ETA: This group is currently on hiatus due to Bella's Medical School schedule. Kym Advocates has sibling resources and all families who recieve treatment through Equip have access to sibling support groups run by a family mentor who is a sibling herself.
I am so excited to share this! My good friend, MamaBear Katie Maki, has not one but two amazing daughters (and a great son as well), and her oldest daughter is as fierce an advocate as she is. From the lived experience perspective of having a sibling fighting a devastating eating disorder, and doing family-based treatment (FBT) in their home, she will be running the group below. Meet the incredible"SisterBear" . . .
My name is Bella Maki (she/her). I am from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and am currently in my 2nd year of medical school at Central Michigan University. In my free time, I love to cook, paint, listen to music, hike, ski, and look for agates and beach glass on Lake Superior.
I was 12 years old when my sister was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa at age 10. Now, at 23 and 21 years old, my sister and I are best friends, and she’s in full recovery. Recovering from an ED affects everyone in the family and it affects everyone differently. I remember feeling incredibly angry at my sister and at the situation my family was forced to deal with. Nobody chooses to have an eating disorder, and this became very apparent to me at an early age. I’ve learned the importance of having open communication with those closest to me and reaching out for help when I need it. Life works in mysterious ways, and although I like to try to find the light at the end of the tunnel, I also understand that sometimes life just sucks. No one should ever have to watch their sibling suffer, and no one should have to do so alone. Come join me and others in a safe space to discuss life’s highs and lows and everything in between.
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