Valuable Life Lessons From The Five Feet Apart Movie

Social (physical) distancing. Five Feet Apart (technically six feet in real life). What Stella (played by Harley Lu Richardson) and Will (played by Cole Sprouse) had to endure each and every day for their top up treatment in Saint Grace hospital as Cystic Fibrosis patients in this movie, directed by debut sensation Justin Baldoni. That was only the beginning, on top of their strict medication and other regimens in their treatment plans.

Five Feet Apart is based on a true story, with input by Claire Wineland, a famous Cystic Fibrosis patient, who sadly lost her battle to this awful disease after contracting a stroke after her lung transplant. We know in the movie that Stella woke up after her surgery, and there was a scene where she reunites with her boyfriend Will (ex-boyfriend at the end) down the track. That scene was filmed, yet did not make the final cut.

Naturally, there were some tears during this movie. Stella was upset over the loss of her sister, who lived a normal life, and was supposed to outlive her; as well as from her gay friend Poe, also a fellow Cystic Fibrosis patient who unexpectedly passed away the day after Will's 18th Birthday. This film ingrains in our skulls that it is ok to cry, and to release those pent up tensions and emotions.

The importance of family is also of paramount importance in this film. Stella appreciates the importance of this, where she has a strict medication regimen, in order to stay alive for her mother, as well as for herself. Will also had a close connection with his mother. Visits from family, and staying in touch with family, both in the tough times and otherwise, is of paramount importance. We see this connection with Stella and her mother in the hospital cafeteria. We all have that innate need to be loved.

These young patients are teenagers, and it just goes to show that life is short. Stella is a little sad that she cannot travel overseas with her friends, where the limitations of her disease are not allowing such adventures, until a successful lung transplant comes forth. Stella also enjoys the close hugging and connection with her non-Cystic Fibrosis friends when they visit her; connect with her, and attend Will's Birthday party, only for that to be short lived.

When you can, and when you are fit and able outside of the confines of the hospital room; it is important to stay in touch with your friends. Stella and Poe made the most of each and every moment together, both inside and out of the hospital. They even shared treats together, and even went to get some ice cream at one point during the movie.

Watching this film really puts things into perspective; and especially re-watching this movie during lockdown, with the delta strain of COVID-19; also a respiratory infection that can be passed onto others; and when in quarantine in some way, shape or form (like Stella, Will and Poe had to be for their top up treatments in hospital); you quickly realise that things should never be taken for granted; even walking in the cold snow when able, despite the chill, of which people with Cystic Fibrosis struggle with the most.

To get ahead in life, and in Stella's case, to stay alive, and ultimately to be awarded that lung transplant; Stella had to do the work/the hard yards. She had to have her act together with her regimen, by having a well organised medication cart. Possibly, in addition to helping with her medical bills, and to stay sane; Stella was an active coder, who was able to create apps from scratch, and also started her own YouTube channel in order to stay sane, as a form of therapy to get her through the suffering. By doing the work, Stella got her lung transplant, and a life of more freedom, for when she recovers from her transplant post movie.

One of the nurses (Barb) trusted Stella with the management of her med cart, and other treatments in between the medical team checking up on her; and conversely with Will with Stella's involvement; the moral of the story in this film is that you also need to learn to trust people, even though it can backfire, like it did in the movie with surrendering and rebellion.

From seeing this film first hand, being sick is not fun, and it is an expensive and unwanted past-time. Poe also mentioned that he did not want to be a burden on any boyfriend, when his medical expenses are no longer free when he turns 18. It also pays to have a side hustle or two, that you can do in the comfort of your home (and even hospital room) to bring some income in. No different to if you have to self-isolate in the current pandemic, as at the time of writing this. Consuming 5000 calories of mostly healthy food is a challenge for nearly all of us, yet this is what those individuals with Cystic Fibrosis have to endure. This film reminds us to be grateful for our health, and with being healthy comes a lot of freedom the majority of the time.

Stella's decision to be Five Feet Apart from her boyfriend Will (gaining a foot of freedom back, in comparison to how much Cystic Fibrosis) has taken away from her in the movie; Stella did take on some risks, and not all of them paid off, although they did bring her and Will closer, even though that is a risk in itself, as they both have Cystic Fibrosis. The film also brought out the notion of not being rebellious all of the time, because then you are at the risk of not always getting what you want. In Stella's case, she was close to losing those new pair of lungs. Will got locked out, by hanging on a high floor balcony, almost risking his life. Respiratory illnesses (in particular) are not a joke. Cystic Fibrosis is not a joke. COVID-19 is not a joke. Pneumonia is not a joke, and neither is asthma or the flu to name.

The film also encourages us to breathe, and to be grateful for a set of lungs that work, without the need for constant oxygen and other treatments, or G-tubes. The time in isolation enabled both Stella and Will to be creative, and Will was thriving with his art, to also help him escape the realities of the medication trial.

In life, you have to go with the flow sometimes. This film also brought this valuable point home. In life, we do not always get what we want, and that was the case with Stella, Will and Poe. Due to the nature of their respective diseases, they could not hug one another. The medical trial for Will and his B.cepacia did not go to plan. Neither did his relationship with Stella in the end. Life can be full of setbacks and disappointments sometimes. In Will's case; if you love something - you have to let it go sometimes.

In saying that, when there is a will, there is a way; and Stella's YouTube video of the same title in the movie was living proof of her persistence to go on a few hospital dates with Will, and in changing the distancing rules from Six Feet Apart to Five Feet Apart.