‘Without Rogers, I truly wouldn’t be alive today’: Former eating disorder patient reflects on her recovery journey

Meeting people where they are and providing life-saving care is at the heart of Rogers’ mission. Former patient Adriana recently reached out to share how being seen for who she is helped set her on a journey of healing. 

“When I was 13 years old, I was admitted to inpatient care at Rogers in Oconomowoc for an eating disorder. Obviously, at the time, I was scared, in denial, and sick. The Rogers team did everything they could to get me back on my feet. I was able to become healthy enough to return home after a few weeks. The nurses and technicians looked at me as a person, not just a disorder, and they made a scared 13-year-old girl feel safe.  

After my time in inpatient, I was lucky enough to experience amazing care from the Eden Prairie PHP program. It was COVID, so this meant that I was to complete this program online. At this time, I was still extremely ill and irrational. My family didn’t know if an online program would work for me. The Eden Prairie staff saved my life. They were there through every meal, breakdown, and triumph.  

Without Rogers, I truly wouldn’t be alive today. I am now five years in recovery from anorexia, and I am the person I am today because of Rogers. I’m studying psychology at the University of Minnesota, and I hope to one day be a psychologist. I want to advocate for mental health awareness because I know how it feels to be at rock bottom. I didn’t ever think it was possible to be where I am today, and I want others to know that recovery and a fulfilling life is possible.” ~ Adriana 

“I’m very grateful that Adriana decided to share her experience at the Eden Prairie Clinic,” says David Rotter, MSW, MPH, LICSW, clinical services manager, St. Paul. “Whenever former patients reach out to share their post-treatment success stories, it serves as a reminder of the long-term impact that treatment at Rogers can impart. The treatment teams at the Eden Prairie Clinic really focus on working with the individual in identifying not only goals for treatment, but also strategies to promote active engagement during the treatment day, whether treatment is delivered virtually or in-person. In Adriana’s experience, the clinical team was really able to provide needed support until she was able to build the knowledge and skills to support her own mental health care. I think that’s the long-term goal for any patient that comes to Rogers: to build up their skill sets so that they can thrive in their own lives. “