Neighborhood Hospitals Refuse to Treat Anorexic Actor As Weight Makes Her a Liability

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that is characterized by an abnormally low body weight and an intense fear of gaining weight. Rachael Farrokh, a 37 year old actress from California, has been battling anorexia nervosa for more than 10 years now. At five feet seven inches tall, the actress who weighs just around 40 pounds has released a heart-wrenching video on YouTube spotlighting her fight against the life-threatening eating disorder. In the video Farrokh is pleading for help as hospitals say she is too skinny to treat.

A gaunt-looking Farrokh says in the video, "A sudden job loss and a painful memory from the past had allowed anorexia to creep in." As the disorder spiraled out of control, the actress saw her weight drop from a healthy 125 pounds to a much lower figure, and in recent months, it has dropped even below 50 pounds.

Farrokh further explains how her condition has severely declined in recent months, leaving her emaciated, breathless and too weak to move around on her own at her San Clemente home. She also revealed how her husband, Rod Edmondson, had to quit his job to become her 24-hour caregiver, while area hospitals are not willing to treat her because her dangerous weight makes her a liability.

Because of her condition, Farrokh has previously suffered from heart and liver failure, and has had to undergo blood transfusions. She has also experienced a decline in her mental ability as her body continues to 'shut down'.

In the video, Farrokh's chest bones can be seen sticking up through her skin, her knee bones jut out of her legs and her face is gaunt. She says, "Rod is now my 24-hour caregiver. In order for us to get to the hospital that can help, I need your help. Otherwise I don't have a shot. And I'm ready to get better." She finally guides viewers to a dedicated GoFundMe page, where she is aiming to raise $100,000 to fund her treatment for anorexia.

On the GoFundMe page, Edmondson writes, "There is only one hospital in the country that specializes in re-feeding patients at such a low body weight and it's my mission to get her there. If she receives too many calories her metabolism will kick up and she will lose even more weight. This is a very delicate medical situation. Hospitals won't admit her because she is a liability for them. She doesn't meet their minimum weight requirement and they don't have the capabilities to save her."

Farrokh has so far raised $33,150, while her video has garnered over 11,000 views.

Source: Medindia