- Joined
- Jul 28, 2018
Rachael Farrokh is a 44 year-old malingering anorexic who, in lieu of a successful acting career, has turned to grifting on the internet alongside her creepy, co-dependent husband.
Prior to becoming a full-time malingerer, Rachael was an aspiring actress. She has 8 IMDB credits, all which appear to be in student-film shorts, with the exception of the credit "Hot Beach Babe" in a 2010 film titled 'Suicide Dolls'. Rachael was born and raised in Orange County, CA. She resides there today with her husband, Rod Edmondson. In an interview with ABC, she states that she met him through her gym where he was working as a Personal Trainer. This is the last known job that Rod has held; he now serves as Rachael's "full time caregiver." Sometime after she met Rod, Rachael lost her job as a Senior Account Executive in an unspecified industry, and was also dealing with an unspecified past trauma. She spiraled into an eating disorder.
Rachael at her lowest weight:
Pre-grifting:
The Grift:
Rachael got her first taste of internet fame in 2015, when she and her husband Rod posted a video plea seeking financial assistance in treating her severe eating disorder.
The shock of seeing a 40-lb living mummy propelled the video, and its accompanying GoFundMe, to viral status
Specifically, the GFM sought money to send Rachael to the ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders at the Denver Health Medical Center, supposedly the only facility in the country equipped to treat someone as spoopified as Rachael. The GFM and its accompanying video generated national media coverage, and within a month of its posting, they had raised well into the six figures.
Following the flood of media attention and donations, Rachael and Rod posted a video stating that her doctor had "approved her for home care" for the purpose of "[getting] her to the point where she is physically and mentally able to go into a facility." They also stated that "we’re now talking about 3-5 years of recovery - so we are keeping the GoFundMe account open for those who want to donate here in the USA. Now we’re getting requests from folks from all over the world – so we have turned to a GiveForward page to help with the ever increasing costs of her recovery."
But these plans weren't made in tandem with Denver ACUTE. In an interview that same month, the Assistant Medical Director of ACUTE stated, “My opinion is it is life-threateningly dangerous, to receive care of any type at home. The only hope for anyone recovering from critical anorexia is to enter into expert medical treatment immediately without hesitation. It’s pretty clear, without knowing her personally, this a tragic case. And I worry every day that she could die.” The same article noted that neither Rachael nor Rod had returned any messages about whether and when they would go to ACUTE.
In response to this article, Rod posted that this wasn't true! And they were totally in contact with ACUTE! Someone also comments in this post that his claim that only ONE facility in the country will take Rachael is not true, as a nurse from the ED Center at Johns Hopkins has been attempting to contact them via their GFM to offer treatment.
In early June, Rachael wound up in the ICU. Once she stabilized in late June, she was finally transported to a treatment center...but not to ACUTE. Instead, they took her to University of San Diego. Rod pretends to offer an explanation for why UCSD was not previously an option but now suddenly is, without actually offering an explanation. He promises to totally explain everything later.
Rachael and Rod post 4 brief videos of her time at UCSD, expressing general optimism. And then, on July 15, he posts a video of Rachael at UCSD, with a caption that now reads: "Rachael take a moment do a little lip sync while getting her hair braided in the hospital.. listen closely to the lyrics, it was very ironic at the time because of the abuse and malpractice she received in the hospital."
Trouble in paradise? Less than two months after arriving at UCSD, Rachael and Rod announce that she is now seeking treatment in...Portugal? At the time, there is no mention of "abuse and malpractice" at UCSD.
So who runs this magical Portuguese treatment center, where she can finally experience the "love and support" that no other treatment center in the US has ever provided? None other than Peggy Claude Pierre: a woman who was briefly famous for treating eating disorders in the 90s, until it was discovered that neither she nor her staff were even minimally qualified as medical providers, two patients died, and the clinic lost its license. Claude Pierre is a cow in her own right and could have her own thread; but it will suffice to say that she believes she is the Oskar Schindler of eating disorders despite all evidence indicating that she is the Josef Mengele of eating disorders. The website for the Cegonha Retreat appears to have gone offline sometime after 2016. I do not see any evidence that the treatment center still exists.
