(slow piano music)
(phones ringing)
- Hi.
(knocks)
- What do you know
about Craig Shergold?
- He's that English kid
with the brain tumor.
Yeah, he's the one who's
getting all those cards.
I got a chain letter
a couple months ago.
- Something unusual happened
during the operation.
People are saying
it's a miracle.
- Of course they are.
You know, a guy goes to
medical school for 10 years,
spends an obscene amount of
money getting his diploma.
The operation's a success,
they call it a miracle.
- Word is leaking out that
it's a genuine miracle.
The kind where God intervenes.
- Listen, I don't
believe in God.
You know that.
God is just a crutch
for people who
can't manage their own lives.
- Can't manage their own life.
That's why I'm sending you.
I want a skeptic.
- I only do hard news.
- This is hard.
I want you to find
out what happened.
If there's a hole in the
story, I want you to find it.
The family's back in Carshalton.
(slow piano music)
(sweeping orchestral music)
- Mrs. Shergold?
- You must be Josh.
Come on in.
- Craig's a good looking boy.
- Oh, that's Steve, my oldest.
He's almost 20 now.
Oh, there's Steve, his wife,
Sharon, and their baby, Kylie.
- Now this one I know is Craig.
- Yeah.
That's the photo that
got things started.
- [Josh] Mrs. Shergold.
- [Marion] Marion.
- When Craig was little,
did he seem to be healthy?
- Oh yes.
Craig was a bundle of energy.
As soon as he could walk,
he was kicking a football
around the house.
I was working for the
Chelsea Football Club
and Craig wanted to grow
up to play on the team.
He's a fanatic about Chelsea.
- And what was your first
indication that he wasn't well?
(ominous orchestral music)
- I kept having this dream.
Oh.
(melancholy piano music)
- Did you have the same dream?
- Yeah.
- It's just a dream.
- I know.
- [Josh] Mr. Shergold.
- Ernie.
- Ernie.
Ernie, at that time, did
you consider yourself
to be a religious person?
- No.
I mean, we went to
church on Sundays,
but you know, everybody did.
* Hark the herald angels sing
* Glory to the newborn king
* Peace on earth and mercy mild
* God and sinners reconciled
* Joyful all ye nations rise
* Join the triumph of the skies
* With angelic hosts proclaim
* Christ is born in Bethlehem
* Hark the herald angels sing
* Glory to the newborn king
- Hey there, Shorty.
You sounded pretty good.
- You ought to be a singer.
- Nah, I'm gonna be a comic.
- I thought you wanted
to be a football player.
- I do, I'll be a
comic when I'm old.
When I'm 30.
(both laugh)
(whistle blows)
- So you were
Craig's soccer coach?
- We call it football here.
- Right.
Before Craig went
to the hospital,
did you notice anything unusual?
- I did notice he was
running at an angle.
(bells ringing)
- I'm open!
- Craig, run forward!
- [Craig] Pass it over here!
- Forward!
(Craig grunts)
You all right?
- Yeah.
I got tripped by a leprechaun.
(team laughs)
(whistle blows)
- We were very busy
that Christmas.
Steve was studying for
his firefighters exam.
Ernie did a lot of overtime.
I was baking from the
minute I got home from work.
("We Wish You A
Merry Christmas")
- No peeking.
No peeking.
You ready?
Open your eyes.
- Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas, Craig.
- Oh, wow.
This is the best
Christmas I've ever had.
- [Marion] We thought
you'd like it.
(horn honks)
- Smile everybody.
("Hark! The Herald Angels Sing")
Hey, don't you wanna
ride your new bike?
- Maybe later.
I'm so tired.
- He's always tired these days.
- Too many parties.
He'll be fine.
- I kept an eye on him
for the next few days.
- Ow.
Ow.
- Are you all right?
- [Craig] I have water
in my ears and it hurts.
It hurts a lot.
- Oh, let me take a look.
- I do see a slight infection.
I'll give him an antibiotic.
Would you take Craig
into the next room
and see how tall he's grown?
- Come on, hon.
- I know this may seem
a strange question,
but didn't you lose
your mother recently?
- Yes.
- [Doctor] Was
Craig close to her?
- Very.
- Well, it's
possible that this is
Craig's reaction to losing her.
His last two visits, there
was nothing in his ears
and this time the
infection is so slight,
I'm surprised he even felt it.
He may just need
time to recover.
- Craig isn't a whiner.
- It's very hard to lose
someone that you love.
(cars honking)
- [Pharmacist] Hello.
- Hello.
- This is for you?
- No, it's for my son.
- Oh.
(ominous orchestral music)
I don't like what I see.
- What do you mean
you don't like?
- I think you should
take him to hospital.
- Thank you.
We'll go right away.
- Yes.
- I'll give you a
stronger antibiotic.
- He keeps saying there's
water in his ears.
- Well, sometimes an
infection feels like that.
(cars honking)
- [Marion] I've
been to hospital.
- Oh, good, good.
What did they tell you?
- They gave me this.
- No.
No, they didn't see.
Your son belongs in hospital.
(car engine rumbles)
Your son belongs in hospital!
Hospital!
- [Marion] What if he saw
something the doctors missed?
- Two different doctors
in two different places
have both said the same thing.
- The chemist seemed so sure.
- Well, he doesn't have half
the training the doctors have.
- What about my dream?
- Marion, please let's just give
the medicine a
chance to work, okay?
- Ernie, I know something's
wrong, I know it.
- Marion.
You know what the doctor said
about Craig missing your mum?
It's been even harder on you,
especially these last
couple of months.
Just give yourself
a bit of time, eh?
(water running)
- Howdy, partner.
- Feeling better?
- And I'm incredibly hungry.
- Great.
How 'bout some cornflakes?
- Yeah.
- How's your earache?
- Gone.
After breakfast, I'm gonna
go out on my new bike.
- [Marion] That sounds
like a good idea.
