Andrea's Voice: Silenced by Bulimia : Her Story and Her Mother's Journey Through Grief Toward Understanding

Vibrant, Talented, Strong, And Beautiful, Andrea Smeltzer Seemed Destined For A Great Future. But After A One-year Struggle With Bulimia, She Died In Her Sleep At Age 19, Catapulting Her Mother Doris Into A Wrenching But Ultimately Rewarding Journey Of Discovery. This Unabashed Account Not Only Speaks About One Family's Tragedy, But Also Critiques The Social And Personal Attitudes Toward Our Bodies And Appearance That Create Victims Like Andrea. Andrea's Poetry And Journal Entries, Combined With Her Mother's Reflections, Offer Insight And Understanding About A Crushing Disorder That Afflicts Far Too Many Young People. This Lightness Of Being -- Magical Notions Of Birth -- A Silver Flash Of Dragonflies -- To Still Be Me -- I Am The Cage-i Am The Builder -- Kiss The Stars And Hug Yourself -- My Body's Ups And Downs -- Eating Like Crazy -- A Place Called Higher Ground -- Jekyll And Hyde-me And My Body -- Reclaim My Spirit To Nurture My Soul -- The Purple Bunny -- The Brilliant Cleansing Truth -- Angel Face In Full Bloom -- Read Under And Between Lines. Doris Smeltzer With Andrea Lynn Smeltzer ; Foreword By Carolyn Costin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 285-300). Andrea Smeltzer had the world at her feet: she was talented, strong, and beautiful. But, after a one-year struggle with Bulimia, Andrea died in her sleep at the age of 19. Her mother, Doris, here, presents an exploration of the emotional issues around her daughter's development of Bulimia. This work also has Andrea's poetry and journal entries.