Filmmaker Statement

When I was 10 years old, my mother had an accident that left her paralyzed from the chest down. From then on, I became one of my mother's primary caregivers. This care would include feeding, dressing, bathing, cathing, giving medication, and much more. As a teen, I felt very much alone and disconnected from my peers. While I knew it was impossible that my experience was unique, I did not have any media that depicted this scenario. My biggest motivation for creating this film was to provide other youth caregivers a film that shows some of what they experience. While Daniel's situation isn't the only example of a youth caregiver's role, it is the start of a conversation. My second motivation was to show the complexities of this role for youth--the emotional and physical toll it takes. Letting the youth speak openly rather than simply focusing on the positive.