For all those people out there(that's right, Cat_Dubh, your not the only one)who question Lynn Helton's decision not to have her leg amputated to save her life, I think you all overlook one tiny thing: Having the leg amputated does not guarantee that Lynn Helton's life would have been saved, even if the doctors told her that it would.
I am well aware of this information, and have been for years, and it is also a central point in the movie; hence, the reason WHY some people HAVE questioned Lynn's decision.
Don't get on your high horse about those of us whom question Lynn's decision. Her story was shared publically, and while the movie "Sunshine" may have misconstrued events, it seems odd to chastise those who question her decision, after she and her heirs chose to make her story public. If you are going to "make a movie, or "write a book, and then become offended with views, which conflict with those from your movie or book, you're (and it is you're, not your) going to spend a lot of time being offended.
I have had and survived cancer, and made decisions, which many may not have agreed with, in order to increase my chances of survival. There were not any guarantees for my survival, when I made those certain decisions.
Also, I had directed my comments to JimLowe44, are you his agent?
You seem to agree with Lynn's decision, I don't. I can accept your point of view, so what gives you the right to criticize my point of view simply because it differs from your own?
Please don't try to assume what people know or don't know, while scoffing at their reaction. People, including those have overlooked the tiny thing (that there are no guarantees, period.) are entitled to question Lynn's decision, OK?
What, just for once in your life can't you be serious?

For all those people out there(that's right, Cat_Dubh, your not the only one)who question Lynn Helton's decision not to have her leg amputated to save her life, I think you all overlook one tiny thing: Having the leg amputated does not guarantee that Lynn Helton's life would have been saved, even if the doctors told her that it would.
Terry Fox, the young man who ran across Canada to raise money for cancer research, had the exact same kind of cancer that Lynn Helton hadOsteogenic Sarcoma. He had his leg amputated. That did not stop the cancer from spreading to his lungs, thus causing Fox to stop his Marathon, half way through completion(he had to stop in Thunder Bay Ontario, after running for 6 months across the country), & died 10 months later.
Terry Fox was not just a hero for the cause. Terry Fox was a martyr for the cause.

Now I KNOW I am going to get blasted for this but as a cancer survivor, I think this woman's choice NOT to have her leg removed, and thus die, leaving her daughter without a mother, was horribly selfish. You really haven't explained her choices, and are under no obligation to do so. Does Lynn's story and choices coincide with those depicted in the move?
I was 8 when I saw this movie, and was angry this woman had made the choice to die, rather than amputate her leg, what, for her daughter? Odd.
Also, for what reasons were Mrs. Nixon, and Frank Sinatra involved with helping Lynn's situation? What situation? She had a choice, and made it.
I am not trying to be a jerk but you need to understand, from a little girl's perspective, Lynn was abandoning her child. (Please don't reply with, "Jennifer never felt abandoned" because there is NO WAY you know how Jennifer felt.) Now, as a grown woman, and a survivor of cancer, I am even more perplexed that Lynn did not fight like hell to be there for Jennifer.
I obviously did not know Lynn, and do not "blame" her for her choices. I just think it was pretty odd how people are supposed to find Lynn's story as one which is touching, or beautiful. I find it anything but.
I don't mean to hurt any feelings.
Anyway, you sound like a very lovely friend.
What, just for once in your life can't you be serious?

No! John Denver died! That's the reason for the past tense!

"And to give all the credit to John Denver, who I respected very much, writing Sunshine on my Shoulders is not right. A lot of those words came from Lynn's poem."
I notice you use the past tense with the word 'respect.' Did you lose a lot of your respect for him for taking credit for Lynn Helton's poem?

Thank you, Jim for sharing the true story of Lynn Helton with all of us.
A few years ago, I suddenly became curious as to how Lynn's story caught the attention of Universal Studios to do a movie about her, so I asked here on Movie Database, & someone told me that when she had died, it was reported on the news.

Dude, the movie is fiction, not documentary, of course there will be changes from the facts of the real story it is based on. Screenwriters are first and foremost trying to make a moving film. If you're looking for exact adherence to the facts then you gotta look to documentary.

Good. I'm glad to hear that they have reunited, and that Jennifer is doing well.
AVADA KEDAVRA!!!

I have been in contact with Lynn's mom and the family has been re-united. Jennifer has children of her own and is doing very well! Lynn was very special and she loved that little girl with all her heart. She wrote letters to her quite often.
Jim Lowe

I wonder if it would be possible to put Lynn's photo in the "Writers' Section" for 'Sunshine.' They list Jacqueline Helton, but, have no photo of her.

