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Praise for Andrea’s Voice...Silenced by Bulimia “Doris Smeltzer loved her daughter and left no stone unturned in caring for her. Her courageous and indomitable spirit and her capacity to tell a compelling story keep Andrea alive in readers’ hearts and minds. Moreover, Smeltzer’s inspired story telling offers the strength, wisdom and hope patients and families hunger for in their own struggle to prevail...and to survive... in the face of lethal eating disorders. Through Andrea’s Voice, mother and daughter enjoy the capacity to save other precious lives.” “Doris Smeltzer gives voice to the unbearable grief of losing her child, Andrea, with such courage and grace the book is ultimately an inspiration. She weaves Andrea's voice throughout her own story so that mother and daughter are telling it together, capturing the deep bond that connects them to this day. Andrea's words are poignant, powerful and beautiful revealing to us both her wisdom and struggle on her journey to growing up. Reading this book is like wrapping yourself in a blanket of poetry that wakes up your heart with tenderness and compassion.” “Andrea’s Voice...Silenced by Bulimia is the compelling story of one family’s coping with the tragedy of bulimia, and the steps they take to recovery. Not easy to put down, this is the deeply personal story of Smeltzer’s journey through shock and grief. Andrea’s own voice comes through poignantly, hopefully, in her poetry and journal entries.” There are lessons here for all of us. This is not just a story of one family’s tragedy with eating disorders but a perspective about our culture and our attitudes about our bodies. Food and body image are powerful symbols for us and understanding the interactions is critical for our mental as well as physical health “Andrea's voice, as we hear it through her journal entries and poetry, resonates vibrantly within this heartbreaking, beautifully written memoir of her mother's grief. Her life and “Despite the sadness and grief, this book is also helpful, telling other families and sufferers to seek specialized help and to never underestimate the deadly and destructive force of eating disorders. Thanks to Doris Smeltzer’s courageous examination of her daughter’s illness and death, Andrea may actually empower many others struggling with eating disorders to live. Ultimately, this is a book of hope and of healing: my thanks to Doris and to Andrea.” “Andrea’s Voice tells the story of the tragic potentials of eating disorders through two powerful voices--Andrea, the daughter, and Doris, the mother: Andrea’s journal entries eloquently describe the layers of suffering in the hearts and minds of young people suffering from eating disorders. Doris’ narrative rings with wisdom as she struggles to come to terms with the brutal reality of her daughter’s disorder. The end result is a deep understanding of the complexities of eating disorders, and new compassion for those who struggle with them.” |

