Danielle's Story | Inspired by Danielle | Additional Videos
Danielle's Story
In 1993, Danielle Mayeur was seventeen, entering her OAC year with a close circle of friends, "the quad". She was a good student headed for university in the arts. Her personality was caring, witty, insightful and her talents lay in writing and acting, and mothering her Maltese-Bichon dog.
Suddenly, a sexual assault by an acquaintance threw her into an emotional tailspin. She couldn't face eating and her already slim body plummeted into severe malnourishment and the alternate reality of anorexia-bulimia. "It's like you're tortured and tormented by these thoughts in your head" she wrote. Unfortunately, despite signing up promptly for treatment, it would be three years until she entered a 3-month day program.Danielle's illness also affected her family members as they struggled to understand how to help.
Unfortunately, Danielle passed away from anorexia in 2001. She died in her parents' arms at age 25. She had cared so deeply for fellow sufferers that she had met along her journey. She wanted to prevent others from going through what she had gone through. She wanted to put a face to this illness and bring it out of the closet, eliminate the stigma areound eating disorders and stop the shaming, so that research and treatment would happen. She wanted to see free support services for these victims, to empower them, to keep them going, to give them tools, coping skills and the motivation to survive.
To see and hear about more of Danielle's story, see Additional Videos
Inspired by Danielle
Danielle, age 17
I can't put my finger on what I love most because it's so far out there. I get feelings from people's aura or spirits that can make my heart skip a beat. There are odd moments and warped creative times that bring me joy. Sometimes, the breeze can make me happier than anything concrete ever has and ever will. I have a deep love for creativity and integrity. I search all the world's seas for these qualities and I can find them in everything from animals to ivory piano keys. Simple things make me smile, because it's the random events I take to heart. I crave the unknown. All I know for sure is that nothing can light up my eyes brighter than a concept or an intuition. I love love and the feeling it brings and the power it has over all people. I love art in all forms because it attempts to communicate the abstract, a virtually impossible task. Creating joy brings me joy. Happiness can be passed like dominoes when someone initiates it. I could try to blame my joy on one sole things, but that would be cheating all the other sources that are being tapped constantly to give lives the meaning they deserve. In conclusion, to quote Nirvana: "I think I'm just happy".~If My Soul Could Only Tell - The Words of Danielle
Danielle and her friends
Danielle was a gifted writer, artist, actress, and a beautiful person. She was kindness, compassion, generosity, acceptance, brilliance, devotion, friendship and love. Her wonderful qualities are endless. I carry her in my heart and my thoughts every day, and I will continue to do so forever.
~Alexis Purdham, Danielle's best friend, at her funeral
Danielle
I don't want to slide back
But I know I can't stay
Believe that I'm pathetic and weak and crippled
You would be too
Believe that this is about vanity or fear of living
Believe what is easy for you
~Danielle, about relapsing
Danielle with her mother Carolyn
When I spoke of all those who sent their love, she could not understand how anyone could love her. I told her that she was like a rose that God had created, thorns, branches and bloom. Her consciousness was stuck in the lower branches, amid the darkness and the thorns, because of her illness. She could not see the bloom, but others saw the bright clarity of her loving soul. When she died, she would see the whole plant. God loved all aspects of what He had created. She loved this thought.
~Carolyn to Danielle the night before her death
Danielle with her brother Tim
Eight years of preparation
For an eternity of separation
To be 25 and die of old age,
Where is this brother's rage?
~Tim's words upon Danielle's death
Danielle, age 23
"Don't get me wrong. I see incredible beauty in humanity - only most of it is unfulfilled potential, hidden under superficial beauty".
~Danielle, 6 years into her illness
Additional Videos
The following videos are are provided by and a production of Miller's Imagery.
Danielle's Place Video - Carolyn speaks about the story of her daughter Danielle and the eating disorder that affected her. Click here to watch.
More pictures in a video-format. Click here to watch.
More poems in a video-format. Click here to watch.