In October, Rachael makes the news again when she is interviewed at the National March for Eating Disorders. Despite having received treatment from a center run by an insane person, she appears to be weight restored. A flurry of media attention follows, and everyone following the story assumes that she's cured and the story is over. Rachael and Rod are relatively silent on social media until January, when Rachael casually reveals in a Facebook comment that she is back in the US but "still working with Portugal." The Cegohna Retreat's website states "We do not support the concept of 'recidivism' or 'relapse'. It is our belief and experience that if properly addressed and given the necessary consideration and time needed for healing, the ‘Negative Mind’ and its symptoms cease to exist. To us, relapse means not having been better in the first place."
But all was not well! In October 2016, nearly a full year after Rachael appeared weight restored at the March, Rachael's "family" (read: probably Rod) posts that she was never weight restored at all! What looked like weight restoration was actually just edema in the face and torso. According to her physician, Dr. Monica Harms, Rachael has experienced "an onslaught of physical setbacks...and has been unsuccessful thus far at retaining or gaining weight." Dr. Monica Harms is NOT a physician affiliated with the Portuguese treatment center. She is a family practice physician, fitness professional, certified personal trainer, and sport nutritionist in California. She specializes in adolescent health, pediatrics, weight management, smoking cessation, personal fitness, alternative medicine and preventive care. She does not specialize in the treatment of eating disorders.
Oh, and also Rod and "those on her team" will "filter messages going to Rachael in social media for her protection."
In November 2016, Rachael starts posting videos again. Although she appears to have gained some weight since her initial cry for help, she is still extremely underweight. For the next three years, Rachael and Rod will document her "Road to Recovery" : an endless parade of videos featuring snippets of Rachael receiving in-home treatment, interspersed with trips to the hospital and a laundry list of medical problems that conveniently prevent her from achieving weight restoration.
In 2018, Rod starts a "Caregiver's Road to Recovery" Facebook page, dedicated to his identity as a full-time caregiver.
By early 2019, Rachael finally appears to be making some progress. Her face and body look fuller, she is standing independently and walking, and she is much more alert.
In Feb 2019, Rachael posts a video in which she reveals that she has been on Fentanyl since experiencing pancreatitis in January 2016. She claims that she has started the process of weaning off Fentanyl. They post a video of her experiencing Fentanyl withdrawal.
In March, she posts a video showing that her leg appears to be shiny and irritated, with injuries to her skin. The medical professional in her home assures her that it will resolve.
In June, they post a video stating that she is officially off her Fentanyl patch. In July, she films herself returning the leftover Fentanyl to the doctor's office. She states that is easier to gain weight now that she is off Fentanyl.
Immediately after returning the fentanyl in July, Rachael says she notices that she is putting on "real" weight. She also posts a video that shows her in the ER seeking treatment for visible bloating in her stomach. In the same video, she shows that the swelling has already gone down since the beginning of her hospital visit. The hospital concludes that her bloodwork, electrolytes, and other vitals are within a normal range.
While uncomfortable, edema is not fatal, nor is it dangerous. In the restricting subtype of anorexia, edema is mild, occurs early in the refeeding process, and typically lasts only one week. In the binge-purge subtype of anorexia, edema can be more severe due to the sudden discontinuation of purging. Patients can gain 10-20 pounds of water weight in a matter of days, and this sudden gain will cause skin irritation as the skin experiences sudden stretching. However, it will resolve itself with continued nutritional intake, and typically does not last more than 4 weeks. It appears that discontinuing Fentanyl has caused Rachael to start gaining weight, and that she is experiencing edema that is typical of this process.
