A Mother's Prayer

After her husband dies, Rosemary Holmstrom works to raise her son TJ on her own without help. When a doctor informs her she is HIV positive, she first clings to denial, then faces the reality with hard questions about TJ's future. How will he grow up with a mother who may not be there, and who will support him as he gets older? As Rosemary weighs medical options and family boundaries, she weighs what kind of life she can offer her boy and how to shield him from the fear and stigma that can come with illness. The film follows a mother's quiet, stubborn resolve to plan for her son's life while she survives for as long as she can.

Directed for television by Larry Elikann and written by Lee Rose, this drama aired in 1995 as a standalone TV film. It stars Linda Hamilton as Rosemary Holmstrom with Noah Fleiss as TJ and Bruce Dern in supporting roles nationwide.

One notable element is RuPaul's appearance as Deacon Dede, a rare cross between a high profile reality figure and serious family drama. The film engages with AIDS stigma of its era and presents a mother's struggle that resonated with audiences watching sensitive issues portrayed on television at the time then.

The film is a grounded drama that centers on a mother's resolve to secure her son's future while facing a life threatening illness. Themes include caregiving, planning, family support, and resilience in the face of public fear surrounding illness. The storytelling remains intimate and restrained, avoiding melodrama while addressing topics.

As a television movie, it had no theatrical box office and relies on TV licensing and audience viewership. The absence of box office data is typical for broadcast oriented projects, which focus on accessibility and messages over commercial returns today.