He Never Gave Up

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Perhaps most tantalizing, if only because it's available now, is the power of exercise. In 2002, Reeve stunned the medical world with the news that he had regained some sensation over 70% of his body and could move most of his joints underwater. His doctors credited the turnaround to long hours of assisted exercise, particularly a regime of electrical stimulation that causes rhythmic contractions of muscles, allowing patients to ride a stationary bicycle and operate other equipment. Paralyzed animals show growth in spinal nerves after electrical exercise, and that may be what happened in Reeve's body.

Reeve readily acknowledged that he was not a paralytic Everyman. With his high profile and ample funds, he had access to the best possible care. For that reason, he was often criticized for creating false hope. But a lack of any hope at all is something many paralyzed people already have in abundance. Reeve made it his mission to offer them something more. That and the foundation he created are a legacy that endures.