From NICU Nurse to Eating Disorder Survivor: Sarah’s Story

While most of us sleep, someone like Sarah is in a NICU, checking vitals, adjusting monitors, and quietly singing to babies born too soon.

She’s the kind of nurse who brings calm to chaos, hope to uncertainty—and who shows up for the tiniest patients when they need it most.

But here’s something we don’t talk about enough: even healthcare heroes face battles of their own.

Recently, Sarah found herself in the fight of her life—battling an eating disorder that not only threatened her health, but her ability to continue the work she loves.

“Before treatment, my life was quickly going downhill,” Sarah shares. “During treatment, I was stabilizing medically, but was growing increasingly concerned about money, which was distracting me from my recovery.”

Let that sink in.

She had done the brave thing—she asked for help and entered intensive eating disorder treatment. But the harsh reality? The rent bill doesn’t pause for mental health. Bills don’t wait for recovery.

Sarah was stuck between two impossible options:

• Stay in treatment and risk homelessness

• Go back to long night shifts too soon and risk relapse

No one should ever have to make that choice.

WithAll’s Recovery Support Program Changed That

Thanks to the generosity of supporters like you, Sarah received a Recovery Support Program grant from WithAll—covering essentials like rent and groceries so she could stay in treatment and fully focus on healing.

This wasn’t just financial support. It was relief, hope, and the belief that she was worth investing in.

“They [eating disorders] are all-consuming and can affect anyone,” Sarah says. “The prolonged intensive nature of necessary treatment is often prohibitive without external monetary support, especially for adults, because the cost of living doesn’t stop just because you are no longer working in order to seek treatment.”

Today, Sarah Is Back Where She Belongs

She’s returned to the NICU, caring for tiny patients in their most vulnerable moments. Her cats, Charlie and Oliver, greet her when she gets home. She’s playing piano again. Dreaming about her next trip. Feeling hope she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Your support provides more than financial aid. It gives people like Sarah the chance to recover without choosing between treatment and survival.

👉 Want to make recovery possible for someone else? Learn more or donate today at withall.org/donate