Filmmaker Victoria Suan used to create videos with her cousin, Leo, that showcased fitness events. The husband and father of three was in his best physical shape and training for a marathon when he began to feel the symptoms of a neurological movement disorder. He was completely disabled by the time he was diagnosed with Dystonia, a disease similar to Parkinson’s.

This experience within her own family motivated Suan to make her first feature documentary. It’s called Becoming Incurable, and it focuses on the lives of three people living with different incurable, chronic diseases. It’s set in Sacramento and premieres this Friday, June 14 at the Guild Theater in Oak Park.

According to the National Health Council, more than 40 percent of Americans live with a chronic illness. That number is projected to grow. Becoming Incurable follows three of those people: Leo Suan, Sofia Webster and Charis Hill. Webster shared her story of living with Lyme disease on Insight in 2017. Hill lives with Ankylosing Spondylitis, and is a disabled chronic disease activist who co-leads the Sacramento area Spondylitis Association of America Support Group. She will join us in-studio along with Becoming Incurable director Victoria Suan.