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The Kellermans are the perfect American family: they’re business
owners, proud parents, and they have a strong marriage. But life
is about to turn less than ideal for Rob and Courtney and their
son, Sam.
While working on pieces of their custom furniture and skipping
stones with his son, Rob begins to notice a loss of strength in
his hand. He can’t get a solid grip without his hand quivering.
At first he thinks it’s nothing, but when the symptoms persist, he
and Courtney decide to consult a specialist. It seems that their
fears are not unfounded; Rob has ALS, more commonly known as Lou
Gehrig’s Disease.
As Rob and Courtney struggle to adjust to the changes in their
life, Monica, who was hired to set up their computers, takes a
more active role in their life. She helps out where she can, and
tries to get them used to the fact that Rob won’t be around for
ever. She encourages him to cherish the time he has left and to
involve himself in his son’s life while he still can. Rob though
not thrilled, tries his best to carry on, but there is yet more
tragedy to come for the Kellerman family.
Later on, with Rob’s conditioning deteriorating, the couple talk
to their doctor, Andrew, about ways for Rob to communicate when he
can no longer speak. This really hits home for Rob, and on the
car ride back to the house, he and Courtney despair for the
future. It is during this drive, that another car runs a red
light and plows into them. Rob wakes up in the hospital, but
Courtney died on the operating table.
Now Rob is given the responsibility of a single parent, when he is
unable to take care of himself. During the funeral, Rob plans to
kill himself. He intends to overdose on his medication. He
thinks he’s no good to anyone, especially Sam, and no one will
stop him from lightening the burden of the only family he has
left.
Except that Sam isn’t his only family. Rob has a brother, Pepper,
a trucker, who was also in love with Courtney and left when she
got married. They haven’t spoken since that day, and Rob has
written him off, all but disowning him. But he is on his way
now. Gloria told him what has happened, and what Rob intends to
do, and Pepper is going to do his best to save his brother. When
he does arrive, Rob locks himself into his room, and tries to
carry out his plans, but Pepper is persistent, and with the help
of Monica, he gets through to his brother. They make Rob realize
that with Pepper’s help, there is still time for Rob to see his
son grow, that he isn’t a burden, but a valued member of the
family: a father, a brother, and a child of God.
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