COURAGEOUS CONVERSATION

We believe there is power in sharing our stories and we are honored to have Chelsea share her story with us. Chelsea hopes that by sharing her story of loving and supporting her sister, Annie, who struggled with an eating disorder, she can bring more awareness to eating disorders to reduce the stigma and allow others to seek support.

Chelsea, who now lives in Texas with her husband, Mike, and two adorable young girls, was raised in New Albany in a loving, supportive, faith-filled home with parents married for more than 30 years.  She is the oldest of three siblings, who are her very best friends.  Yet, even a “normal, even dreamy, family,” as described by Chelsea, can be touched, even shattered, by mental illness.

Chelsea’s sister, Annie, always strove for perfection and everyone around her was in awe of her accomplishments - marathon runner, academic scholarships, nursing student with straight A’s, nanny to triplets, and most importantly, passionate about helping others.

What most people didn’t realize was that Annie also struggled with an eating disorder, and its associated depression.  Even while struggling, Annie was excited about a life of wellness and she fought desperately to live it.  Chelsea and her immediate family were there to support her, however, her life was lost to her eating disorder and its complications on May 22, 2013 at the age of 20.

Join us on Wednesday, April 21st at 5 PM EST for this courageous conversation. Chelsea will talk with Jack Caudill, her cousin and our HS intern and board member, and Tasha Boyer, local therapist specializing in eating disorders at Kovacs Counseling. She will share what it was like to love and support someone with an eating disorder while trying to maintain her own sense of normalcy, what it looks like to love them even after they have left this earthly world, and how she has healed from this life shattering loss.

Chelsea knows Annie would want her to share this story in hopes of shedding light on the realities of eating disorders and how they can present themselves in families that appear to be thriving.  We are grateful and humbled to share their story with our community.