Gleason (2016)

Gleason: Directed by Clay Tweel. With Steve Gleason, Mike Gleason, Scott Fujita, Mike McKenzie. After he is diagnosed with ALS, former professional football player Steve Gleason begins making a video diary for his unborn son, as he, his wife, and their friends and family work to raise money for ALS patients as his disease progresses.

“Greetings again from the darkness. Heroes come in many shapes and forms. Steve Gleason became a cult hero when he blocked a punt for his New Orleans Saints team in their first home game after Hurricane Katrina. For this, the team erected a life-sized statue outside the Superdome. In his time since that game, he has suffered more than any person should, and he has provided hope and assistance to more unfortunate folks than just about anyone. By now, just about everyone would consider him a hero.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDirector Clay Tweel takes a very direct approach to telling Steveu0026#39;s story. He guides us through the life of the undersized Washington State linebacker who, against all odds, carved out a 9 year career in the NFL; married a remarkable woman who was his equal as a free-spirit; was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrigu0026#39;s disease); learned to live with the debilitating disease; established a foundation to provide assistance to others with ALS.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTweel pulls no punches in showing the progression of the devastating disease, and equally as importantly, in the toll such a disease takes on the loving caregiver after so many years. Gleason retired in 2008, and was diagnosed in 2011. Six weeks later, he and his wife Michel found out she was pregnant with their first child. Staring down the disease and the impending birth of their child, the couple took a 2 month expedition to the Alaska wilderness. This could be interpreted as their way of leaving their u0026quot;old lifeu0026quot; behind, but this couple is so full of life and spirit, that it was in fact, merely a next step.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe diagnosis and the baby announcement motivated Gleason to begin filming video blogs/journals for his unborn child. His stated goal was to u0026quot;share with you who I amu0026quot;, since the odds werenu0026#39;t good that father and son would ever be able to hold a conversation or play catch. Clips of these video entries are shown throughout and capture Gleasonu0026#39;s charm, humor, sincerity and spirit of life.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSon Rivers arrives in October 2011 just as the disease is creating severe challenges for Steveu0026#39;s physical and verbal capacities. We watch as Michel transitions from free-spirited newlywed to full-time care-giver and first time mother. Her coping methods are on display, as are the effects on her energy and outlook over the next few years.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWith the help of friends and family, Team Gleason is created as a foundation to provide assistance to ALS sufferers. The foundation finds its newest mission when Medicare announces that vocal/speech technology will no longer be covered for ALS. u0026quot;No White Flagsu0026quot; becomes the calling card for the foundation, and these activities are blended with Gleasonu0026#39;s medical and family hurdles … including his religious father who drags him to a u0026#39;faith healeru0026#39;.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMoments with Eddie Vedder and Drew Brees, among others, lead us to the global phenomenon known as u0026quot;the ice bucket challengeu0026quot; for ALS and finally the Microsoft Super Bowl commercial featuring Gleason and new speech technology. The film and story are simultaneously gut-wrenching and inspirational, and provide a rare behind-the-scenes look at the emotional and physical impact of disease on both patient and caregiver.”