A dying anorexic
actress whose desperate plea for help touched hearts across the world is
finally receiving life-saving treatment at a California hospital - and has
stood up for the first time in months.
Rachael Farrokh,
37, who is five-foot-seven and weighs a mere '40-something' pounds, made the
headlines in May after posting a video online, detailing her 10-year battle
with anorexia nervosa.
In the footage,
she explained how her condition had declined in recent months - but no
hospitals near her San Clemente home would treat her because her 'dangerous'
weight made her a 'liability'.
In subsequent
weeks, well-wishers raised nearly $200,000 in donations for Ms Farrokh, some of
which were spent on a 'handpicked' medical team, which provided medical care at
her bedside.
But now, Ms
Farrokh has eventually been accepted into the UC San Diego Medical Center after
doctors at a hospital in Colorado apparently concluded it was too risky for her
to be flown there.
Contrast: Ms Farrokh is pictured in a
previous YouTube video (left), thanking well-wishers for raising nearly
$200,000, and posing with her devoted husband, Rod Edmondson (right), before
her condition worsened
The
actress's devoted husband, Rod Edmondson, who quit his job to become his wife's
24-hour caregiver when her condition worsened, shared the 'exciting news' on
Facebook on June 20.
The
ex-personal trainer said: 'We finally made it! Thanks to all of you who have
been sending good thoughts... We are so excited to tell everyone that we are
now safely in an Eating Disorder facility.
'We
have a lot of work ahead of us but with the love and support we will fight this
to recovery!'
He
added that doctors at Denver Health Medical Center - the only
hospital that had initially agreed to treat Ms Farrokh - had ruled it was too
dangerous to airlift her to its ACUTE eating disorder center.
Because
of her condition, Ms Farrokh, who lists her occupation as 'Actor' on Facebook,
has previously suffered from heart and liver failure, and has had to undergo
blood transfusions.
She
has also experienced a decline in mental ability as her body continues to 'shut
down'.
'At
such a low body weight, my brain is a little slower than I would like, Ms
Farrokh told ABC. 'Sometimes, you'll forget what you said a few seconds ago.
You're just not on your game.'
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder
that is characterized by an abnormally low body weight and an intense fear of
gaining weight.
Sufferers
typically have a distorted perception of their bodies.
They may either
restrict the amount of food they eat, or control the amount of calories they
consume by vomiting after meals.
They also might
attempt to lose weight by engaging in excessive exercise.
Symptoms include
extreme weight loss, abnormal blood counts, fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, thin
or easily breakable hair, a lack of menstruation (in women) and dry skin,
The condition can
be life-threatening.
On the GoFundMe page, Mr Edmondson writes: 'My lovely wife and I
have been together for more than a decade and she will be seeing her final days
if we don’t take action! 'Her weight continues to plummet to a weight that's
extremely dangerous.
'She has been fighting through a disease that has the highest
mortality rate of all psychological disorders, an extreme case of
Anorexia.
'There is only one hospital in the country that specializes in
refeeding patients at such a low body weight and it’s my mission to get her
there. 'If she receives too many calories her metabolism will kick up and she
will lose even more weight. This is a VERY delicate medical
situation.
'Hospitals won't admit her because she is a liability for
them. 'She doesn't meet their minimum weight requirement and they don't
have the capabilities to save her.'
He goes to describe his wife as a 'captivating, kind and amazing
woman' who 'always puts others before herself'. Her family and friends have
supported her throughout her battle, he writes.
Dr. Michael Strober, professor of psychiatry at Resnick UCLA
Neuropsychiatric Hospital, told ABC that the refeeding process needs to be
'carefully monitored', otherwise it can put patients at risk.
'
Too rapid increase of calories can result in the metabolic
adaptation which is associated of a number of hazards, which can be
life-threatening,' Dr Strober said.
Anorexia is an eating disorder that is characterized by an
abnormally low body weight and an all-consuming fear of gaining weight.
Sufferers typically have a distorted perception of their bodies.
N:B To all the young ladies out there who are forcing themselve to throw up and starving themselves to stay thin, please use this woman's case as a reference point. There are healthier alternatives to keeping fit, seek professional help fast if your issue becomes complicated.
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