bay Crane Northeast helped move Providence resident Robert Butler from his closing nursing home room to a new facility in Cranston on Sunday.
Michael Raia of the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health & Human Services says planning for the move began weeks ago.
The move to the Eleanor Slater Hospital took nearly seven hours. Raia says the new facility is better equipped to help the man. His previous home was closing due to financial problems.
Back in 2006, Butler told WJAR-TV about his struggles with eating.
“When I'm depressed I'll eat chips or order myself a large pizza and pretty much kill it myself,” he said.
Back in 2006, Butler said he was trying to get gastric bypass surgery but he couldn't find a doctor to perform the operation.
