To All Members and Supporters of EDSA,

Erika and I wanted to make everyone aware of a TV documentary on
eating disorders. Tonight, November 14, 2006, at 9 ET, (please check
your cable/satilight guide for channel and time) HBO is airing a
documentary on eating disorders and the Renfrew Center in Coconut
Creek, FL called, "Thin." If you are unable to watch this program
and would like a copy please let either Erika and/or I know and we
would be happy to record it for you and then mail it to you.
**Warning: this documentary may be triggering to some.
However, out of good conscience, we cannot support this treatment
center. This is one of the centers that treat people like animals in
a cage. I can accurately say I have been to one of their centers and
my daughter was treated very badly. The first day Erika arrived the
social worker and head psychiatrist made her sit across from her
father who had molested her during her childhood and early
adolescence period in her life and face him to recant that no abuse
ever occurred and that I her mother had coerced her to say this about
him. Even though, evidence was proven by Walter Reed Army Medical
Center (WRAMC) in Washington, DC that her father did molest Erika
during her childhood and early adolescence period in her life. Erika
took these medical records with her when she admitted herself to the
Renfrew Center, but for some unknown reason to us they chose to
ignore the evidence and Erika's word. Erika met with the
nutritionist and it was decided that she was going to eat 1,500
calories per day starting day one. At home she was only eating a
yogurts, some vegetables, and regular Pepsi. They knew (we did not
at the time) before she was admitted that she did not meet the weight
for admission and would be transferred to a hospital psych unit. They
called me at work and said she was on the way for the transfer to a
psych ward. I told them I wanted her sent back home and that she was
promised this would not happen. She voluntarily admitted herself.
They refused. I then told them I would get a lawyer to get her out as
she was being held against her will. I was told they would get a
warrant from a judge to hold her. I knew if that happened I might see
her again for maybe years as she had one of the best insurance
policies one could have, federal Blue Cross/Blue Shield. I know of
another nurse that this happened to her son. 1 1/2 years later,
luckily she was able to get him out. It took a lawyer and lots of
money and court dates.
Anyway, back to Erika. I told her to play their game to get out
of there and that was to gain weight. They had already shoved an NG
tube down her throat at 5AM, waking her out of a sound sleep. Then,
they proceeded to pour cold ensure down her tube at a fast rate. This
is a guarantee to make a person vomit because the stomach will spasm
from both the cold and the fast rate. These people did not know this
and accused Erika of being bulimic when she was trying to clear the
mucous out of her mouth after she involuntarily vomited. She was
really watched then. She called me (she had to sneak to do this) and
I asked the one and only nurse that was nice to her and treated with
the respect every human deserves, if she knew that giving cold ensure
would make her vomit. She was a new nurse and did not know this. I
asked to her to try it room temperature; when she did, there was no
more vomiting. I visited her once, but unfortunately, she had to
make the drive home with her father because I could not get off of
work. I felt so guilty. If I had had anyone else to do it, I would
have. I had missed so much work due to her illness and my son who
struggles with Bipolar disorder that my job was in jeopardy.
I will live with that guilt forever.
That is our personal experience with the Renfrew Center. Never
again!!!! We tell people to run.
This is our primary reason as to why we decided long ago to
become proactive within the eating disorders movement, become
advocates for those who are struggling with eating disorders, SI
(self-injury), etc., and then started a group such as this. We want
no one else to ever go through what my daughter and I had to go
through or worse to die due to complications of their eating
disorders. Eating disorders if not treated properly are deadly and
there is no specific type of eating disorder that one must struggle
with to die, no specific amount of years of struggling, etc. Sadly
and unnecessarily, Andrea Smeltzer died only 1 year due to
complications of her eating disorder and Nicole Schlesinger died 3
years ago due to complications of her eating disorder, and many
others are unnecessarily dying. This shows you that no one is immune
or can beat their eating disorder on their own and proper treatment
is necessary for life. You cannot live life with eating disorders.
If you think you can you are only fooling yourself and others.
Eating disorders are serious diseases that can be stopped, i.e.,
recovery or cured. Neither Erika nor I are saying that it is easy,
but it is worthwhile when you are finally free to live your live
without lying and hiding behind a masquerade. Basically, you are in
the fight for your life. Remember, that eating disorders effects the
entire family. Think of your eating disorder as living with an
abusive person because that is what it acts like, i.e., putting you
down all the time, lying to you, etc. Women and men who leave an
abusive marriage/relationship are scared too, but they know in their
hearts and minds that if they do not leave and get away from their
abuser than they will end up dead.
For those people who have been to the Renfrew Center and have had a
positive experience we are happy for you. We are in no way trying to
start a Message Board or Support Group with negative comments towards
each other.
EDSA is known to be a safe and supportive environment and we
would like to keep it this way.
There is only one treatment center where we have found humane
treatment of people with ED, i.e., no privileges being taken away, no
punishments, no games, etc. They treat you like an adult and this
treatment center is The Victorian of Newport Beach, CA. The Victorian
of Newport Beach offers residential program, aftercare program and
outpt. treatment program, etc. We toured it and spoke to some of
their clients. They were having some free time to do what they wanted
to do that afternoon and that is also a good thing. Dr. Barbara
Cole, MFT, Ph.D., is the Clinical Director of The Victorian and her
latest book is titled, The Eating Disorder Solution (2005). This
book is a "must read" if you really want to understand what it is
like to struggle with eating disorders. We feel that it is the Bible
for eating disorders.
We both hope to listen to your feedback from the program. The
program ought to be interesting, if nothing else.
If you have any questions, comments, and/or concerns, please feel
free to contact us, i.e., e-mail or telephone. You may call us by
dialing our toll-free telephone number (eating disorders hotline ).
If/when you do call the toll-free telephone number (eating disorders
hotline) and you happen to get the voice mail we ask that you please
leave a message, with a return telephone number, and the best time to
return you call. We welcome females and males to reach out to us for
support, advice, help, just to listen, etc. We both will try to do
our best to help you, but you have to able willing to help yourself
too.
You are NOT alone!

With Continuous Support and Advocacy Always,

Lynda Lutz, RN, Cofounder of EDSA, Advocate

Fenderstratg1968@... (Primary)

Fenderstratg1968@... and

Erika Stewart, Recovered Anorexic and Bulimic, Founder of EDSA,
Advocate

Assertivewoman1@... (Primary)

Freedomisntfree2003@...

1-866-840-3391 - Toll-free Eating Disoders Hotline Telephone Number