This is a work of fiction, hence the lack of any real resolution as to Tod's fate. It was inspired by the real life cases of David Vetter and Ted DeVita who both spent most of their lives in a plastic bubble. Vetter was critical of the film's depiction of life in the bubble, questioning some of its lapses in accuracy. Despite having a bone marrow transplant from his sister, Vetter died of complications from his condition in 1984 at the age of 12. DeVita's story is probably more true to the film as he did indeed wear a "space suit" to school, though he only did it once, hating the attention. DeVita also made it into his teenage years, dying at the age of 18.
During filming, 22-year-old John Travolta and 40-year-old Diana Hyland began dating and eventually fell in love, despite the fact that Hyland was nearly 18 years older than Travolta. She was still in the process of getting divorced from her husband, writer and producer Joseph Goodson when she passed away on Sunday, March 27, 1977, four months after their TV movie's broadcast, and while Travolta was filming Saturday Night Fever (1977).
Much of the movie was filmed at Malibu Lake which is a man made lake created in the 1920s where waterfront properties were sold while the dam was being completed and before the lake contained water. It took nearly four years before a heavy rainstorm allowed the lake to fill completely for the first time.
This film is in the public domain.