Terrific TV: "A Lion in the House"

Yes, I know, watching five kids battle cancer doesn’t sound like much fun. But give “A Lion in the House” (9-11 p.m. today and Thursday, Ch. 48, 16) a few minutes, and you’ll fall in love with the Cincinnati-area kids in this extraordinary film shot here since 1997.
Filmmakers Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar from Yellow Springs have injected a lot of heart and humor into their chronicle of how cancer impacts families. They were granted 24/7 access by the families and hospital, so all of the good and bad about a long-term serious illness is in the film – the highs and the lows, the celebrations and homecomings as well as the surgeries and hospital loneliness. It isn’t the easiest thing to watch, but everyone will find it educational. The themes are universal for anyone with a family member facing serious medical issues – the uncertainties about experimental treatments, questions about how far to push for a cure, and how to handle end-of-life decisions.
“A Lion in the House” is terrific television. It’s not easy to watch, granted, but it’s worth your time. The film can help you be more sensitive to the needs of those battling cancer, and prepare you for facing a long-term illness in your family sometime in the future.

Note to Steve
Will someone tell Reds announcer Steve Stewart how to spell Nuxhall? In his blog at www.reds.com, he writes about playing in the Joe Nuxall scholarship fund golf tournament last week.