A Lion in the House

When I was a child I spent years with my grandfather while he tried to battle cancer. I then spent a summer with him at 9yrs old while he lost the battle and my mother, his daughter, took on the role of his hospice nurse. I can only imagine what these parents went through, and the many parents who are currently going through it. This isn't just about the kids, but their whole family.

Some of these reviews are atroc, especially the ones judging the parents. Imagine judging people who are trying to do their best while living their worst nightmare. This documentary spans years, and they call it amateur. So what if it is! It's honest. In a world full of instant gratification this documentary was instead a long journey, as it should be. Most people who give terrible reviews no jack all about filmmaking.

This was honest, and beautiful, and heart wrenching and ugly. Ignore the 3 or less ratings, and take a chance on this.

It invite us to visit the universo of childhood cancer with proposal to make us debate. A sensitive work.

Julia Reichert and Steven Bognar do an impeccable job of capturing five families whose children must fight cancer to survive and live. Justin has been fighting leukemia for ten years. His family like the others would travel anywhere to get him treatment. Alex is a lovely seven year old girl who is also fighting leukemia with her parents and sister. The directors had plenty of access to the families and the medical staff at Cincinnati Children's Hospital in Ohio. The film directors spent year filming and editing this documentary. The cameras aren't intrusive but shows the pain and anguish of the families. There are some light hearted moments like Justin's mother and stepmother getting along beautifully. Her husband joked that his ex wife and wife could be lovers. Next on Jerry Springer, it's nice to see them get along so well.

I watched it in two sittings since it was released on Netflix. A heart breaking documentary that goes though rollercoaster of emotions. You naively hope for the "happy endings" but life is not a Disney story. Prepare tissues.

As a young father of 2 (both under 4) and also a cancer survivor who is 3 years + into remission...I think this film must be seen by as many people as possible.

For those of you who have been introduced to cancer either by fighting it yourself or having a loved one (family member or friend) deal with the reality of "life" that this disease bestows upon us...or are a parent of a young child...watching this film will be hard and tears will flow...but hopefully after watching it you will come away with a renewed sense of love for those in your life and will quietly remind yourself what I hope you already know.

If you have not been introduced to cancer or have not had the pleasure of being a parent...then be prepared to for a heart wrenching emotional journey that at its conclusion will hopefully have your heart and mind opened to their fullest extent...while most importantly giving you a reason to comprehend and bring forth into your own lives what those of us who have been touched by cancer or are parents of young children should already know...what the important things in life really are!