EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OKAY ALL through the pregnancy, but after the birth it was obvious something was not right. I was not there but heard about it through friends. None of us knew what to do or how to offer help, so we waited for updates from the new parents. All we knew was the baby had physical issues that required surgery; the mental issues would become apparent soon after. In a situation like this, my friends and I decided not to send a gift like we had done in the past to our friends who became parents. This was more of a wait and see situation and the wait was long. The first time the parents reached out to us was three months after the birth. The updated news was sad. It turns out the baby was born with broken chromosomes, no fault of either parent. It was a rare genetic disorder that caused the break. Because of this, the baby was given only seven months to live. The news was devastating. The doctors said even if the lifespan were longer, the baby would never grow to a full height and weight, plus the mental capacity would remain close to the level of an infant. It goes without saying the parents were heartbroken; however, they decided to do whatever they could to give the best quality of life to their baby as long as it was necessary.      SEVEN MONTHS PASSED AND THE BABY was still alive. The parents had to hire help since portions of the baby’s care required medically trained individuals. It was not until the baby was two years old before any of us got to see her. She was strapped into a baby stroller. The only verbal communication she offered was blowing raspberries and grunting. She looked more like an infant than a two-year-old. The latest prognosis from the doctors was she would live for only another two years. Seeing what the parents were doing for her, I understood why she was living longer than expected. The four-year mark passed, and she was still alive. When talking to the parents they were thrilled to have figured out what her different vocalizations meant by trial and error. Certain sounds were uttered when she was hungry; others were used to getting attention or to getting something. It was extraordinary; it was almost like a secret code. It is now twenty years and that baby that was not supposed to live past several months was still alive. She still looked and acted like an infant, needing diapers changed and being fed; however, the parents found joy in what was originally an unbelievably horrifying situation. A parent’s love is truly forged with iron will and dedication. It can be seen in this dramatic sports movie.      DESPITE BEING BORN WITH ONLY ONE leg, a young man believes they can become a wrestler. His mother certainly was a believer. With Jharrel Jerome (Moonlight, Concrete Cowboy) as Anthony Robles, Jennifer Lopez (Atlas, Shotgun Wedding) as Judy Robles, Michael Pena (A Million Miles Away, Secret Headquarters) as Coach Bobby Williams, Don Cheadle (White Noise, Black Monday-TV) as Coach Shawn Charles, and Bobby Cannavale (Old Dads, Oll Swell in New York) as Rick Robles; this film based on a true story followed a similar sports hero template. However, it was done in a straightforward way, without having syrupy dramatic effects, which made it a moving experience. And I must add, I have seen this man wrestle, and it is incredible to watch him. The story may come across as your typical working-class tale, but with Jennifer’s and Jharrel’s performances it made this a must-see experience. I was totally into this picture. And one of the coolest parts was knowing Anthony was the stunt double. This was an inspirational story that shows how a mother’s love is the perfect foundation for a child to believe in themselves.

3 ½ stars