What 'Five Feet Apart' Means to Me as a Chronically Ill Teen
**MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD**
As some of you might know, a big part of why I started a
blog was because of how much Claire Wineland inspired me. Claire was a young
woman who got dealt a rubbish hand in life but still won. She lived her life
despite having cystic fibrosis and although she died last year aged 21, she
achieved so much. She inspired thousands, reminding lots of us with chronic
illness that we aren’t alone, and she even set up her own charity to help
others living with chronic illness.
When I found out that Claire was a consultant on a movie
about chronic illness and long term hospital stays as a teen, I couldn’t wait
to see it. I was so sure that she wouldn’t let the right messages be lost and,
although she unfortunately died before the movie’s release, her influence is
clear throughout the entire movie. The protagonist, Stella, was heavily
influenced by Claire and everything from her appearance to her attitude towards
her illness shows this. Watching the movie reminded me of how much of a
positive influence Claire was on me every time I watched one of her videos or
saw something about her charity online.
As a fan and follower of Claire, the hidden easter eggs
throughout the movie which related to her made me smile. The protagonist,
Stella, makes her own youtube videos like Claire did and, in one scene, you can
see a video titled “Claire’s Place Foundation” (the name of the charity that
Claire set up). Haley Lu Richardson completely nailed her performance as
Stella, doing Claire, the producers, and every chronic illness sufferer out there
justice. Stella’s inspiration speeches throughout the movie are unbelievably reminiscent
of Claire’s on talks, and they completely encapsulated Claire’s energy,
optimism, and determination.
However, Stella wasn’t the only relatable character in the
movie. Her love interest, Will, portrayed incredibly by Cole Sprouse, appears
to be the brooding bad boy that is so irresistible. However, to those of us who
know better, his attitude towards life is much more than that. Having lived his
entire life with the knowledge that he will die young, Will has decided that
there isn’t a point in fighting it. His careless rebellion is a sign that he doesn’t
seem to have anything worth fighting for. What is the point in spending years
in the hospital fighting for life when you will die at the end regardless? It
doesn’t really feel like living; in fact, it is barely surviving. Will’s perspective
is one that every chronic illness fighter will go through at some point,
sometimes even more than once. The challenge is to find that something worth
fighting for. In Will’s case, it is Stella that reminds him that his life can
still have purpose.
Another character who I could find closely relatable is
Stella’s best friend, Poe, another teen with chronic illness who is played by Moises Arias. Poe provides much
of the movie’s comic relief but also has his serious moments. Soon to turn eighteen,
Poe is concerned about who will pay for his hospital treatment once he is an
adult. He has broken off a serious relationship so as not to be a burden on
them, but is aware that the burden then falls to his parents. Although I know that
I am not a burden on my friends and family, there are times when I can see how
heavy the impact of my illnesses is on them and so I completely understand
where Poe is coming from. I have also been wary about getting into
relationships knowing the impact that my illnesses can and will have on my
partner. The things that these characters voice are things that have went
through most, if not all, chronic illness fighters’ heads at some point. Hearing
them spoken aloud is difficult, but also reminded me that I am not alone in
this fight. There are others who feel like I do, and there are lots of people
willing to support us no matter what.
One final way that the movie really connected with me was
through it’s key message. The movie tries to convey how isolated chronic
illness can make someone. The main way it does this is by explaining how people
with cystic fibrosis have to stay at a distance from each other so as not to
spread bacteria. Everyone with a weakened immune system will understand this to
some extent, although for those with cystic fibrosis this is even more vital.
However, one of my medical conditions affects my nerves across my entire body,
causing me all over pain 24/7. It’s difficult to judge how bad the pain is, but
all I can think to compare it to is whenever I have broken bones, which was nowhere
near as painful. When anything touches me it makes the pain even worse; this
can be my clothes, someone brushing past me, or even sometimes just the air
blowing on me. There have been countless times when I have been curled up in a
ball, crying in pain, and all I have wanted is a hug and yet I cannot bear for
anyone to come near me. Hugging, holding hands, all those usual comforting
things are taken away from me. It sounds silly, but until you cannot be touched
you don’t understand how vital a connection it is. It’s like being isolated
from the world, from life.
Five Feet Apart will tug on the heartstrings of anyone who
watches it, but it will always hold a special place in my heart. It reminded me
that I was not the only one facing these struggles, and that there is always
hope. It made me feel noticed, a part of something, a community. It made me
laugh, and cry, and smile. It made me feel less alone, less isolated. I’d like
to finish this post with a quote from Claire that I like to remind myself of
often: “the quality of
your life isn’t determined by whether you’re healthy or sick or rich or poor.
Not at all. It’s determined by what you make out of your experience as a human
being”.
Check out Claire’s Place Foundation at: https://clairesplacefoundation.org/
Claire's message was and is still incredibly inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI agree; she was a beautiful person who led a beautiful life and left behind an incredible legacy.
DeleteI have yet to see this movie but I am honestly really interested now. You have inspired me to read into this more.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing :D
- Nyxie
www.nyxiesnook.com
I'm glad, it is an amazing movie!
DeleteI am planning to see this movie too. She is an inspiration. I have lots of chronic health conditions.
ReplyDeleteI hope that when you see the movie it makes you feel how I did :)
DeleteThis sounds like an incredible movie, I'm not much of a film fan but for this I feel the need to make a deliberate exception. From your account I'm finding similarities to A Fault In Our Stars, I loved the book especially (bookworm here, I always prefer the book over a film). Though sounding similar, Five Feet Apart is coming across as being remarkably superior. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on it.
ReplyDeleteDavis | www.everythingstartswithtea.co.uk
I always preferred books as well but this film really touched me. I hope you enjoy the movie as much as I did!
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