When Denver Wells was diagnosed with life-threatening Type 1 diabetes nearly 10 years ago, he spent five weeks in the hospital with another little boy who also was seriously ill.

The other little boy was 5-year-old Patrick Cozad of Grants Pass, whose story garnered local headlines when his classmates at Redwood Elementary School adopted him as a “Sparrow” and raised money to help him and his family.

Few at the time knew of Patrick’s friendship with Denver Wells. Patrick died in 2005 from a rare form of cancer called Wilm’s tumor, while Denver learned to control his disease and is now a healthy 15-year-old.

But people will soon know about the friendship between the boys.

On Friday, a film crew was in Grants Pass making a movie about the boys called “Courage of Two.” It’s about the time the boys spent together at Medford’s Rogue Valley Medical Center. And it’s also about events that followed.

A crew with PSI Theater Films was at Patrick’s home near Booth and C streets, filming scenes that included the time Patrick first went unconscious and his mother rushed him to the hospital.

Cameras, sound men and actors worked outside the home, filming a car scene, and they later went indoors.

On location was Denver Wells’ father, Mark Wells of Central Point, who is producing the $200,000 film, funded in part by grants and $26,000 from a “kickstarter.com” online fundraising effort.

“It’s a true story,” Mark Wells explained. “(Patrick’s) best friend was my son. They were both deathly ill when they were 5 years old.”

Patrick was diagnosed in September 2004, the boys met in November that year at the hospital, and Patrick died the following April. He had attended only a couple weeks of kindergarten. When he died, letters were sent home by the school. Both boys were 6 when Patrick died.

“My son came to me about a month after Patrick died,” Wells said. “He was crying. He said, ‘Dad, am I going to die?'”

“We had to explain to him what cancer was.”

The Wells family went online to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for information, where Denver learned of the plight of another child, a girl with eyesight problems. He eventually decided to donate his allowance to the hospital to help her. But, he didn’t stop there. He went door to door, collecting cans and bottles. He even bused tables, to raise money.

“He even wanted a suit and tie,” Wells said.

The media found out about Denver’s efforts, and donations rolled in. When Denver finally cashed out, he was able to donate $9,682 to St. Jude.

“That money went to help a little girl named Mary Flowers get her sight,” Wells said.

It was after that that Wells went to film school.

Fast forward nine years and the emotions from back then mingled with the professionalism of a film company at work.

“We haven’t done any of the hospital scenes yet,” Wells said. “The toughest yet.”

Filming is set for April 13 at the former Three Rivers Community Hospital, Washington Campus. Colton Nicol, the 7-year-old Jacksonville boy playing Patrick, eventually will have his head shaved, depicting the effects of cancer treatments.

Filming also is set for 8 a.m. to noon Friday near the playground at Riverside Park. A release date for the movie has not yet been set. More information is available at www.kickstarter.com.

Patrick’s real-life mother, Roxanne Schulze, was on hand for Friday’s filming, which has been part blessing and part hardship for her. A retired psychologist has been on location to support her.

“It’s been hard,” she said. “I’m kind of at a loss right now.”

She wondered if any of Patrick’s old classmates would remember him. They would be in their teens now.

Reach reporter Shaun Hall at 541-474-3813 or shall@thedailycourier.com