Bates Motel

Bates Motel is a contemporary prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s famous 1960 film, Psycho – famously portrayed by Anthony Perkins, the cult psychological horror movie depicted the life of hotelier Norman Bates, whose psychotic behaviour threatens the wellbeing of those who stay at the motel. Produced by Universal Television, the 2017 series of the same name depicts events prior to those occurring in Psycho. It takes viewers back to Norman’s youth and his troubled relationship with his mother, Norma, who purchases a motel in the fictional town of White Pine Bay, Oregon, after her husband’s death. However, Norman (played by Freddie Highmore) soon begins to display signs of the personality issues that formed the basis of the plot in the original Psycho. As he becomes increasingly dangerous, Norma (played by Vera Farmiga) battles to protect her son and those around him from his erratic behaviour. Screened from March 2013 to April 2017, the Netflix hit spanned five series. Despite it being a prequel to the 1960 film (when Norman was an adult), the timeline was altered so that the action surrounding young Norman was set in the modern day. The series was enjoyed by fans and critics alike, with Farmiga receiving the Saturn Award for Best Television Actress and a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award. Highmore won the People’s Choice Award for Favourite Cable TV Actor, while Farmiga won Favourite Cable TV Actress. Bates Motel also won the People’s Choice Award for Favourite Cable TV Drama. Among the main cast members was the character Emma Decody, who was Norman’s classmate at high school. Emma has cystic fibrosis and the series provides an accurate portrayal of how it affects her life. The writer of Bates Motel, Bill Balas, has cystic fibrosis in real life, so he is well qualified to write about the condition. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that a child inherits from both parents. A faulty gene affecting the movement of water and salt in and out of cells, combined with recurring infections, can result in the build-up of thick mucus in the body’s passageways and tubes. It can cause breathing and digestion problems and over time, the lungs may eventually stop working properly as they become increasingly damaged- Cleveland-born screenwriter Balas was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis as a child and had a successful double lung transplant. The Bates Motel character, Emma, (played by Olivia Cooke) is an intelligent, pretty girl who develops feelings for Norman at school after she helps him when he is sick. Despite having to have an oxygen tank with her wherever she is, she doesn’t let her condition hold her back. However, she suffers a medical problem in one episode, when she goes on a day out with Norman and two other friends, Gunner and Cody. The four of them go swimming and Emma decides to throw caution to the wind and swing into the water on a rope, like her friends. This means disconnecting her oxygen tank and she almost drowns. Norman saves her life and shouts at Cody, whom he believes has persuaded Emma that swimming without her oxygen is a good idea. Cody apologises to Emma and the situation calms down. Norman’s caring half-brother, Dylan Massett, earns enough money to pay for Emma to have a lung transplant. When a donor is found, Emma has an 11th hour panic and runs off before surgery, saying she doesn’t want to be “poked and prodded”. Luckily, Dylan finds her and calms her down. People who have cystic fibrosis with significant airflow limitation may experience impaired daytime function as a result of nocturnal hypoxaemia – a lack of oxygen in the blood – and the accompanying sleep disruption. When they have suffered sleep loss, they may also have impaired neurocognitive performance and feelings of daytime fatigue. Kinderkey specialises in safe sleep solutions that are suitable for people who have cystic fibrosis. We cover the whole of the UK and are available to carry out free demonstrations of our products – we can also assist with assessments! Please contact us today for further information.

For more information on Bates Motel talk to Kinderkey Healthcare Ltd