- That was good.
(ominous orchestral music)
(retches)
- Oh my god.
Craig?
Craig?
Don't move.
My son needs to see a doctor.
- Do you have an appointment?
- No, but he just vomited
like an expl*si*n.
- Your name please?
- Shergold, Craig.
- [Nurse] I'll
see what I can do.
(phones ringing)
(voices chattering)
- Want to lie down?
Nurse?
Please?
You've got to get him in.
- I'm sure it won't be long.
(Craig retches)
(Craig coughs)
- Sorry.
- That's all right,
I can clean it.
I'll get a doctor right away.
- You're gonna be all right.
You're gonna be fine.
- All right then, Craig.
Let's try it again, all right?
Same thing.
Forefinger to the
nose and back, okay?
(ominous orchestral music)
That's all right.
All right, just one more thing.
- I'm so tired.
- Come on, sweetheart.
Just do the best you can.
- Okay, see this
line on the floor?
I want you to walk
along the line
and place one foot in
front of the other, okay?
- [Marion] Oh.
- That's all right.
I've seen what I wanted to see.
I'm gonna order a brain
scan at St Helens.
- Is that Shergold?
- You came in just
for Craig, didn't you?
- Oh no, no.
- They called you in
from a dinner dance.
- No, not to worry.
We'll take good care of him.
You have to stay here.
- Mummy.
- It's just X-rays,
like the dentist.
I think.
I know what it is.
It's meningitis.
I've been reading
about it in the papers.
Why didn't I see it?
He's got all the symptoms,
headache, sickness, tired.
Why didn't the doctors see it?
Kids and all, they're dying.
- Marion, please let's
wait for the results.
- It's meningitis, isn't it?
- [Doctor] Your doctor
will give you the results.
- Please.
Just tell me if it's meningitis.
- No, it's not meningitis.
(siren blaring)
- So cold.
- I'll get you
some extra blankies
when we get back
to Queen Mary's.
- Why can't we stay
at this hospital?
- I don't know.
We'll just have to do
what the doctors say.
- There's no easy
way of saying this.
The scans have revealed that
your son has a brain tumor.
- That's impossible.
- We see it in the pictures.
Right in here.
It's the size of an orange.
- You're wrong.
You have to be wrong.
(melancholy orchestral music)
- It's all right,
it's all right.
So, what are you gonna do?
- Well, I haven't seen a
tumor quite like this one
and there isn't anyone
here who can read the scans
in major depth, so
we're going to send him
to Great Ormond Street
Hospital to see a neurologist.
- There's one thing
I want to know
and I want to know it straight.
Is Craig going to die?
- That is a possibility.
* Mary had a little lamb
* Little lamb
* Little lamb
* Mary had a little lamb
* Its fleece was white as snow
(voices chattering)
- It's bad, isn't it?
- We'll know more when
they read the scans.
- Why didn't they
read them last night?
- Why didn't they
read them last night?
Well--
- Because that's the way
they do things.
- Hey there, Shorty.
- Hey.
- Brought you something.
(slow piano music)
(family chuckles)
- Look, see?
Yes, it's great.
- How do you feel?
- Tired.
And I have water in my ears.
- Marion, why don't
you freshen up?
Steve and I can take
over for a while.
- Yeah.
- [Janie] Chelsea Football Club?
- Janie.
- [Janie] Marion, how's Craig?
- Craig.
Not so well.
- [Janie] Oh, Marion.
- Could you send him a card?
- [Janie] Yes.
- He'd really like that.
- Of course.
- Miss Shergold.
The doctor will see you now.
- I've got to go.
- Bye.
(mysterious music)
- Ernie, this man is
gonna save Craig's life.
- Love, you know we can't
choose our own doctor.
- I know, but he's the one.
(Ernie knocking)
- Come in.
Oh, good morning.
I'm Dr. Middleton.
- So you were surprised?
- Yeah, very.
I mean, there were a lot
of doctors on that wall.
- And what about the reflection
on the picture, the light?
Did you see anything?
- No.
- Is it possible that
Marion could've known
who the doctor was going to be?
Maybe she overheard something
and this was just
some sort of a joke?
- No.
When the nurse and I
came to get Marion,
she was barely hanging on.
From the time she met the
doctor, she was different.
- You're gonna save
our son's life.
- Well, I'm certainly
going to try.
Please.
I believe Dr. Belling told you
that your son's condition
is very serious.
- [Ernie] It's a brain tumor.
- [Marion] Is it cancer?
- We don't know yet.
The most immediate problem
is the fluid building
up around the tumor.
If it remains unchecked, it
could burst the cavity walls.
- Is that what feels
like water in his ears?
- Yes, it also
causes the earaches.
So, we have to drain this
fluid before we can operate.
This afternoon I'll be inserting
a shunt into Craig's brain.
- And when would you
operate on the tumor?
- Well, if he survives
the next few days
and he gains strength quickly,
we could operate next week.
- And then he'd be cured?
- The tumor is in a
difficult position.
It's in the midbrain.
Now, this area controls a
lot of different functions.
Vision, speech, hearing,
appetite control.
Any or all of these functions
could be affected
by the surgery.
It is possible that
Craig could be paralyzed.
I'm assuming of course
that he survives the
operation at all.
- He will survive because God
will be guiding your hands.
- Mrs. Shergold, it's
good to have faith,
but please, you
must be realistic.
Shunt please.
Thank you.
- [Nurse] No wonder
he had earaches.
- [Dr. Middleton] Mm.
Another 24 hours, he
would have had no chance.
Let's hope this boy is strong.
* Mary had a little lamb
* Little lamb
* Little lamb
* Mary had a little lamb
* Its fleece was white as snow
(melancholy orchestral music)
(melancholy piano music)
- All right now.
I'd like you to grab
hold of my finer please.
That's all right.
Now squeeze.
As hard as you can.
Really hard.
Good.
- The post.
