Craigieburn man fighting chronic lung disease fights to inspire others through documentary

AFTER losing his son three years ago, Cameron Miller is helping another young man battling illness to tell his own story.

The documentary Life is a battlefield is about to be filmed L to r: Cameron Miller, director and producer, case study on Uli Kaplan and Christian Stella, camerman and editor Picture: Janine eastgate

FOR two years, Uli Kaplan hounded the one man he believed­ could help tell his story.

Mr Kaplan, 19, has non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, a chronic lung disease which has seen him beat, among other things, lung collapse and two bouts of pneumonia.

Currently, his lung capacity is at just 44 per cent.

The Craigieburn man is now set to share his story, and the stories of others, in a tell-all documentary, Life is a Battlefield.

It’s all thanks to the help of Clifton Springs man Cameron Miller, who finally agreed to jump on board the project last month.

In 2012, Mr Miller’s son Shaun died from chronic heart rejection after a second heart transplant.

A YouTube clip filmed by Shaun weeks before his death went viral as the 17-year-old said an emotional farewell to family and friends, asking them to “make sure my dad will be OK”.

WATCH: Shaun Miller’s final farewell

Mr Kaplan met Shaun’s dad through a mutual friend and felt he was the right person to help the documentary take off.

“From a parent’s perspective, he knows what it’s like,” Mr Kaplan said.

“It took a long time (but) he turned around and he’s just like, ‘all right man’.”

Having been in and out of hospital since birth, Mr Kaplan was told by doctors he would only live to the age of six.

He hopes his documentary will empower and inspire people.

“Most kids like myself don’t really have the courage or the confidence to speak out and talk about some things,” he said.

“If I can help one person with anything from cancer through to depression … if I can bring awareness to people that are chronically ill, then I’ve done my job.”

For Mr Miller, accepting the role was a challenge at first.

He had not only been mourning the death of his son, but was busy trying to publish Shaun’s book, An Awesome Ride.

“I know what it’s like for sick kids,” Mr Miller said.

“You just don’t know what life will bring.

“With myself and Shaun, we were father and son but we were best mates as well.

“Uli sort of looks up to Shaun … (he’s) a good kid and he just wants to do his own documentary and we’re happy to help him.”

The pair recently snapped up Pride of Australia medallist Coen Ashton, a teen living with diabetes and cystic fibrosis, and are looking for sponsors to help co-fund the film.

Support the film by donating HERE

“If I can help one person with anything from cancer through to depression … if I can bring awareness to people that are chronically ill, then I’ve done my job.” — Uli Kaplan