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Illness In Jenny Downham's 'Before I Die'

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ISP Novel Presentation
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Title: Before I Die

Author: Jenny Downham
Published by:David Fickling Books
Topic: Health & Wellness
Subtopic: Illness
Summary
The novel “ Before I Die”, is based on a teenage girl, Tessa Scott. Tessa is currently sixteen years old and is suffering from Leukemia. She only has months to live before she dies. There are many constant visits to the hospital regarding her illness. She creates a list. A list of things she wants to accomplish before she dies. Tessa realizes doing the things on her list is not as easy as she hoped it would be. She has to go through many things such as; dealing with her divorced parents, her recent boyfriend, her annoying brother, and her best friend Zoey. Tessa attempts to finish her …show more content…

It’s her lungs. Fluid can’t drain away because she’s not moving around”(Downham 319). This is because “Leukemia can also spread to other parts of your body including the lungs, heart, and kidneys” (www.healthline.com). By comparing we can see that, Leukemia has spread into Tessa’s lungs leaving her making noises while she is trying to breathe and as well leaving her unable to speak.”
Tessa is talking to herself about how “I’m lying on the edge of a hospital bed, in a knee-chest position with my head on a pillow”(Downham 36). Tessa is doing an LP(lumbar Puncture). “An Lp is usually done with the person lying on one side with their knees drawn up towards the chest”(www.cancer.ca). By comparing we can see that Tessa is doing a Lumbar Puncture in the hospital because by noticing the way she is talking to herself about how her body is positioned on the hospital bed.
Archetype = The …show more content…

The archetypal character, the mentor is present in the novel “Before I Die”. Tessa’s father, is a secondary character but is very caring towards his daughter and constantly makes sure his daughter is taking her medications and make sure she visits her doctor regularly.

As well, in the movie “ The Fault in Our Stars” Hazel’s mother is affectionate towards her daughter Hazel. Showing that she has similar aspects like Tessa’s father in “ Before I

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