But by August, she is still complaining of edema. She also has a tooth extracted and seems extremely distressed following the procedure, claiming that she is in pain from the tooth, pancreatitis, bursitis, and edema. Around this time, she and Rod start ER/doctor shopping for treatment, claiming that she is experiencing "dangerous edema." She no longer appears to actually be experiencing any bloating, but does appear to finally be gaining weight. In various videos, she and Rod lament that they cannot obtain treatment for Rachael. They post a series of videos from August to December featuring Rachael seeking and being denied treatment for edema at various hospitals. Rod expresses shock that hospitals will only admit Rachael for "refeeding" if she is in organ failure, and that hospitals do not consider skin irritation to be a form of organ failure.
Rachael claims in October that she has been experiencing edema for six months. In December, she claims that she has had over 40 lbs of "water weight" and that she is still working to shed it. At no point after July does she physically appear to have any bloating from water weight. She does appear to be more weight-restored than she has in the past three years.
During this time, Rachael also claims that they have sought admittance to eating disorder treatment programs, but that none will take her. In one video, she claims it is because her BMI is too low. In another video, Rod claims it is because of her osteoporosis. In yet another video, Rachael says that they reached out to Denver ACUTE, but that "it's all out of pocket." Rachael and Rod's GoFundMe raised a total of $261,323.
Speaking of grifting, they start a Facebook Fundraiser in August. Many Facebook followers question the need for two fundraisers. In a Facebook Live, Rachael only offers the explanation that it's "easier" for some people to find the Facebook fundraiser. Rod also states that the reason they did not go to ACUTE was not because of transportation issues as they had claimed in 2015, but because "Denver representatives ended up losing trust with Rachael after saying that we weren’t responding to them." He also reiterates the claim that they received poor care at UCSD, and that Portugal provided Rachael with much better treatment. Rachael reveals that they spent $100K of their GoFundMe on the treatment center in Portugal. They stop posting the link to their GoFundMe in September.
By February 2020, Rachael appears to be losing the weight that she has gained. She is no longer complaining about edema. In a Facebook Live, she admits that she is not in therapy because she has had "counselors in the past and what happened was not too long ago they pulled all these records and things I had said years ago and they shared it with people they shouldn't have, and they were very scary private things I haven't said out loud, barely to myself, and some of the things I didn't even say, and it became public knowledge." It is not clear what private medical information was ever shared publicly, as that would be an enormous HIPAA violation resulting in investigation and likely license revocation. I have never seen any published information that has not come directly from Rachael or Rod. It is possible that a new medical provider sought records from Rachael's past providers. This would not be a HIPAA violation or breach of trust; it would be vital information for any medical provider treating a patient.
Rod has created a Facebook page [archive] to auction his basic acrylic paintings, for which all proceeds "will go to medical." Rod says he has suppressed creativity.
By March, she has reverted to her pre-2019 weight. In a Facebook Live she claims that "no one talks about" edema, and that because no one had ever told her about edema, was blindsided. She claims that there is simply "no info" on edema.
Edema is a well-known side effect of the recovery process. Eatingdisordersreview.com, a website dedicated to "bring our readers the latest news and original articles on diagnosis and treatment of all eating disorders," has an entire page dedicated to explaining it. In past videos, Rachael has often referred to herself as an expert on eating disorders, claiming to have read hundreds of clinical studies. Googling "anorexia recovery what to expect" yields multiple articles that mention edema, bloating, or water retention.
In October she dons a Halloween costume that likely haunts the people in her neighborhood to this day. No spoiler, because if this lives rent-free in my head, it has to live in yours, too.
By September 2020. we start seeing something new: Rachael and Rod have found Jesus. They start holding private "small group open shares" that are apparently of a religious nature. Someone sends her an "encouragement Bible." They join a church, where the church newsletter profiles her and says that she has joined a recovery group and is sharing her faith online.
She says that her mental health is "doing phenomenal." She is having "something going on" with her eye, and is having kidney and liver problems.
