ABC SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIE: ... FIRST DO NO HARM (TV)
Summary
This made-for-television movie, inspired by actual events, tells the story of a family torn apart when their youngest son suffers from severe epilepsy. Dave and Lori Reimuller live in a small town outside Kansas City with their three children, Lynne, Mark, and Robbie. Their lives change one day when Robbie's teacher calls Lori to tell her that her son has taken a fall at school. At first they think nothing of it, but when Robbie collapses in a full seizure later that day, they take him to the hospital. After a series of tests, the doctors diagnose Robbie as epileptic and begin treating him with epilepsy medications. Unfortunately the medications cause horrible side effects in Robbie that make it impossible for the Reimullers to live a normal life. Because of the taboo associated with epilepsy, Lori initially tries to keep her son's condition secret. The compounded problems put a strain on their family relationships: Robbie is not improving with the treatment, but is experiencing an alarming number of seizures, along with other debilitating conditions caused by the medications; and Dave learns that his insurance will not cover Robbie's hospitalization, so the Reimullers also face financial hardships. Meanwhile, Robbie's condition deteriorates and their doctor suggests a surgical procedure to locate the source of the epilepsy. However, Lori is adamant that Robbie not undergo surgery, and, researching epilepsy on her own, learns of the alternative kenogenic diet treatment, which no doctor has ever discussed with her, but which has had impressive results. With the support of friends and one dedicated nurse, Lori takes Robbie to the Johns Hopkins Hospital, where breakthroughs are being made with the kenogenic diet. Robbie is taken off the medications and put on a strict diet, with almost immediate results. The program concludes with a postscript that explains Robbie's recovery, and that introduces three cast members, Lorraine Brockway, Mark Taylor, and Charlie Abrahams, who have conquered their epilepsy with the kenogenic diet, and one cast member, Millicent Kelly, an actual kenogenic diet consultant. Includes commercials, promos, and public service announcements. Includes a commercial with Cindy Crawford for Cadillac.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: February 16, 1997 Sunday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:54:55
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:47573
- GENRE: Drama; Docudrama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Docudrama; Drama; Epilepsy - Drama
- SERIES RUN: ABC, TV - 1997
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - 409 household cleaner
- TV - Commercials - Alpha Hydrox facial creme
- TV - Commercials - Burger King restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Burlington Coat Factory
- TV - Commercials - Cadillac automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Clairol Hydrience hair color
- TV - Commercials - Colgate toothpaste
- TV - Commercials - Ethan Allen furniture
- TV - Commercials - Finesse hair care products
- TV - Commercials - GMC automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Garnier hair color
- TV - Commercials - Jello pudding
- TV - Commercials - Keebler cookies
- TV - Commercials - Kenmore appliances
- TV - Commercials - Lady Speed Stick antiperspirant
- TV - Commercials - Little CaesarÕs Pizza
- TV - Commercials - LÕOreal Revitalift facial creme
- TV - Commercials - LÕOreal cosmetics
- TV - Commercials - McDonaldÕs restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Microsoft computer software
- TV - Commercials - Minute Maid orange juice
- TV - Commercials - Pepsi beverages
- TV - Commercials - Post cereals
- TV - Commercials - Red Lobster restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Sprint communications
- TV - Commercials - Sunbeam appliances
- TV - Commercials - Target stores
- TV - Commercials - Transitions lenses
- TV - Commercials - Vagisil feminine moisturizer
- TV - Commercials - WendyÕs restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Wish Bone salad dressing
- TV - Commercials - ÒMarvinÕs RoomÓ (feature film)
- TV - Commercials - ÒStar Wars TrilogyÓ (feature film) and Taco Bell restaurants
- TV - PSA - 1(800) P.L.A.Y. volunteer service
- TV - PSA - ABC WATCH parental guidelines
- TV - PSA - American Egg Board
- TV - PSA - American Red Cross
- TV - Promos - ÒArsenioÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒCoachÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒEllenÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒGood Morning AmericaÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒGrace Under FireÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒGrace Under FireÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒHappy Birthday Elizabeth: A Celebration of LifeÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒHey, Hey, ItÕs the MonkeesÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒHome ImprovementÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒNYPD BlueÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒRoseanneÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒSpin CityÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒThe 11th Annual American Comedy AwardsÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒThe Body GuardÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒThe Drew Carey ShowÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒThe PracticeÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒThe WorldÕs Deadliest VolcanoesÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒUnforgivenÓ
- TV - Promos - ÒVolcano: Fire on the MountainÓ
CREDITS
- Michael Jaffe … Executive Producer
- Howard Braunstein … Executive Producer
- Meryl Streep … Executive Producer
- Jim Abrahams … Executive Producer, Director
- Alda Neves … Co-Producer
- Ann Beckett … Writer
- Hummie Mann … Music by
- Meryl Streep … Cast, Lori Reimuller
- Fred Ward … Cast, Dave Reimuller
- Seth Adkins … Cast, Robbie Reimuller
- Margo Marindale … Cast, Marjean
- Allison Janney … Cast, Dr. Abbasac
- Oni Faida Lampley … Cast, Marisha Warren
- Leo Burmester … Cast, Bob Perdue
- Tom Butler … Cast, Jim Peterson
- Mairon Bennett … Cast, Lynne Reimuller
- Michael Yarmush … Cast, Mark Reimuller
- Sean McCann … Cast, Dr. Foreman
- Philip Williams … Cast, Wally Terjian
- Philip Akin … Cast, Dr. Neves
- Damir Andrei … Cast, Dr. Brown
- Marcia Bennett … Cast, Dr. Miller
- Millicente Kelly … Cast, the Ketogenic Dietician
- Charlie Abrahams … Cast, the Playroom Playmate
- Diana Belshaw … Cast, the Business Rep.
- Lorraine Brockway … Cast, Lili's Grandmother
- Tannis Burnett … Cast, the Grocery Checker
- Dick Callahan … Cast, Gene Falconetti
- Hugo Dann … Cast, the Priest
- Douglas Foster … Cast, the Orderly
- Lynne Griffin … Cast, the Clinic Receptionist
- Ann Holloway … Cast, Helen
- Kelly Knutsen … Cast, the Security Guard
- Darlene Mignacco … Cast, Nurse Trish
- Marianne Mornoney … Cast, the Playroom Mom
- Jennifer Podemski … Cast, the Angelman Nurse
- Jeff Poulis … Cast, the Nurse
- Jennifer Roblin … Cast, the Young M.D.
- Robert Seale … Cast, Dr. Anson
- Barbara Stewart … Cast, the Librarian
- Austin Stragnell … Cast, the Classmate
- Mark Taylor … Cast, the Spinal Tap Physician
- Ingrid Veninger … Cast, the Young Teacher
- Lorna Wilson … Cast, Mother Superior
- Timm Zemanek … Cast, the Loan Rep.