- This keeps up, you'll have
to get your own postman.
- Chelsea.
- Are you a football fan?
- No, cricket actually.
I played for university.
I still play, believe it or not.
(chuckles)
Can I help you, Craig?
- No, I can do it.
- He likes to do
it all by himself.
- They signed it.
Chelsea's the best.
My dad and I see
every home game.
I think I'd better sleep
before I open the next one.
(siren blaring)
- We're going to
have to postpone the
operation, I'm afraid.
- What about the tumor?
I thought you said
it was still growing.
- Yes, it is, but this
is a long operation
and at that point,
Craig couldn't survive.
- There must be
something you can do.
Some medication
you can give him?
- We're doing everything we can,
everything medically possible.
Now the rest has
to come from Craig.
Determination, inspiration.
Whatever you want to call it,
that has to come from him.
(slow piano music)
- I don't know why I went
into the chapel that day.
I'd never been in before,
but as I was praying, I realized
that I had to do
something with the cards.
Okay, hold on tight.
Okay, that's good.
- I want my cards on the wall.
- [Children] Yeah.
Me too.
- Then let's do it.
- I have 83 cards.
- And every one is a
prayer for you to get well.
- Magic.
- Hey, why don't we go
somewhere else to eat?
You haven't had a
decent meal in weeks.
- I have to get back to Craig.
- Love, you can't
go on like this.
You're sleeping in chairs.
You're living off
sandwiches and chips.
You need a proper meal
and a good night's sleep.
- I have to stay with Craig.
- The doctors can take
care of Craig, can't they?
- Like they did my mum?
- Love, your mum had cancer
all through her body.
There was nothing
you could've done.
- There must have
been something.
- There was nothing.
Sometimes there's just
nothing you can do.
- You don't know that
and I don't know that.
Dr. Middleton said that
Craig needs inspiration.
(slow orchestral music)
You should've seen his face
when he looked at those cards.
What if that's the
inspiration he needs?
What if it makes a difference?
Ernie was a saint.
I couldn't have
done it without him.
He was working all day
for London Electric.
Then he'd go home, get the post.
Sometimes he'd even cook dinner
and bring it to the hospital.
- Come on.
- [Marion] Then he'd play
with Craig for a few hours
and give me time to freshen up.
- How can you always win?
- He really was a saint.
* Mary had a little lamb
* Little lamb
* Little lamb
* Mary had a little lamb
* Its fleece was white as snow
(slow orchestral music)
- He's a quiet lamb.
He likes to be cuddled.
- It's mine?
- Anytime you feel like singing,
just cuddle your little lamb.
- My goodness.
Look at all this.
So many cards for
one little boy?
- I have 212.
- Well, it's very impressive.
You must have a lot of friends.
- I do.
I have friends at school,
friends at church,
friends at soccer
and my mum knows everyone at
the Chelsea Football Club.
- Hmm.
You should be in the Guinness
Book of World Records.
- I bet the Guinness
Record's 1,000.
Maybe 2,000.
- Oh, probably.
Good.
Now squeeze as hard as you can.
(grunts)
That's very good.
Now catch.
Very good.
- My mum said all these
cards are prayers.
Do you think that's true?
- Well, I think that
every single person
who sent you a card
wants you very much
to get well, Craig,
and I'll bet there
are a lot of people
praying for you who
didn't send you cards.
- You think?
- Oh yeah, sure of it.
(chuckles)
He's definitely stronger.
I wish we had more
time, but we don't,
so I'll schedule the
operation for Wednesday.
Now anything you can do to
get his spirits up, you know,
give him the will to live,
it could make a difference.
- Okay.
(slow piano music)
- Mummy, I'm scared.
- Everyone's scared
before an operation.
- There's a waiting
area down the hall.
- Mum, Mummy!
- Yeah, I'm right here.
- The waiting area's
down the hall.
- No, I want you
to come with me.
- [Nurse] That's impossible.
- I'd only be in
the way, darling.
Can't have the doctor
tripping over me, can we?
Look, you've got your teddy.
He's all ready to go.
- Dad, can you come in?
- Only doctors are allowed
in the operating theater.
- The doctor's
waiting, we got to go.
- My son will go
when he is ready
and Dr. Middleton would be the
first one to tell you that.
Dr. Middleton is just
through that door.
You like Dr. Middleton
and your dad and I are
gonna be right here.
- Yeah, every minute.
If anyone needs us,
we're right here.
- All right.
- [Marion] I love
you, sweetheart.
- I love you too.
- See you in a bit, eh?
Come on.
Come on, let's get
you in a chair.
I'll get us a cup of tea.
(suspenseful orchestral music)
- Dear God, you brought
me to this doctor.
Now guide his hands.
- [Dr. Middleton]
We're almost there.
- [Nurse] What on earth is that?
- [Dr. Middleton]
It's a teratoma.
- [Nurse] Is it invasive?
- [Dr. Middleton] I see
no plane of separation
between the tumor and the brain.
- [Nurse] Oh.
- [Dr. Middleton]
Suction please.
Let's get this bloody thing out.
(phones ringing)
(siren blaring)
- [Marion] How is he?
- He's alive.
That's the most important thing.
- What does that mean?
Is he blind, paralyzed?
Is he gonna be all right?
- We'll know a
lot more tomorrow.
Tonight is still touch and go.
- Thank you, Doctor.
You must be
absolutely knackered.
- Mm.
Excuse me.
- Listen, I'm gonna go and
stretch out in the waiting room.
When you're tired, wake me up.
- Okay.
- [Ernie] Bye.
- Mrs. Shergold, he won't
wake up till morning.
Why don't you go home
and get some sleep?
- I'll be all right.
- He's gonna need
you when he wakes up.
- I know.
(slow piano music)
Do you know why we
called you Craig?
Because it means strong
and enduring, like a rock
and people do live
up to their names.
Look at your dad.
His name means
honest and sincere.
