From the age of nine, I always seemed to be drawn to helping and fundraising for children less fortunate than myself, it must have come from watching my Mum and following her example. After leaving school this continued first reaching out to Children in Eastern Bloc countries and then sponsoring children in third world countries.
Which leads me to an award nominated documentary from the USA that I recently watched, it was nearly 4 hours long so it was over two nights, it was made by "Independent Lens" and broadcast by PBS titled "Lion in The House" - it dealt with Children and cancer, it followed five children and their families for six years, Justin, Alex, Jen, Tim and Al and the Doctor's and Nurses of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
A LION IN THE HOUSE follows the stories of five exceptional children and their families as they battle pediatric cancer. From the trauma of diagnosis to the physical toll of treatment, this series documents the stresses that can tear a family apart as well as the courage of children facing the possibility of death with honesty, dignity and humor. As the film compresses six years into one narrative, it puts viewers in the shoes of parents, physicians, nurses, siblings, grandparents and social workers who struggle to defeat an indiscriminate and predatory disease.
Very little was not filmed, you share so much pain and sadness and times of joy which are few, but you see strength, the copy of the DVD I watched was one submitted for the "Emmy" awards, but I have ordered now a full copy and just obtained the book which went with this most thought provoking documentary, if you have not seen it please try to, it will not be easy to watch, I shed many tears.
Tim Woods was one of the youngsters I felt so close to as if I knew him (Tim is pictured above with his Mother Marietha) , but I had shared six years of his young life and his Families.
My Thoughts and Prayers are with them all, some are in a much better place now, as one of the father's said, "If I knew that a cure could be found with a million dollars, I would rob a bank, I would Get it"
Children are so close to me, those who suffer today through wars and conflict, starvation and poverty and terminal sickness - "Suffer The Little Children to Come Unto me"
