I Am Breathing (2013) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Neil wrote the letter because he knew he would not be there to answer his son Oscar's future questions about who he was and what kind of person his father was. With only months to live and paralyzed from the neck down, he wanted to leave something tangible that would let Oscar know him personally, understand his values, and feel connected to his father even after Neil was gone.

Foreshadowing: Earlier blog posts about his hopes for fatherhood foreshadow this act of legacy-building.

• neil platt
• letter to son
• oscar platt
• legacy
• fatherhood
• als
• mnd

Neil's ALS progressed rapidly within just one year from diagnosis. He went from being a healthy, active man to being completely paralyzed from the neck down. This swift decline is a hallmark of the disease, which attacks motor neurons and progressively strips away the body's ability to move while leaving the mind intact.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes his vitality early on, making the rapid deterioration even more stark.

• als progression
• motor neurone disease
• paralysis
• timeline
• health decline

The title reflects Neil's realization that simply breathing becomes profound when it becomes uncertain. In his final months, each breath represented existence itself, and the act of breathing became a conscious affirmation of life. It captures how the illness forced him to find meaning in the most basic functions that healthy people take for granted.

Foreshadowing: Neil's reflection that 'it's amazing how adaptable we are when we have to be' hints at this shift in perspective.

• title meaning
• breathing
• mortality
• perspective
• adaptation

Neil's humor remained a core part of his personality throughout the documentary, even as his body failed him. He made jokes about his condition, laughed with friends and family, and refused to let the illness define his entire identity. This persistent wit served as both a coping mechanism and a way to connect with others, showing that joy and tragedy could coexist.

Foreshadowing: The film's opening establishes his witty, lively character before the diagnosis is revealed.

• neil humor
• positivity
• coping
• resilience
• attitude

The memory box was a physical collection of objects and messages that Neil assembled for his son Oscar. It served as a tangible legacy, containing items that represented who Neil was, his values, and the life he lived. This box would allow Oscar to connect with his father in a concrete way as he grew up, giving him something to hold and explore beyond photographs and stories.

Foreshadowing: Neil's decision to document his experiences through blog posts laid the groundwork for this broader legacy project.

• memory box
• oscar platt
• legacy
• keepsakes
• father son

Neil's blog posts served as the narrative spine of the documentary, providing his own voice and words throughout the film. The blog let him communicate his thoughts, memories, and reflections directly to the audience while he still had the ability to speak and type. This storytelling choice kept his personality and perspective central even as his physical body weakened, creating an intimate connection between Neil and viewers.

Foreshadowing: His pre-diagnosis writing habits established his comfort with sharing publicly.

• blog
• narration
• neil voice
• storytelling
• documentary structure

The film centers on Neil's belief that 'it's amazing how adaptable we are when we have to be, and it's what separates us and defines us as human beings.' As he lost the ability to move, speak, and eventually breathe on his own, he discovered new ways to find meaning, connect with others, and appreciate what remained. The documentary shows this adaptation not as a grand achievement but as a quiet, everyday process of revaluing what matters.

Foreshadowing: His early life enjoyment of simple pleasures contrasts with his newly hard-won appreciation for those same moments.

• adaptability
• human spirit
• change
• resilience
• meaning

Neil decided to share his story openly rather than withdraw because he wanted to make his final months meaningful beyond just personal reflection. By documenting his journey through his blog and allowing the film to be made, he created something that could help others facing similar situations and prompt anyone watching to reconsider their own priorities. His sharing became a form of resilience and a way to leave a broader impact.

Foreshadowing: His naturally warm, outgoing personality made this openness consistent with who he was.

• sharing story
• public
• terminal
• documentary
• impact

Neil revisits memories of falling in love, partying with friends, fast motorbike rides, shared kisses with his partner, and simple gatherings around a table with family. The film contrasts these vibrant, ordinary moments with his current condition, showing how illness reframes what most people take for granted. Each memory is presented with sensory detail to emphasize how rich everyday life actually is.

Foreshadowing: The opening scenes establish these joyful memories before the illness is introduced, creating meaningful contrast.

• memories
• everyday moments
• joy
• family
• friends
• love

The film encourages viewers to notice and value everyday moments that often go unappreciated, like sharing a meal, riding a bike, or simply breathing. By showing Neil's transition from taking these things for granted to cherishing them deeply, the documentary becomes an invitation for audiences to reflect on their own lives and how they choose to spend their time. The ending leaves viewers with the sense that ordinary days, when lived with intention, become enduring legacies.

Foreshadowing: The steady pacing of memories versus present-day realities reinforces this theme throughout.

• ordinary life
• appreciation
• priorities
• reflection
• legacy
• meaning