Eating Disorder Recovery

Miraculous Marjorie

On the blog...

When You Don’t Fit the PTSD Mold

The Best News We Never Expected

Eleven Years Later and Still Recovering

Finding ME Again.

I am HERE.

The House Don’t Fall When My Bones are Good

mccalldempsey

👫proud & (very) imperfect mom
🏃‍♀️running it forward @nycmarathon for @tcjayfund
🔨@southernsmash founder
🧠eating disorder/mental health advocate

And just like that, our baby Hazel is 1️⃣✨

And just like that, our baby Hazel is 1️⃣✨ One year of chaos, snuggles, snores, and the ultimate neediest dog. Hazel keeps our zoo running (in fear) and our hearts full. We are so grateful for this clumsy “potato” of joy we call Hazel 🐶💕

Next Thursday, we will head to @beachesturksandcai

Next Thursday, we will head to @beachesturksandcaicos for our @dctjax trip. It’s been nearly 🔟 years in the making. Ashley Smith with @dctjax never took my “no” as an answer. When we had lunch two years ago, I joked how Marjorie said her dream was a swim up bar in the Turks. Leave it to the angels at Dreams Come True and Ashley’s determination to make it happen. She never took my NO for an answer. This trip seems written in the stars and comes at the best timing. Life is extraordinarily busy with every day life chaos…a gift that still feels new to us. @jordandempseygolf and Ashley laughed at my unsuccessful no’s as Manning and Marjorie relished in their bon voyage party. What I love most about @dctjax is they know cancer and illness is a family. The sibling deserves all the love too. We are counting the days to the trip that will be a core memory. And per usual, we promise to pay it forward for years to come. We love you Dreams Come True. 🩵🩵🩵

One week ago, I crossed the NYC Marathon finish li

One week ago, I crossed the NYC Marathon finish line. It’s taken every minute to let the experience sink in & let my soreness fade! When you sign up for a marathon, everyone’s first question is, “What is your goal time?” The minute I registered for the marathon, I had one goal: hug everyone and soak every minute in. I would be lying if the marathon/race comparison did not get to me. Comparison seems to sink into every facet of our lives and it steals our joy. It definitely did not steal mine. I absolutely crushed my goal - all the hugs and all the feels soaked in. From the Staten Island ferry to the finish line, the NYC Marathon is a dream. The people, music, and cheers are contagious. I ran 26.2 miles with a smile plastered on my face. I cried tears of joy, gratitude, & remembrance throughout, thinking of every pediatric cancer warrior & their families. I said names at each mile, pointing to the sky knowing I had so many angels. I never stopped running, one foot in front of the other, just like every family fighting cancer. You keep moving, pushing forward, motivated by the support around you. Thankful for everyone who donated to @tcjayfund & supporting my mission. Special shout out to my strength coach @slb_performance for keeping me injury free -quite the feat for a 42-year old first time marathoner! Massive gratitude to my co-cheer captains Shea & Alex for coordinating and to Birdie for the killer hats and never-ending enthusiasm. To my GC Gals, as always, thanks for being there when I needed you most. To my MereBear and Craiger, you never miss a party or chance to show me love. And to my fam- my mom & dad for trekking to NYC. At 88-years old my dad navigated the subways with my mom as his guide. And yes, he was absolutely faster than me on stairs the day after the race. To my sis, thanks for your energy and rocking “my sis is awesome” hat 😂 And to my core - Jordan, Manning, and Marjorie, your endless support throughout training continuously reminded me of my ‘why’. And to my Manning for keeping me humble by asking what place I got when I finished the marathon. 😂 Core memory ✅ Forever grateful 💕 & always paying it forward 💛

Blurry pic. Tired legs. Full heart. 💕 NYC Marat

Blurry pic. Tired legs. Full heart. 💕 NYC Marathon ✅ So much more to come, but for now massive gratitude to the best support squad. Gorgeous day. My WHY carried me through…Marjorie, Ava, Lucy, Kate, Claire, Rue, KK, Bella, David, Grace, Chase, Holly, Anna James, Asher, Colty…(I know I’m missing some!) and every kid fighting cancer and their families. 💛🎗️💛🎗️ @tcjayfund

I guess we’re running a marathon tomorrow 🤷‍♀️ Feeling excited, nervous, and so incredibly grateful to have an extraordinary cheering section in my corner. I’m not sure how I got so lucky. Tomorrow is a run honoring all families and kids fighting pediatric cancer. It’s a run for my Marjorie and our story. It’s a run for Manning and all siblings of pediatric cancer warriors. It’s a run for those we’ve lost. It’s a redemption run for me to reconnect with this powerful body of mine that has been through the wringer in life. It’s a run to pay it forward. I’ve been so lucky to have support every step of our journey and this giving back to @tcjayfund who supports families fighting cancer when they need it most. See yall at the finish! 🏃‍♀️🩵 @nycmarathon

