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Rebecca's death isn't the only difficult thing Stacie has dealt with.

Stacie's best friend, Sonya Vecchiarelli, has struggled with an eating disorder for years. And Stacie has been a faithful friend through it all—never once considering bailing out. Never did she think, This is too hard. I'm outta here.

"There have been times where it's been hard on both of us," Stacie says. "But she's been one of my closest friends all my life, and I would never think of leaving her alone. If the situation were turned around, she would be there for me. I'll always be there for her."

Sonya is forever grateful for Stacie's faithfulness.

"There have been so many times during my sickness when Stacie was there for me," Sonya writes in Dear Friend: I'm Here for You, a book Stacie wrote about their friendship. "She always tried to encourage me, and even when it was hard to be with me, she was so patient and kind."

Stacie and Sonya did everything together—even homeschooling—when they lived in the same Colorado neighborhood. But since Stacie's move to Tennessee a couple of years ago, they don't see each other as much. Still, their friendship goes on through phone calls and occasional visits.

"We'll always be friends," says Stacie.

To learn more about Stacie and Sonya's friendship—or if you'd like a great gift for a friend—check out the book Dear Friend (J. Countryman) at a Christian bookstore, or at jcountryman.com.

If you or a friend have an eating disorder, help is available:

• Overcomers Outreach: (800) 310-3001, overcomersoutreach.org
• Remuda Ranch: (800) 445-1900; remudaranch.com
• National Eating Disorders Association: (206) 382-3587; nationaleatingdisorders.org

Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today/Campus Life magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Campus Life.

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