When I was a little girl,
we only had two rooms.
One for eating and
one for sleeping.
Every Friday night, my dad
would bring the tin bath in
from the laundry room
and we'd all take baths
in front of the
fire and in summer,
he'd bring home a
big chunk of ice
and he'd put it in
the laundry room
and all the families
would cut a piece off
to keep the milk cold.
No matter what happened,
you could always
count on my dad.
Do you remember how excited
you were when Kylie was born?
The minute you saw her,
you loved her so much.
That's the way
your dad and Steve
and I felt when you were born.
We loved you so much.
- And I love you too.
(Marion chuckles)
Oh no, water works.
- Yeah.
Oh, your hand is so cold.
- I had a funny dream.
I dreamed that I
floated out of my body
and I was up in the
air looking down at it.
I could see all the
doctors working.
Then I went through a tunnel.
At the end, it was bright
and Ernie was there.
It was pretty, but I heard you
calling me, so I came back.
Funny dream.
- Yeah.
- Please have a seat.
- It's bad news, isn't it?
- The tumor is very unusual.
A teratoma.
- A teratoma?
- Yes, it's actually
a living thing.
It has hair and nails and teeth.
- Wait a minute.
This thing is inside
my son's brain?
- [Dr. Middleton] Yes.
- How did it get there?
- The tumors are
usually congenital.
We've never seen one
in the brain before.
They usually grow
in the abdomen.
- Then you've made a mistake.
- No, we caught a
very good look at it.
I managed to remove about 75%,
but I was afraid to go deeper.
It's in an area that
controls important functions
and it would've
been too dangerous.
- This is crazy.
Why didn't you tell
us this last night?
- It would've seemed
even crazier last night
and if Craig hadn't
pulled through,
you wouldn't have needed
to know the specifics.
- This thing, will it grow back?
- [Dr. Middleton] Yes.
- Is it cancer?
- Yes.
- So what are you
gonna do about it?
- I've contacted the Royal
Marsden about chemotherapy.
- [Marion] No.
No.
- That's where Marion
lost her mother.
- Oh, I'm sorry.
Well, then you know that
chemotherapy can be very hard
and that Craig
will be very sick.
Quite frankly, it's
such a long shot,
you might prefer not
to put him through it.
(slow orchestral music)
- You mean just let him die?
Doctor, I'm not gonna
let that happen.
I waited for 10 years for Craig
and I'm not giving up now.
(mysterious orchestral music)
- Dr. Middleton, my
understanding is that
teratomas are relatively rare.
- Oh, extremely rare.
- You had never seen
one in the brain before?
- No, none of us had.
- Is it possible that this
wasn't actually a teratoma?
That it was something similar?
- No, textbook teratoma.
All of us saw it.
- Was there a biopsy?
- I thought you'd ask that.
You know, we don't usually
give out information
of this kind, but
Marion asked me
to give you anything you
wanted concerning Craig.
It's a biopsy report.
- Who decided to start
the chemotherapy?
- I did.
Well, I made the suggestion
and the Shergolds agreed.
- How's my boy?
- [Craig] I was sick again.
- Well, we knew that
would happen, didn't we?
We knew you'd be
sick for a few days,
then you'd feel better.
It'll be up and
down for a while.
- Mum?
- Hmm?
- One of the sisters said
that most of the children
in this ward have cancer.
Is that true?
- Yes.
- I hope it's not catching.
I have enough with
this brain tumor.
- No, it's not catching
and sometimes tumors
are called cancer.
- Oh.
All right then.
- [Marion] What was it Steve
used to say for kung fu?
- I am the master?
- Right, and he went from
the bottom of his class
to the top in three months.
I bet it can work
for you, come on.
I am the master.
I am going to win.
- Mum.
- I am the master of my body.
Bad guys, get out.
- I am the master of my body.
Bad guys, get out.
(man chuckles)
- Oh, Mrs. Shergold,
I'm Ryan Philips,
the appeals director
for the Royal Marsden.
- Oh, nice to meet you.
- And you must be Craig.
- [Craig] Mm-hmm.
- I was wondering if I
could get a photograph
of your cards for the
hospital newsletter.
- Yeah.
- Great.
(slow piano music)
Wow.
You do have a lot
of cards, don't you?
Well, all right then, Craig.
On the count of three?
One.
Two.
Three.
(camera clicks)
That was terrific.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
- It's not the Guinness Record,
but it's pretty good, isn't it?
- I'll be right back.
Mr. Philips?
Do you know what the Guinness
Record is for get well cards?
- Actually, I do.
It's 1,000,265.
- A million cards?
That's impossible, we
could never get that many.
- I think you could.
You see, the Marsden's
about to begin
its annual fundraising drive.
Well, now if we were
to combine forces,
cards for Craig,
money for the Marsden,
I think that you could do it.
- But why would you
want to do this?
- Well, because I think it
would be good for the Marsden.
I heard a lot about Craig
and I saw how he lit
up for the camera.
The press will love him.
- You're an angel.
- Well, hold on.
I want to make sure
you know exactly
what you're getting
yourself into.
It's going to mean a
staggering amount of work,
both for you and for Craig.
Public appearances, radio,
television interviews.
- [Marion] Oh, he'll love it.
- Oh, and we'll need
people to count.
A place to count.
- You get the cards coming in.
I'll do the rest.
- You do realize that you
won't have any privacy at all.
Everywhere you and Craig go,
people will know who you are.
- Mr. Philips, you're
not gonna put me off.
My son needs a dream
and this is it.
We're gonna break that record.
- This year we have
a double appeal.
Cards for Craig and
money for the Marsden.
Remember, every card you send
will help Craig
achieve his dream
and every pound, every
penny will help Craig
and thousands of children
like him to get well.
Thank you.
(voices chattering)
- So, you're a Chelsea fan?
- Yep, my mum used to work there
until I got this brain tumor,
but when it's cured,
she'll go back.
