Kelsey's Story: Updated With Art!

**I have updated Kelsey's Story to share some of her art with you!  I hope you enjoy.  Also, please don't forget to read the very last bit of this post, as I've made some updates**

Kelsey's Story is one that I've never told. None of you know Kelsey, but you might know A Kelsey. After you read this, if you might be a Kelsey, or you know a Kelsey, please, stop and get help.

Kelsey's Story

My version of Kelsey's Story starts in December of 2004. I started working for a property management company. I was hired by Cheryl to be Greg's assistant. Coincidentally, Cheryl and Greg were married. At first, Greg would hardly give me anything to do. He was used to his old assistant, who still worked for the company, so he would deliver things to her that needed to be done, and she would shove them off to me because she couldn't do them.

I'm not sure when the turning point in mine and Greg's working relationship took place, but finally, a few months later, he stopped giving work to his old assistant. Maybe he was just unsure of how I would perform. I don't know. It might have happened when I would bitch to Cheryl that Greg would not let me assist him. Who knows. By February of 2005, I was working as Greg's assistant as well as Cheryl's. I can honestly say that I've never enjoyed working with and FOR two more awesome people, and I'm not just saying that because Cheryl might read this blog.

While I worked for Greg and Cheryl, they always made me feel like part of the family. The rest of their real family consisted of two daughters, 8 dogs, a handful of cats and a herd of deer that Cheryl took care of. I would get awesome jewelry at Christmas and baked goods around the holidays. Greg & Cheryl's daughters were 18 and 15 when I met them. Kelsey, 18 worked part time at our office. I said "hi" in passing, but she was mostly quiet and kept to herself. Marissa was 15 and busy with school and whatnot, so it wasn't until the end of 2005 that her and I met. Kelsey quit working for the company and in October of 2005 I left the office to work onsite for another manager. I felt like I had let Greg down, but he knew that I was making the change for the better. As luck would have it, the new manager I went to work for resigned and Greg came out to the onsite location with me! We were reunited, leaving Cheryl at the office.

I'm not sure when everything with Kelsey actually started. I never asked personal questions, but I always knew that there was something wrong. Eventually, since Greg and I were working literally side-by-side, sharing an office and a desk, I learned that Kelsey was struggling with an eating disorder. Greg and Cheryl made the choice to send her to treatment, away from home. They tried several options in town, but nothing really stuck.

When Kelsey returned from treatment, she had good days and bad days, as to be expected. The ups and downs lasted a few years. In December of 2006 I left work to have McKenna. I went back to work in September of 2007, 9 months later. The rollercoaster for Kelsey was still in full swing. Things that wouldn't normally impact your life affected Kelsey in the most dramatic of ways. I'm not saying she was a drama queen, but sometimes, something that we would consider minor, would send her into a downward spiral for long periods of time. While dealing with this, Greg and Cheryl tried everything, they moved her to her own apartment, they moved her back, they enrolled her into school, she withdrew, they tried everything. They love their children just as you love yours. I'm sure there were many sleepless nights for both of them when they weren't sure if Kelsey was on the edge.

In March of 2008 I left work again. McKenna was constantly sick, I was always sick and missing work. I just had to do it. When I left, I still kept in touch with Greg. I would call, or send a random email checking on the family. The response was always the same. "Marissa is good, Kelsey is up and down and Cheryl and I are hanging on tight". The communication between Greg, Cheryl and myself faded, but I always knew and I still know that if I ever needed anything in this world, they were a phone call away. I can't express to y'all how much they mean to me.

The last time I remember having an email exchange with Greg was sometime in early 2009. His answer was the same, but what I didn't know is that Kelsey wasn't. Her eating disorder had spiraled out of control. Her Bulimia turned Anorexia turned back to bingeing and purging. I never knew.

