A Heart For Jo

Jo loves to swim, read, play, bother her sisters--in short, she's a typical 13-year old...except for one problem: she desperately needs a heart and lung transplant or she will die. An even bigger problem is that Jo also has Down's Syndrome, and--for that reason--no medical facility in Great Britain will admit her. Many reasons for the rejection of Jo's case are given: her immune system can't handle it, there's an organ shortage, she won't be able to deal with the aftercare, etc. However, it is painfully clear that the overriding reason is simply that Jo happens to have Down's Syndrome. This short documentary is more about Jo's mother, Marion, whom the camera follows as she relentlessly searches for a doctor or a specialist who can possibly save her daughter's life. Watching Marion articulately plead her case is convincing, although--to be fair--one can't help but see the medical profession's side as well. Included is a segment in which Marion goes to the United States to meet Sandra Jenson, the only Down's Syndrome patient to have had such a transplant operation; however, the program never explains how this trip helped Jo's cause or, for that matter, whatever became of Jo. An interesting video that nevertheless leaves many questions unanswered, this is an optional purchase. Aud: H, C, P. (E. Gieschen)