My Flesh and Blood

In Susan Tom's mind, children are a gift, even if something is wrong with them. After her failed marriage, which produced two sons and two adopted daughters, she has taken as many as nine foster children into her house. Susan does not have a regular job or a relationship, but she has more than enough work cut out for her with a house full of sick, physically handicapped, and emotionally abused children. With support from a few social agencies for the disabled, she manages to make ends meet. follows Susan and her family for a couple of seasons, producing some heartrending scenes. A girl cheerfully tells us that she enjoys life, despite the fact that she has no legs. A boy with a skin disease must regularly undergo special bathing to keep from becoming infected. A hairdresser trims tufts of hair from a young girl with severe burns. Meanwhile, a healthy 18-year-old named Margaret has a hard time because nobody pays attention to her comparatively insignificant problems. The greatest source of concern though, is undoubtedly Joe, who suffers from a chronic lung disease and tyrannizes the entire family. But when he is admitted to the hospital, everybody fears for the worst.