Joanna Bates, a 33-year-old woman from Wayne, Michigan, is facing a heartbreaking dilemma: after spending nearly two years confined to her eighth-floor apartment, the 825-pound woman was recently denied re-entry, labeled a fire hazard by her apartment complex.
This situation has escalated into a struggle for her basic rights, health care, and access to a safe living space.
Bates, who has battled obesity and lymphedema, a condition causing extreme fluid buildup in her legs, has been unable to leave her apartment due to her size and health challenges.

For months, she has been confined to her bed, with her life severely impacted by the condition and the trauma she’s endured since the tragic murder of her boyfriend in 2018.
In an emotional interview with FOX 2 Detroit, Bates described her daily struggle.
“The whole day is just, I’m just laying in the bed. I had nothing to do. A prisoner in my own body. I just can’t,” she explained.
Despite her hardship, Bates is determined to keep living. However, her body has become more of a prison than a home, leaving her feeling isolated and helpless.
In late 2023, her condition worsened, and she called 911 for help. After 15 first responders worked together to get her out of her apartment, she was transported to Corwell Health Wayne Hospital. While Bates’ condition is now under control, she faces another challenge: Medicare and the hospital want to discharge her, but the apartment complex deems her too large to safely return.
The apartment management has deemed her size a fire hazard, complicating her return to the building. Bates said, “They’re trying to give me a lower floor, but right now there’s nothing available. So, it’s like, I don’t have nowhere to go.”

She has until midnight Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, to appeal her discharge from the hospital, but even then, she’s at the mercy of Section 8 housing, a process that could take weeks.
Bates is also facing difficulties in finding affordable housing that can accommodate her size.
“I just want to help. I don’t want to be like this anymore. My body is tired,” she said, expressing her frustration and exhaustion.
Corwell Health declined to comment on her case, citing HIPAA regulations.
However, Bates remains hopeful that she will find a solution, even as her struggle for dignity and access to proper living accommodations continues.