danny

Danny’s story consists of four episodes. To watch each episode, please click each thumbnail. Make sure you check out the accompanying discussion guide to continue the conversation beyond the videos!

EPISODE 1: OVER AND DOUBT

After a life-changing accident, sixteen-year-old Danny is struggling to take on new physical and mental challenges. His family is well-meaning but awkward, kids at school stare at his scars and prosthetic arm, and his girlfriend thinks they need time apart. He still wakes up with nightmares about the night of the fire, and as he tells Lynn, his occupational therapist, his negative thoughts are making him feel broken and hopeless. He shrugs off her suggestion to talk to a mental health therapist, but Lynn’s validation and support help Danny see that his differences should not define who he is or what he can do with his life.

EPISODE TWO: DANNY MEETS DANNY

Still getting used to his prosthetic arm, Danny’s morning routine leaves him frustrated and irritable. His mom’s over-helpfulness at breakfast adds to his irritation, and when he accidentally breaks a glass, his composure shatters with it. Danny’s negative thoughts take over, causing him to smash up his room until his little brother Angel bursts in and begs him to stop. Later, Lynn suggests that making a safety plan can help Danny cope with his negative thoughts and that sharing his experiences with his peers might be a helpful alternative to keeping his feelings bottled up. Still haunted by that morning’s incident, Danny is eager to try anything to find relief.

EPISODE THREE: DAN MAKES A PLAN

Watching Angel shoot hoops at the park, Danny summons the courage to ignore his negative thoughts and play a game of ‘one on one’ with his brother. After their game, Danny feels normal for the first time in months, but later, on his way to physical therapy, a couple of guys on the street mock his prosthetic arm. Danny quickly spirals into self-loathing and regret, remembering the relationships and activities that will never be the same again. though he is despairing, Danny uses his safety plan to help himself cope, and when he finally arrives at Lynn’s office, he asks her for the name of the therapist she had suggested.

EPISODE FOUR: THE OPENING

Danny feels increasingly comfortable sharing about his experience after his accident on social media, and in a story, recounts the harrowing challenge that his new therapist put him up to: talking honestly with his friends and family. Reconnecting with Angel, his mom, and his best friends, Danny builds a support system to help him cope with the negative thoughts that have haunted his recovery. He still has changes to adjust to, but his relationships help him remember that he’s the same person he was before and that his new “normal” is what he makes it.