**This is dedicated to one of my best friends who I almost lost throughout the fight of anorexia nervosa.(true Story)
I never knew what it was like to have a best friend until I met her. She truly changed my life. Her spunk, charisma, and attitude kept me going. She was perfect, living a perfect life. Rebecca had a huge house, tons of friends, perfect family, beautiful complexion and high IQ. It appeared to me she had it all. Being her best friend I should have know differently. Looking back I must have been blind to think she had it “all”. It’s sad to think she was secretly miserable and I never knew until it was too late. Hiding food, counting calories, thinking about nothing but how fat she was nonstop became her only activities. It seems like she shriveled up like a prune over night but it must have taken longer, I just never noticed. I was too preoccupied with my life. Sure I knew something was wrong, but I thought it was just teenage hormones. Her soon smile faded and her blue eyes turned black reflecting misery and sorrow, her beautiful complexion that used to be “perfect” was plastic looking. I remember the day she called from the hospital. Hearing her voice was killing me, as she was so weak. She began with “ before you worry about me, I’m okay soon I’ll be in a better place”, before I could tear up I knew what she was getting at. The counseling didn’t work, the medicine only made her more depressed, the doctors didn’t know what to do, and she was going to die. At one point in her life, actually five months before that particular hospital appointment, she was healthy; standing five feet and four inches tall weighing ninety five pounds. In my eyes she was the one I envied. Rebecca was skinny but not to the point that she was ghost like. No matter what she had gone through before she had always gotten over it with a smile. It seemed like she was invincible and nothing could stop her, until now. I rushed over to the hospital as fast as I could, hands sweaty, heart beating uncontrollably as I approached the ground floor. Mom and I picked up flowers on the way over; yellow roses were her favorite. At the check in desk there was a dark skinned lady on the telephone talking about nonsense so my mom signaled to get her attention. She stopped talking looked up and said,” Can I help you two”? My mom spoke to the lady because I was too wrapped up in thinking about how I was going to act when I saw her. The telephone lady told us Rebecca’s room number and what direction to go to get to the mental health department. When we arrived we waited outside the room for twenty minutes until Rebecca’s family came out. Her mom was quiet and this was the first time I saw her dad, a strong army soldier, ever cry. They told us I could go in, and say my goodbyes. I guess this was for real. She was leaving this world and it seemed like it happened over night. Her mom had told me how bad of condition she was in but I thought she was over exaggerating. But, when I saw her lying in bed bones and skin only that’s when I realized this was no joke. She was slowly killing herself. She refused to eat for five months living off of water and celery because they both had negative calories, according to her. Over the past five months she had wasted down to sixty-three pounds and her kidney had failed to respond. Sitting with her for thirty minutes we just talked about normal stuff; what she had missed at school, friends, the boy she had a thing for, and the pig dissection in science. Anything I could think about I brought up. I guess she enjoyed my company because she did laugh a little, and share some “hospital” jokes that I didn’t really understand. When the nurse heard her laughing she rushed in, thinking she was choking but we reassured her we were just having somewhat of a good time. Rebecca told me the craziest thing that night. She claims she’s tried to be me her whole life. She envied my personality, beautiful complexion, perfect family, my long brown hair that was always cut just right, and my naturally skinny silhouette. Hearing this I burst out crying. We we’re both so envious of each other when secretly we never knew. For an hour we talked about everything, because in my mind it would be our last talk. Our thoughts, feelings, and emotions were fair game. When we were finishing up our chat the nurse came in and pulled me aside. She told me Rebecca’s mother wanted to speak with me. I gave Rebecca a huge hug and told her I’d be back in a second. I walked quietly out trying not to make too much noise so she could rest and greeted her mom by the guest area. Her mother started in with asking me how I felt, and if I was okay. I replied with “I’m fine and yes I’m okay”. She began to talk again. “ The doctor says she needs a kidney transplant to stay alive”, she reveals. I give her a sympathetic look, not knowing what to say, because I’m pretty much speechless. She continues on even though I’m not hearing her. I’m too involved with my own thoughts. She’s going on still when I yell “ I’LL DO IT”! “You’ll do what?” She asks puzzled. “I’ll give her one of my kidneys”, I say in a hurry. Her mom looks at me again, this time with her eyes bulging out. “I’m not asking you to do that!” I yell back” But I want to she’s my best friend!” Before anyone can stop me I run into Rebecca’s room and slam the door. “I’m doing it! I’m going through with the procedure!” I yell. “ What are you talking about? What procedure?” she says in a shaky voice. “ I’m giving you my kidney so you’ll live”, I blurt out. “ Why would you do that for me?” she asks in a concerned voice. By this time her mom and my mom are in the room looking worried and concerned. “I don’t care what anyone says I’m giving Rebecca my kidney, she deserves to live past sixteen!” I yell uncontrollably. The doctor walks in and asks what all the commotion is about. We talk quietly outside for an hour, all parents surrounding us, before he gives me the good news. According to the new law as long as I have parental consent I can donate my kidney to Rebecca. My mom pulled my outside and told me I was strong, strong enough to make my own decision. So, with those words of wisdom I went through with it. The procedure took six hours and thirteen minutes according to my mom. When I woke up my stomach was sore and I had a scar running across my belly button line. I was still drowsy when I woke up, but I could make out a few things including a desk, a bouquet of flowers, and Rebecca, in the twin bed next to me. We exchanged glances and rubbed our tummies at the exact same time. Before I could even speak she said,” You are my guardian angel” and fell asleep. I was smiling ear to ear when the nurse came in to bring me some water. “You’re an amazing person and don’t you ever forget what you did for her”, the nurses whispered quiet enough for only me to hear. Rebecca and I were in the hospital for eight days. She went into an immediate mental health care program after the eighth day while I went home and went back to school. Looking back on this I can’t believe how vulnerable Rebecca was. She’s drastically changed. It’s been almost seven months and she’s living a healthy, strong, anorexic-free lifestyle. She claims it’s all because of me but I know it’s because she had god on her side.