- You know, I've known
Bobby Campbell for years.
- Really?
- Ay.
- I've got his autograph.
- Oh, that's great, will
you hold it right there?
(slow orchestral music)
- Do you really
think we can do this?
- I think we can do anything
we set our minds to.
- Good afternoon.
Hello.
(whistles)
Thank you all for coming.
As you know, we're all here
to help Craig break
the Guinness Record.
- Sorry we're late.
I had to study for
my firefighters exam.
- I hate to tell you this,
but you missed so much.
I don't think you'll
ever catch up.
- [Ernie] We were
just getting started.
- Now the boxes are color coded.
Blue for cards, green for
money, yellow for stamps.
Any questions?
Well, all right then.
Let's get started.
(cameras clicking)
- Hey, Reggie.
- Hey.
- Hey, I've got a new one.
- What's that?
- [Craig] Knock knock.
- Who's there?
- Ad hair.
- Ad hair who?
- 'Ad hair once,
but now I'm bald.
(crowd laughs)
- You see him now,
it's hard to believe
that tomorrow he'll
need help sitting up.
- Chemo's tough.
- Thank God he has the cards.
(Ernie grunts)
(cheerful piano music)
(voices chattering)
- This one's from Tom Cruise.
(people laugh and applaud)
- Mum, Mum, I did it.
I passed my firefighters exam.
- Oh, that's fantastic.
I'm so proud of you.
- Did you get it?
Oh, yeah.
- Ladies and gentlemen,
I have an announcement.
We have now opened
500,000 cards.
Craig is halfway there and
there's no end in sight.
(people applaud)
(cheerful piano music)
- [Ernie] Steve!
(ominous orchestral music)
Steve!
(car engine rumbles)
- What a night.
- How could you do that?
- What?
- You know how hard Steve
worked for those exams.
You acted like it was nothing.
- I told him I was proud of him.
- And then you made an
announcement about Craig.
- What?
You think I should've made
an announcement about Steve?
Those people were
there to open cards,
to break the Guinness Record.
They're not interested in Steve.
- Sometimes I wonder if you are.
I wonder if you're
interested in anything
except those bloody cards.
(Marion sighs)
(birds chirping)
- Love, is Craig all right?
- Yeah.
I came to see you.
I know the past few months
have been very hard,
but Craig is a little
boy and he needs me.
If this had happened to
you when you were little,
I would've done
exactly the same thing.
You can't blame me.
- I'm not blaming you, Mum.
I love Craig and
we all love Craig.
I have a toddler now, all right?
A new job.
I was counting on you
now and you can't.
I can understand that.
It's just hard.
It's very very hard.
- It's hard on all of us.
(phone ringing)
Hello?
- [Dr. Middleton]
It's Dr. Middleton.
- He's better, isn't he?
- [Dr. Middleton]
Can you come by?
I'd like to talk to you.
The myelography
shows that the cancer
has traveled to Craig's spine.
- That can't be right.
He's so much better.
He's only sick after the chemo.
- Would you like to see?
There's one definite tumor
and three probable tumors
all in the lower lumbar region.
- So, the chemotherapy's
not working?
- [Dr. Middleton] No,
it hasn't accomplished
what we'd hoped.
- What are you gonna do?
- We can try radiotherapy.
Although, I can't
guarantee any results
and the side effects
are quite severe.
Craig would lose
his coordination.
His speech would slur and
he'd lose his appetite.
He'd have no rest
and recovery periods
the way he does
with chemotherapy.
He'd have radiation
treatment every day.
- So, what's the alternative?
(slow orchestral music)
- You could take him home.
If you could afford it, you
could take him to the seaside.
Make sure his last few months--
- I don't want to hear that.
Now tell me about the radiation
so that I can
explain it to Craig.
- Very well.
- Marion.
Oh, I see you've
heard about Guinness.
- What about Guinness?
- Well, they called
this afternoon.
They won't accept
a new card record.
Apparently the last
people who tried this
had a nervous breakdown.
- Well, I'm not them, am I?
I'm not gonna have
a nervous breakdown.
I'm gonna break
their bloody record.
- Marion, please.
- Well, even if we do,
they won't recognize it.
- Maybe it's for the best.
Craig should be in bed, not
traipsing all over town.
Let me see if I can get
an advance on my salary.
We'll take him down to Little--
(cheerful piano music)
Marion.
Marion.
(voices chattering)
- Guinness has just informed us
that they won't accept
a new card record.
- What, they can't do that.
- They said that if we
continue on like this,
we're all gonna have
nervous breakdown.
They're wrong and I
intend to prove it.
- You tell them, Mum.
- This is a public
book about the public,
responsible to the public
and I am the public.
We are the public.
- Yes.
(voices chattering)
- I will not let them tell
me what I can and cannot do.
I am not giving up
when I'm halfway there.
I'm gonna smash that
record and set a new one.
(people cheer and clap)
Are you with me?
(people cheer)
(people applaud)
(cheerful piano music)
- What do you
think you're doing?
There was no point to this.
Craig can't get the record.
- He needs this.
- What, this circus?
It's not even about
Craig anymore.
It's about you and
did you hear yourself?
I am the public.
I am halfway there.
Do you think that if you
make yourself really busy,
you won't see what's
happening to Craig?
What we are doing to him?
Or do you love the
spotlight so much
that you don't care what
happens to Craig anymore?
You've gotta face the
fact that Craig is dying.
(ominous orchestral music)
And he needs rest,
not publicity.
- He needs a dream.
Dr. Middleton said--
- Dr. Middleton has given up.
- He doesn't know
Craig like I do.
Craig is a fighter.
He can beat this thing, but
not if you put him in a bed
and tell him he's dying.
Craig believes what we tell him
and thousands of people are
telling him to get better.
He knows those cards are
prayers and I know that
they're keeping him alive
while God makes him better.
I'm not gonna let Guinness or
anyone else take that away.