And that about brings us to where we are today. Since 2020, she has made no more progress in weight gain. In a 2021 video testimony to her church, she explains that she was saved at age 6, and that the reason eating disorder treatment did not work after 2015 was because she had not placed God at the center of her recovery. She states that she is now attending a 12-step program. She also states that she will use the platform she gained in 2015 to promote "the Good News." In the comments of this video, several people question her lack of weight gain. Rod pops in to explain that hospital rejection, refeeding syndrome, and the passing of her cat are all valid reasons for her lack of progress.
In November 2021, she announces that she's gone back to college, despite clearly not being weight-restored or having a handle on her physical or mental health. She again alludes to having experienced unspecified traumas in treatment centers.
In her most recent video posts, Rachael engages in that beloved staple of internet Anas who are feigning recovery: a 21-day fear food challenge. She tells her followers that she will take ONE. WHOLE. BITE. of a fear food every day. Her followers are supposed to tell her what fear foods she should taste, although it's not clear how her followers are supposed to know which foods are her fear foods.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLkng3XsaRCqU5NOC8SDgeA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachaelsroadtorecovery/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rfarrokh/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rfarrokh
Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/rachaelfarrokh
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-farrokh-285b8115/
TikTok: Tumblr: https://rfarrokh.tumblr.com/
Prior to becoming a full-time malingerer, Rachael was an aspiring actress. She has 8 IMDB credits, all which appear to be in student-film shorts, with the exception of the credit "Hot Beach Babe" in a 2010 film titled 'Suicide Dolls'. Rachael was born and raised in Orange County, CA. She resides there today with her husband, Rod Edmondson. In an interview with ABC, she states that she met him through her gym where he was working as a Personal Trainer. This is the last known job that Rod has held; he now serves as Rachael's "full time caregiver." Sometime after she met Rod, Rachael lost her job as a Senior Account Executive in an unspecified industry, and was also dealing with an unspecified past trauma. She spiraled into an eating disorder.
Rachael at her lowest weight:
Pre-grifting:
The Grift:
Rachael got her first taste of internet fame in 2015, when she and her husband Rod posted a video plea seeking financial assistance in treating her severe eating disorder.
The shock of seeing a 40-lb living mummy propelled the video, and its accompanying GoFundMe, to viral status
My lovely wife and I have been together for more than a decade and she will be seeing her final days if we don’t take action! She is 5'7" and her weight continues to plummet to a weight that's extremely dangerous. She has been fighting through a disease that has the highest mortality rate of all psychological disorders, an extreme case of Anorexia. There is only one hospital in the country that specializes in refeeding 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 knowledge or capabilities to save her. She is at a critical point. This has been a 10 year fight for us. She has had multiple blood transfusion, blood clots, edema and has suffered heart, liver and kidney failure already. Rachael decided to keep this on the down low for people not to worry and also due to the shame of the disorder. Her days are limited if we don’t take action immediately.
Rachael is a captivating, kind and amazing woman that has always put others before herself. Those who have had an opportunity to get to know her will tell you that she is brilliant, caring and has a heart of gold. She is a true low flying angel. She has always been an overachiever but this battle has yet to conquer. The support of for her friends and family has been the driving force behind her determination to overcome her disorder.
But now she desperately needs the highest level of care possible. The funding will help cover medical bills and overall treatment. Time is of the essence and I don't want to lose the most important person in my life. She is bedridden, and I had to leave my job to give her round the clock care. Home nurses, physical therapist and even physiotherapist won’t even see her due to the liability of her condition. If you are not in the position to help us financially, please keep us in your prayers and pass the link on your Facebook timeline. Someone you know may be able to help or maybe it will at least bring awareness to how deadly and widespread this disease is. This disease comes with an incredible amount of pain, emotionally, physically and mentally but it is often oversimplified. People think it's just about being skinny and that they just need to eat something and it will be all better. The reality is people are hurting so much that they're trying to make themselves disappear, and if we ignore it we let them. I don't want this fate for my wife. Your donation of any amount is greatly appreciated. You may contact me through Facebook with any questions and make sure to “like” her page to follow her blogs that will be constantly updated and witness “Rachael’s Road to Recovery”.
