Dr. Michael Hunter does his usual thorough job in examining the life and death of the handsome actor who played Superman, but what really comes through in this episode is the indomitable spirit of a person who believed that he could heal.
We learn here that when Reeve took part in an equestrian event in Culpeper, VA, in 1995, he was more concerned about later points in the course than the "more routine, three-foot third fence." But his horse abruptly stopped there, and Reeve "went down the horse's neck," and "his head snapped up and back with great force, snapping vertebrae," leaving him unable to breathe independently or move from the shoulders down.
He famously said later, "I will not be spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair."
Reeve "took a personal tragedy and turned it into a public crusade, becoming a voice for the 50 million disabled people in the United States," Dr. Hunter said.
Reeve had been determined to walk again, and had experts coaching him in breathing for stretches without the help of a respirator. In one film clip, he speaks of having reached 12 minutes free of the machine.
A psychologist cites "the differential between what you expected life to be, and what it is," and Reeve faced this challenge in spades, going from his breakout role in the "Love of Life" soap to international stardom in the Man of Steel movies.
The program suggests that Reeve was suicidal at times following his devastating accident of 5/27/1995, and that it was the love and devotion of family that pulled him through. We're told that actor Robin Williams, a classmate from Julliard, paid some of Reeve's medical bills when insurance ran out.
"In the middle of this, you can still experience genuine joy and love," Reeve says in an appearance.
Reeve died at age 52 on 10/10/2004, in a Mt. Kisco, NY, hospital, following a heart attack. He had spent his last day of consciousness watching his son play ice hockey. How wonderful that they could share that experience. I hope we all wake up to the treasures of life, and take the very best care of our health that we can.
For reasons not made clear in this episode, Reeve's death certificate won't be made public until 2029.
We learn here that when Reeve took part in an equestrian event in Culpeper, VA, in 1995, he was more concerned about later points in the course than the "more routine, three-foot third fence." But his horse abruptly stopped there, and Reeve "went down the horse's neck," and "his head snapped up and back with great force, snapping vertebrae," leaving him unable to breathe independently or move from the shoulders down.
He famously said later, "I will not be spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair."
Reeve "took a personal tragedy and turned it into a public crusade, becoming a voice for the 50 million disabled people in the United States," Dr. Hunter said.
Reeve had been determined to walk again, and had experts coaching him in breathing for stretches without the help of a respirator. In one film clip, he speaks of having reached 12 minutes free of the machine.
A psychologist cites "the differential between what you expected life to be, and what it is," and Reeve faced this challenge in spades, going from his breakout role in the "Love of Life" soap to international stardom in the Man of Steel movies.
The program suggests that Reeve was suicidal at times following his devastating accident of 5/27/1995, and that it was the love and devotion of family that pulled him through. We're told that actor Robin Williams, a classmate from Julliard, paid some of Reeve's medical bills when insurance ran out.
"In the middle of this, you can still experience genuine joy and love," Reeve says in an appearance.
Reeve died at age 52 on 10/10/2004, in a Mt. Kisco, NY, hospital, following a heart attack. He had spent his last day of consciousness watching his son play ice hockey. How wonderful that they could share that experience. I hope we all wake up to the treasures of life, and take the very best care of our health that we can.
For reasons not made clear in this episode, Reeve's death certificate won't be made public until 2029.