February 5 - A Child's Wish

Today’s movie is a drama with a scene that happens today – February 5. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

A CHILD’S WISH                   

Missy Chandler is a popular soccer playing high-school student. Then she starts having pain in her left knee.  This turns out to be caused by cancer. The doctors have to amputate her leg. Missy’s mom quits her job to take care of Missy, while her auto salesman father says he can earn enough to support the family. Missy goes through rehabilitation and learns to walk with her new prosthetic leg. Her life seems to return to normal including going to school dances. Then she undergoes chemotherapy, while her father has a stress attack as a result of worry and overwork. He gets fired from his job. Missy starts to blame herself. Ed Chandler is asked to testify before a Congressional committee. They are about to be foreclosed on, but Missy’s older sister and her husband move in and help with the bills. Then Missy starts coughing up blood and tumors are found in her lungs. Ed Chandler finally is able to get a job selling used cars. On February 5, 1993[1:18:09 – 1:21:41] President Clinton signs the Family and Medical Leave Act into law. Missy’s sister has her baby the same day. Missy has surgery to remove the tumors in her lungs, but the doctors find even find more tumors than they thought were present in her lungs. When the Make-a-Wish Foundation visits her, Missy asks to go to Washington, D.C. and meet the President. Missy and her family take the trip to Washington. They tour the city and see all the monuments and historical buildings. The Foundation surprises Missy by taking her to the Oval Office, where she meets President Clinton.    

A touching film. This movie manages to keep from getting either too depressing or maudlin. Ritter is very good as the father.

American Decades 1990-1999 ed by Tandy McConnell (Gale Group, Farmington

Hills, MI, 2001) at page 285 gives the date this bill was signed into law.

Producers – Michelle MacLaren and Susan Nanus

Director - Waris Hussein

Screenplay - Susan Nanus

Runtime – 1 hour 36 minutes

Released - January 21, 1997

Starring - John Ritter as Ed Chandler

                Tess Harper as Joanna Chandler

                Anna Chlumsky as Missy Chandler

                Sarah Chalke as Melinda

                Karl David-Djerf as Scott

                Kevin McNulty as Robbie

                Bill Clinton as himself

                David Lewis as Rick

                Janine Cox as Karen