Join Ally's Journey to Recover from ARFID

Hello, friends!

My best friend and soul sister is a single mom who has dedicated her life and career to helping others find their way out of the weeds through her From A Loving Place blogs, podcasts, Facebook Page, coaching services, and her book, Letters from a Better Me. After witnessing firsthand, the struggle she’s facing now, I really wanted to do something for her as she faces this health crisis with her daughter, because I know she is doing everything she can to get her the best care possible. I’m hoping after reading what her daughter, Ally, is going through that you’ll consider helping them to get her the best care possible for this life-threatening eating disorder that is only just recently coming to light. The only reason Rachael would be open to receive this kind of help is because it’s for her daughter’s health and well-being, and there is absolutely no way she could do it without support.

Here’s Rachael Wolff’s letter:

First, I need anyone reading this to know that my brave and incredible daughter has given me permission to share this information in hopes that it will help someone else to recognize this serious condition for what it is and not just “picky eating,” or normal stomach pains. Even if you have no interest in helping, just one more person knowing about Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) helps.

Back in 2020, my daughter Ally started experiencing extreme pain in her abdominal area. We went to primary care doctors, GI doctors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, OBGYNS, therapists, and finally after the pain, frustration, anxiety, and depression got bad enough, she ended up in the hospital.

She was put on meds along with the already prescribed digestive medications, but still nothing relieved the pain. She began eating less and less, with every meal being a battle.

Even though her weight was extremely low, no doctor or therapist ever mentioned the possibility of it being an eating disorder because she wasn’t trying to be thin and she didn’t have body dysmorphia. So, for four years she suffered without any hope of ever feeling better.

In November 2023, I took her to the ER because she started to experience an even more intense pain. They did tons of blood work and multiple scans, eventually sending her back to her OBGYN who shared with her primary care doctor her concern about Ally’s weight. When it dropped to 86 lbs, I finally asked her primary care if there was any way this could be an eating disorder, and she said it was possible.

We were referred to an eating disorder clinic through John Hopkins, where she was officially diagnosed with ARFID. Her case was too extreme for their clinic to handle, so we were referred out. Only two places accepted our insurance and both are on the other coast of Florida.

ARFID is an eating disorder that often slips through the cracks because it was only added to the DSM 10 years ago. Many doctors outside the field don’t know anything about it or how it works, which is why it has been so hard to get her the right support.

She’s now in an Intensive Outpatient Program that is Monday-Friday from 5-8pm in West Palm Beach, Florida. To get her started, we went out to the facility for the first four days of treatment. She loved it. She finally started to feel hope in getting better. I’ve become a full time caretaker to make sure I do everything I can to help her healing from this horrible life-threatening eating disorder.

Now, she is doing the program virtually but feels like she gets a lot more out of it being in person, since the people on Zoom are muted unless they are being spoken to. She really would like to be a part of the interaction more. She wants the help and really wants to get better so she can put these painful years behind her. In the program she’s been gaining weight and her pain has been lessening.

Ideally, we would love to be able to go over to West Palm for her to be in person three days a week. This would give her more in-person support through this difficult process, and I would be able to attend the support group on Wednesdays and family day at the treatment center on Fridays.

The cost to do this would be $500/wk (transportation, hotels, and food). As of right now, I have no idea how long she will be in the program; some kids are in there for very long periods of time, but I’m hoping with a little time the virtual will get easier, and she will be able to be accountable for eating on her own. Then I won’t be so overwhelmed by learning all about just how dangerous these eating disorders are.

Since she does really want this, and she is putting everything she has into getting better, I have high hopes for her. The fact that she wants to be there in-person more says a lot to me. I would love to be able to make this possible for her, but I need help to do it.

I’m already upside down from having to borrow money from friends and family to be able to take care of Ally full time, so any amount, big or small, is so helpful, and if you can’t help financially, prayers would be greatly appreciated and not forgotten.