- And how did Ernie feel
about the radiation?
- We both wanted what
was best for Craig.
- And you still believed the
doctors could cure, Craig?
- I believed in Dr. Middleton.
- [Dr. Middleton]
Hold still, Craig.
Now we'll take this off.
- What are you
gonna do with this?
- Well, now we make a
plastic mask from this
and we put little marks on it
to make sure the radiation goes
in exactly the right place.
- It bloody well better
after all this work.
(Dr. Middleton and Marion laugh)
- Mrs. Shergold.
All of us on the
Guinness Committee agree.
It isn't as if Craig
actually did anything.
He only received cards.
- You think that
television interviews
and personal appearances and
hours and hours and hours
of opening cards is nothing?
Well, my son works a
lot harder than you
and he's got a brain tumor.
- The ruling has been made.
- [Marion] But it's wrong.
- With your reasoning, a
politician shouldn't get credit
for votes because he
only receives them.
- Are you telling me that
you won't give my son
credit for this, but if
he went into a car park
and sat on a pole
for three days,
then he could be in your book?
- Yes.
Well, certainly it's a type of
record we'd have to consider.
- Well, Mr. Guinness Record,
you've got your
priorities all wrong.
(slow piano music)
How dare they suggest
my son has done nothing.
You've seen how hard he works
and you know how much money
he's raised for this hospital.
When we break that
record and we will,
Guinness might not print
it, but I hope you will.
- I swear, you'll end up
a member of Parliament.
- Nah, I'm just a mom.
- Ryan, what was it about Craig
that captured the hearts
of so many people?
- Well, he was
outgoing, photogenic.
- But isn't that the
definition of a poster child?
You do these appeals every year.
I'm sure the children
are always cute,
so what was it about
Craig that was different?
- Well, he seemed
almost prescient.
- What do you mean?
- The doctors always
talked about remission,
trying to prolong his life,
but Craig always
talked about a cure.
Well, you got the feeling
it was almost like he'd
already seen the future,
that he was just waiting
for this to play out
until he could get
back to his life
and yet, he's only
eight years old.
- Craig.
These pills are
just to relax you.
- I don't need them.
- Oh, we always use
them for the children.
- He says he doesn't need them.
- The specs mask?
Let's see how this fits.
- I need just a minute.
I am master of my body.
Bad guys, get out.
I'm ready now.
(slow piano music)
- Well, it looks like they made
the right decision
about the radiology.
The tumors on the
spine have cleared.
- Oh, that's wonderful news.
- Steady on, let's
not get too excited.
The tumor on the
brain is unchanged.
- Unchanged means not growing.
(laughs)
(cheerful piano music)
(voices chattering)
- Sean Connery.
(people applaud and cheer)
- It's a get well coconut
from Easter Island.
(people cheer)
- [Photographer] Craig, Craig.
There you go.
- I hope they make it soon.
My deadline's in 30 minutes.
- That's it, one more, Craig.
- That's beautiful.
That's a lovely one.
- Richard Gere.
(people applaud and cheer)
(cheerful piano music)
* He's got the whole
world in his hands
* He's got the whole
wide world in his hands
* He's got the whole
world in his hands
* He's got the whole
world in his hands
(people applaud and cheer)
- Ladies and gentlemen.
(slow orchestral music)
This is the moment
we've been waiting for.
Craig Shergold has smashed
the Guinness Record
of 1,000,265 cards.
(people applaud and cheer)
The new record is
1,016,240 cards
and there's no end in sight.
(people applaud and cheer)
To celebrate this
record-setting moment,
we have a surprise for Craig.
- On behalf of the Guinness
Book of World Records,
(Marion gasps)
I present this certificate
to Craig Shergold.
(people applaud and cheer)
- They called this afternoon.
I wanted it to be a surprise.
- Thank you.
- [All] Craig, Craig,
Craig, Craig, Craig,
Craig, Craig,
Craig, Craig, Craig.
- Thank you.
Thank you everybody.
Everybody who...
(glass shatters)
(suspenseful orchestral music)
- Get the car, get the car.
(voices chattering)
Clear the way.
(tires squealing)
(tires squealing)
(phones ringing)
- There's no easy
way to say this.
- He's not.
- No, no.
But the tumor's
on the move again.
It's just a matter of time.
- How long?
- Two or three weeks.
Possibly four.
- Couldn't you operate again?
- No.
He's far too weak.
But you have to remember
that it's the quality of life
that counts and
you've given great--
- Sod the quality of life.
I want my son alive.
- We've done
everything we can now.
He will seem to get better
when we stop the radiation.
His speech will clear and his
coordination will improve,
but really, it's just
a matter of time.
Why don't you take him home?
- Will he be in pain?
- When the time comes,
we'll give him morphine.
I'm sorry.
I'm really sorry.
(slow piano music)
- I'm never gonna
open these things.
Can't we just throw them away?
How's my boy?
- Better now the
radiation's done.
- See you after work, okay?
- We'll open them when
we have time, right?
- Right.
(mysterious music)
(sweeping orchestral music)
(Marion sobs)
Mum?
- It's okay.
It's from a doctor in America.
He wants to see you.
I knew something would happen.
I knew it.
- Marion, hello.
How's Craig?
- Not so well.
- Oh.
- There's a doctor in
Virginia who wants to see him.
A Dr. Neal Kassell?
- Ah yes, he's a fine doctor.
- I need Craig's
records to take with us.
- Marion, I hate to see you
drag Craig halfway
around the world.
There's nothing
they can do for him
in Virginia that
we can't do here.
Believe me, if anything
could be done, we'd do it.
- They have a new treatment,
something called a Gamma Knife?
- Ah yes, it's a large
cumbersome instrument.
- Dr. Middleton,
I'm not giving up.
I still believe
Craig can be cured.
- Well, another operation
will be very risky, you know.
Very, but if that's
what you want,
if you're sure, then
I'm willing to do it.
