Perfectly Imperfect

“Everything has cracks, it’s the only way to let light in.”

My name is Kim Campbell, and I’m the one behind the knitting needles of Perfectly Imperfect Knitting. I wanted to introduce myself and share a bit of my story. At 7 years old my Mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, I was bullied in elementary school and at 17 years old I was diagnosed with an Eating Disorder. Among other mental health diagnoses, my Eating Disorder has threatened my life on numerous occasions. The moment I will never forget is when I was told by doctors in the ER in 2017, that I wouldn’t make it through the night. My organs shutting down from little to no nutrition and if I didn’t let the doctors push glucose (sugar)through my IV, I would slip into a coma and never wake up. But not even this news would sway me from my Eating Disorders chains...(an example of the strength of an Eating Disorder). My “ED” had me so fearful of the calories in the sugar, that I was scared of accepting the thing that would save my life.

4 months later I walked out of the hospital & I was beyond GRATEFUL to be alive. In 2010, I watched my Mom take her last breath as she lost her battle with Cancer. It has been a year since my last inpatient stay and I am in active recovery today. Every day have to choose recovery. I have to choose to eat and fuel my body. Despite the continued lies I hear from my Eating Disorder each day. Is it easy? No. Do I love the way I look? No. Am I working on accepting it? Yes. Do I want to be strong, alive and happy? YES. So it IS worth it. What has helped me get here? My passions including competitive Figure Skating, Singing, my new role as Aunt to my Niece, the hopes of being a Mom one day, my amazing Therapist and the passion of helping others and making a difference.; and from there Perfectly Imperfect was created. There is a reason I survived that night in the ER; my struggle, loss, and fight haven’t been for nothing. I want to use it to help others and that gives me so much Hope.

Written by Kim Campbell