Woman Who Crowdfunded Her Anorexia Treatment Makes Amazing Recovery

Rachael Farroukh in April, left, and in a more recent picture, right. (Photo: Facebook)

A severely anorexic woman who made headlines this spring after her weight dropped to 40-something pounds says she has gained back nearly all of the weight she lost.

Rachael Farroukh, who posted a YouTube video in April asking for public donations to help her get treatment for the disorder, appeared at the March Against Eating Disorders rally in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

Farroukh is still frail and weak — but on the road to recovery.

“They were so worried about my body, and my body wasn’t responding because they didn’t understand the brain had to come along with the body,” Farrokh told told NBC Los Angeles. “My mind is so much more clear and my thinking has developed.”

Farrokh eventually found help at a clinic in Portugal. “I was finally treated with respect,” she said. “I didn’t know that I deserved it.”

In May, Farrokh posted a video to YouTube, thanking people for their donations, which reached up to $200,000. “I actually have a chance to live,” a visibly touched Farrokh says in the video. “What you guys have done has been amazing.”

Related: Woman with Severe Anorexia Raises Nearly $200,000 for Treatment

Farrokh said in her original video that hospitals in her area had refused to treat her because her dangerously low weight makes her a “liability.” Her husband Rod Edmondson quit his job as a personal trainer to be her 24-hour caregiver, she said, and she’s currently unable to walk on her own.

“I’m not one to ever ask for help,” she said. “I need your help, otherwise I don’t have a shot. And I’m ready to get better.”

In May, Farrokh said the money raised on her GoFundMe page paid for a “handpicked” medical team to treat her at home. Not only that, she says people who have shared her story have raised awareness about eating disorders, prompting other people to seek treatment.

“I want to let you know, not only have you saved my life, you’ve saved other people’s lives,” she said in the video. “I want you to know that I’ve been contacted by people who’ve had eating disorders who have stopped their behaviors, whether it be bulimia or anorexia and sought help to seek treatment. They’re not giving up and I’m not either.”

Related: Is Everything We Know About Treating Anorexia Wrong?

According to the National Eating Disorders Association, 20 million women and 10 million men suffer from a significant eating disorder at some time in their lives, and many cases aren’t reported. The association also notes that, for women between the ages of 15 and 24, the mortality rate associated with anorexia is 12 times higher than the rate of all other causes of death.

While Farrokh’s weight was dangerously low, experts told Yahoo Health that she could recover.

If you or someone you know is suffering from an eating disorder and is ready to seek help, please contact the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders helpline at 630-577-1330.

Related: 9 Facts About Eating Disorders That May Surprise You