Rachael is a captivating, kind and amazing woman that has always put others before herself. Those who have had an opportunity to get to know her will tell you that she is brilliant, caring and has a heart of gold. She is a true low flying angel. She has always been an overachiever but this battle has yet to conquer. The support of for her friends and family has been the driving force behind her determination to overcome her disorder.
But now she desperately needs the highest level of care possible. The funding will help cover medical bills and overall treatment. Time is of the essence and I don't want to lose the most important person in my life. She is bedridden, and I had to leave my job to give her round the clock care. Home nurses, physical therapist and even physiotherapist won’t even see her due to the liability of her condition. If you are not in the position to help us financially, please keep us in your prayers and pass the link on your Facebook timeline. Someone you know may be able to help or maybe it will at least bring awareness to how deadly and widespread this disease is. This disease comes with an incredible amount of pain, emotionally, physically and mentally but it is often oversimplified. People think it's just about being skinny and that they just need to eat something and it will be all better. The reality is people are hurting so much that they're trying to make themselves disappear, and if we ignore it we let them. I don't want this fate for my wife. Your donation of any amount is greatly appreciated. You may contact me through Facebook with any questions and make sure to “like” her page to follow her blogs that will be constantly updated and witness “Rachael’s Road to Recovery”.
Specifically, the GFM sought money to send Rachael to the ACUTE Center for Eating Disorders at the Denver Health Medical Center, supposedly the only facility in the country equipped to treat someone as spoopified as Rachael. The GFM and its accompanying video generated national media coverage, and within a month of its posting, they had raised well into the six figures.
Following the flood of media attention and donations, Rachael and Rod posted a video stating that her doctor had "approved her for home care" for the purpose of "[getting] her to the point where she is physically and mentally able to go into a facility." They also stated that "we’re now talking about 3-5 years of recovery - so we are keeping the GoFundMe account open for those who want to donate here in the USA. Now we’re getting requests from folks from all over the world – so we have turned to a GiveForward page to help with the ever increasing costs of her recovery."
This is Rod, Rachael’s husband. First and foremost, thank you for all your support! I wanted to update everyone and share how fortunate we are to have you in our lives. We are not only grateful for the donations but the prayers, well-wishes and support have been overwhelming. We apologize for not getting back to everyone in a timely manner; as you are aware, it has been our main priority to get Rachael the help she needs. We know this is a journey. First an update on Rachael – we now have a wonderful physiotherapist we are working with who specializes in eating disorders. We are all working with her to help Rachael get mentally prepared to go into a treatment facility, and we are also working with doctors and others in the medical field to make this happen. We were approved by Rachael’s doctor to receive home care for now; some of you have expressed your opinions on this based on her physical state, but we’re dealing with not only a physical illness but a physiological illness and we need to get her to the point where she is physically and mentally able to go into a facility. So in the meantime, we are working with home care experts to treat her – these include her Doctor, nurse practitioner, dietitian, speech therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist – and of course this medical team are going to administer an IV for dehydration as well as re-feeding her at home – so medically speaking, we are bringing the hospital to Rachael. A social worker has come out, assessed the situation and has given the green light for the above to take place, so those who have expressed concern about how Rachael is being treated, I hope that you find that reassuring. So please, be kind to our decisions – this is traumatic situation in itself and the mental abuse and cyber bullying is causing added stress to her recovery. We are trying to shield her from it as best we can, but Facebook and youtube are important to her because it’s currently her only connection to her family and friends, both old and new. So please try and keep things inspirational and upbeat. If you have something negative to say than feel free to message me or post on my page. I can take it, she can’t. Regarding the GoFundMe Account – to be honest, this was initially just send