Here is my Story

I was 17 years old in high school, I was into my studies and I felt like I had to be perfect in everything I did. I went to school and I was criticized by my peers because they were calling me ugly as I walked down the halls. I came home and my father always use to look at other women, and he use to always tell me I should watch what I eat. My mom never got along with my father and our family dynamics were atrocious with rage. I felt as though I couldn't control anything in my life. I felt as though I couldn't get accepted by anyone. I wasn't loved by anyone, and a part of me felt very lonely and vulnerable. Then my cousin from Texas came to visit me, and she was always getting attention from everyone, and I saw that she was really thin. I wanted to be like that.
Then I started making a strict diet for myself, cutting out EVERYTHING. All I would have everyday was a apple, cereal, and some fruit for dessert. Then I would run 7 miles 7 days a week. The first thing I noticed was that I lost my period. Then 7 monthes later I began feeling really week, but I was in control of my weight and I was receiving compliments from everyone. I was really happy! Afterwards, I went to the gym and I saw a business card for this woman, named Kelly Jean, she specialized in personal training. I wanted to maintain my weight so I called her to get lessons, and she said sure meet me at the gym. I went the next day and she saw me and she just dropped. I was underweight so she took me to Boston Market and I looked at all the food in great fear. Kelly wanted me to take a bite of chicken and I just went into tears. I was afraid of food!
Kelly Jean said "food is god" you should have food. So I embraced it. I began eating normally and then I started gaining weight. All of a sudden one day I passed out in her house, and I was unconscious, so she took me to Scripps Hospital and I was hospitalized for 7 days. They figured out I had Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and my hemoglobin was down to a 4.0. I was put on corticosteroids that made me gain weight and feel awful. I had to have transfusions, and mild chemotherapy done. Then I started UCSD, while on the medication and it was like a rebirth of the next chapter in my life, living with a life long disease!