Film"Gift" A Portrait of a Superstar Stricken with ALS
- かゆかわクリニック院長 粥川裕平
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
National Health Insurance Doctors’ Newspaper, No. 2727
“Ishokuyu”, Vol. 48
July 25, 2016
Steve Gleason, a superstar in the NFL, the highest level of American football, became a hero in 2006 when he led his team to a dramatic victory with a miraculous play in New Orleans, a city devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Five years later, however, he was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Around the same time, his wife was expecting their first child.
What could he leave behind for the child who was about to be born? Gleason began recording a video diary for his future son. At first, he was able to live a relatively normal life, but gradually he lost the ability to walk, then the ability to manage basic bodily functions on his own, and eventually even the ability to speak. Yet the smile of his newborn son became a source of hope. Determined to help others facing the same illness, Gleason founded “Team Gleason,” an organization supporting people with ALS.
June 21 is observed as World ALS Day, and following the screening, Gleason’s wife appeared on stage to speak. Renowned figures such as Stephen Hawking and Lou Gehrig also lived with ALS. Yet this devastating neurodegenerative disease affects not only famous individuals.
One day, a middle-aged truck driver suffered a loss-of-consciousness seizure while driving and was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy. His seizures were successfully controlled with antiepileptic medication. Tragically, two years later he developed ALS. Nevertheless, he succeeded in establishing the Aichi Prefecture Chapter of the ALS Association. Refusing all life-prolonging measures, he eventually passed away. It was a remarkable end to a remarkable life.
The word “gift” means a present in English, but “poison” in German. Blessed with extraordinary talent yet burdened with an incurable disease, Gleason chose to entrust hope to the next generation despite having little time left to live.
This moving film is essential viewing not only for people living with illness or disability, but also for healthcare and welfare professionals who support them.
Yusuke Kayukawa
Aichi Association of Health Insurance Doctors