I believe I found a picture of the real Jacquelyn Helton.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pis&GSln=helton& GSfn=jacquelyn&GSbyrel=in&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=22944 291&PIgrid=22944291&PIpi=14141238&
I also found this message board where someone posted about her and a little about her daughter after she died.
http://www.milescity.com/forums/posts/view/?fpid=21859
Author: Antonia Klein Posted: 4/22/2007 5:25:02 PM From: - MT
Jaclyn Boyle aka Lyn Heltondied November, 1971 at the Childrens Hospital in Denver, Colorado. Jackie left behind her 18 month old daughter, Jennifer. Jennifer never had the opportunity to know the beautiful person her mother was. The book by Norma Klein, "Sunshine" whose title is all one needs to know to understand Jackie. I spent three years with Jackie Boyle being her best friend while she was a student at CCHS. We parted when Jackie moved to Walden, Colorado but exchanged letters until she was stricken with osteo sarcoma.
I was living in Oceanside, California when I discovered Jackie had passed away. Something told me to buy the Sunday LA Times and I did. In it I found the article about her death. Similar occurrences happened with the Woman's Day and Reader's Digest magazines, all of which carried articles about her death and a picture of Jennifer sitting on Jackie's lap. I never purchased those magazines until something told me to. After the first incident with the LA Times, I realized who was telling me to buy them.
Years later I found out that Jennifer has not been told who her mother really was. Jackie's family has informed me that Jennifer was led to believe things about her mother that are certainly untrue and need to be rectified. When I was told about this I quickly realized the purpose in buying the magazines showing pictures of mother and daughter. A daughter who meant so much to Jackie that she spent the last year of her life spending five to six hours a day writing letters to Jennifer and worrying about what will happen to her little girl after she is gone. Jennifer has been estranged from Jackie's entire family until the last two years. The purpose will soon unfold!
Antonia
AVADA KEDAVRA!!!

It would be wonderful if Jacquelyns daughter wrote a book about her mother.

As I said in the beginning; my understanding is that Tom brought suit against the people that agreed to tell the truth from Lynn's tapes and diary. I realise Movies are made to get the interrest of people to make money! As I said before; they didn't need fiction to make that movie! I understand the changing of names, but not the rest of the fictional crap!
Jim

Well I just bought it & watched it again for the first time since 1973 & right from the start it says some of the names had been changed to protect the privacy of the real individuals involved. So I don't see how you can be upset over dishonesty except for the part about him not being there when she died. And as far as saying it's not right for John Denver to get all the credit for writing the song. A lot of songs are inspired by people other than the one who actually put it together in song form. Once someone officially gets credit for contributing to a song, poem, movie, etcthey are legally entitled to profit from it. Should everyone who inspires a work of art, get a piece of the pie?
Him buying a motorcycle at the end was probably because at the beginning of the movie, they had a fight over her medical bills because he was saving to buy a mini bike & the movie sort of made him look selfish the whole way through with him getting so upset with her for accepting her impending death. Plus a "hippie" as he was portrayed, driving a station wagon just doesn't look right to most people.
I wondered why the series didn't last very long. I loved it. I don't know why, because I was only 7 in 1973, but that movie really affected me. I had been wanting to see it again for years & loved the tv series & movie sequel "Sunshine Christmas" which I also just bought & watched.

This message has been deleted.

I don't understand the angry tone of your original post, and you seem to be starting in the middle of a story, like we should know what you're talking about, but you should really learn to differentiate between a documentary and a drama inspired by true life events, which is what the film Sunshine was.

Your welcome! And I miss my Little boy and my daughter. Your right about them being on your mind no matter how long it's been. I lost my son in 1969 and my daughter in 1995, but I still feel the emptiness inside.
Jim

Your welcome! And I miss my Little boy and my daughter. You're right about them being on your mind no matter how long it's been. I lost my son in 1969 and my daughter in 1995, but I still feel the emptiness inside.
Jim

Hi Jim,
First off, thank you for the behind the scene, true story. It is much appreciated by all that the story touched.
Second, You mentioned above that you have lost 2 children yourself. Please accept my sincere and heartfelt condolences. When you lose someone you love, no matter how long it has been, you miss them every day.

You are welcome! I have had inquiries from different parts of the world about Lynn and it warms my heart that she touched so many people's lives.
Jim

Jim,
Thank you for your facts, I never saw the movie I have the record album, in which it shows lyn and she refers to her daughter as Jenny, on the cover but the words she does say jill. It is terrible that her tapes were stolen as they were to be her legency to her daughter.
I hope that her daughter grew up and that tom was able to share stories of her mother with her.
Thank you again for your words of wisdom.
Denise
SasseNSpolt@Cs.com

That picture on the old paperback (as I recall with a black backround and a round little picture) was of Christina Raines the actress who played "Kate" (based on Lyn Helton's diary).

Oh, okay, I was just curious. Thank you.
AVADA KEDAVRA!!!

That is the actress that played her!
Jim