Yesterday, Manning and I walked out of @wolfsonchi

Yesterday, Manning and I walked out of @wolfsonchildren hospital grateful for their supreme care and compassion. AND I was feeling worn down, overwhelmed, and unsure how I was supposed to shift gears from caretaker to marathon runner in just a few short days. The truth was that I had a to-do list longer than a CVS receipt and not enough time. Manning’s illness over the past few weeks had taken priority and now I had less than 48-hours before we leave for NYC - oh and Halloween crammed in there too. We turned to walk the Wolfson corridor that was adorned with patient artwork and then I spotted her, my angel and my NYC Marathon “WHY” - Ava Jones. Tears and an exhale filled my body, yes, I needed to remember my WHY. It is about Ava and Lucy and Kate and Marjorie and so many other children and their families. Sunday is not just THE NYC Marathon, it is a run for people I love and adore. It is miles for kids who had to fight for their life when they should be playing at school. I have joked with my friends that my training has consisted of ‘concepts of a plan’ because that is life as a mom. You ‘plan’ to do one thing and then someone is sick or needs a poster board at 9pm and your attempt at a plan quickly vanishes. This marathon is not about minutes per mile or a finishing time. I am there to soak up every second of the day and hug every friend and family member along the way. It is a victory lap for my family as Marjorie is nearing her 10-year cancer-anniversary. It is a small way to honor all of the cancer heroes I have come to know and love on our journey. On my Jay Fund page, I have a list of cancer heros. I would love for you to drop any names below ⬇️ so I can add them. I have reached out to folks as I have thought about it, but want to have as many names as possible. Feel free to write them below or tag me. Of course, donations are still welcome to the @tcjayfund who supports all families fighting pediatric cancer. Thank you for your love and support and thank you to AVA! My forever hero and my WHY and her extraordinary momma @kymgjones 💕💕💕

Whirlwind 2️⃣4️⃣ hours, but happy to repor

Whirlwind 2️⃣4️⃣ hours, but happy to report we are HOME 🏡🩵 After a full day of testing, we got the green light to go home. All major tests came back normal and we are so thankful 🩵 Manning was an absolute rockstar, as were our beloved @wolfsonchildren family. Like always, every doctor, nurse, CNA, and human in between loved Manning like family. As for me, I’m happy to be home with the zoo and even happier to have two healthy kids. Being back in a hospital is far from easy. From the kid voice on the elevator to the signs, soap and familiar hallways, there are memories at every turn. In my years of experiencing CPTSD, I know that the wave will hit. I’m on the exhaustion train right now and plan to tuck in early. The next few days will be packing, but also carving out time to process through all the feelings of being back in a hospital. Thank you for all the love, messages, and texts. The power of community and connection carry us through life’s hard things. Now…let’s run the @nycmarathon 🏃‍♀️ and honor pediatric families fighting cancer and @tcjayfund 🩵🩵🩵

I did not have hospital slumber party on my @nycma

I did not have hospital slumber party on my @nycmarathon week bingo card. 🫠🫠🫠 My sweet guy has been experiencing abdominal pain and we were admitted today to hopefully get some answers and relief. His labs are normal and we are so thankful! Hoping this is a quick sleepover and we are back home to the zoo and school. I’m not new to the hospital rodeo. Jordan and I fell into sync with packing lists and schedules. I fully kicked into mom/caretaker mode and will schedule my PTSD spiral later in the week. 🫠🤪 Marathon planning and packing will have to wait. Who needs a week of sleep before a marathon 😂 Thankful, as always, for the amazing staff @wolfsonchildren who love and care for us like we are their own. Send my sweet buddy love, prayers, and jazz hands. We need him well to get him to the Big Apple 🍎 Once again…we can do hard things. 🫶🫶

When that Halloween costume arrives and your siste

When that Halloween costume arrives and your sister is in the bathtub 🛀😂👻

Oh @taylorswift it was so enchanting to meet you.

Oh @taylorswift it was so enchanting to meet you. We cried, danced, and soaked up every second of the Eras Tour magic. It still feels like a dream. I am thankful cancer isn’t in our daily lives anymore, but moments like last night nearly bring me to my knees. Cancer gives you an unwanted perspective of life’s fragility and I have taken this perspective and soaked up every minute. I watched my girl dance, overwhelmed with gratitude that I get to experience not just the concert but life through her magical eyes. A core memory like this will never be lost on me. Last night was joy and magic personified. Forever thankful to @seefird for offering her tickets. It was the most beautiful lesson to my Marjorie…put good out in the world, be kind to others and good will come back to you. 🎶 keep your side of the street clean 🎶 Until next time @taylornation

We’re going out tonight. And we understood the a

We’re going out tonight. And we understood the assignment. #bejeweled #erastour 💕🪩💕🪩

Twas the night before Tay… Are you ready for it

Twas the night before Tay… Are you ready for it. Because we are!!!! #miraculousmarjorie #smallbutmighty #swiftie #miraclegift #areyoureadyforit

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