Director Dominic Gill presents the stories of three people living with Chronic Lymphocytic Lukemia (CLL), a chronic cancer that, like many cancers, is often fatal. Alejandro Daza, Christina Fisher and Jeff Meskey are all suffering with CLL, the three of them living very active lifestyles before their diagnosis. But thanks to their own strength of will, an emergent year-long (as opposed to lifelong) treatment and a bit of luck, all three have gone into remission and have resumed their lives with a new lease and a shift in perspective.
The film transitions between the three, all of whom have had their diagnosis at different points in their lives, with the common thread of focusing on their physical health as well as getting treatment using a trial from pharma company AbbVie (who is listed as presenting this documentary). The year-long treatment was combined with other factors to help Jeff, Christina and Alejandro lives normal lives once again.
Emergent treatments like this, while a bit more unknown, are incredibly beneficial to those suffering with normally fatal conditions, and while more is yet to be seen about the treatment itself and others like it, it feels like a step in the right direction. The film presents an inspiring and hopeful testimonial from all three participants, and it’s hard not to feel optimistic for them and others who are going through this kind of struggle.
Director Dominic Gill does a wonderful job weaving their stories together, linking common threads such as lifestyle and family to present a cohesive message to people living with CLL, lending a bit of peace of mind to those who find themselves in similar situations. Let’s just hope this treatment continues to progress, becoming safer, more affordable and more obtainable for all those living with CLL and other forms of cancer that this might benefit.
A big thanks to the entire team for letting us take a look at Second Winds, and as a bonus, here’s a quick conversation with actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family), who served as the host for the recent premiere screening of the film. A big thanks to Jesse for taking the time out to talk to us!
What was the biggest draw for you in deciding to host the premiere of Second Winds?
I loved the film. I was very taken by its positivity and story of resilience. I have been touched by cancer in my own life, personally and with loved ones, and I was so moved by the spirit of the survivors in this film, I was excited to be in a space with them and meet them, and also just share this beautiful film that is so positive. I think we’re looking for positive stories and it’s a film that people need to see right now.
What is your connection to cancer and how has that impacted your involvement in this project?
I have personally been diagnosed with skin cancer. It turns out New Mexico is a terrible place to raise a redhead and I’m reaping the repercussions of that. My husband is a cancer survivor and I lost a cousin to cancer, so cancer has touched me in lots of different ways. Personally, I’ve lost a loved one to cancer, and also have seen another loved one survive it and come out on the other end. So, I’ve really seen how it can touch our lives in different ways. And it’s something I think so many people have brushed up against. It’s a really universal experience and I think that it touches people in very different ways. I’ve always loved being around people who have experienced that, because I feel like there’s a sense of community.
What do the stories in Second Winds, and other stories like these, mean to you?
What I loved about the film is that it has such positive messaging and it is not only going to resonate with people who are cancer survivors. I think the theme of embracing life and taking each day as the first day of the rest of your life is something that all of us can relate to. As someone who just turned 50, watching people really embrace the rest of their lives really resonated with me, because you don’t know how much longer you have. I think that’s incredibly moving and incredibly important. And it’s nice to see people succeeding in doing that.
Do you have your own Second Winds story that you could share?
As part of becoming a father and being on the other side of 50 now, I’ve decided to get healthy and cut out certain things that have not been good for me. And a lot of that is because of being a parent and wanting to be around for my kids as long as possible. I lost my mom last year, and I know that she could have made different choices early in her life to extend her life, and I don’t want to have my kids lose me sooner than they should. So I have looked at these experiences, tried to find the silver lining in them, and made some changes in my life. I truly do live each day as if it is the beginning of the rest of my life, and I do attribute that to being a dad. That’s a big thing. I think having kids and having a family really has given me a second wind.
And what are you working on now that you can tell us about?
I have a podcast that I’m really proud of called Dinner’s on Me, and I have really wonderful conversations with people I admire. The conversations range from everything, from what’s happening on the Real Housewives this week, my guest on this week was Meredith Marx, to talking with Kathy Bates about her career in her 70s and what that means to her. The topics have been so wide-ranging and inspiring. I’ve sat down with people who I have admired so greatly and gotten to know people whose careers I probably wouldn’t have followed otherwise. I have been exposed to so much art, writing, acting, and performances that I probably wouldn’t have if I didn’t have this podcast. It’s been something that’s been very gratifying and has enriched my life in ways that I did not expect. I’m not a journalist and I’m not looking to get a story out of someone. I’m just looking to connect with people over a meal at a restaurant that I love. And that’s the other thing that I’ve gotten to discover through the podcast – so many incredible restaurants, not only in LA, but also in New York and London. So it’s been great. And I just finished a really exciting year of doing some wonderful theater. I just played Santa Claus for the Jonas Brothers film, and then I also have my performance in Twelfth Night with Shakespeare the Park streaming starting this week. So it’s true range: Shakespeare to Santa Claus. It’s been a really wonderful year.
That’ll do it for us here! Be sure to check back with us for more new, reviews and updates about this film and many others as they arise. Thanks again!
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