This was a great documentary i was flipping around in the "on demand doc." section and i found it checked it out and fell in love with most of the characters . One thing that bothered me though is that they ended with Anthony's birthday then just finished it(i know Susan didn't let them film any longer) also they went through part of it not saying anything then suddenly Susan's face appears on the screen and tells what happened (we could have figured that out on our own thank you) i cried lots but a great film !!!!:) also i would advise any one who is either emotional or cant watch medical shows (due to weak stomach) not to watch this film!!

Effective documentary about a marginalized woman (Susan Tom) who is raising some of the most unfortunate but extraordinary children you will ever encounter. Some are severely burnt (Faith). One has cystic fibrosis (Joe), and a bunch of complex personal problems. Several are limbless. The list goes on. The children are a handful, but Susan's unlimited reserve of strength and compassion is what has given these children meaningful lives.Susan isn't always depicted beneath her saintly halo. In one scene, she, like any human being, loses her patience with her birth daughter and comes across as harsh. In others, she fights exhaustion. The film is about Susan, but it is also about her charges and their own personal struggles to simply survive. Some of the episodes we're shown are pretty heartbreaking and one boy's struggle to live (Anthony) is so horrible you can only marvel at his tenacity.The film has a no-nonsense tone and never becomes too tabloid or too much of a freak show (which would have been highly inappropriate under the circumstances). Director Jonathan Karsh sprinkles a little visual poetry on the pictures and employs an occasional voice-over.Strong stuff. And fascinating.

Anthony lost his battle to cancer. He died last week. The family is very sad, but Anthony was so very, very sick. He is in a better place now and not in so much pain.The film really does show Anthony's true self. He was a sweet, loving kid who never complained. He had a wicked sense of humor and was stoic about his disease. There will be a memorial service in Fairfield sometime in January. Susan and the rest of the kids are doing as well as can be expected. Everyone is just so very sad.As far as the film, I would recommend it to almost anyone, though I think it would be too upsetting for some children. And Susan has lost so much weight since the film was made. Too bad people can't see how great she looks now, and how much more energy she has.

This incredible documentary brought me back to reality. I just happened to be browsing channels on Mother's Day when I caught a glimpse of Anthony. I called in my daughter, with whom I sat and watched it to the end. Sadly, it didn't go into all the details about all the children, but, it still shows that there are truly noble people, who are willing to help. There are an extraordinary number of persons who have been dealt a bad hand in their lives, unfortunately, many of them are children and hopefully they will come across someone like Susan. Where would these children be if there weren't women like Susan Tom in this world. This woman is a saint. Those of us who have healthy children tend to forget that others are not as fortunate. I truly look forward to seeing this documentary come out in DVD, and hopefully soon.