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Tammy Slaton, the star of TLC's 1000-lb Sisters, suffered a major loss on June 30, 2023, when her husband, Caleb Willingham, died at the age of 40. The couple, who met at the Windsor Lane Rehabilitation Center, married in November 2022.
With Caleb's unexpected death, their relationship, which was documented on the show, experienced a significant change. Tammy's grief was palpable as she shared the heartbreaking news with her fans and followers. Fans of 1000-lb Sisters were shocked by Caleb's death, particularly since he had not only been a part of Tammy's weight loss journey but also had become her husband.
Initially, the circumstances surrounding Caleb's death were unclear. However, an autopsy later revealed that he died of "natural causes" related to complications from "super morbid obesity," according to a report obtained by In Touch.
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1000-lb Sisters: Tammy opens up about her loss
The cause of Caleb's death was initially unclear, and Tammy was unsure of what had happened. During an episode of 1000-lb Sisters, she recalled,
“At first, they told me it was, like, a heart attack because he was working out. But everything is up in the air until I get the autopsy back.”
Tammy learned about Caleb’s death from a friend who was at the rehab center with him.
“I got a text message from his friend [in rehab] and the text said, ‘Caleb’s not doing good. They’re in there working on him.’ Twenty minutes later, he texted me back and said he was gone,” she told People magazine.
In that emotional moment, she admitted she was experiencing the stages of grief. She recognized that, although they had their problems, she still loved him deeply and missed him terribly.
She also thanked everyone for their kind comments. Reflecting on their relationship, she mentioned that it was too personal to share the details of their issues at the time of his death.
Despite their struggles, Tammy expressed how much Caleb meant to her. In an emotional moment, she explained how she kept his memory close.
“I had some of his ashes made into a necklace and a ring, that way it feels like I’m still connected to him in some way,” she shared.
Tammy also spoke about sensing Caleb’s presence, saying,
“I can tell he's around because I can smell his cologne and every now and then if you watch carefully, my hair will move behind my ear... [that’s] Caleb.”
Tammy opened up about how hard it was to accept the suddenness of Caleb’s death. She shared that there were many things she still wanted to say to him. Initially, she felt upset and abandoned, grappling with the reality that he left her a widow.
However, over time, she came to understand that she couldn’t blame him—it wasn’t his fault. Despite the pain, she felt thankful for the time they had together and appreciated how special those moments were.
Nearly a year after his death, Tammy revealed she felt ready to start dating again. The 1000-lb Sisters star said she’s been feeling that it’s time to move on and open herself up to love. This time, though, she’s considering dating a woman. In a conversation with People in December 20204, Tammy explained,
"I don't want to be with another man. It just doesn't feel right. I don't even have those feelings for a guy anymore after Caleb passed.”
Fans can stream 1000-lb Sisters on TLC.
