My best friend SAM...

My Best Friend Simone (Sam)
HER HORRIFIED LIFE

This is a story about my best friend Simone (Sam) who not that long ago lived a happy life doing the things she loved. Sam was the type of person who loved to work, and go out to night clubs and be an everyday normal person.

Sam and I have known each other for a period of seven years, in that time we have had a lot of great times, we listened to loud music, went night clubbing, shopping and had lots of fun together doing it, these are only some of the things that we used to share.

In 1997 her boyfriend moved up to Cairns, North Queenland for work so she moved up there to be with him, I was not at all happy with the idea because I thought I was losing my best friend. At the age of 24 Sam was a very healthy young woman, until she started running into problems with her social life and her boyfriend. She was totally going down hill, she looked and looked for work but no-one would give her a chance because they took one look at her and you could see what they were thinking (I don't want a girl like her working for me) At that stage Sam was very thin and there was nothing of her, but at the time she didn't know she was anorexic.

In 1998 a couple of months went past and I decided to go and see her while I was on holidays, her boyfriend knew I was coming but Sam didn't, so I walked up quietly to her front door and knocked, she came screaming out the door in amazement when she knew who it was. I was so stunned to see the state she was in, she was not the same Sam that I knew in Sydney. She had gotten even thinner since the last time I had seen her.

I stayed for a while and we chatted about old times over a cup of coffee, but I could see something was wrong!!I asked her "what happened to you, are you sick"?? Suddenly she burst into tears and said "I have CELIAC DISEASE" not knowing what that is I asked her "what is that" and she replied " Gluten Intolerence to food". I was totally in shock at the news.

I couldn't stay as long as I would have liked but I had to return to Sydney as my children weren't with me, but I told her I would be back in a couple of months to see how she is doing because her boyfriend didn't really care about her all...he was only interested in was his work and his own life, all he had ever done for her was to critize and put her down!!!

A couple of weeks later I left Sydney to move over to Adelaide South Australia, I never told Sam that I was leaving so she had no idea where I was, after I arrived I rang Sam to see how she was doing and the first thing she did was yell at me over the phone and ask me where I was, I told her that I was in Adelaide and she cried even harder as I was even further away, I asked her what's wrong she replied "I have been trying to get in touch with you for weeks" I asked her why & she said "you know how I have CELIAC DISEASE I also now have ANOREXIA NERVOSA" By this time I was totally devestated by the news, how could I help my best friend??

I rang her the next day to see what she was doing..all I got was the answering machine, so I left a message for her to ring me that night at a certain time, when that time came I received no phone call so I didn't think too much of it just that she may have got caught up, I waited until the next night at the same time and she still didn't call, so I ended up ringing her place again and her boyfriend answered and I asked to speak to Sam and he said "she is not here" ...then he broke the news to me and said that she was in the hospital and she has been there for two days and was receiving treatment. I was sort of relieved but also worried that he wasn't telling me everything, I said to him "there's more isn't there", he said "yes, she has a 50% chance of survival" I was very upset at the time and I spoke to my partner and my Mum about how I felt about the situation and they both said to me that I should read as much information as I could about these subjects to learn more about them, I have included some of my findings on the pages I have made below.

ANOREXIA NERVOSA

CELIAC DISEASE

UPDATE

Aug '98 - Sam was still in hospital doing her best to overcome this dreadful disease, she had put on a small amoung of weight but still has a long way to go, the doctor's refused to release her until she was at least 40Kgs. A week and half later she reached her goal and was allowed home under supervision.

Jan'99 - I recieved a phone call from Sam last night.. we were both crying with happiness I as soooooo happy as she is doing excellent, she has gained weight and holding her own. Soon hopefully I will have a recent picture of her to share with people to show that with love and understanding it can be beaten. She is no longer with her boyfriend and living with her sister. HHOORRAAYYY FOR SAM!!!!!!!!!!

BEARING UP

We share our happiness with each other
and it becomes greater

We share our troubles with each other
and they become smaller

We share one another's griefs and burdens
and their weight becomes possible to bear.

by Mike Johnson

Some Specialists that may be involved are:
Endocrinologists, Gynecologists, Internists, Psychiatrists, Pscyhologists, Registered Dietitians

I love you &miss you very much Sam, I hope this small gesture will help you back on the road to recovery.

Created 20-06-1998