Melissa's 21st Birthday

December 21, 2010. Today Melissa should be celebrating her 21st birthday. Instead it will be a day of memories, tears and thoughts of an unfinished life. At the same time, however, I get great solace in seeing the incredible impact Melissa's story is having on others. Indeed, she is changing the world.

I've learned the hard way that filmmaking is not a straight shot from beginning to end but I'm excited to say Someday Melissa is scheduled for completion on January 14, 2011. I promise to share information on screenings and DVD availability as soon as it's available.

Post Production Update

It's been a busy few weeks as work continues on Someday Melissa. I was up in Boston last week meeting with our fantastic post production team from Productive Media. We're on schedule for completion by the end of the year. The film is taking shape and will tell Melissa's story and honor her life while addressing the bulimia that stole her from us.

I continue to meet extraordinary people as I journey down this road called grief. I'm so grateful for all their love and support.

Judy

Someday Melissa Update

Exciting news! We made the decision to hire an experienced post production editor to work with us to ensure Someday Melissa would reach its full potential. After dozens and dozens of recommendations from across the country we are moving forward with a fantastic team. The film is still geared for completion within the next few months and discussions with various networks are continuing.

I continue to do interviews for different media outlets with the goal of raising awareness of eating disorders. WebMD has created a wonderful new Teen Health section and I spoke to a writer for an article on eating disorders. http://teens.webmd.com/girls-puberty-10/girls-eating-disorders?page=1

As NEDA says: It's time to talk about it!

Judy

Schools & Colleges Awaiting Release of Someday Melissa

Yesterday I received an email from a therapist at a midwestern college counseling center asking when the film will be completed. She wrote:

"I work with many of the college women on our campus with eating disorders, and I found your website while doing my several-times-a-week check for updated information on eating disorder treatment. ....Best of luck to you in your endeavors to reach the countless and often silent victims of these deadly diseases. I pray many people find hope and freedom from Melissa's story."

I receive a steady stream of inquiries from college and university counseling centers around the country as well as from guidance counselors at middle schools and high schools. There's a sense of urgency in the emails. Everyone is trying to find ways to reach kids in a way that will make them pay attention to what eating disorders really mean. I know "Someday Melissa" will do that.

I'll continue to post updates on the film's progress to this blog as well as the Someday Melissa Facebook page. However, if you are an educational or treatment professional and would like to be notified directly when the film is available please send me your contact information.

I can be reached through the Contact Page at www.somedaymelissa.com or directly at judy.somedaymelissa@gmail.com

Remember there IS HOPE and help is always available through the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA): www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

Thank you, Judy

Proud to be a NEDA Ambassador

Update on Someday Melissa

Welcome back to the Someday Melissa blog. I've been away for a while but I wanted to update everyone on where we are with the film. We’ve finished primary filming and production and are in the middle of post production and editing. We’ve had incredible feedback and responses from every who has seen it and we can’t wait to complete it and get Melissa’s message out there.

Please stay tuned and I promise to start blogging more frequently. Don’t forget to check the Someday Melissa Facebook account and please check back here. Welcome to the hurry up and wait world of film production.

Thanks so much, Judy

The F.R.E.E.D. Act - Judy's march on Washington

Yesterday morning Senators Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced into the Senate the first comprehensive legislation aimed at fighting and preventing eating disorders in the United States: Federal Response to Eliminate Eating Disorders (FREED Act). The bill has already been introduced in the House (H.R. 1193).

It was thrilling to sit in the front row of a press room in Capitol Hill and hear Senator Harkin loudly and proudly endorse this much needed legislation to provide for the much needed research, education and treatment needed to fight ED.

I spent the rest of the day with 2 other amazing women meeting with staffers from the offices of Sens. Gillibrand, Lautenberg, Menendez, Shaheen and Rep. Pascrell himself to advocate for their co-sponsorship of the bill. At the closing press conference, following remarks from Congressman Patrick Kennedy who introduced the House bill last year, I received the following email from Senator Menendez's office:

I wanted to let you know that Senator Menendez has agreed to cosponsor the FREED Act. Thank you again for taking the time to come to the office today and share Melissa’s story.

Look forward to working with you on this important issue.

Office of US Senator Robert Menendez

528 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510-0001

The beginning.....

Melissa Avrin lost her five year battle with bulimia on May 6, 2009. Her mother, Judy Avrin, has since become a crusader - her mission is to expose the incidence and insidiousness of Eating Disorders with the intent of preventing further suffering so that Melissa's death was not in vain.

I spoke to Judy just hours after Melissa died. I couldn't even imagine the pain and grief she was feeling, but she was able to keep her calm and even asked me if I was okay. Just like Judy to think about someone else in that moment. I attended Melissa's funeral two days later and was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support by family, friends, and community.

A week or two after the funeral, Judy called me to ask if she could come to my office to chat with me about Melissa. "Absolutely," I said, hoping that I could help, at least in some small way, to ease her grief. I had been Melissa's therapist for a while but hadn't seen Melissa for almost two years before her death as she explored different kinds of treatments in search of one that would finally help free her from ED's strong hold.

Judy arrived at my office to talk and brought with her Melissa's most recent journal. I was blown away by how poignant her writings were and how the themes of darkness, and loss and hope were all mixed together. I got a much greater peek that day into Melissa's soul than she ever let me when we worked together in therapy. She was quite an amazing writer - a talent I really never knew she had.

Judy and I sat for a while as we each read the journal. When I reached her poem entitled "Someday" I paused.....

Someday....
I'll eat breakfast
I'll keep a job for more than 3 weeks
I'll have a boyfriend for more than 10 days
I'll love someone
I'll travel wherever I want
I'll make my family proud
I'll make a movie that will change lives

"Judy," I said, "I think you have a documentary here. Melissa's writings are so real and honest and painful - a real look into her inner struggle - but they also speak of hope. I think you need to share them." Judy didn't say much then but I could see she was thinking. We cried together as Judy talked a little more about Melissa and then she left.

Shortly after that Judy called me and said "I want to do it. Melissa wanted to make a movie that will change lives. It's the perfect way to honor her."

And so Someday Melissa was born.....

With Judy as Executive Producer, me as Producer and Jeff Cobelli as Director, we have, as yet, shot over 50 hours of footage. Our intention is a full length documentary aimed at increasing awareness of Eating Disorders, with Melissa's painful struggle as the catalyst. The feedback we have gotten so far from the film's trailer and from the website - www.somedaymelissa.com - has been tremendous.

I speak to Judy frequently and have watched her channel her grief into this cause. She inspires me daily with her motivation to carry on and get the message out. I know she misses Melissa's more than words can say here - but she keeps her focus and thinks endlessly about all the other young women and men who are currently struggling with Eating Disorders and uses the possibility of helping them as her strength.