Testimonials

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Testimonials

EDRC Provides Resources

“Today I feel like I know so much more about my daughter’s eating disorder because of you. You simply:
Responded to my desperate calls
Listened to my story
Related to my daughter well
Assured me that I was doing the right thing
Directed me to experts
Gave me choices
This disorder is unfamiliar territory for me and I imagine for most parents. Thank you for shedding light on this illness.”
-Grateful mother

“The work of the EDRC related to the key mission of raising awareness about the severe mental and physical health consequences of eating disorders is crucial to our region. No other coordinating body has taken on this important initiative although 5-8% of adolescents and adults suffer from these disorders. Anorexia Nervosa has a mortality rate between 5-10%, the highest of any psychiatric illness. However, early detection and intervention appears to greatly alter the course of the disorder reducing both mortality and morbidity. It has been my pleasure to present on behalf of EDRC’s speakers bureau throughout the region at various hospitals and community forums...

EDRC has taken a determined, focused, and energetic approach to educating our community about the dire consequences of eating disorders. In doing so, EDRC has helped to dispel misleading myths about eating disorders, encouraged early identification of eating problems, and promoted awareness about what the biological basis of these disorders and how best to treat them." -James Lock, MD, Ph.D, Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Stanford University, Director, Eating Disorder Program, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital

“Thank you for making the public aware of how necessary it is to deal with and talk about eating disorders. It can be such a lonely place to be suffering from an eating disorder, but you made me feel I’m not alone.” -EDRC Client

"The one known thing that significantly improves the outcome of those affected by eating disorders is early diagnosis followed by immediate appropriate treatment. The work of the EDRC to raise community awareness about eating disorders and educate physicians in their appropriate treatment directly addresses this. Their physician education programs and community education events will undoubtedly improve the outcomes of the hundreds of people diagnosed with eating disorders each year in the Silicon Valley. Because eating disorders have a 10-15% mortality rate, I strongly believe that the work of the EDRC will save countless lives in our community." -Pamela G. Carlton, M.D.

“Thank you so much for being a local resource and for the excellent website. I am so impressed with the professionalism and the amount of work you have done. The web site looks great and is a true public service.” -Ellyn D. Herb, Ph.D.

“As Best Practices Chair for Eating Disorders for Kaiser Permanente, Northern California. I commend EDRC for their commitment to increasing awareness of eating disorders among health care professionals, connecting those with eating disorders to services, including an excellent website and monthly support groups and offering programs in the schools to help prevent eating disorders.” -Nan B Shaw, LCSW, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center

“It is important that we have a local resource like EDRC available to guide patients and/or parents to information. Eating disorders are a very misunderstood disease and often go undiagnosed.” -Robert Trifilo, DDS

EDRC Facilitates Support Groups

"I was bulimic for about 1.5 years. For most of that time I lived in complete denial. It got really bad and at some point, deep inside, I knew I was sick. I never told anyone because I was afraid of how they would react. Finally, one day, after a bad episode, I looked in the mirror and faced reality. I needed help, badly. I called a counselor that specialized in eating disorders. She saw me immediately. At first getting the words out were so hard. She was the first person I had told. I felt so much better after I spoke with her getting all that out of my head. After our first session she recommended that I go to an EDRC meeting so I did. I was nervous going to the meeting but that feeling went away immediately. It was so amazing and comforting to sit and talk to girls and women who were going through the same thing I was. Finally, I felt like a normal person again and I felt a huge weight being lifted off my shoulders. I continued seeing my counselor and attending EDRC meetings. The EDRC meetings were wonderful and such a big help to me. It took some time but I recovered and have been a very happy and healthy gal since the summer of 2007. Today my life is filled with so much love and happiness. I met the most incredible man and got married. We are both musicians and have been working on a music project together, which we both absolutely love! We travel a lot and just really enjoy life. I take good care of myself, eat healthy and exercise at healthy levels and I feel so good inside. I feel very fortunate that I faced reality and got help from the counselor and the EDRC." -Grateful client

“My daughter is doing very well in her recovery. Her vital signs are stable. I can’t thank you enough for the support and information you provided me. Without you and the Family and Friends support group, my daughter and I would have been lost.” -Grateful father

“I'm glad you have decided to do the group sessions twice a month. I'm trying to find solutions, answers and not blame myself for my daughter’s actions, but like always, parents feel responsible for the children's actions. It's been sleepless nights for me. I'm a single mom, so your support is truly appreciated.” -Grateful mother

