One Week Ago Today

Debra Schlesinger, Nicole's mom and Founder of Mothers Against Eating Disorders (MAED)

Dear friends:

One week ago today, many of you were here in Washington, DC, on the West Lawn of the Capitol, standing in the midst of countless advocates, moms, friends, family, providers, treatment centers, virtual Marchers/advocates...

One week ago today, though we stood beneath the Capitol Dome, the dome did not cast a shadow on us. No, in fact WE were the ones who cast our shadow over the Capitol Dome. We cast our shadow of united voices, power, strength, hope, passion, resilience, hands clapping, hearts breaking, tears falling, arms hugging, and butterflies flying...

One week ago today, we stood together because we know that together we will not fall apart. Together, we know our message that, "Eating disorders are serious, there IS hope and Congress CAN make a difference!" WILL be heard. Our message WILL resound from beneath the Capitol Dome through the Halls of Congress, and it WILL be heard by the President...

One week ago today, we joined together to combat the deadliest of all mental illnesses, the insidious monster we call "eating disorder." We wept as we cried out, "NO MORE GREEN SHIRTS!"...
...
 
Soon, "one week ago today" will turn into one month ago today, two months, six months... But I believe this without a doubt: We will not lose conviction. We will not diminish our call to action. We will not give up. We WILL continue our advocacy. We WILL continue to educate Congress. We WILL continue to do every single thing we can to ensure "no more green shirts!" at the next March. And we WILL, one month from now, two months from now, six months from now...we will still remember the emotions that came when hugging each other for the first time; we will still tell ED, just as forcefully as one week ago, to, "Get Back!"; we will still well-up with tears when we hear Wind Beneath My Wings; we will still call up a strength within us to USE OUR VOICE and make a difference; we will still stand together until legislation passes; and we will still remember making history, together, one week ago today.

Thank you so very much for coming to DC, for Marching, for Lobbying... I am a better person, and Policy Director, for having met you and walking this journey with you by my side.

Our work continues, together. ~Kathleen

EDC National Lobby Day, October 1, 2014