Chapter 4: Education and Information
Chapter 6: Importance of Your Environment
Road to the Rainbow
This book has been in the making for years. Now, with Road to the Rainbow a reality, acknowledgments begin with thanks to the many colours of my life.
To my mother Betty and father Hunter, thank you for all the support, encouragement and belief in me. You never gave up. How can I possibly thank you for all that you have done? You have been behind me always on the road to my rainbow, maintaining your enthusiasm in spite of setbacks and detours. I am so glad to be able to celebrate my good health with you now.
To my brother Kingsley, for your silent strong support I will be forever grateful. To Denise, a victim of my other self, thank you for believing that wellness for me was destined to be in my future.
To Kerry, I thank you. From the day I thought I was going to die, promising me you would give my final words to my family. Thank you for your reminders of reality, times of innocence and your strength.
Also thanks to the following very special friends, some of whom have come and gone but will never be forgotten: Nicole, Pam, Alison, Jodie, Jane, Diane, Michelle, Ruth, Anne, Kim, Beth, Lisa, Nancy, Steve, Bev, Brenda, David, Koren, Maeve, Maureen, Mary, the Girouxs, BWN, Angela, Bryan, Toula, Marijke, Dorothy, Katharine, Katie and Scott.
I want to acknowledge my relationships with men and the importance of each and every one of them and their families. Were the relationships perfect? No, but I will be the first to say that I was not in the right place in my life or in my health to give a relationship all that one should. To each of them and their families, I say thank you. Particular thanks to Bill. Reading through my journals I became overwhelmed by the guilt and the pain that I put him through. I hope this book will comfort him in knowing his support was never for a moment wasted. I wish him happiness always.
I want to thank Bridget, my therapist. If there was any member of the medical fraternity who could have given up on me it was you. Thank you for never doing so.
I wish to thank Sheena’s Place and its wonderful Board of Directors. I was very fortunate to have the experience as a director of this outstanding group and they give me hope that people want to help those struggling with an eating disorder, with a sensitivity that creates a home that works. Keep doing what you are doing.
Particular thanks must go to everyone at The Recorder and Times, my place of employment during most of my early years. The staff saw all the stages of my illness and I want you all to know that I have not forgotten your prayers, love and support.
Thanks to the wonderful individuals who have touched and inspired my life in very special ways like Uncle King, Twink, Wiggy, Dodo, Mac, Uncle Jack and all the special extended Grant and Ogilvie families. Thanks to Perry, not only aunt but editor several times over.
Thanks to Sue for your creativity as always, especially your contribution to this project. Also, thanks to a very wise woman, Carol.
To Paul Rabinovitch and his wife, for finding me and taking this dream to the next level, thank you.
To all of you thank you, my dream has become my reality.
This book was first published in 2003 fulfilling a lifelong dream of wellness, and in putting words to paper revealed a success story of recovery. The purpose was not only to share the story of recovery but most importantly to help people struggling with this debilitating and often deadly disease.
Over the last 5 years I am heartened to know that my story has helped many to have faith and hope that wellness is indeed a reality not only for me, but for them.
As a self-published author back in 2003, copies of Road to the Rainbow were limited and likewise, its distribution and ability to reach many. This limitation ceased back in March of 2007 when CCB Publishing’s Paul Rabinovitch and his wife caught the tail end of a television documentary done on my story of recovery and the effects on my family and friends through a program called Second Chance.
To their dismay, they had great difficulty finding a copy of my book through the regular commercial channels. Through what I deem fate, they tracked me down and proposed not only a larger distribution opportunity, and the ability to reach many sufferers, but an opportunity to update the book from then to now. My response…absolutely!
For so many reasons a revised edition spurred excitement; to let readers know not only the progress in the last five years but more importantly, that the principles I discussed in 2003 stand fast in 2008, proving yet again that what I have done indeed works. What could be more exciting than that?
So my friend, inside is the main story yet again but followed at the end of each chapter is a section entitled, “Chapter in Review”. I have taken time to review journals over the last five years and have commented on life now since the initial words five years ago. You may be surprised at some of the changes; so was I, but happily so.
Over the intervening years I have spoken with people who have read the book, and the conversation has often generated several questions. The review after each chapter will now give me the opportunity to share with you some answers and perhaps shed further light on the process of recovery.
In this edition I have also provided a list of resources that have been beneficial since the book was first printed back in 2003.
For a first time reader, welcome! As my dedication reads, “I dedicate this book to you who have picked it up because you are ready to begin. Helping one person realize life is worth living has served its purpose…I hope it is you.”
To those who have shared my story before, may you be comforted to know, the rainbow continues.
I have been thinking long and hard over the last couple of years about the type of book I wanted to write. I have always known I would write one, but was never sure of the angle. That indecision is over.
With over 20 years of journals, and the documentation of the good, the bad and the ugly, I decided to dive into my recovery. As I began this process, reading my journals was often painful and pathetic. I was acutely conscious of wasted years, and occasionally I could not continue to read, but I persisted because I knew the end result would be useful not only to a sufferer, but to myself. Reviewing them was another step towards continued wellness for me.
I am not a medical professional. What I write are words from a wounded soul to a strong survivor. This book is not a medical reference book. My road to recovery may not be deemed “traditional” but it has worked for me.
My roller coaster of eating disorders has seen my 5’8” frame range from 179lbs to a mere 78lbs. With conviction stemming from experience, I empathize with all those suffering from eating disorders. I have overeaten, consuming everything in sight, hoping to numb the confusion inside. I have restricted intake hoping to