Tweet
Uli Kaplan, 19, has non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, a chronic lung disease which severely reduces his lung capacity and see him constantly battling to keep his lungs clear.
Uli was a regular patient at the Royal Children's Hospital [RCH] since birth, and remains a committed member of the RCH chronic illness peer support program. He has developed great friendships with young people who have a range of illnesses, some of whom have passed away.
Uli Kaplan
For Uli it is not just about him, in fact while he is concerned about his lack of health, his concern for others in similar circumstances is quite overwhelming. But when he does talk about his condition, it is very hard not to be in total empathy with him.
“Chronically ill people have so much happening in their day-to-day lives. When I go to school, it’s hard to be able to focus 100 per cent on school-work. Just leaving the house and getting to school takes hours of preparation. And if I leave the house and start coughing, then it’s too cold and I need to go back home right away to get a jumper and start again. I do get upset and depressed about my illness sometimes, but then I think – my doctors and clinicians spent hundreds of hours and dedicated so much energy and effort on me, to keep me here. I won’t throw that away. I have scars, I don’t like them but they are part of who I am today. My illness gives me have the courage to make the most of every day, and the discipline, drive and professionalism to do things like this documentary."
Uli's dream was to write a book and make a film about his experiences, and now many people having seen his dedication and will to face his condition head-on, are helping to make the film part come true!
So calling upon his experiences has inspired him to make a documentary; in the hope of empowering and giving a voice to those with chronic illness and shedding light on their experiences.
Uli has titled the project ‘Life is a Battlefield’, reflecting the realities of life-long illness.
Uli's plight has bought him together with a man who knows what it is like to have such a debilitating condition, as one such condition took the life of his son. In 2012, Mr Cameron Miller’s son, Shaun, died from chronic heart rejection after a second heart transplant. Cameron has offered his services to direct a film about Uli, that will take place over an eight month continuous period.
Among the many fundraising projects is a forthcoming concert that aims to raise money and awareness for the "Life Is A Battlefield" project.
We call upon all our readers to support this project and to make an attempt to get to the concert which is being held at the Longbeach RSL (also known as the Chelsea RSL), 4 Thames Promenade, Chelsea and, to share the details of it as widely as they can.
Acts are being added all the time, and at this time the following have been added:
Cover band, Roller Toaster along with Alex Steve, Nyssa Large and Brett Foxx.