In 1997 Meryl Streep starred in an inspirational movie titled "First Do No Harm". She portrays a mother who goes to extraordinary lengths to help find a cure for her epileptiic son.



I had heard of the movie but had never watched it until now. OMG This is a powerful movie! If you haven't seen rent it, if you have, watch it again and then suggest it to all your friends. Even though this is a dramatization, it it based on a true story. The end credits are surprizing as several of the extras are former child patients of the ketogenic diet who to this day remain seizure and AED free.

This plays every few months on cable. I think it was just on again about a week or so ago.

Maybe one day they will remake this movie, but instead of the ketogenic diet, they will feature EEG neurofeedback.... :excl:

Since I seldom watch TV I never got cable. Wasn't it was a made for TV movie? It came out in 97 I didn't have my gm until 2001, so epilepsy hadn't really effected my life. Sure wish I had seen this back in 2001-2002.

A remake that shows multi treatment options and maybe several different family senerios would be great. Meryl Streep is just an awesome actress.

Never seen it, it's a rainy day.. I'm going to go find it. :)

I cry through the entire movie every time I watch it. It's like watching our life all over again except it's a different family. This is a movie about a REAL family and their miracle following the John Hopkins protocol of the ketogenic diet. There are THOUSANDS of ketogenic diet miracles walking around today totally seizure free and medication free and will remain that way for the rest of their life all because of the ketogenic diet.

I think I'll try Amazon.com for it.


Labrat :im_033: ; bee ;

It's on the way. Thanks for mentioning it. With my not having epilepsy or autism, I'm eager to find out all I can about them.

Labrat :im_033: ; bee ;

I have Netflex so there's no problem getting it there.

Got it coming from Netflix too. Will use the other one as a gift. Thanks!!


Labrat :im_033: ; bee ;

My daughter watched it last night too and was filled with questions. She couldn't handle my being diagnosed with E and choose to live in denial. Today, the questions.

What is a double-blind study?
Do doctors really dope people up like that?
Do doctors really get upset when you do your own research?
Why did the medicine make that child loose his alphabet?

Epilepsy and depression are so different, yet so much a like in side effects and things caused by medications.


Labrat :im_033: ; bee ;

Before you watch the movie, make sure you have a box of Puffs Plus (kleenex) because you will need them. Let us know what you think about the movie too.

My son came in one of the times while I was watching it, during the time the mother was.... well, I won't give away the movie for those who haven't seen it, but his question was, "Can they really threaten to take away your kid just because you're trying to get a treatment they don't agree with?"

The answer is, sadly, a resounding yes.

I finally got the movie , two weeks ago, and haven't had time to watch it! Maybe this weekend.



Labrat :im_033: ; bee ;

'Bout damn time! Now don't forget the tissues! :Tantrum:

This movie was made by Jim Abrahams, the guy who started the Charlie Foundation (to promote the ketogenic diet).

Finanally saw the movie. Glad I had my kleenex. It was eye
opening into epilepsy. Glad I watched it.


Labrat :im_033: ; bee ;

Bernard is correct. Jim's son, Charlie had a severe seizure disorder and had uncontrolled seizures since he was a baby. He and his wife went to numberous Neuro's around the country and even had brain surgery trying to control the seizures but nothing worked. After doing lots of research he came across the ketogenic diet being done at John Hopkins and after reading about their results he contacted them and Charlie was started on the ketogenic diet at John Hopkins shortly after that. Charlie did so well that Jim wanted the world to know about the diet. He knew other parents would be interested too so he started the Charlie Foundation to get the word out. He also contacted his local newspaper and had them do a story about Charlie and the diet. From that point on the diet has traveled the world and childrens clinics and hospitals all over the United States wanted to be trained how to follow their protocol of the diet so John Hopkins started training "keto centers" (Neuro's and dietician's willing to try the diet following the John Hopkins protocol of the diet). There are now hundreds of centers around the world prescribing the ketogenic diet and following their protocol of the diet thanks to Jim and John Hopkins. There are THOUSANDS of people all over the world that are both totally seizure free and medication free- yes CURED!- of their seizures thanks to the ketogenic diet following the John Hopkins protocol of the diet.
The movie is a real life story another keto kid and every one of the actors and actresses in the movie -besides Meryl- were on the diet and are both totally seizure free and medication free. Dr. John Freeman, a Neuro at John Hopkins and Mrs. Millicent Kelly, a dietician at John Hopkins both prescribed and who perfected the diet for over 50 years are in the movie playing themselves too.
It really is a great movie but you really do need a box Puffs Plus when you watch it because you can't help but cry. It's a sad but happy movie if that makes sense.

It makes good sense to me!

Tamara :im_033: ; bee ;

<_< I have decided to purchase 2 of these movies. One, since I am pro low carb,I fell that it should be in my low carb library and. The second one will go to the Dystonia Foundation. I would like for them to consider dietary means in treating
dystonia patients and hopefully do some in depth work on the subject.

Would this be considered a ketogenic meal. 3 eggs, 4 strips of bacon and 1/2 sliced avocado? This is what I had for breakfast today. :D

I want to post my daughter's wedding pics. I don't know how to do it. However, I can email them in hopes that one of y'all can post them. Let me know.

Mary :note:

It would depend on the calories, your weight, height, energy level, ( it would depend on the above mentioned) plus the breakdowns of protein, carbs and fat.
The TRUE Ketogenic diet is by prescription by a keto diet professional.

THanks lab rat.