The Distorted Mirror

Book excerpt: In 1998, Brenda Nottestad, a young Christian wife and mother, with two children, was breathing a sigh of relief that her life was so blessed and that her two children were growing into high achieving, good kids. Anorexia and bulimia were foreign to her with the exception of an occasional made-for-TV movie. Until, that is, her own daughter, at age 15 was caught throwing up at school and the cheerleading advisor contacted Brenda. Thus began the journey that is in this book. It is a mother's journal from the depths of disbelief and despair through a maze of counseling, medical treatment and prayer to reach the other side of a mountain she never dreamed her family would be asked to climb. As Brenda grieved, battled and fought the forces of darkness for her daughter, the easy answers she thought would come, just were not there. For every step forward, there were two steps backward. The healing truly had to be a process--a journey of intellect and faith. This book is a remarkable insight into a mother's heart, a daughter's pain, a family's faith, and God's truly amazing grace to overcome the insidious world that is eating disorders.