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| Liz and her daughter Genevieve |
by Liz Neaton
Though I had spent
several years working in politics in Washington, D.C., the first day I walked
into the office of Representative Keith Ellison (D-Minn) for The Eating
Disorder Coalition’s (EDC) Lobby Day, I felt like I truly had the ability to
make a difference.
I started participating
in Lobby Day in 2009. At that time, I never knew just how much it would change
me. That year, I heard compelling stories of both recovery and loss with eating
disorders.
Loss… that resonated
with me.
I had never met anyone
who had lost someone to an eating disorder. Here I was, just starting out in my
own journey of recovery from the monsters of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa
that had plagued me for the past fourteen years. This was exactly what I needed
to hear and it was exactly the moment I needed to hear it.
That first Lobby Day
renewed my dedication to recovery. I didn’t want to be another name that was
lost to an eating disorder. I didn’t want my parents standing at the podium
during a congressional briefing telling my story with tear-filled eyes.
After that year, Lobby
Day was like a magnet that sucked me in. Each time, I heard compelling stories
of individual trials and tribulations with one common theme: eating disorders
lack proper funding, education and access to treatment. A fire was lit
underneath me at Lobby Day. I started speaking about my own journey to recovery
at high schools, colleges and civic groups. I started contacting my legislative
officials on at the local, state and federal level to inform them of the lack
of proper funding, education and treatment of eating disorders.
Then, in 2011, I had a
daughter of my own – Genevieve. As a single mother, I knew that I needed a
safety net if anything should ever happen to me. So, I attempted to get life
insurance. I was denied seven times. I’ve
kept every denial letter and they all say the same thing: “denial based on
history of depression, anxiety and an eating disorder.” Even though I was in a
strong recovery program, my past eating disorder was following me. Now it was
not just affecting me; it was affecting my daughter. When my daughter was six
months old, I brought her with me to Lobby Day. I thought that I should start
her advocacy career young. To this day l believe she is the youngest to
advocate for the Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders (FREED) Act and eating disorder legislation with the EDC.
Since 2011, I’ve had another daughter. That’s why this upcoming
Lobby Day and the March Against Eating Disorders are both so important.
When I look at my
daughters, I see their beauty and potential.
I think about who they
will become.
I encourage them and
remind them that they can do anything.
Most importantly, I
tell them they are beautiful every day.
I write it on the mirror so it is the first thing they see in the morning. The
last thing I want is for my daughters to endure the struggle I had endured for
fourteen years. I want them to love their bodies and realize how perfectly
created they are. I don’t have a crystal ball and I can’t say for sure that one
of my daughters won’t develop an eating disorder. I can’t say for sure they
will love their bodies. In fact, the statistics are against me. But I can show
them through my tireless advocacy and, most importantly, by my example that
their beauty and worth does not come from anything outside of themselves. Their
beauty is from the simple fact that they are alive. They are present and they
are able to live their lives. I will continue to come to Lobby Days until we
never have to hear the words “eating disorder.” Until no more lives are lost to
this terrible disease. Until proper treatment, funding and education are
implemented.
I hope you’ll join me
in September!
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The EDC's youngest advocate joins EDC staff
in the House of Representatives. |
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