# @childrenscolo on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DXz5tdyHY7B
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/68564165-childrenscolo-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/f91fcb5c77.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-05-01T21:22:24.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Children's Hospital Colorado (@ChildrensColo) — https://gondola.cc/ChildrensColo

## Caption

The weight of bullying and social media body standards began to greatly impact Kendall’s mental health in middle school. She started showing symptoms of an eating disorder — something she faced quietly until the winter of 2022, when a bout of COVID-19 highlighted her need for care. 

Alongside typical COVID symptoms, Kendall’s lips were losing color, and her heart rate was fluctuating dramatically. Her mother, Tara, took her to the pediatrician, who referred Kendall to Children’s Hospital Colorado. Here, doctors quickly recognized that Kendall’s heart issues were likely symptoms of anorexia nervosa. 

At first, Kendall had a difficult time accepting her condition and treatment. But once she began growing healthier, it got easier to see herself in a new light. During her time in our Eating Disorder Program, she engaged with many types of therapy that helped her regain physical strength and form a better relationship with eating and food. Through the Ponzio Creative Arts Therapy Program, she even had the opportunity to take part in drama, music and art therapy. 

“It brought a little light to the situation to have these fun activities to do — things like crafts, seeing the dogs. It just made everything a little better,” she says. 

With time and family support, Kendall visited her care team less and less often. Today, she’s a high school senior, and her relationship with food is healthier than ever before. She just wrapped up her final season as a cheerleader — a passion she found through this journey. Next up, college. In the fall, Kendall will begin school at Arizona State University, where she plans to study biochemistry and work as a certified nurse assistant. 

“Even though it is so uncomfortable while you’re in it, once your body is healed and your mind is healed, life is so much easier,” she says. “After you recover, body image is still a struggle, but it's so much easier to really feel and know your worth.” 

#HereItsDifferent #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth #EDRecovery #EatingDisorderRecovery #MentalHealthMatters #TeenMentalHealth

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 402
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- **Comments:** 4

## Tags

mentalhealthawarenessmonth, eatingdisorderrecovery, teenmentalhealth, hereitsdifferent, mentalhealthmatters, edrecovery

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