Who My Daughters Will Become: Reflections on Lobby Day, Advocacy, and Motherhood

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!

The EDC's youngest advocate joins EDC staff
in the House of Representatives.

A Mom Shares About Lobby Day

August 18, 2014
"Lobby Mommy!!"
By Faith Yesner

 

It was April of 2009, seven months after my daughter was diagnosed with anorexia, when I first stepped out of my life of "politically ignorant bliss" and onto Capitol Hill as a lobbyist for the Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC). Before that day, I didn't know what a lobbyist actually did!!  In fact, until I actually lobbied...until I took my first step into the office of my Representative (heart pounding, hands shaking), I never imagined how empowering and satisfying lobbying would be! Of course, before that day, I had no reason to get “all political" or even marginally involved in what I just didn't "get." I was your middle class mom of 2 easy going kids, one in college and one in HS, focused on college apps and auditioning for my finally flourishing acting career!

Life came to a screeching halt with the anorexia diagnosis, and devastation ensued for our family. I was barely functional from shock, fear and depression. I was full of rage at what this disease was doing to my family and more so, to my beautiful daughter. In addition to that, I had to battle insurance for coverage even when it was medically necessary and urgent, and advocate constantly to keep my daughter from falling through many treatment cracks. As I educated myself about eating disorders, treatment protocols, lack of fair and necessary insurance coverage, and lack of educational programs and info about this deadly disease, it was evident that the system was terribly flawed.   It was also evident that many battling eating disorders were, in fact, falling through the cracks and suffering terrible consequences.

Now I had a reason to become "all political"!!

When the opportunity arose for me to use my tired, angry, frustrated, heartbroken voice in a concrete way that could promote change, I jumped...onto a train from Philadelphia to the Hill (Capitol Hill), alone and nervous, to my first EDC Lobby day!!! Even as an actress with no fear of public speaking, I was scared!! This was the unknown, but considering what I had to face when the once unknown anorexia reared its ugly head, this was a piece of cake.

We had a training session the morning of lobby day and rehearsed what we were going to say to our Members of Congress and their staff. A team leader organized it all and anchored the team, so we never felt alone. Once we hit the Hill and headed towards our arranged meetings, the excitement grew! As we met our Representatives and Senators, I began to see just how powerful a Mom's voice can be. When a mom speaks, they listen...intently. Because they are human too. Because most have suffered some heartache, or have children of their own and "there but for the Grace of God go they." When you bring humanity, and a passionate mom, into the world of "

politics as usual," something happens. We catch the attention of those that hold the political power and that is the start of change!

Moms have been the catalysts for change in many political arenas. Don't mess with a mama lioness!!! She is relentless! She is a lobby mommy, and she will roar!!

I hope to see you at the MOM march and lobby day this coming Sept/Oct!!!