Dear EDC Advocates and Activists,
Please read the following very powerful, emotionally raw and moving words written by Kitty Westin, Anna's mom. Then, please register to join us on Capitol Hill for EDC National Lobby Day on May 13th. #TheTimeIsNow #AnnasLaw
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Written by Kitty Westin:
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| Anna Selina Westin |
Great sorrow. How can I not feel pain and sorrow right now? Anna
died from an eating disorder. Anna had her whole life ahead of her. She was an
amazing young woman with hopes, dreams and a bright future full of
possibilities until she got sick. Her life was cut short by a disease that can
be effectively treated if given access to the appropriate level of care for the
amount of time it takes to recover. It is excruciatingly painful to remember
how much she suffered and how helpless we felt when we were fighting for her
life at the same time we were fighting her insurance company. The pain of
having a child die does not go away. It does become bearable over time and I
have found a way to live without Anna much like people find a way to live
without a limb. You adapt, adjust, form scar tissue, and find a new way to be
in the world. Life goes on, you figure out how to go on as well but you never
stop longing for your child or wishing for just one more hug, one last word or
one last chance to make it better. Our family found a way to transform the
horror of Anna’s death into something positive by putting energy into fighting
eating disorders and trying to help others avoid a similar fate as Anna.
Fighting eating disorders and helping others who are desperately fighting for
their lives has helped me heal and given me strength and a purpose. If I have
helped just one person live then I feel like Anna did not die in vain.
The Anna Westin Education, Prevention and Training Act is not
about me or my family and it is not about Anna. It IS
about the millions of people who suffer from eating disorders who do not get
identified, diagnosed, or treated effectively because so many people lack even
basic knowledge of eating disorders.
Elation. Anna’s Law will help millions of people who suffer from
eating disorders. Anna’s Law will expand educational opportunities to health
care professionals across the US and in turn help those same professionals be
better equipped to recognize, diagnose and treat eating disorders. Anna’s Law
will give the millions of people who struggle with eating disorders a fighting
chance!
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| EDC National Lobby Day |
After 15 years of hard work and commitment there is movement in
the fight against eating disorders at the Federal policy level. It has been an
uphill struggle to get attention to eating disorders and to get the US Congress
to recognize that eating disorders are life-threatening illnesses that need
legislative action. I have been involved with the Eating Disorders Coalition
for Research, Policy and Action for 15 years. I am proud of the work and
accomplishments of the EDC. We have given citizen advocates a voice, Members
have listened and heard our voices, we have influenced legislation that has
helped millions of people who struggle with mental health issues, yet we have
been unable to pass legislation specifically dealing with the multitude of
issues those affected by eating disorders face.
I know that passing Anna’s Law will be a huge step in the right
direction. Educating health care workers to identify, diagnose, refer and treat
people who are struggling with eating disorders is essential if we expect to
win the war against eating disorders. I hear far to many stories from sufferers
and their families and caregivers about lost opportunities to intervene early
and quickly in order to stop an eating disorder before it becomes entrenched
and before it causes irreparable damage. Anna’s Law is designed to address the
lack of training and education among health care professionals that makes it
nearly impossible for most people to get early intervention and early treatment
for an eating disorder. We know that the best treatment for an eating disorder
is prevention. And we know that the sooner an eating disorder is diagnosed and
treated the higher likelihood of complete recovery. Let’s pass Anna’s Law, it
will improve the chances for compete recovery from an eating disorder for
everyone who struggles.
Accomplishment. Fifteen years ago I buried my daughter, Anna
Selina Westin. She was just 21 years old. If you have not had to bury a child
you cannot even imagine the suffering, the unbearable pain, the desire to give
your own life willingly if your child could have one more day on earth. Anna
was an amazing young woman. To know her was to love her. She had spunk, talent,
a personality that endeared her to everyone, a lively spirit and a huge heart
that she wore on her sleeve. Anna was cherished by her family and friends and
she is still remembered today for her kindness and compassion.
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| Kitty Westin at the Anna Westin House |
When Anna told me that she intended to go on a diet at age 14 I
did not question her motives although I did wonder why. If I had known then
that that decision would prove fatal I would have reacted much differently.
Fifteen years ago there was little in the way of education or prevention for
eating disorders. There were occasional made for TV movies that addressed
eating disorders but they mostly suggested that an eating disorder was a choice
or a behavior problem. There were few books, organizations, or resources to
help patients and/or families understand what an eating disorder is and how to
fight one. I don't recall being invited to any educational programs at Anna’s
school or in the community and until Anna was diagnosed I know little about
eating disorders.
Today, there are many great resources including accurate
information that is readily available, and many organizations, books, and
websites that are designed to help the sufferer, families and the public better
understand eating disorders. There is a large and growing advocacy movement
that is fighting eating disorders on multiple levels and the options for
treatment have grown and improved. Research has made significant progress in the
understanding of the bio-social-psycho theory of eating disorders and into the
most effective ways to prevent and treat them. There has been progress in the
fight against eating disorders and I am proud to have played a small role in
the improvement we have seen.
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| Anna Westin House |
To date the most meaningful accomplishment of my passion to
fight eating disorders is the creation of the first residential treatment
program for eating disorders in Minnesota, the Anna Westin House (AWH). I have
always said the Anna Westin House is Anna’s legacy. I am incredible proud of
the Anna Westin House and I always will be. I know that the house has helped
many sufferers thought the years and it has saved many lives. However, Anna’s
Law truly is historic. Anna’s law goes beyond the AWH in that it can and will
help millions get identified and referred to the treatment they need to fully
recover from an eating disorder. Anna’s legacy continues to grow and develop
and if I died today I would feel like my mission was accomplished. My mission
15 years ago and remains my mission today is to fight eating disorders through
education, prevention and advocacy.
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| Speaking at 1st Ever M.O.M. March in DC |
Fifteen years ago, while planning Anna’s funeral, my husband and
I started the Anna Westin Foundation. We had no idea what we were getting
ourselves into or how to start and run a foundation. Today, The Anna Westin
foundation is The Emily Program Foundation and we continue to work hard achieve
our goals. We envision a world without stigma and misconception about eating
disorders, and disordered eating. We will be the catalyst in shaping new,
informed conversations through advocacy, social outreach, and collaboration
with community partners. We are on a mission to save lives, change minds and
work to eliminate eating disorders.
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| Speaking at Congressional Briefing in DC |
It is humbling and
encouraging and empowering to know that we have a chance to pass legislation
that will hit eating disorders where it hurts and bring it to it’s knees. The
time is NOW for The Anna Westin Education, Prevention and Training Act of 2015.
Anna’s law will save lives. It is to late for many but the time is NOW for
millions for people who suffer from eating disorders and for our children who
will develop eating disorders in the future. Together we can knock eating
disorders down and win the war!
During #EDCNationalLobbyDay you will attend a very heart-felt,
inspiring and educational Congressional briefing hosted by Congressman Ted Deutch and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. You can learn more about the Congressional briefing by clicking on this picture ------> 
During #EDCNationalLobbyDay you will attend a very heart-felt,
inspiring and educational Congressional briefing hosted by Congressman Ted Deutch and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. You can learn more about the Congressional briefing by clicking on this picture ------> 
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