“I was so scared to check out an eating disorders group. It took me 4 months to get the courage to attend. But this group has been the best thing I’ve done for myself in my life.” -Grateful client

“Attending the support group has given me a feeling that there is hope for my daughter. The group had many helpful suggestions and helped me understand that eating disorders are complex illnesses and not choices.” -Support group attendee

"Life is fabulous and I am very happy and healthy. The eating disorder is in the past. I exercise and eat right...I will always do that because it makes me happy and feel good but it's not obsessive or unhealthy. Thanks for letting me know about the support groups. It's great to hear they are still going strong as it was a huge benefit to me being able to talk with others that were going through what I was. It helped a lot." -Support group attendee

"Our daughter developed anorexia over a year ago in the course of a very few months.
Until we connected with EDRC, we had no idea what hit us, where to get reliable information on what it is, what caused it, how best to treat it, where to find reliable treatment providers, how to deal with insurance companies and HIPPA laws, and how to get support for ourselves. We were simply overwhelmed, dealing with an illness we soon learned had to be managed aggressively, in order to increase the chances our daughter could recover from it . . .

We’ve been attending EDRC monthly support meetings this past year and each time, we have benefitted enormously by receiving important information and guidance, both from the group leaders as well as from other parents and loved ones. We also are grateful for the advice we've received from the outstanding guest experts, including physicians, dietitians, attorneys and therapists who came to share their knowledge. With eating disorders more and more prevalent, it is crucial for those affected to have a place to go for information and support. Thank you, Janice and your dedicated team of volunteers for providing this invaluable service.” -Stacey M.

EDRC Educates Community Members

“Dr. Burgard’s presentation was excellent. Students were enthusiastic had lots of questions. I would highly recommend this presentation to health professionals working with any population. It is a fresh approach to assessing the health of individuals.”
-Linda Hoogendijk, Director of Nursing, Evergreen Community College

“Thank you for the training on body image issues, disordered eating behaviors and thoughts, and how to approach students we may suspect as having an eating disorder. My staff and I feel more confident and competent to deal with this often hidden illness.” -Director Youth Services, YWCA Silicon Valley

“Thank you for bringing the screening of America the Beautiful to San Jose. I am grateful to you for the work you do and feel lucky to have EDRC in our community.” -Jennifer Waldrop, SJSU Wellness and Health Promotion Coordinator

“As a result of your physician training, I can better screen my patients for eating disorders. I now know how to access local community services and where to get support for my patients.” -Grateful physician

“Thank you for Dr. Kara Fitzpatrick’s program on eating disorders. As a result of the presentation our staff is now better aware of how to identify signs and symptoms of eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders; understand the differences between them; learn about local experts and evidence-based treatments; and local resources for parents, families and physicians.” -Director, Las Plumas Clinic

"Thanks again to Dr. Carlton for an excellent presentation! It was really relevant to our practices and I have gotten a bunch of feedback that it was well-received. In fact, several of my colleagues have already begun doing more screening of their patients and have become more aware of possible red flags for an eating disorder. Thank you EDRC for making this possible."

-Andrea Cervenka, M.D., Santa Clara Health and Hospital System

EDRC Advocates for Care

“Thank you for your help with advocating on behalf of my daughter’s treatment for anorexia. Because of your guidance, the HMO has decided to cover my daughter’s treatment. You gave me encouragement to continue advocating when I was feeling worn down.” -Grateful mother

Words from Our Funders

"We appreciate and value the work of EDRC in Silicon Valley. We hope our challenge grant will encourage many of you to become a donors." -Justine Choy, Program Officer, The Health Trust

“Kaiser Permanente’s mission is to improve the health of our members and communities we serve. We thank the Eating Disorders Resource Center for your tenacity and commitment to our community’s health.” -Ashlee Y. Oh, Community Benefit & Community Health Manager, Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara

“El Camino Hospital is pleased to support EDRC. Thank you for the excellent work your center provides. We appreciate having your expert team of volunteers and resources available for our hospital, our community and our partners.” -Barbara Avery, Director, Community Benefit, El Camino Hospital

“I continue to be impressed and grateful for the multi-prong work of the EDRC. Our hospital will continue to support this vital agency that is providing unique and much needed services to health care professionals, patients and their families.” -Candace Roney, Executive Director, Community Partnerships, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital