This year has been extremely difficult not only for my loved one but also for the members of the family (and our friends who have stood by us, thank goodness!). I've repeatedly reached the point of saying, "I've done all I can" and then somehow energy wells up from someplace and I find that I can do a bit more. Meanwhile I also have heard people say, "you've done enough." Or, worse, "[provider] does not see any possibility for rehabilitation." I disagree.
Earlier this year I drove up to Phoenix to witness Arizona State Senator Katie Hobbs bring attention to the lack of coverage for eating disorders here. You can read about Senate Resolution 1003 and her efforts here.
Following the trip, I continued to pay attention what was going on in Washington, DC and elsewhere but had little energy to do more than that because things got really grim.
Then the Eating Disorders Coalition announced through its website and press releases that the Anna Westin Act had gained bi-partisan support in both the U.S. House and Senate. Not only that, but Annie Seal's earlier work in Missouri aided now by many people also made the Arizona Daily Star here in Tucson! You cannot imagine how startled I was to see the headline "Mo. law affects insurance rules on eating disorders" (6/29/2015 p A1) on the front page!!! about eating disorders!!!
A revolution!!!!
Fast forward and prompted by my husband's friends at Georgia Tech who this summer extended an invitation to us to join them for Homecoming Weekend in Atlanta, we decided to make a grand trip out of the entire situation. He attended meetings in Washington, DC the week of October 19 and flew down to Atlanta on Friday. I flew from Tucson on Friday to join him and them over the weekend of October 23-25, and then while he returned home, I flew on up to Washington, DC to attend the Mom's March on Tuesday, October 27, and to lobby on October 28.
Tuesday morning, my FitBit told me I walked about 6.5 miles as I made my way from my perfectly situated (thanks, Laura Collins) hotel to the Lincoln Memorial and points in between. I discovered a wonderful little grotto with a fountain on the grounds of the Capitol Building, missed a great shot of the Washington Monument framed by trees displaying their fall foliage (because I figured I would get a better shot closer only to discover that the mall is being torn up by some sort of construction), walked up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to again read Lincoln's speech, and took in a brief visit to the Vietnam Memorial (I visited this many years ago) before heading back and north towards the Busboys and Poets restaurant to enjoy lunch and a presentation by Dr. Mark Warren put on by F.E.A.S.T. And, to say hi to Laura Collins and Leah Dean, among others and to meet Heidrun Dickson (with whom I was fortunate to have dinner Wednesday evening) and Jennifer D. T. Ouellette.
Following lunch, I trekked along with several people including Facebook friend Sarah H. W. who was pushing her grandchild in a stroller (so happy to meet her after all these years) back to the west lawn of the Capitol to be greeted by this scene of those gathering for the march (really, a rally).
As had several others already, I registered, created a rather plain poster noting that I was marching for my daughter, filled out a tag attached to a beautiful yellow rose that would be delivered to an Arizona congressperson, met and said hello to Kathleen and her mother, to Becky Henry, to Kitty Westin (who came to my rescue years ago by phone when one of her friends, who happened to be a nurse in a local hospital's ER gave me Kitty's personal number so I could call her - such support!!!! I cannot begin to tell you how much that phone conversation meant to me), a few others and then found a place to sit and watch the proceedings.
A few weeks ago I bought and read cover to cover Patrick Kennedy's book, A Common Struggle. If you haven't read it yet, I encourage you to do so. I learned so much about the political process of getting legislation passed! So, I greatly anticipated seeing him and hearing his remarks to us as he was the keynote speaker!!! How exciting to have him on board with our efforts to gain attention to the need for better treatment and coverage of eating disorders! Here he is -
Earlier this year I drove up to Phoenix to witness Arizona State Senator Katie Hobbs bring attention to the lack of coverage for eating disorders here. You can read about Senate Resolution 1003 and her efforts here.
Following the trip, I continued to pay attention what was going on in Washington, DC and elsewhere but had little energy to do more than that because things got really grim.
Then the Eating Disorders Coalition announced through its website and press releases that the Anna Westin Act had gained bi-partisan support in both the U.S. House and Senate. Not only that, but Annie Seal's earlier work in Missouri aided now by many people also made the Arizona Daily Star here in Tucson! You cannot imagine how startled I was to see the headline "Mo. law affects insurance rules on eating disorders" (6/29/2015 p A1) on the front page!!! about eating disorders!!!
A revolution!!!!
Fast forward and prompted by my husband's friends at Georgia Tech who this summer extended an invitation to us to join them for Homecoming Weekend in Atlanta, we decided to make a grand trip out of the entire situation. He attended meetings in Washington, DC the week of October 19 and flew down to Atlanta on Friday. I flew from Tucson on Friday to join him and them over the weekend of October 23-25, and then while he returned home, I flew on up to Washington, DC to attend the Mom's March on Tuesday, October 27, and to lobby on October 28.
Tuesday morning, my FitBit told me I walked about 6.5 miles as I made my way from my perfectly situated (thanks, Laura Collins) hotel to the Lincoln Memorial and points in between. I discovered a wonderful little grotto with a fountain on the grounds of the Capitol Building, missed a great shot of the Washington Monument framed by trees displaying their fall foliage (because I figured I would get a better shot closer only to discover that the mall is being torn up by some sort of construction), walked up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to again read Lincoln's speech, and took in a brief visit to the Vietnam Memorial (I visited this many years ago) before heading back and north towards the Busboys and Poets restaurant to enjoy lunch and a presentation by Dr. Mark Warren put on by F.E.A.S.T. And, to say hi to Laura Collins and Leah Dean, among others and to meet Heidrun Dickson (with whom I was fortunate to have dinner Wednesday evening) and Jennifer D. T. Ouellette.
Following lunch, I trekked along with several people including Facebook friend Sarah H. W. who was pushing her grandchild in a stroller (so happy to meet her after all these years) back to the west lawn of the Capitol to be greeted by this scene of those gathering for the march (really, a rally).
As had several others already, I registered, created a rather plain poster noting that I was marching for my daughter, filled out a tag attached to a beautiful yellow rose that would be delivered to an Arizona congressperson, met and said hello to Kathleen and her mother, to Becky Henry, to Kitty Westin (who came to my rescue years ago by phone when one of her friends, who happened to be a nurse in a local hospital's ER gave me Kitty's personal number so I could call her - such support!!!! I cannot begin to tell you how much that phone conversation meant to me), a few others and then found a place to sit and watch the proceedings.
A few weeks ago I bought and read cover to cover Patrick Kennedy's book, A Common Struggle. If you haven't read it yet, I encourage you to do so. I learned so much about the political process of getting legislation passed! So, I greatly anticipated seeing him and hearing his remarks to us as he was the keynote speaker!!! How exciting to have him on board with our efforts to gain attention to the need for better treatment and coverage of eating disorders! Here he is -
Many others spoke, as well, including Kitty Westin, Annie Seal, Debra Schlesinger, Becky Henry, Kathleen MacDonald, Cherie Monarch, Johanna Kandel and the videographer who is creating a wonderful film. I hope a reader here will help me identify her. I know I've left others off this list and I apologise. I did not see a program. The event was wonderful!
Here's a terrific recap. Those in green shirts have lost a family member to an Eating Disorder:
I encourage you, if you have not attended - or even if you have - to come next year!!!!
Here's a terrific recap. Those in green shirts have lost a family member to an Eating Disorder:
I encourage you, if you have not attended - or even if you have - to come next year!!!!
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