Watch Extraordinary Measures

Based on a true story ‘Extraordinary Measures’ stars Brendan Frasier, Harrison Ford and Kerri Russell and is about one man’s fight to save his children’s life from a rare and fatal disease, Pompe diseas, which prevents the body from breaking down sugar properly and eventually disables the functions of the muscles and the heart. John Crowley (Frasier) and his wife Aileen (Russell) discover that two of their three children, Meagan and Patrick, have this disease. John is an advertising executive who is rising quickly in his company, however, having heard about the research of Dr. Robert Stonehill (Ford) in this field, he finds himself leaving his job to meet Stonehill and discuss the progress of his research. Stonehill, although sympathetic with John’s situation, shrugs him off and tells him that he needs $500,000 in order to get the lab setting and equipment needed to bring the research to a trial phase. John tells him he is the head of the Children’s Pompe Foundation and will raise the money in 30 days. Bob is pessimistic, but agrees that if John can raise the money then he will do it. Although John and his wife don’t raise the entire amount Bob is so impressed by the fact that they managed to raise $91,000 he agrees to sign on and the work begins. John realizes that in order to speed the research up they need to sell their new company to their competitor with the provision that there are jobs for both he and Bob so that their research can continue. It turns out that there are four different base enzymes being researched and John, desperate to save his children’s lives, is hopeful they will be included in the trials, however, they are excluded. Bob, however, suggests a sibling study, which is granted, and Meagan and Patrick are the siblings. The drug is successful and other children begin receiving treatment.