WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS all of the love and gratitude I have for Monte Nido. Monte Nido saved my life. I couldn’t have done it without you, Carolyn, and the magic you’ve created at Monte Nido. I’ve never encountered such generous, kind and caring souls. Carolyn, you and Monte Nido have a big place in my heart forever. I am able to laugh and love again because of the wisdom and encouragement you and Monte Nido have provided for me. Thank you.

YOU SUCCEEDED in accomplishing the one thing you promised to do for me. You continuously said that you just wanted to show me the life I could have and then it would be my choice whether I chose it or not. Well, you showed me that life and I chose it. You gave me life in my mind, body, and spirit. You gave me the most precious gift anyone could possibly give me.

THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME there can be tenderness in treatment; for teaching me I can express my needs; reassuring me they are appropriate, and they can be met; for appreciating that the battle is between me and me, and letting me have a say in everything I signed up for; always being honest with me; and for telling me throughout my entire time here that you enjoy so many things about me and enjoy working with me. You’ve taught me recovery can be an okay thing. I remember a conversation I had with you on the phone before I came to Monte Nido, when I asked, “how do the clients make all the changes?” Your answer was, “lots of hard work… and a little bit of magic. I’ve participated in the hard work, and I’ve definitely experienced the magic!

WHAT CAN I SAY? Who knew? I guess miracles really do happen. The miracle in this case being Monte Nido and all the wonderful people who are associated with it. You’ve all given me a most precious gift. You’ve given me the gift of life and for that I shall never be able to thank you enough. Not only have you helped me in my struggle with anorexia and set me on the road to recovery, you’ve also given me in 7 weeks what I’ve lived a lifetime without and that is a family. I’ve never felt so at home with a group of people before in my life. I never knew what it was like to be surrounded by people who offer such love and support and yet don’t ask for anything in return. I never knew people could care so much (and not just because it was their job). I never knew what it was like to trust someone. I never knew what it was like to have someone really listen when I spoke. I feel very fortunate to have been one of the original six who first arrived here. How honored we should feel-as we can say we were the first to receive the ‘gifts’ of Monte Nido. I think to the future when many will have come and gone, and success and the exposure will be great. I think how proud I’ll be when I say, “I was there when it all first began.” Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of something so wonderful. Thank you for letting me into your lives. I’ll walk away from here a much better, healthier person thanks to all of you.

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you do and for creating such and amazing healing space and for providing me with the opportunity at the transition house, Bella Mar, to build a life for myself. Throughout my stay I have pages upon pages in my journal labeled “wise words of Carolyn”. Every time you spoke I knew my eyes were going to be opened up to a new part of myself that I hadn’t looked at yet or was avoiding looking at. Thank you for challenging me, questioning me and most of all helping me to heal. Today I have a job, I’m going to school, I have friends, I have relationships deeper than I could ever imagine, I eat my food, and most of all I know I have people who love me. I honestly don’t feel like I could thank you enough Carolyn. Thank you so, so much Carolyn and Monte Nido staff.

For a long time, I have tried to find the words to express the amount of gratitude I have towards Carolyn and the Monte Nido Staff. The past ten years of my life have passed in a slow, foggy, rapid blur. After taking part in the amazing “Life School” that is Monte Nido. I now know and am willing to fight for my desire. I can now see why fighting is always worth it. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet myself, the stillness to reach my soul, and the power to know I deserve this new life. With love, AP

Thank you Carolyn for creating a place like Monte Nido Vista, I wish there were many more. These past months at Monte Nido Vista have save my life. I came in exhausted of living. I believed that the pain of life was too great for me to handle. I have learned more about being alive, and about relationships in my time here than I ever have in the past. I have never experienced such unconditional love and support and more than that- hope. [It is] a home that is so full of love and care, and nothing but safety.

I strongly believe that what you have created at Monte Nido is unique and very special indeed. You and other members of staff here have given me hope that I can do well. That is something I have never really believed to be possible – you don’t receive that message in my country. I have often felt like a hopeless case – that I will never be better than I am now, but you have changed that for me, thank you.

After several failed stints in treatment centers and medical procedures I admitted to Monte Nido Vista. There’s a perfect interweave of firmness, warmth and skill that Carolyn Costin has been able to create at this facility. It’s not all encapsulated in one person. They pool their resources together to create an individualized treatment plan within a nurturing, supportive atmosphere, which is conducive to healing. I appreciated and often reflect on the tasteful and personal touches that enhanced my experience there i.e. oversized cozy pillows, fresh cut flowers, candles, sparkling pool and relaxing swings. Over a year later, I am thankful and humble to report that I am doing remarkably well. Aside from recovering from an eating disorder, the work I did at Vista, empowered me. They cared enough about me to find me an outpatient therapist that is perfect for me and has continued to guide and support me over the last nine months. I can finally look back and have clarity that has helped me make choices and take action that brings hope and optimism rather than replicating the same old destructive behaviors. I now apply the tools that I’ve obtained at Vista and in my current therapy and as a result, I am creating a life that I’ve always wanted. I now have a life beyond my eating disorder. I am present in every moment; I get to feel; I get to laugh. I have the freedom to live every aspect of my life. Most importantly, I get to choose!

March 27, 2013, one year ago today I packed my suitcase, hugged my two babies tight not knowing when I would see them again and got on that 10 o’clock flight to Los Angeles. When I got to Monte Nido I was beyond hopeless. My heart was still beating but my eating disorder had sucked out all life from me… I was surrounded by beautiful and loving people while in treatment. I slowly started to heal and my soul and spirit came to life in a new way. Learning how to speak my truth however scary it may be and truly living from my soul self has been life changing. I have come a long way in a year. It hasn’t been easy and I still have my struggles but I have continued to work hard in my recovery. When I get overwhelmed and want to throw my hands up in the air and give up, I have to stop and remember to take life moment by moment. Today I need to eat my food and keep my food. I need to smile, laugh and hug my children. If I can do that each day, then I’m doing A-ok. Thank you to all of the beautiful souls that have come into my life since being at Monte Nido. Each and every one of you have made a difference.

I remember my time at Monte Nido was one of my most terrible moments in life because it made me face reality, my struggles, and self-doubts. Despite that, it was a place of comfort at the same time in which I felt safe and not judged. I never felt as much love as I did there, where people genuinely showed their love and kindness to me. I have taken the skills you taught me and have continued to heal such that now I am a very happy, healthy and nearly “normal eater”. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.

Although it is so hard to be gentle with my soul, Monte Nido has shown me that it is there. Monte Nido has nurtured my soul when I did nothing but destroy it. They saved my life. No words can ever explain or be grateful enough to thank them for my gift. An angel was truly watching over me when he blessed me with Monte Nido. Monte Nido is my Angel of Grace.