Photos Courtesy of Crown Media
Have you ever been engaged in a conversation and hear something so unexpected and so stunning that you didn’t hear anything else after that moment? That happened to me twice. The first time was in February, 2010, when a doctor at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville told me that I had a neuromuscular disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). He told me that the condition was “non-treatable, non-curable and progressive.” I don’t remember anything else about the appointment. I was overwhelmed by anxiety and fear. Fast forward a decade later to July 30, 2020. MacLain Nelson, executive producer of “Little Women (2018),” called me — a person with no acting experience — to say I had been chosen to play the part of Tess in an upcoming Hallmark Christmas movie. I don’t remember anything else either of us said — I was overflowing with excitement and disbelief. What followed was a whirlwind of activity. Just three days later, I flew to Utah and spent three weeks performing the role of Tess, the mother of the main character, Patrick, played by Michael Rady. In the film, Patrick is a physical therapist. I’m a physical therapist assistant in real life, so an unexpected bonus was providing technical assistance in some of the scenes. Filming days were long, but the cast and crew were encouraging and helpful. The director, Clare Niederpruem,
was patient and kind. Michael Rady, my screen son, who is perhaps best known for his role in “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” gave freely of his time and expertise, often role-playing with me and offering suggestions to boost my confidence. The hair and makeup staff were amazing and made me look beautiful, even after being on set all day. I was fascinated by the props specialists and lighting staff who transformed sets into those beautifully decorated, magical backgrounds that are signature features of Hallmark holiday movies. Even on days when I was not filming, I would go to the set just to watch and listen to other actors and to learn more about what goes into making a movie. After a few days, I began to feel more comfortable and allowed my personality to shine through my character. Tess and I really are a lot alike. Both of us have a strong support system of family and friends, and both of us don’t let CMT hold us back. My family took turns visiting me while I was filming, including my son, Maxwell. During off hours, we explored the Provo area, hiking and biking through the beautiful trails and canyons. I fell in love with the state and hope to return in the fall or spring. At this point, you may be wondering, “What about CMT and the dire diagnosis you received?”
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