Touched by an Angel (1st February 2003) - playing "Sam" in
episode: "A Time for Every Purpose" (episode # 9.13)

Originally aired: Saturday February 1, 2003 on CBS

Director: John Behring
Story: John Wierick, E.F. Wallengren
Guest Stars: Seth Adkins (Sam) , Dierdre Lovejoy (Courtney) ,
William R. Moses (Pepper) , Timothy Carhart (Rob) , Deirdre Lovejoy
(Courtney)

The Kellerman's are the perfect American family: they're business
owners, proud parents, and they have a strong marriage. but life is
about to turn less than ideal for Rob and Courtney and their son
Sam. While working on pieces of their furniture and skipping stones
with his son, Rob begins to notice a loss of strength in his hand.
He can't get a solid grip without his hand quivering. At first he
thinks it's nothing, but when the symptoms persist, he and Courtney
decide to consult a specialist. It seems that their fears are not
unfounded; Rob has ALS, more commomly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
As Rob and Courtney struggle to adjust to the changes in their life,
Monica who was hired to set up their computers , takes a more active
role in their life. She helps out where she can, and tries to get
them used to the fact that Rob won't be around forever. She
encourages him to cherish the time he has left and to involve
himself in his son's life while he still can. Rob though not
thrilled, tries his best to carry on, but there is yet more tragedy
to come for the Kellerman fmily. Later on, with Rob's condition
deteriorating, the coupole talk to their doctor, Andrew, about ways
for Rob to communicate when he can no longer speak. This really hits
home for Rob, and on the car ride back to the house, he and Courtney
despair for the future. It is during the drive, that another car
runs a red light and plows into them. Rob wakes up in the hospital,
but Courtney died on the operating table. Now Rob is given the
responsibility of a single parent, when he is unable to take care of
himself. He intends to overdose on his medication. He thinks he's no
good to anyone, especially Sam, and no one will stop him from
lightening the burden of the only family he has left. Except that
Sam isn't his only family. Rob has a brother, Pepper, a trucker, who
was also in love with Courtney and left when she got married. They
haven't spoken since that day, and Rob has written him off, all but
disowning him. But he is on his way now. Gloria told him what has
happened, and what Rob intends to do, and Pepper is going to do his
best to save his brother. When he does arrive, Rob locks himself
into his room, and tries to carry out his plans, but Pepper is
persistent, and with the help of Monica, he gets through to his
brother. They make Rob realize that with his help, there is still
time for Rob to see his son grow, that he isn't a burden, but a
valued member of the family: a father, a brother, and a child of
God.