out to friends and family and we had no idea the attention the story would receive – we were grateful for any amount and of course if you’ve ever done something like this, at the start - $100,000 sounded plenty of money to get us through; however, after talking further with the doctors and therapist – we seriously underestimated those costs. So when the amount was reached we were and still are overjoyed but we have been told we’re now talking about 3-5 years of recovery - so we are keeping the GoFundMe account open for those who want to donate here in the USA. Now we’re getting requests from folks from all over the world – so we have turned to a GiveForward page to help with the ever increasing costs of her recovery. After we pay for the cost of her treatment and she’s healthy, our plan is to create a nonprofit for awareness and help others going through this same dreaded disease. Any unused funds will be directed to this non-profit and it is our hope that we can spread the word and save more lives by education. We don’t want any families to have to go through what we have been through. Thank you all for your kind words, support and sharing of our story. We will be updating this page with photos and videos soon to show you Rachael’s progress. - Rod Donated by: Isaul Trinidad http://www.createlivemedia.com
But these plans weren't made in tandem with Denver ACUTE. In an interview that same month, the Assistant Medical Director of ACUTE stated, “My opinion is it is life-threateningly dangerous, to receive care of any type at home. The only hope for anyone recovering from critical anorexia is to enter into expert medical treatment immediately without hesitation. It’s pretty clear, without knowing her personally, this a tragic case. And I worry every day that she could die.” The same article noted that neither Rachael nor Rod had returned any messages about whether and when they would go to ACUTE.
In response to this article, Rod posted that this wasn't true! And they were totally in contact with ACUTE! Someone also comments in this post that his claim that only ONE facility in the country will take Rachael is not true, as a nurse from the ED Center at Johns Hopkins has been attempting to contact them via their GFM to offer treatment.
In early June, Rachael wound up in the ICU. Once she stabilized in late June, she was finally transported to a treatment center...but not to ACUTE. Instead, they took her to University of San Diego. Rod pretends to offer an explanation for why UCSD was not previously an option but now suddenly is, without actually offering an explanation. He promises to totally explain everything later.
Rachael and Rod post 4 brief videos of her time at UCSD, expressing general optimism. And then, on July 15, he posts a video of Rachael at UCSD, with a caption that now reads: "Rachael take a moment do a little lip sync while getting her hair braided in the hospital.. listen closely to the lyrics, it was very ironic at the time because of the abuse and malpractice she received in the hospital."
Trouble in paradise? Less than two months after arriving at UCSD, Rachael and Rod announce that she is now seeking treatment in...Portugal? At the time, there is no mention of "abuse and malpractice" at UCSD.
So who runs this magical Portuguese treatment center, where she can finally experience the "love and support" that no other treatment center in the US has ever provided? None other than Peggy Claude Pierre: a woman who was briefly famous for treating eating disorders in the 90s, until it was discovered that neither she nor her staff were even minimally qualified as medical providers, two patients died, and the clinic lost its license. Claude Pierre is a cow in her own right and could have her own thread; but it will suffice to say that she believes she is the Oskar Schindler of eating disorders despite all evidence indicating that she is the Josef Mengele of eating disorders. The website for the Cegonha Retreat appears to have gone offline sometime after 2016. I do not see any evidence that the treatment center still exists.
In October, Rachael makes the news again when she is interviewed at the National March for Eating Disorders. Despite having received treatment from a center run by an insane person, she appears to be weight restored. A flurry of media attention follows, and everyone following the story assumes that she's cured and the story is over. Rachael and Rod are relatively silent on social media until January, when Rachael casually reveals in a Facebook comment that she is back in the US but "still working with Portugal." The Cegohna Retreat's website states "We do not support the concept of 'recidivism' or 'relapse'. It is our belief and experience that if properly addressed and given the necessary consideration and time needed for healing, the ‘Negative Mind’ and its symptoms cease to exist. To us, relapse means not having been better in the first place."
