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My 19-year-old granddaughter is critically ill with Anorexia Nervosa. She is currently 58lbs (BMI 11.3) and is deteriorating before our eyes. We are desperate to get her the help she needs, and we are asking for support to assist with getting her into a treatment facility as soon as possible. Time is of the essence. In this state, her frail body and mind cannot sustain life much longer.
Here is our story:
My granddaughter has always struggled with anxiety, depression, OCD-type behaviors, food fears and body dysmorphia. At almost 18, we noticed changes in her eating habits and significant weight loss. By the time we were able to get her a diagnosis, she had already lost approximately 35lbs. It was recommended that she needed a referral to treat her Anorexia in the hospital. The referral was made, and the sad truth came to light. As our family waited for a call, she continued to spiral downward. She has lost more than half of her body weight and is struggling daily to talk, walk, get out of bed, and, even eating seems to be an impossibility (she struggles to keep food in). This once vibrant energy of a soul has lost all its purpose and fight. She used to sing beautifully and lighten the house with her voice. We no longer hear that beautiful voice.
We finally received the call in March 2022, and she attended her first intake appointment at the Eating Disorder Inpatient Treatment Facility at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga, Ontario. We were sure they would admit her, seeing her fragile state and urgency for immediate treatment. Instead, we were advised that the waitlist would be approximately five months long. Since this appointment, she has been in hospital emergency three times as various levels in her blood become critical, and she requires stabilization with an IV. Her heart is very much at risk working much harder than a normal heart should. So, it seems she will be in the emergency room every couple of days for medical stabilization.
We have searched high and low for immediate support, but unfortunately, our resources for Eating Disorders are limited here in Canada. Private care facilities will not take medically unstable patients (usually with BMI lower than 15). Public health options are so overloaded with referrals that waitlists are too long, and our girl needs immediate treatment to save her life. Eating Disorders(ED) are very powerful mental illnesses and with the combination of the disease and the starvation factor, the brain does not function at its normal capacity, therefore cognitive function is impaired. ED is so tricky; it manipulates very easily. My granddaughter desperately wants help but when faced with the decisions in hospital (she is an adult) ED makes those decisions, and they are never in the best interest of our beautiful girl. Her mind is being taken over by this illness and the only way to stop it is with Inpatient care immediately, and thankfully she is willing to go.
We have now investigated facilities in the USA as there are many more options that can provide immediate care. The struggle is the cost involved. My daughter has been off work to care for her daughter 24/7 and cannot afford the additional costs associated with care in another country. Our family is and will be forever grateful for any donation that can be made to help save our girl and allow her to find beauty in her life again. Facilities in the USA cost upwards of 80,000 USD for the treatment of someone as critical as my granddaughter. She wants to live, and it is crucial that we get her help immediately, and as the Canadian program wait lists are too long and private facilities cannot help her in her condition, getting her into a US based program is our only hope of saving her life.
Thank You, and God Bless
Here is our story:
My granddaughter has always struggled with anxiety, depression, OCD-type behaviors, food fears and body dysmorphia. At almost 18, we noticed changes in her eating habits and significant weight loss. By the time we were able to get her a diagnosis, she had already lost approximately 35lbs. It was recommended that she needed a referral to treat her Anorexia in the hospital. The referral was made, and the sad truth came to light. As our family waited for a call, she continued to spiral downward. She has lost more than half of her body weight and is struggling daily to talk, walk, get out of bed, and, even eating seems to be an impossibility (she struggles to keep food in). This once vibrant energy of a soul has lost all its purpose and fight. She used to sing beautifully and lighten the house with her voice. We no longer hear that beautiful voice.
We finally received the call in March 2022, and she attended her first intake appointment at the Eating Disorder Inpatient Treatment Facility at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga, Ontario. We were sure they would admit her, seeing her fragile state and urgency for immediate treatment. Instead, we were advised that the waitlist would be approximately five months long. Since this appointment, she has been in hospital emergency three times as various levels in her blood become critical, and she requires stabilization with an IV. Her heart is very much at risk working much harder than a normal heart should. So, it seems she will be in the emergency room every couple of days for medical stabilization.
We have searched high and low for immediate support, but unfortunately, our resources for Eating Disorders are limited here in Canada. Private care facilities will not take medically unstable patients (usually with BMI lower than 15). Public health options are so overloaded with referrals that waitlists are too long, and our girl needs immediate treatment to save her life. Eating Disorders(ED) are very powerful mental illnesses and with the combination of the disease and the starvation factor, the brain does not function at its normal capacity, therefore cognitive function is impaired. ED is so tricky; it manipulates very easily. My granddaughter desperately wants help but when faced with the decisions in hospital (she is an adult) ED makes those decisions, and they are never in the best interest of our beautiful girl. Her mind is being taken over by this illness and the only way to stop it is with Inpatient care immediately, and thankfully she is willing to go.
We have now investigated facilities in the USA as there are many more options that can provide immediate care. The struggle is the cost involved. My daughter has been off work to care for her daughter 24/7 and cannot afford the additional costs associated with care in another country. Our family is and will be forever grateful for any donation that can be made to help save our girl and allow her to find beauty in her life again. Facilities in the USA cost upwards of 80,000 USD for the treatment of someone as critical as my granddaughter. She wants to live, and it is crucial that we get her help immediately, and as the Canadian program wait lists are too long and private facilities cannot help her in her condition, getting her into a US based program is our only hope of saving her life.
Thank You, and God Bless