Gratitude Stories from Bradley Hospital

“It all happened kind of quickly,” says Emilie's mom, Kim. “Things just grew into kind of an acute anxiety/OCD situation. She’d stopped eating, and really wasn't drinking. And lost quite a bit of weight. She couldn’t really get through the day without having extreme anxiety and fear that something bad was going to happen to her.”

Many kids are picky eaters. But Kim and her husband, Felix, grew alarmed when their six-year-old’s behavior around eating became extreme. Their daughter Shea would regularly refuse food, saying she was afraid it would make her sick.

The milestone of a child starting preschool is often a joyous, yet bittersweet occasion for parents. As they see their little ones gain independence and make new friends, it also marks a new chapter in life. Unfortunately, when Amy’s daughter Izzy started school, it was anything but a joyful time.

In early 2020, Ivy was 14 years old and struggling. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) had taken over her life, making daily tasks unbearable.