Tara Jeffrey
Tahlia Kelch had always been an active, thriving kid — spending years playing school and community sports.
But once the pandemic set in the isolation and disruption in routine took a toll.
“I was very bored at home,” said the 15-year-old St. Francis Xavier student, a runner and basketball player. But something changed within; she was no longer staying active because she wanted to, but because her brain told her she had to.
“It started with the exercise, but slowly I was cutting out my food intake,” said Kelch, recalling how she wanted to eat ‘healthier.’
“But healthier turned into smaller and smaller portions. I was down to about 700 calories a day. In the morning I would go to make my lunch and I would just start to cry, because I didn’t know what to put in it,” said Kelch, pointing to ‘fear foods’ like sweets, which those with eating disorders tend to avoid.
Her parents recognized both the physical and mental changes in their once vibrant daughter, whose weight was dropping dangerously low.
“We started to notice she was really anxious at things,” said mom, Jessica Kelch, who, in Sept. 2020, reached out to the Eating Disorder Outreach Program at Bluewater Health. They were placed on a wait list that lasted four months.
“We should have received support right then — this is something that can’t wait,” Jessica Kelch said. “Eating disorders don’t discriminate; they basically hold their victims hostage and the longer it holds, the worse it gets.”
A recent study in the Journal of Adolescent Health found COVID-19 pandemic created a “perfect storm” for eating disorders in adolescents and young adults.
“Those of us who treat young people with eating disorders were woefully unprepared to manage this eating disorder surge,” the authors wrote. “It is a wake-up call.”
Teens visiting ERs for eating disorders doubled during pandemic, the CDC reported.
The Kelches worked as a family to help Tahlia try and restore the weight, but a second lockdown in Dec. 2020 exacerbated her struggles. At the age of 13, she weighed 75 pounds.
“We finally received a call from Bluewater Health and started seeing a social worker,” said Jessica Kelch. Tahlia was encouraged to stop all physical activity to regain weight.
“I couldn’t handle it. My response was to just stand, all day long,” said Kelch, who knew standing burns more calories than sitting. “I felt like I needed to do something to earn the food.”
She was eventually admitted to London hospital for five weeks, but still struggled with food. A second admission to the Paediatric intensive care unit lasted 13 weeks.
“In order for her to gain weight, she need to take in 3,400 calories in a day — and when you’re afraid of food that’s a hard thing to do,” explained Jessica.
Kelch was allowed to stand only 15 minutes daily, along with six meals.
“Those were the longest days of my life. Mostly I’d throw a ball off the wall and play guitar,” recalled Kelch, who managed to earn her Grade 9 credits online in hospital. Visitor restrictions meant her parents took turns driving to London to be by her side.
By the time Kelch was discharged, things weren’t much better.
“It didn’t really serve me well; I hadn’t learned anything,” said Kelch, who felt compelled to stand.
“I didn’t want to, but I had to. My eating disorder told me I had to.”
Finally, last December, she was admitted to the Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences — a Whitby, Ont. facility with a 12-bed unit for adolescents with eating disorders.
Then came another lockdown and more restrictions. Tahlia’s dad drove up to spend Christmas Eve with her, swapping places with mom the next day.
When COVID-19 hit her unit, Kelch and her peers had to isolate for days.
“We went three weeks without seeing her, and that was the longest three weeks of our lives,” said Jessica Kelch.
Over time, things improved. She was making progress with her social worker, and meal plans with her dietician, re-introducing those ‘fear foods’ she’d so long avoided.
Just last month Kelch returned home — after three months and 17 days.
She’s back in school, back playing sports, and even earned a spot in the Provincial Championships with her hockey team.
“It’s still a struggle, but I’m managing,” said Kelch. After returning to school she wanted to share her story on her own terms, and delivered a speech to her Grade 10 peers about what she’s been through the past two years.
“I think it was just another step forward for me, and everybody reacted great. I was tired of hiding from my truth.”
Kelch will continue to receive outpatient support at Bluewater Health.
Just last week the hospital announced it will expand its eating disorders intensive outpatient day program for adults, adolescent, and transitional age youth.
Ontario is providing $400,000 in annualized funding, providing increased access to social workers, psychiatry, registered dieticians, and meal support, said Paula Reaume-Zimmer, the hospital's Vice President of Integrated Services.
"We've seen a steady increase in the demand for eating disorders treatment,” she said, adding the goal is to accept patients by this summer.
“Like many of our mental health and substance use disorder issues — the demand exceeds the supply — and our teams are working very hard to keep up with that,” she said.
The Kelches are hopeful their story will raise awareness, and that more resources coming to Sarnia will help more families.
“Eating disorders take a long time to overcome — it may take years,” said Jessica Kelch. “We’re better equipped now, to get through it. But if we would have had help sooner, I think things would have been different for Tahlia.”
To reach the Bluewater Health Eating Disorders Outreach Program, call 519-464-4400 ext. 5217.
