Feature film marks National Heart Week

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 19

Feature film marks National Heart Week

Rob Lowe stars in the Wednesday Feature, “Thursday’s Child,” tonight at 8 on Network Two. Called a “throbbing true tale” by one critic, it is the story of an active 17-year-old called Sam Alden (played by Lowe), who discovers he has degenerative heart disease. His doctors tell him a heart transplant offers him the only hope of prolonged survival. "Thursday’s Child” has been specially placed to mark National Heart

week in New Zealand. Sam becomes a candidate for transplant consideration, but only those with the best prospects for survival are chosen to undergo the high-risk operation. The choice is based not only on the potential recipient’s physical, mental and emotional condition, but on the quality of family support he or she can expect to receive through the weeks and months of slow precarious recovery. Putting aside their own fears, Sam’s large and

loving family rallies around him. Drawing strength from each other and from Sam’s owii optimism, his mother and father take turns keeping watch with him, awaiting the decision that could give him the chance to fulfil the promise of Thursday’s child — the one who has far to go.

The movie also stars Gena Rowlands and Don Murray as Sam’s parents, Victoria and Parker Alden, and features Tracey Gold (of “Growing Pains”) as Alix.