But all was not well! In October 2016, nearly a full year after Rachael appeared weight restored at the March, Rachael's "family" (read: probably Rod) posts that she was never weight restored at all! What looked like weight restoration was actually just edema in the face and torso. According to her physician, Dr. Monica Harms, Rachael has experienced "an onslaught of physical setbacks...and has been unsuccessful thus far at retaining or gaining weight." Dr. Monica Harms is NOT a physician affiliated with the Portuguese treatment center. She is a family practice physician, fitness professional, certified personal trainer, and sport nutritionist in California. She specializes in adolescent health, pediatrics, weight management, smoking cessation, personal fitness, alternative medicine and preventive care. She does not specialize in the treatment of eating disorders.
Oh, and also Rod and "those on her team" will "filter messages going to Rachael in social media for her protection."
In November 2016, Rachael starts posting videos again. Although she appears to have gained some weight since her initial cry for help, she is still extremely underweight. For the next three years, Rachael and Rod will document her "Road to Recovery" : an endless parade of videos featuring snippets of Rachael receiving in-home treatment, interspersed with trips to the hospital and a laundry list of medical problems that conveniently prevent her from achieving weight restoration.
In 2018, Rod starts a "Caregiver's Road to Recovery" Facebook page, dedicated to his identity as a full-time caregiver.
By early 2019, Rachael finally appears to be making some progress. Her face and body look fuller, she is standing independently and walking, and she is much more alert.
In Feb 2019, Rachael posts a video in which she reveals that she has been on Fentanyl since experiencing pancreatitis in January 2016. She claims that she has started the process of weaning off Fentanyl. They post a video of her experiencing Fentanyl withdrawal.
In March, she posts a video showing that her leg appears to be shiny and irritated, with injuries to her skin. The medical professional in her home assures her that it will resolve.
In June, they post a video stating that she is officially off her Fentanyl patch. In July, she films herself returning the leftover Fentanyl to the doctor's office. She states that is easier to gain weight now that she is off Fentanyl.
Immediately after returning the fentanyl in July, Rachael says she notices that she is putting on "real" weight. She also posts a video that shows her in the ER seeking treatment for visible bloating in her stomach. In the same video, she shows that the swelling has already gone down since the beginning of her hospital visit. The hospital concludes that her bloodwork, electrolytes, and other vitals are within a normal range.
While uncomfortable, edema is not fatal, nor is it dangerous. In the restricting subtype of anorexia, edema is mild, occurs early in the refeeding process, and typically lasts only one week. In the binge-purge subtype of anorexia, edema can be more severe due to the sudden discontinuation of purging. Patients can gain 10-20 pounds of water weight in a matter of days, and this sudden gain will cause skin irritation as the skin experiences sudden stretching. However, it will resolve itself with continued nutritional intake, and typically does not last more than 4 weeks. It appears that discontinuing Fentanyl has caused Rachael to start gaining weight, and that she is experiencing edema that is typical of this process.
But by August, she is still complaining of edema. She also has a tooth extracted and seems extremely distressed following the procedure, claiming that she is in pain from the tooth, pancreatitis, bursitis, and edema. Around this time, she and Rod start ER/doctor shopping for treatment, claiming that she is experiencing "dangerous edema." She no longer appears to actually be experiencing any bloating, but does appear to finally be gaining weight. In various videos, she and Rod lament that they cannot obtain treatment for Rachael. They post a series of videos from August to December featuring Rachael seeking and being denied treatment for edema at various hospitals. Rod expresses shock that hospitals will only admit Rachael for "refeeding" if she is in organ failure, and that hospitals do not consider skin irritation to be a form of organ failure.
Rachael claims in October that she has been experiencing edema for six months. In December, she claims that she has had over 40 lbs of "water weight" and that she is still working to shed it. At no point after July does she physically appear to have any bloating from water weight. She does appear to be more weight-restored than she has in the past three years.
March 2019 complaint about leg swelling:
July bloating:
August edema complaints and tooth pull.
It's all doctor/ER shopping from here out:
July bloating:
August edema complaints and tooth pull.
