The Red Band Society

Well hello tumblr it’s been a while! I saw this question in my inbox and thought - why not answer it? So, is everything in Red Band Society real? As someone who has spent a great portion of my life in hospitals, the answer is yes and no. 

THE REAL

All of the conditions in the show are real conditions. Cystic fibrosis, anorexia, osteosarcoma, enlarged heart, coma, etc. 

Children’s hospitals/wings are decorated with bright colors, murals, and art like they are at Ocean Park.

Nurses spend a lot of time with patients and with each other, have all the good gossip, and advocate for patients. 

The procedures are all real, though sometimes played up for drama (for example, your doctor would not stop as you were being wheeled to surgery to run back to your friend’s room. At that point you would have already been partially sedated)

Patients do bond! There’s usually a lot of options for activities and chronically ill/disabled teenagers often have form strong friendships with each other both in and out of the hospital.

Emma’s eating disorder is portrayed very realistically - she’s struggling, she has triggers, and it’s not about her appearance, it’s about control. It’s an unhealthy coping mechanism that causes serious physical consequences for her later on.

Dash and Mae’s situation is very real - patients with CF cannot be within six feet of each other without risking spreading bacteria to each other, which could be deadly. Many CF patients wear masks around each other to keep each other safe.

THE NOT-REAL

Most of the Red Danders would not actually be inpatient, or at least not for as long as they are in the show. For example, Kara would probably be sent home with a heart monitor and told to follow up with a cardiologist. Same with Leo - his physical therapy would largely be outpatient as well, and these days many chemo treatments are even done as outpatient procedures. Emma would be inpatient, and Dash is on the fence. Many people with CF are admitted for tune-ups for weeks or months, but Dash seems to be in an okay place with his CF - he’s not on oxygen and we don’t see him doing many breathing treatments.

Kara and Charlie would almost certainly not be roomed together - first because they’re of the opposite sex, and second because most children’s hospitals have single-patient rooms for long-term patients (at least in the case of physical illnesses).

You can decorate your hospital room to an extent when you’re in inpatient, but not like the Red Banders do. For physical illnesses posters, string lights, blankets and photos are quite common. But in psych wards you’re allowed to bring very little in and you’re limited in what you can keep in your room.

Sneaking in and out of the hospital, while not impossible, is much harder to do than it is on the show. Getting out is one thing, but getting back in unnoticed is a huge challenge. 

An even bigger challenge is the drugs and alcohol that appears in a few episodes. Many hospitals do daily blood draws, so underage drinking/illicit drug use would be identified very quickly.

Nobody looks that good in a hospital. Most people are in pajamas, sweatpants, and hospital gowns. Your clothes often need to able to open in the front or back for physical exams, IVs, ports, etc.

Being in the psych wing, Emma wouldn’t be allowed to have most of the things that are in her room. She likely wouldn’t be allowed to go to the bathroom by herself, and her meal plans would be much stricter than they are in the show. 

My fellow Red Banders, last night we lost an amazing, beautiful, funny, honest, and generous human being. Claire Wineland was an incredible person and this world is a little less bright without her light in it. Claire always said that it was possible to be sick and to live a life that you’re proud of. If you want to help support her legacy, you can donate to her foundation.

It matters because you are here. 

It matters because you are alive and as long as you are alive anything is possible. It matters because you are not alone. Because we are here and we care about you and there are people you haven’t even met yet who love you and who will love you, and you might be the exact person they need in their life and they might be the exact person you need in your life but you’ll never have that chance if you’re not around. It matters because your spirit is brave and beautiful and your body houses all your feelings and memories and emotions, and without nourishing it, we lose the incredible being that is you. It matters because nothing would be the same without you. Because your voice is one that someone longs to hear, because your smile has the power to change someone’s day entirely, because there are things that you do that nobody else can do. It matters because this world is better with you in it. And to be in it, you have to nourish the vessel that keeps you here. Without food, it falls apart. It deteriorates. It hurts. And it matters because you could lose everything. i know this because i did. i lost my health, my ability to move freely, to run or dance or jump. i lost the person i used to be and the freedom i used to have because i refused to eat. And it destroyed my body, and it changed my life - not for the better. And i would give anything to go back in time and prevent it from happening.

It matters because i’ve been there. Because i have felt the hurt you feel, and i need you to know you’re not alone. i need you to know that recovery is possible and no eating disorder will ever fix the hurt you feel, and no matter how little you eat, it won’t be enough.

But you are enough. You are enough because you are here, and because you are here you matter. So much. So so much.

i’m going to be very honest with you anon: this question is both frustrating and heartbreaking.

As someone who has struggled with an eating disorder, i would never wish it upon anybody. It wasn’t a choice i made, i didn’t plan to develop it. It started with a goal to eat healthier and then spiraled into something awful. i never intended it to get that bad. i would never, ever give “advice” on how to “develop” an eating disorder.

Because what you don’t understand is that it’s not just about the weight or the food. It’s not aesthetic or pretty. Most of Emma’s storyline isn’t what an eating disorder looks like. The most realistic scenes are probably in 8-13, where we see Emma spiraling out of control, pushing away the people in her life, and nearly dying. An eating disorder won’t make you feel lovely or good. It’ll make your hair fall out, it’ll make your heart weak, it’ll make you too tired to do anything. It’ll destroy your self-esteem and mental health until you’re depressed and anxious. It’ll keep you from forming close friendships or relationships.

i was too scared of food to go out with friends for birthday parties. i was too scared of gaining weight to have fun on vacation or enjoy holidays. A teacher brought treats to class and i nearly had a panic attack because i thought i might have to eat one. i sobbed for hours when my friend invited me on vacation because i wouldn’t be able to exercise as much.

My eating disorder stole years of my life from me. It ruined my body. It took away the things i loved. And it’s something that i can never get back. Even a few years into recovery, i struggle. 

How to be like Emma Chota:

Develop a sense of style that makes you feel confident and comfortable! Find signature pieces that you love, like how Emma has her hats and black boots!

Discover what you’re passionate about, and pursue it with enthusiasm! Emma is always reading something new. Work hard in school and take classes you’re curious about.

Realize that you’re worthy of love and belonging and that what you eat and how you look does not define you. Try to develop a healthy relationship with food! Also be sure to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated. 

Make a group of good friends who will have your back, and have theirs in return. Support each other through your struggles, and be honest about asking for help!

Have compassion for other people, and for yourself.

Um hi i’m not sure how long ago this was submitted! But i’ll answer anyways. To get over an eating disorder, it takes a long time. It’s a lot of work, but don’t let that scare you! It’s absolutely worth it. You’ll want to start seeing a specialist - at most hospitals that means a treatment team of a nutritionist and a therapist/psychiatrist who specialize in eating disorders. You might need to take medication or do inpatient, and you might not! It’s different for everybody.

Things that really helped me were journaling, art, yoga, and learning to cook. i had a lot of fun trying to make my food feel fun and taking pictures of the new things i was making! Find activities that are gentle on your body and help you appreciate it. Figure out what your eating disorder helps you cope with - are you avoiding family issues? Loneliness? Anxiety? And realize you have to work through that to really start healing.

Yeah i can definitely understand that! i think it’s such a shame that it got cancelled before she had the chance to recover, because i don’t think we get many shows where we get to see someone actually recovering from an eating disorder. i have a headcanon that the second season would show her actually trying in therapy, making progress, genuinely learning to love herself, doing yoga with Kara, etc. Then she would eventually get accepted to Yale and start living her life, and it’d be really good.