Bruno Discloses Granddaughter's Eating Disorder ALBANY, NEW YORK (WXXI) - State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno's granddaughter, who had been missing for several days, was found by New York City police early Wednesday morning. Bruno disclosed that 20-year-old Rachel Bruno suffers from an eating disorder that could have led her to make some poor decisions.

"Rachel's had anorexia, very severe anorexia, for the last five or six years," Bruno said.

Bruno says the eating disorder caused his granddaughter, who works at a day care center, to drop out of high school and college, and that she was once put on a feeding tube.

The circumstances of her disappearance remain in question. Police say they are interrogating 30-year-old John Savage, who was already wanted on a bench warrant in connection with bribing a public official in the Bronx. Bruno says it's believed that Rachel Bruno met Savage recently over the Internet. Neither the Senator nor police could say whether Rachel was held against her will, or whether she was forced to do anything illegal, though Senator Bruno says it's clear that his granddaughter has been traumatized, and he says she was "scared to death and afraid she would be harmed" . He says he believes her condition led her to make some errors in judgment.

Police say they will continue to question Rachel Bruno once they determine that she is physically alright.

Lynn Grefe, with the National Eating Disorders Association, says Senator Bruno is "brave" for speaking publicly about his granddaughter's condition when there is so much stigma associated with anorexia and other eating disorders.

Grefe says though she doesn't know any specifics about Rachel Bruno's case, she says anorexics are very vulnerable people, and can make poor decisions that could lead to circumstances like Rachel's mysterious disappearance.

"They're not thinking clearly ," said Grefe. "If you're not eating, then you're not feeding the organs in your body and you're not feeding your brain. So of course you're not going to make wise decisions."

Grefe and Senator Bruno have a connection. Two years ago, Grefe's organization worked with the Senator on passing a law to provide state funding for comprehensive eating disorder clinics in New York. At the time, Bruno did not mention his granddaughter's illness. Grefe says curing anorexia can take many months or years of treatment. She says progress is hampered by insurance plans that permit only 28 days of inpatient care.

Grefe says the earlier the disease is caught, the better chance of recovery. She says parents should pay attention to changes in their children's eating behaviors, particularily when normal weight children decide to begin diets.

Grefe estimates 10 million women and girls and 1 million men and boys in the U.S. have anorexia, which, if left untreated, can lead to an early death. She says more help can be obtained at her group's website- nationaleatingdisorders.org.

State police say they'll have more information on Rachel Bruno's disappearance after they've completed their investigation.




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