Amazing Grace Short

Gracie Fisher was a 17 year old musical prodigy when she was struck by a rare polio like disease - Acute Flaccid Myelitis. No longer able to play her beloved, piano, cello or guitar, she turned to writing symphonies, one note at a time. Amazing Grace is the story of her journey, from paralysis to presenting a full symphony to a rapturous audience.

Grace Fisher, the subject of my film has Acute Flaccid Myelitis. She is paralyzed from the neck down. Dr. Earl Stewart is Gracie's mentor. He advised on the film and we shot scenes with him, but alas, that cutting room floor is a crowded, sticky mess and he didn't make the cut. Dr. Stewart is also a quadriplegic. He had a severe case of Guillain–Barré syndrome. 6 months ago he had a heart and kidney transplant. Lynn Montgomery, (me) the Director is recovering from heart and respiratory failure, but feeling strong now!

  • Lynn Montgomery
    Director
    Amazing Grace feature documentary, Don't Sell My Guitars, Mrs Piggle-Wiggle, The Torkelsons,
  • Lynn Montgomery
    Producer
    Amazing Grace Feature Doc, Don't Sell My Guitars, The Torkelsons, Mrs Piggle-Wiggle
  • Grace Fisher
    Key Cast
    "Grace Fisher"
  • Chris Fossek
    Key Cast
    "Chris Fossek"
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    disability, music, human interest
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 38 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 19, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Lynn Montgomery

Lynn has been a writer since she was six years old and penned her opus, The Stinkopottamus. She has written for radio, print, television and film. She won a Writer's Guild Award and a LA Emmy.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I woke up Christmas morning 2018, with heart failure, respiratory failure, pancreatitis, and a large thrombus obstructing my aorta. Within a few weeks I also lost the ability to speak, balance and think clearly. After surgery, multiple hospitalizations, and scores of stumped doctors, I am more or less back to "normal." But what got me through this difficult year - is my fierce commitment to, and passion for, making this movie about the amazing Grace Fisher. Whenever I would think "I can't do this today," I would think of Gracie, who gets up every morning and composes beautiful symphonies with only the use of her mouth-stick. Telling Gracie's story became my balm and salvation. Thank you Gracie and the Fisher Family. And thank you to all the talented professionals as well as Emmy and Academy Award winners who volunteered their time and talents to make Amazing Grace a powerful film about music's ability to heal and transform.