Geoffrey’s Story
Geoffrey, “GMAN” or “G”, was a kind, compassionate, and genuine soul who brightened the lives of everyone around him with his goofiness and warm smile. Hardworking and driven, he excelled in academics with dreams of becoming a surgeon, while also enjoying hands-on work like helping his dad with construction and mastering power tools from a young age. A proud and avid Canadiens fan, Geoffrey loved cheering for his favourite team. He cared deeply for his friends and family, always checking in to make sure they were okay. His passions ranged from solving Rubik’s cubes and flying drones to swimming, hockey, and all things Apple-he could convince anyone to buy the latest gadget. Geoffrey was truly one of a kind, a “good one” gone too soon.
His Battle With Anorexia Nervosa
Geoffrey’s battle with anorexia nervosa began at 11, when signs of restriction, excessive exercise, and behavior changes emerged. A boy who once loved food became consumed by the need to control calories. His first pediatrician visit led to a seven-week hospitalization for medical instability, marking the beginning of six years spent in and out of hospitals.
Anorexia stole so much from Geoffrey—school, hockey, swimming, and time with friends and family. Instead, his days were filled with meal support, mental distress, and the toll of malnutrition. He endured countless hospitalizations and traumatic interventions at London Health Sciences Centre, SickKids, Ontario Shores, CHEO, Denver Health ACUTE program, and various emergency departments. For weeks at a time, home was a hospital room hours away, and his second family became the healthcare workers who cared for him.
Despite enduring what no child should have to, Geoffrey faced his battle with remarkable resilience. He did not want to die, but after years of relentless suffering and exhausting all available treatments, he was physically and mentally drained. He understood what his decision would lead to, yet on June 14, 2023, he made the courageous decision to stop medical interventions and embrace the time he had left. For one month, Geoffrey lived without fear of food, free from the grip of his eating disorder and the trauma of treatments, surrounded by love and finding joy in the small moments.
On July 14, 2023, at the tender age of 17, Geoffrey succumbed to anorexia nervosa.
His final wish was to help others by advocating for a local eating disorder program-care closer to home, where hope could be more easily found. Though his time was far too short, his legacy of love, resilience, and advocacy lives on.
Geoffrey’s Legacy
Geoffrey developed an unusual insight and understanding of his illness and sought to make a difference for others facing similar hardships. An excerpt from a letter left to his parents, written in his last days at the hospice:
“You brought me into this world and you tried your best to bring me out of this world as peacefully and respectfully as possible even if it was not as long of a life as you, I, or anyone expected for me to have. In terms of the eating disorder coalition program that you and dad are planning to set up, I have a few ideas that I would like to contribute. First, trying to keep the program as local as possible. As for my experience, the closer you are to your family, friends, and home the easier it is for the eating disorder patient to grasp onto the idea of getting better instead of being opposed to it. It helped make it easier for me to get through each day and not have to focus on getting to each meal and completing each meal- I just had to worry about showing up.
Another thing I thought of is to try and listen to the eating disorder patient as much as possible because even though they are the ones with the disease, they still have a lot to contribute, even if you cannot include everything- try to include as much as possible, I think is very important so they can feel heard, respected, and can trust their team.”
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