Johnny Gunther

Death Be Not Proud is a 1949 memoir by American author John Gunther, taking its name from by John Donne. The story was portrayed in a 1975 TV movie starring Robby Benson as Johnny Gunther and Arthur Hill as John Gunther.

In the book, Gunther records the true story of his teenage son's struggle to overcome a brain tumor, and his ultimate death at the age of seventeen. The story chronicles the period beginning when Johnny experiences the first symptoms of the tumor shortly after receiving a clean bill of health. Johnny's complaint of a stiff neck leads doctors to operate, thus leading to the discovery of a tumor the size of an orange in his brain.

The book records in simple detail all the events and tensions that made up the months that Johnny Gunther fought for his life and his parents sought to help him through recourse to every medical treatment then known. After his last surgery, it was certain that the tumor couldn't be overcome. It had gone deep into his brain. Both his parents knew the end of his life was near, but still had plans for Johnny to spend his summer in the country. Even though no doctor gave him a chance of overcoming the tumor, Johnny was never told that he was dying. In the end, his death came quickly, as a result of the tumor rupturing a blood vessel in his brain. Johnny Gunther died in a hospital, his parents at his side, at the age of seventeen. "Like a thief death took him", his father wrote. He describes Johnny movingly in his coffin: "all that is left of a life!"

Partly because of its stark honesty about the pain that this kind of struggle causes a family, and partly because of its refreshingly revealing portrait of a brilliant young man (he discovered a new way to liquefy ammonia) struck down too young by incurable illness, Death Be Not Proud became a best-selling book that is still popular today. The story was eventually made into a TV movie in 1975, starring Robby Benson as Johnny Gunther, and Arthur Hill as his father.

Johnny is an example of a truly valiant person. He is selfless in his hope that he will not cause too much pain for others. In Johnny's last few weeks on earth, he still hungers for knowledge. He does not give up because of his illness. He still has hopes and dreams intact.

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