Finally, Something Worth Watching

“I believe my future will be far greater than my past.” – Steve Gleason

This past Saturday I watched a documentary called GLEASON, which chronicles the story of Steve Gleason, a former NFL player and his battle with ALS.

Prior to watching, I was very familiar with Steve Gleason’s story, but was not prepared for how much this documentary affected me in ways I had not anticipated.

It was very tough to watch.

My “allergies” acted up several times throughout, causing me to blink away the tears so as not to miss anything. Sure, it’s difficult to see the body of someone who used to be so strong, waste away to nothing more than skin and bones. But what I found even more heartrending, was watching how each of the various relationships in Steve’s life – father, son, wife – were affected in different ways.

This is not meant to be a movie review and I don’t want to reveal any spoilers, but will say there are several scenes that smack you in the face even though they are disguised as subtle ways to bridge plot points together. Some viewers might unintentionally gloss over these not being able to appreciate the excruciating amount of emotion that occupies each frame of film.

One particular stretch that affected me the most, culminates with Steve and his wife lying in separate beds while having a conversation (Steve through his computer). For me, it was extremely moving and poignant, very reminiscent of what I went through shortly after my injury.

What makes this documentary difficult to watch is the fact that ALS is horrible. Unlike a spinal cord injury, where the possibility exists that one could wake up and find themselves in a slightly better position than the previous day, that’s simply just not the case with ALS. Every tomorrow will never be better than today.

And it’s that realization that takes its toll on the relationships in Steve’s life.

Steve says, “I believe my future will be far greater than my past.“ Easy to say, hard to comprehend. Yet, in some ways, Steve Gleason is right. And the way he chooses to live his life, give back to others, and maintain a fighting spirit is why this documentary should not be missed.

Another aspect that should not be overlooked is Steve’s courageous decision to allow the cameras to capture such a raw, intimate and honest reality of how his life and body progressed while living with ALS. I think it would be very difficult for most to rise above the fear of letting others glimpse the true reality of living with such a debilitating disease.

One final note: Steve Gleason named his child the same name that I always said I would name my son. It was pretty cool to watch Steve describe the meaning behind why he chose the name.

Now go watch this movie!

Stand Strong!

Scott