Heartbreaking death fuels Mom’s creative drive

Posted by Susan Turnbull April 23, 2010 in Blog

That legacy is a mystery that can never be fully “planned” is evident in the story of Melissa Avrin and her mother, Judy, published this week in the New York Times.  Melissa was just 19 when she died last year from the complications of bulimia. After Melissa died, July was reading her journal and came across this entry,

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 changes lives.

And what has Judy done? Made a movie about Melissa and about eating disorders that she hopes will change lives and save lives:  Someday Melissa. I stand in complete admiration of her, to be able to take the restless, chaotic, enervating, dark energy of grief and channel it into something positive and helpful.