The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off

Roar · 14-08-2005 4:07pm #1

Caught this on Discovery the other night at stupid o'clock, anyone else catch it?

It was a documentary about a guy called Johnny who had a skin disease called EB from birth, which means that his skin would literally fall off with contact..

He was given a year to live, and the documentary followed his last four months, from him organising his funeral to going to fundraisers etc..

I thought it was unbelieveably moving, Johnny had a great outlook on life and was always humourous, laughing all the way..

It was utterly compelling viewing and something that will stay with me for a very long time...

there's more info on the disease here

Drag00n79 · 14-08-2005 4:11pm

Roar wrote:

Caught this on Discovery the other night at stupid o'clock, anyone else catch it?

I saw it on RTÉ1 about five or six weeks ago. Tough to watch but but that lad, Jonny, would give anyone a lift the way he faced everything so positively. Sorry, I missed it on Discovery or I would have recorded it. Originally it was broadcast on Channel 4.

Drag00n79 · 14-08-2005 4:15pm

Just see now that Discovery is showing it again on 22 September at 10pm. Well worth watching.

whiskeyman · 14-08-2005 4:23pm

Very moving story.
Puts all our own problems and worries in context.
His story really captured the hearts of so many.

C4 has its own microsite for it:

http://www.channel4.com/health/microsites/B/boy_whose_skin_fell_off/

you can even buy a DVD of the programme there..

alleepally · 14-08-2005 6:09pm

Seems ages since I first saw it on S4C. What an amazing bloke he was.

melody · 14-08-2005 6:15pm

yeah i saw it a think about a year ago on ch4.
he was an amazing person, it was so sad to watch.
i keep an eye out for that charity debra now which is good.

SoupyNorman · 15-08-2005 1:44am

I seen it last year on C4 , was so sad but his outlook on life was inspiring... thought coming onto nell mc andrew was quite cheeky but fair fu*ks the fella for trying!

Dizzyblabla · 15-08-2005 2:03am

I saw it the other night, I could have cried for him when his mom was changing his dressings, I found it quite hard to watch, and yet I couldn't change the channel. His positive attitude should be a lesson to us all.

Maynooth · 15-08-2005 6:48pm

I saw it a while back too, amazing programme. I cried so many times and I rarely cry at the telly. RIP Johnny. A truly brave soul.

CrimE · 15-08-2005 6:53pm

Yeah a truely inspiring story/person. His resilience, charisma and enduring positive outlook on life are what made this one of the best documentaries I have ever seen.

An example set worthy of the whole worlds respect.

MrJoeSoap · 15-08-2005 11:06pm

A brilliant piece of television, what a kid.

The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off

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