WASHINGTON -- Several parents are sharing a warning about a new movie coming-out soon. The movie is called, “Five Feet Apart.”
It’s a love story between two Cystic Fibrosis patients who aren’t supposed to touch because they can infect one another (this is called Cross Infection).
The intention is to bring awareness. There’s a lot of people excited about the film, but national Cystic Fibrosis Advocate, Gunnar Esiason, said he is not a fan.
“It ultimately does paint this picture that people with Cystic Fibrosis are consumed with the idea of death or that we’re seeking pity. That’s not at all what my life is,” said Esiason.
He’s the son of NFL Quarterback, Boomer Esiason. Boomer started a foundation to support Cystic Fibrosis when Gunnar was diagnosed with CF in 1993.
“Cystic Fibrosis, by nature of being an infectious disease, is very isolating,” said Gunnar Esiason.
He doesn’t sugarcoat it.
“Yes. I take two to three hours a day doing my treatments. I have a feeding tube I connect to overnight that pumps liquid nutrition into my body seven hours overnight. But, that’s just part of my life. I also have a job. I have friends I have relationships,” Esiason added.
The Facebook warnings are actually on the very same movie theme: Cross Infection. A Facebook post is warning other CF patients not to go see it in theatre.
He has not seen the trailer, but Dr. Anastassios Koumbourlis said, "it is partially valid.”
Koumbourlis is the Director of the Cystic Fibrosis Center a Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
He explained Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects the mucus in your lungs. It makes you more susceptible to infection. Cross Infect, he added, isn’t a “one touch thing” -- and it can only happen between Cystic Fibrosis patients.
“By coughing, touching, the mucus membranes, saliva, and things like this, then they can leave it on a surface and then the next person whose touching can theoretically can become affected as well,” said Dr. Koumbourlis.
At the center, the director said they do actively keep patents apart when they come for treatment.
“Sitting next to each other and sharing, things like this. It’s not a good idea,” said the director.
That’s being said, he’s also not against the movie.
WUSA9 was told the best thing that could come out of all of this is education—talking about it and getting to know what Cystic Fibrosis is all about.