How To Save A (Tribute's) Life: Francesca's Hunger Games Story

Can The Hunger Games save your life? Francesca-Maria certainly thinks so. We were so inspired by her #MyTHGStory a few weeks back, and the tattoos she got to symbolize her journey, that we wanted to share it with all of you.

 

Hello, my name is Francesca, I'm 19. Today I would like to share my Story with you Tributes and tell you how The Hunger Games saved my life. It must sound crazy, I know that. How can a book series and a movie can save somebodies life? But that is what happened.

I want to take you on a little time travel trip back to 2010 early summer. I got diagnosed with an eating disorder. I was starving myself to death and was admitted to our local hospital. One day, my Mom (visiting me) asked me if there is anything she could get me, anything I need or want, and I told her, "Please get me a book." I needed something to do, and she said okay. She asked if there was a certain book I wanted, but I said "No. Just something you think is good. I don't care." 

The book that she brought me happened to be The Hunger Games. When I saw the name on the book, I didn’t want to read it because I figured it was a story about someone also who was struggling with the same problem that I was. I didn’t need to read anything about that. But my Mom said, "Go ahead and read it anyway. You will see that it is not about what you are dealing with."  (She had already read it).

So I started reading and got so engrossed in the story that I couldn’t put the book down. After I had finished all three of the books, I started thinking about Katniss and how she had to fight for her life and the lives of her family. I started thinking that my life with this disorder was like the book. That the disorder was the Capitol and I was Katniss, and I had to fight for my life. Also, the movies were a big help. When the first movie came out, I asked my Mom to take me. She did agree only on one condition that I would eat some popcorn, something I hadn’t eaten in over two years. I wanted to see the movie so badly that I agreed with her. 

So it went on, year after year I fought, I watched the movies re-read the books for inspiration each time I felt bad and thought 'I’m not worth it.'

 

I also got the best role model a girl could ever imagine. I am so, so, so thankful for what our amazing Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss did for me although she doesn’t even know me. She is also a major reason that I am where I am at in my life today and maybe one day I will be able to tell her that in person. 

Now after five years since the diagnosis and treatment of my disorder I can proudly say that I’m back & living my life again.

Suzanne Collins, you are my hero, you wrote the books that saved my life, and Francis Lawrence you made them real for me. There is no way to describe fully what The Hunger Games means to me. It is a huge part of my life and always will be!

Thanks also to The Hunger Games fandom, without you guys I wouldn’t have made it either. You are amazing and like family to me! I want every little boy and girl out there to know that you are perfect as you are and being different than the rest does not mean that you're not worth the same. Be proud of yourself no matter what, you are perfect and awesome just the way you are, and something or somebody will come along to light up your day and be your silver lining. For me, it happened to be a book series and an amazing and talented actress as well as my family and friends.

Just remember as Effie would say, "CHINS UP, SMILES ON!"

I love you ♥  

Say hello to Francesca on twitter @JoultLover.

This week in our 100 Days of Mockingjay celebration we're talking about Hunger Games cosplay, tattoos, make-up, hair and nail art. Find out how you can participate on social media and enter our giveaway for a Katniss cowl and black Mockingjay pin HERE.