It's all doctor/ER shopping from here out:
During this time, Rachael also claims that they have sought admittance to eating disorder treatment programs, but that none will take her. In one video, she claims it is because her BMI is too low. In another video, Rod claims it is because of her osteoporosis. In yet another video, Rachael says that they reached out to Denver ACUTE, but that "it's all out of pocket." Rachael and Rod's GoFundMe raised a total of $261,323.
Speaking of grifting, they start a Facebook Fundraiser in August. Many Facebook followers question the need for two fundraisers. In a Facebook Live, Rachael only offers the explanation that it's "easier" for some people to find the Facebook fundraiser. Rod also states that the reason they did not go to ACUTE was not because of transportation issues as they had claimed in 2015, but because "Denver representatives ended up losing trust with Rachael after saying that we weren’t responding to them." He also reiterates the claim that they received poor care at UCSD, and that Portugal provided Rachael with much better treatment. Rachael reveals that they spent $100K of their GoFundMe on the treatment center in Portugal. They stop posting the link to their GoFundMe in September.
By February 2020, Rachael appears to be losing the weight that she has gained. She is no longer complaining about edema. In a Facebook Live, she admits that she is not in therapy because she has had "counselors in the past and what happened was not too long ago they pulled all these records and things I had said years ago and they shared it with people they shouldn't have, and they were very scary private things I haven't said out loud, barely to myself, and some of the things I didn't even say, and it became public knowledge." It is not clear what private medical information was ever shared publicly, as that would be an enormous HIPAA violation resulting in investigation and likely license revocation. I have never seen any published information that has not come directly from Rachael or Rod. It is possible that a new medical provider sought records from Rachael's past providers. This would not be a HIPAA violation or breach of trust; it would be vital information for any medical provider treating a patient.
Rod has created a Facebook page [archive] to auction his basic acrylic paintings, for which all proceeds "will go to medical." Rod says he has suppressed creativity.
By March, she has reverted to her pre-2019 weight. In a Facebook Live she claims that "no one talks about" edema, and that because no one had ever told her about edema, was blindsided. She claims that there is simply "no info" on edema.
Edema is a well-known side effect of the recovery process. Eatingdisordersreview.com, a website dedicated to "bring our readers the latest news and original articles on diagnosis and treatment of all eating disorders," has an entire page dedicated to explaining it. In past videos, Rachael has often referred to herself as an expert on eating disorders, claiming to have read hundreds of clinical studies. Googling "anorexia recovery what to expect" yields multiple articles that mention edema, bloating, or water retention.
In October she dons a Halloween costume that likely haunts the people in her neighborhood to this day. No spoiler, because if this lives rent-free in my head, it has to live in yours, too.
By September 2020. we start seeing something new: Rachael and Rod have found Jesus. They start holding private "small group open shares" that are apparently of a religious nature. Someone sends her an "encouragement Bible." They join a church, where the church newsletter profiles her and says that she has joined a recovery group and is sharing her faith online.
She says that her mental health is "doing phenomenal." She is having "something going on" with her eye, and is having kidney and liver problems.
And that about brings us to where we are today. Since 2020, she has made no more progress in weight gain. In a 2021 video testimony to her church, she explains that she was saved at age 6, and that the reason eating disorder treatment did not work after 2015 was because she had not placed God at the center of her recovery. She states that she is now attending a 12-step program. She also states that she will use the platform she gained in 2015 to promote "the Good News." In the comments of this video, several people question her lack of weight gain. Rod pops in to explain that hospital rejection, refeeding syndrome, and the passing of her cat are all valid reasons for her lack of progress.
In November 2021, she announces that she's gone back to college, despite clearly not being weight-restored or having a handle on her physical or mental health. She again alludes to having experienced unspecified traumas in treatment centers.
In her most recent video posts, Rachael engages in that beloved staple of internet Anas who are feigning recovery: a 21-day fear food challenge. She tells her followers that she will take ONE. WHOLE. BITE. of a fear food every day. Her followers are supposed to tell her what fear foods she should taste, although it's not clear how her followers are supposed to know which foods are her fear foods.
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