At only eleven years old, Maria Alejandra is as youthful, playful and imaginative as her peers. But, she deals with something that has gifted her wisdom most children her age don’t have. Maria suffers from Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) which is a group of connective tissue diseases that cause blisters and tears when trauma or friction occurs to the skin. EB causes the skin to be extremely fragile and can even affect internal organs. But, the smile she wears on her face would never allude to the struggles she faces.
Filmed in Bogotá, Colombia, this documentary captures what a typical day is like for Maria and her family. It begins with Maria’s mom helping her get ready to go to school. Once Maria is at school, one of her classmates helps her finish her assignment. This same classmate sits with her at lunchtime and jokes around with her. He wants …show more content…
Her dad works at a shoe shop. But chemicals in the glue he uses, prevents him from helping her with her wounds and spending time with her. So, Maria’s mom is her caretaker. She tends to Maria’s blisters and helps her with everything she needs like getting dressed and doing her hair. These moments spent together allow Maria and her mom to bond in a way that may have never happened if Maria could take care of herself. As a result, Maria’s mom is her best friend. Their relationship represents the unique relationships that can develop between parents and their ailing child. Being born with a rare illness can make it hard for a child to relate to their peers. So, it’s understandable their nurses, doctors or parents become their best friends. These are the people that understand what they are going through and see them at their worst. For Maria, her mom means to the world to her and nothing will ever change