The following story is about a young woman named Caron who has been battling anorexia. This story is shared through the eyes of her friend, Lisa Arndt.

Please be warned that some of the information may be very triggering if you suffer from an Eating Disorder yourself.

October 1996

October 24th, 1996

IN NEW YORK CITY WITH CARON...

Caron and I went on a trip together this week to film a talk show about her battle. The show, "In Person With Maureen O'Bolye" tapped in New York, and will air in November in nearly every state in the U.S. (I will, of course, announce the date and time of show when I know it). However, the trip wasn't at all glorious or successful. I'm scared to say it was actually quite harmful.

I wanted to come back and post exciting news, I really did. But the trip was a disaster of complications and travel problems (from missing one plane to not having a reservation at the hotel), all of which were supposed to be taken care of by the show. The anxiety along with the trauma of traveling so far had Caron feeling pretty sick and out of it. By the time we were under the lights of the studio, we were tired and worn down. Caron did wonderfully on the show, but she (in my opinion) misrepresented herself. She said she was in therapy, which she is not unless you count the 'support group therapy' she has in her life. She also said she wasn't starving (which, perhaps, in her mind she isn't, but she doesn't eat solid foods anymore and only had coffee and orange juice during the entire trip). She also insisted the show not know her real weight, and lied about what it was. I understand her desire to present herself well, as someone fighting for recovery, but it made me sad because I wish she were so healthy. Anyway, I considered "confronting" her on the show, but I was only on the air for the last ten minutes and it just was not worth upsetting her. She's been through enough and I know her heart really wants the things she said to be true. She called me her gaurdian angel on national television and my heart sank.

After the show, our night at the hotel was a disaster. Room service had nothing for her and was two hours late delievering my food anyways, plus our room's heater broke and poor Caron was so cold. She was up most of the night from hypothermia (freezing, no body fat) and could have died from it. In the morning we were both overwhelmed, anxious, and distressed. The last straw was our car didn't come to get us for the airport and I ended up making arrangements for us... we finally got home safely to beautiful, warm California.

NOW-- Caron is still dealing with the effects of our nightmare. I just needed a long nap to recover, but Caron has dropped weight overnight (I no longer know what she weighs, it flucuates) and is very upset. She tells me she feels she has gotten much sicker very quickly and is scared for her life. I can only comfort her again and again with my words, but words can not provide the health, warmth, and cushin her body needs.

The sweetness of hope for the t.v. show, what it might bring, and the changing of seasons here inside a mysterious October, has turned sour. Please send good energy our way...

Lisa

Caron's story is about a young woman battling anorexia. It is shared through the eyes of her friend, Lisa Arndt.

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