- You've done your part.
You already saved his life once.
Now it's time for the Americans.
(slow piano music)
- Lisa.
- [Lisa] Yes, doctor?
- Would you prepare copies of
Craig Shergold's records please?
Mrs. Shergold will be in to
pick them up immediately.
Thank you.
I wish you all the
luck in the world.
Please give my love to Craig.
Oh, and give him that.
- I will.
Thank you.
Ernie?
We're going to America.
- [Ernie] Are you
out of your mind?
We can't afford
to go to America.
- We don't have to
pay for anything.
An American billionaire's
paying for everything.
Look.
- Marion, what have you done?
- I told you God
would find a way.
- Marion.
- This morning you tossed
a letter into the rubbish.
One letter.
When I picked it up,
I saw that light.
The same light I saw on
Dr. Middleton's picture.
- Well, he didn't
cure Craig, did he?
- [Marion] It's from
a doctor in America,
a Dr. Neal Kassell.
- We don't know anything
about this doctor.
- But Dr. Middleton does.
Listen to what happened.
Mr. Kluge, the billionaire, was
reading about Craig's appeal
and he decided to
send him a card.
Then he felt God tap
him on the shoulder
and tell him, "You
should do more."
So, he called his
friend, Dr. Neal Kassell.
- Love, it sounds like
a wild goose chase.
It's not fair to Craig.
- How much proof do you need?
Can't you see that
God is helping us?
(slow orchestral music)
- Dad, Dad.
Is Mum telling you?
We're going to America.
America.
(sweeping orchestral music)
(voices chattering)
(phones ringing)
- Everything's so clean.
- You had a good trip?
- [Ernie] Yes, thanks.
- [Craig] Mum was
scared on the plane.
- Oh?
What about you?
- [Craig] Nah, they're
built to fly, aren't they?
- Indeed they are.
Well, as I told you
on the telephone,
we have a new treatment
for brain tumors.
It's an instrument
called the Gamma Knife.
- What exactly does that do?
- It fires high
energy radiation beams
directly into the brain.
With some tumors, the Gamma
Knife can hit the tumor today
and the patient can
walk out tomorrow
with no need for further
radiation treatments.
- And you think you
can do this for Craig?
- I certainly hope so.
First we'll have to
run a series of tests.
You'll be familiar
with most of them.
Eye-hand coordination
tests, brain scans,
and I need to run an arteriogram
because I wanna find
out if the tumor
is feeding off of
a blood vessel.
If it is, we can cut
off the blood supply,
reduce the size of the tumor
so we can use the Gamma Knife.
- And if it isn't?
- We'll worry about that
when we get the
results of the tests.
Do you have any questions?
- Do you know you're
not wearing socks?
- I never wear socks.
(slow piano music)
Now Craig, I'm gonna want
you to tell me what you see.
- It's gonna be an
E, it's always an E.
- Okay.
- It's an S.
S as in sneaky.
- S as in smart.
Smart enough to know you'd
have the E memorized.
- Well, I got it right
anyway, didn't I?
- Yes, you did.
All right, Craig, we need
you to be very still.
Good boy, how you
doing in there?
- It's bloody cold.
Colder than London.
- At least it's not raining.
- [Craig] Or snowing.
- How far along are you?
- The catheter's
approaching the neck
and I'm about to inject the dye.
- I just hope this thing
is feeding off an artery.
The tumor is not feeding
off of a blood vessel
and it's far too large
to use the Gamma Knife.
It's about five
centimeters in diameter
and the Gamma Knife is
only really effective
for tumors up to
three centimeters.
I wish I'd seen him sooner.
- There must be
something you can do.
You can't just let him die.
- I suppose I could operate.
If we can reduce the
size of the tumor,
then perhaps we'd be able to
use the Gamma Knife later on,
but the risks would be--
- The risks are what?
- Well, I'd say there's
about a 20% chance
that he'd die on
the operating table
and if he didn't die, the
operation could leave him
blind or deaf or in a coma.
- But if it's a success,
then he'd be cured?
- I wish I could
offer you that hope,
but I'm afraid I can't.
Realistically, I think
the most we can give him
is another six to nine months.
- [Marion] Is there
any alternative?
- No.
- Then we have to do it.
- Marion, we can't.
- When would you want to do it?
- Well, if you decide that
you want this procedure,
we should do it immediately,
tomorrow morning,
but I want you to think
about it very carefully.
Read the consent forms.
Think about it.
Talk about it.
Is this a risk you
really want to take?
- Can't do it.
I can't let another
doctor hack into our son.
Look what we've done to him.
His body's full of tubes.
We've let doctors cut into him,
burn his insides with
chemicals and for what?
For nothing.
- This operation can save him.
- That's what you said
about the last one.
Dr. Middleton was
gonna save him.
- And he did.
Craig would've died
without that operation.
- The chemotherapy and the
radiation and the Gamma Knife.
You heard what Dr. Kassell said.
The most he can offer Craig
is nine more months of pain.
- What about the light?
(Ernie sighs)
And the dream?
And Mr. Kluge?
He felt God tap him
on the shoulder.
When I first had that dream,
I knew there was something wrong
and you said it was nothing
and then when Craig
had his earaches,
I knew there was something wrong
and you said, "Listen
to the doctors."
Well, I'm not listening
to the doctors.
I'm listening to me and
I know he can get well.
Please.
(melancholy piano music)
Are you so sure that
God won't save him?
Are you so sure that he
won't even give him a chance?
Craig?
Darling?
Your dad and I need
to talk to you.
We have a very important
decision to make.
- What did the doctor say?
- Right now your tumor's
too big for the Gamma Knife.
If Dr. Kassell operates, he
might be able to cut it down
and use the Gamma Knife later,
but he can't promise anything.
- Doctors never promise.
- The operation
is very dangerous
and there's a possibility
you could die.
- I won't die, I promise.
