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Dressed in a striped polo shirt, white duck pants and running shoes, Reeve spoke with Reader's Digest about the film, his advocacy and his remarkable journey. On the rebound from a recent hospital stay, he displayed his usual tenacity, saying, "Your body is not who you are. The mind and spirit transcend the body."RD: It's been more than nine years since the accident. How has it changed your perspective on life?
Reeve: I have more awareness of other people and, I hope, more sensitivity to their needs. I also find that I'm more direct and outspoken. It's important to me to say what I really mean.
RD: In your second book, you wrote about feeling angry after the accident. Have you accepted things now?
Reeve: I don't get angry, because it wouldn't do any good. I experience frustration sometimes, such as when I have a crisis, like I just did.
RD: What happened?
Reeve: I've had three bad life-threatening infections this year. This most recent was a blood infection caused by an abrasion on my left hip that I probably picked up one day when I was on the exercise bike. It seemed benign but developed into strep. Then a lot of major organs shut down. We're trying to figure out what's going on. Before that one, I got a severe infection in New Orleans just a few days before shooting the movie. I was frustrated: "This is not fair; come on. Let's not fall apart. I've come too far." So sometimes I get jealous of people who take their ability to move for granted.
RD: Do you get scared?
Reeve: No, I don't.
RD: How could you not?
Reeve: It's a proven fact that you can control panic by applying rational processes. In all my days of flying and sailing and riding, every now and again I got myself into a jam. On Christmas Day in 1985 I was flying over the Green Mountains in Vermont. Thick clouds, snowing. And the warning light went on. I looked out and saw oil all over the wing. I knew I had to shut down that engine and fly to Boston on the other. You're hoping it doesn't develop a problem too. But the chance of a multi-engine failure is very, very remote. Literally, you use your brain to stop panic. I've had a lot of training in that area from my life before the injury.
RD: It's almost as if everything in your life up to the accident was preparation for this phase.
Reeve: That's probably true. I'm glad I didn't know it at the time.
RD: So what's the latest product of your determination, in terms of regaining movement or sensation?
Reeve: There hasn't been any new recovery since what was published in 2002. But I've been able to maintain most of what I achieved.
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