On June 21, 2009 I was loaded in the truck with My Husband, McKenna and my BFF and her husband. We were headed to the lake for Father's Day. My cell phone rang and it was one of my great friends (and former co-worker), Melanie. She was sobbing. The only thing I understood was "...Greg...Kelsey...passed away...". At that second, my feet felt cold. I couldn't tell if it was Greg or Kelsey. My chin started to quiver as Melanie finally made it clear. It was Kelsey. My heart sank. Tears ran down my cheeks. I cried with Melanie on the phone for a good 15 minutes or so. The details at this point were incredibly unclear, but we both knew it was The Beast that took her.

It had been years since I had seen Kelsey. I would guess that when The Beast took her away, she could have very easily weighed 80 pounds or less. Her body was so week and fragile that her heart could no longer beat. Cheryl and Greg's daughter was gone. Taken. She was 23 years old young. If what you just read, didn't send the feeling of a bowling ball hitting your toes through your stomach...

Kelsey was troubled. She was a prisoner held captive by The Beast. This is all true. Another true statement is: Kelsey was INCREDIBLY talented. She was an artist. She painted, she drew, she journaled. It was her outlet. In my old office, I had two of her pieces hanging in front of me. Cheryl will tell you that Kelsey would paint on anything. She truly was amazing.

Shortly after her memorial, I approached Cheryl. I called her. The phone call I was going to make was probably one of the most difficult. I was about to call Cheryl, this woman I love, who just lost her daughter to The Beast. I was going to call her and ask her a question that would make her think to herself "are you kidding me, Jenn? She just passed away and you're calling me with THIS"?

I was sitting outside the mall. I picked up my phone and dialed her number. She answered. We chit chatted for a minute, then I came out with it. "Would you and Greg be willing to display Kelsey's art in some sort of an exhibit. We could auction it off and raise money for an Eating Disorder charity". Her response? "I don't know. I'll have to talk to Greg". I made it VERY clear that I wasn't going to push the issue. I made it clear that I understood if she said no. I made it clear that they could take all the time they needed. A part of me felt cold hearted for even having the audacity to ask such a ridiculous question. A part of me felt like this was ME, trying to do something for someone else. Someone who was hurting so bad, I would never understand, but all I could offer was my time. My time and my idea. I knew that I never wanted to hear about another person losing their life to The Beast. People needed to know what happened. People needed to see how talented Kelsey was, even if it was too late.

I never heard back. I took that as a sign. They weren't interested, and I quite possibly hurt the feelings of two people (three including Marissa) that I love dearly. When I thought about it after the call, what I was asking might have been really insulting, but I knew that Greg and Cheryl knew I wasn't intending to insult them. I knew that. This was in July.

A few months passed. It was late September. Cheryl called me. She took my idea to the Austin Foundation for Eating Disorders. This foundation is new. They need money. She told them about my idea and...now...The silent art auction is scheduled for Saturday, February 20, 2010. 8 months to the day.

We will display her art

We will auction off prints

We will raise money for AFED

We will remember Kelsey

We will raise awareness. Eating Disorders Kill

This one is my very favorite out of all of them. 

Here is where you come in. I have 53 fantastic, loyal followers. I'm asking each and every one of you two questions:

1) Do you have artistic talent? Would you like to donate something to be auctioned off at our fundraiser? If so, please contact me ASAP via email: jenn.applovins(at)gmail(dot)com . I would be more than proud to auction your art (photographs, paintings, sculptures, ANYTHING) for this wonderful cause.

2) Will you take the link for this post and display it in one of your posts today? I just want to spread the word. The Beast can go away. It's up to us. Here in Blogland, we have the power. The power to speak what we want. Don't let Kelsey's Story repeat itself. If you post the link, please comment me and let me know!

Thank you times a million, y'all!

If you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, it's not too late!  Please, go here and find a chapter near you! 

Also, I have closed the comments on this post.  If you wish to leave a comment, you can do so on Cheryl's blog,
Woman At A Crossroads