- [Marion] You could
end up in a coma.
Do you know what that is?
- Yeah, I've seen them on telly.
- If that happened,
would you blame us?
- No, I could never blame you.
I'd blame the cancer.
- Remember the last operation,
how much pain you were in?
Do you wanna go
through all that again?
- No pain, no gain.
- It's up to you, Craig.
Do you want the operation?
- Yeah, I like the doctor.
Is it soon?
- The doctor wants to
do it tomorrow morning.
- Could Dad stay
with me tonight?
Mum, I love you very
much, but you worry.
You'll be touching me all night,
asking me if I'm okay
and I need to sleep.
- Of course, darling.
Sleep tight.
I'll tell Dr. Kassell.
- [Ernie] Okay, hon.
(slow piano music)
(car engine rumbling)
(phones ringing)
(voices chattering)
- Mrs. Shergold, you have
a package from London.
- I'll have Ernie bring it in.
Good morning, darling.
- Had a long talk
with the doctor.
He said he's gonna cut through
the top of my head
instead of the back.
It's more difficult, but it
gives him a better angle.
- I'm sure he'll
do whatever's best.
- The orderlies are
on their way up.
- Already?
Are you scared?
- A little bit,
but I'll be asleep.
I won't know about it.
Don't worry, Mum.
I won't die.
(slow orchestral music)
- Are you ready to go?
Mr. Shergold, I will
need you to sign this.
- [Dr. Kassell] Good morning
everybody, are we ready?
Okay, let's turn on the cameras.
The patient is prepped.
This is Dr. Neal Kassell at
the University of Virginia.
The patient is an
eight-year-old male.
His name is Craig Shergold.
Craig has a malignant
tumor in the pineal region.
He's undergone previous surgery,
chemotherapy, and radiation.
Our goal is to debulk the tumor
so that we can use the Gamma
Knife and prolong his life.
Okay, let's go.
- I can't just wait here.
Let's put up some cards.
- [Dr. Kassell] As we
approach the tumor,
we're seeing a great
deal of scar tissue,
the result of previous
surgery and radiation.
That's interesting.
Hmm, I'm retracting the tissue.
Would you hold it
right there please?
Thank you.
We're seeing something
white, shiny.
About five centimeters
in diameter.
May I please have the
scalpel and the forceps?
Thank you.
- [Nurse] Hmm, doesn't cut.
- [Dr. Kassell] Look at
the plane of separation.
Hmm.
Looks like we're gonna
have to chip it away.
(phones ringing)
- So many people
are praying for him.
God has to listen.
- [Nurse] We've got enough.
- [Dr. Kassell] I can get more.
- [Nurse] It's too dangerous.
- [Dr. Kassell] Retract
the tissue please.
A little further.
Thank you.
And further.
- [Nurse] It all tore.
- [Dr. Kassell] Suction.
We have to find the
site of hemorrhage.
- [Nurse] Losing a lot of blood.
- [Dr. Kassell] If
I pull the artery,
(machine beeping)
we're not gonna lose him.
- Follow me please.
- How is he?
- I don't know.
(ominous orchestral music)
- He's alive.
(slow piano music)
It's warm.
- They're both warm.
- Craig?
Can you hear me?
Sweetheart, can you
squeeze my hand?
- I told you I wouldn't die.
- I need a promise.
No matter how good he feels
for the next six months,
keep him off the football field.
- Are you saying he's cured?
- Yes.
- Oh, thank you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
- We chipped away
over 90% of the tumor
and I don't believe the
rest will be a problem.
- It's not malignant?
- No.
We suspected that when we
discovered it was made of
a pearl-like substance and
the biopsy confirmed it.
- I'm sorry, I don't understand.
How can a teratoma
become a pearl?
- That is a very good question.
I can't tell you why
we found what we found,
but I can tell you that Craig
is an exceptional patient.
I knew that the day I met him.
- [Nurse] Doctor?
- [Dr. Kassell] Yes?
- Something strange happened
with the videotapes.
At the moment of
the first incision
about three minutes into the
tapes, they all go black.
- [Dr. Kassell]
That's not possible.
They're all on
separate circuits.
- We checked them twice.
- Would you excuse me please?
(slow orchestral music)
- I'm so proud of you.
- I'm gonna think
about football now.
- Okay.
How could it become a pearl?
And what's happened
to the tapes?
And how can they all go blank
if they're on separate circuits?
- Ernie, when God performs a
miracle, you don't ask how.
You just give thanks.
- Come here.
(people applauding)
- [Reporter] Craig, what
are you going to do now?
- I'm gonna grow my hair back.
(people laugh)
- [Reggie] What do you
think of Dr. Kassell?
- Reggie, what are
you doing here?
- God, would you believe me
if I ran out of
knock knock jokes?
- Assume you can't come
with us to the airport.
- Ah, not to worry.
We're on the same flight.
Go on or we're gonna
miss the plane.
- Bye.
- I'm gonna enjoy
watching that boy grow up.
(gentle music)
- They're right behind me.
(car engine rumbling)
(people applaud and cheer)
- Don't need chair at all.
- Doctor said take it
easy and you're sick.
Thanks so much.
(voices chattering)
(cameras clicking)
- [Reporter] Mr.
Shergold, do you believe
God saved your son?
- Yes, I do.
- [Reporter] Mrs. Shergold,
why do you think God saved him?
- I believe that God
wanted to show the world
that if we all work together,
we can still create miracles.
(voices chattering)
- So, Craig, what do you
think about all this?
- Well, it all happened
the way it was supposed to.
Didn't it?
- Did it?
- I think it did.
- Well, thank you so much.
I've got my story and I
know what I'm gonna call it.
Miracle in Virginia.
- Oh, you missed the point.
It wasn't Virginia.
It was the entire world.
(sweeping orchestral music)
(slow piano music)
Miracle of the Cards, The (2001)
Moderator: Maskath3
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