“About a year ago today I left UNI because of my eating disorder. I hadn’t eaten for 22 days. Doctors said I would have died after a couple more days. I only drank water. I’ve had an eating disorder since I was around the age of 10. I had to be medically withdrawn from UNI last January to be sent to Arizona for an inpatient hospital stay and then later a residential stay at Remuda Ranch for nearly 3 months. It was very scary seeing people at the hospital who were in their 30’s or 40’s and weighed 70 pounds. I saw one lady stab herself with a fork. I cried the first time I had to eat food there. During my 3 weeks or so without eating, I was at the WRC and passed out. I didn’t drink water before working out because I didn’t want it to throw off the scales. Now when I’m at the WRC, I can usually tell when someone else might have an eating disorder. I just want to shake them and let them know that they need to get help, that it will be hard, but they need to do it. After a lot of victories and relapses in the past year I have returned to UNI as a much stronger person both mentally and physically. I still struggle because it’s not an easy thing to overcome, however I am so motivated to get better so I can help others. I truly feel compelled to make a difference here on UNI’s campus because I know there are so many people walking around right now who are sick and trapped within their eating disorder. I’m excited to speak during Eating Disorder Awareness Week this next month.”

Facebook: Students of UNI