Television Reviews : Eloquent Tribute to a Boy Who Conquered Cancer

“ . . Every book I read about kids with cansur (sic) they always die. I want to tell you kids don’t always die.” --Jason Gaes, age 8,explaining the “razin” he wrote “My Book for Kids with Cansur.”

Jason Gaes is now 11 and has been cancer-free for two years. He was 6 when his cancer was diagnosed and he and his family began the exhaustive struggle for his survival. Out of that struggle came Jason’s book and later, a sensitive documentary, airing at 8 tonight on HBO (cable), called “You Don’t Have to Die.”

Jason, his brothers, sister and parents tell their own story on camera, through direct interviews and unexploitive re-enactments. Throughout are animated segments of the book, which was illustrated by Jason’s brothers.

Any parent who has suffered through a child’s injury or illness will feel the impact here. Jason’s father, a strong, quiet man who makes his living as a supervisor in a meat packing plant, tells of holding Jason down during the most painful treatments and crying with him.

His mother’s fine-boned prettiness conceals no fragile spirit--her fight was not only for Jason’s survival, but also for the emotional well-being of her whole family.

It’s a challenge to remain dry-eyed when she describes assuaging Jason’s fear of death with a poignant, child-sized vision of heaven. Jason’s book offers her a child’s best tribute: “If you get scared, go see your Mom and she will rock you and stroke your hair.”

This is eloquent television, conveying a human experience with simplicity and emotional honesty. Congratulations to the executive producers--actresses Beth Howland and Jennifer Warren--for making their first effort count.