- Actor Christopher Reeve has told the BBC he is keen to
do more film work, as he continues to recover from the accident that left
him paralysed from the neck down.
-
- Reeve has had various acting roles since he was famously
injured in a horse riding accident in 1995, most recently in the TV series
Smallville - following the adventures of the young Superman, the comic
book hero which made Reeve famous.
-
- The actor took a major role in a TV remake of the Alfred
Hitchcock film Rear Window and also directed another TV movie, The Brooke
Ellison Story, earlier this year.
-
- "It's something that I love to do," he said.
-
- "I want to work. All the work that I do for the
[Christopher Reeve Paralysis] Foundation is not paid - I don't take any
money at all - so I need to balance the foundation work with my creative
work as a director and producer."
-
- 'Optimism'
-
- Since the accident he has been working to try and find
a cure for paralysis, primarily through the work of his own foundation,
which also provides grants to people with disabilities.
-
- "Our mission is to identify and support the best
scientists in the world, who are working on therapies and cures for paralysis
for whatever the cause - not just spinal chord injury," Reeve explained.
-
- Last year Reeve visited Israel on a trip that "renewed
my hope and optimism," meeting a formerly paralysed man who had learned
to walk again.
-
- But critics argue that he is in denial about the full
extent of the damage caused by the accident.
-
- Some believe that Reeve and his foundation offer false
hope to others struggling to cope with disabilities, and that instead he
should be inspiring these people to live with their handicap.
-
- But Reeve was keen to tackle this charge.
-
- "I think people should know that at our foundation
we have a quality of life programme and we spend almost $4m a year to assist
people living with disability," he pointed out.
-
- "This includes recreation, jobs, training, assisted
living centres and transportation."
-
- Reeve himself has gained movement in a lot of places,
having been told after the accident that he would never again have movement
below his shoulders.
-
- An operation last year now allows him to breathe unaided
for hours at a time.
-
- 'Smooth sailing'
-
- He recalled how, simply through rigorous exercise, he
had gradually recovered various parts of his body.
-
- "Suddenly, five years post-injury, I found I could
move my left index finger," he said.
-
- "So from then on, it has just been, 'the sky's the
limit'."
-
- He said that his daily routine includes exercise in the
swimming pool, on the treadmill and on an exercise bike.
-
- He also uses functional electrical stimulation, in which
electrodes are placed on various muscle groups.
-
- "To a certain extent, paralysis is a choice,"
he said.
-
- "I'm literally paralysed, but there's a lot of people
walking around who are paralysed by a lack of self-esteem, feelings of
inadequacy. They don't dare to go for their dreams. They're depressed,
feel very negative... it's all negative.
-
- "But certainly, I have found a tremendous amount
of freedom within my own mind and spirit, even though the body doesn't
move."
-
- And he insisted that he was not particularly special
because of what he was doing, pointing out that he has "a lot of advantages."
-
- "I can't hold a candle to the people who have to
survive disability and incurable illnesses with no resources," he
said.
-
- "By comparison, I have smooth sailing."
-
- © BBC MMIV http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3542444.stm
-
-
-
- Comment
- From
- Mary Sparrowdancer
- 8-8-4
-
- I agree with Mr. Reeve. There is something about intent
that causes extraordinary reversals of condition. I have witnessed this,
myself - sometimes when I have been called to the ICU (Intensive Care Units)
of hospitals.
-
- We, as human beings, need to understand that we are,
each and every one of us, miracle workers. We each hold a sacred key.
The time is long overdue for us to all begin to look inward, at ourselves,
and take part in our own healings, rather than expecting that help can
only be administered to us by others.
-
- Help is all around us, and it is through us.
-
- Go, Christopher!
-
- You make me believe in the fact that we are all Superman.
-
- Love, light and laughter,
-
- mary sparrowdancer
- www.sparrowdancer.com
|
