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Aug 02, 2016 By Austin Trunick Web Exclusive

One blocked punt cemented Steve Gleason’s place as a hero of the gridiron, but it was his work to raise awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that earned him a much greater legacy.

At the young age of 34, former New Orleans Saints linebacker was the fatal diagnosis of ALS—or Lou Gehrig’s Disease—with a prognosis that he’d live for only two to five more years. Just weeks after receiving that life-altering news, Steve’s and his wife, Michel, discovered they were pregnant. Gleason began as a series of private journals recorded by the athlete to his unborn child but as months passed and his body broke down, Steve became determined to utilize his profile to shed brighter light on a condition that’s many sufferers often find difficulty securing proper medical assistance to facilitate them in their final years. Director Clay Tweel’s character portrait mixes Steve’s journals with standard, documentary-style footage of the family’s day-to-day struggles; it’s crushing to watch—Steve withers rapidly before the viewer’s eyes as the disease robs him of the ability to talk or even control his body. It’s his and Michel’s perseverance that’s inspiring—and their capability to think of others at their own time of greatest need that make them such compelling subjects.

www.gleasonmovie.com

Author rating: 7/10