Helping anorexics to heal
People with eating disorders face many hurdles Refuge honours daughter who died in parents’ arms
Four years after her daughter succumbed to anorexia, Carolyn Mayeur has turned pain into hope.
It’s what her child had wanted, Mayeur said of Danielle’s Place, arefuge for those battling eating disorders and their families. Before Danielle’s death at age 25, mother and daughter had been developing plans to raise public awareness about eating disorders to reduce the stigma often associated with the condition.
“ Danielle wanted to bring it all out of the closet and to prevent others from falling into the same pit and ensure they had services to empower them,” said Mayeur, who established Danielle’s Place in January in Burlington in her daughter’s memory. It’s a non- profit organization that helps those with the disorder heal themselves through programs such as dropin services, access to resources, support groups, community outreach, education and healing workshops. More than 80 clients — teens to adults from as far afield as Mississauga, Brampton and Hamilton — and their families have turned to the agency for help. Today marks the opening of the new home of Danielle’s Place on Brant St. in Burlington. Mayeur is the organization’s acting executive director; the space was donated by Emily and Dr. Michael Shih. Community support from agencies like Halton Child and Youth Services, Halton Healthy Community Fund and the Retired Teacher of Ontario has been strong. The United Way of Oakville provided almost $ 5,000 to pay for computers for staff and clients at the new office. The Burlington mother is also continuing to press government for desperately needed funds for treatment and support services. “ I won’t stop until things are the way they should have been when my family was going through this.”
Danielle’s story is one of courage, fortitude and heartbreak. She was diagnosed with anorexia in 1993, sparked by an assault and coupled with debilitating depression and other medical problems. Treatment programs for those severely ill like Danielle were sorely lacking, available only in Toronto or London, Mayeur said. Waiting lists were long.
It took three years to get Danielle into a program at Toronto General Hospital, her mother recalled, and there were no aftercare programs.
At the time of her death, Danielle weighed less than 60 pounds. Physically frail and emotionally spent after fighting the disorder for eight years, Danielle died in her parents’ arms.
“ It was a battle then and it still is now,” her mother said, adding there are thousands of parents across the province facing the same hurdles because of lack of funding for treatment and programs.
Danielle’s Place is making a difference in the lives of people with eating disorders, but there’s still a long way to go to fill the gap in community-based services, Mayeur added, vowing not to give up the fight. The goal for this year’s United Way Oakville campaign is $3.85 million. To donate, call Ewa Gorska, 905845-5571 extension 225 or mail donation to United Way of Oakville, 466 Speers Rd., Suite 200, Oakville, L6K 3W9.