Filmmaker Finishes Film Project With Advanced ALS

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by Wendy Henderson |

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In this video from CBS Sunday Morning, follow the journey of award-winning filmmaker Simon Fitzmaurice as he completes his pet project, a film called My Name is Emily, despite being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) eight years ago.

MORE: Explaining the progression of ALS

The film follows the story of a young Irish foster girl who sets out to find her real father. What makes writer and director Fitzmaurice’s accomplishment even greater, is that towards the end of the project he was only able to communicate with his colleagues using technology controlled by eye movement as his ALS had progressed to the stage where he was unable to talk or use his hands.

Hollywood actor Colin Farrell talks about how extraordinary Simon and his wife are and how they’ve handled life with ALS.

MORE: Living with ALS: Chris Mehess’ story

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