Jane Seymour is an actress, producer,
artist, jewelry designer, writer, health
advocate and caregiver. She is best
known for her starring role in the TV
series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and her
many film roles including Oh Heavenly
Dog with Chevy Chase and
Somewhere in
Time with Christopher Reeve in 1980.
Jane and Christopher remained friends
for over 20 years, until his death in
2004. After his accident, Seymour was
inspired by his extraordinary strength
and will to live. His inspiration caused
her to reach out to mentor young people
with spinal cord injury. In 2008,
the Christopher and Dana Reeve
Foundation presented her with their
Philanthropy Award at their 4th Annual
Los Angeles Gala.
Gary Barg spoke with Jane about Dana and
Christopher Reeve, caregiving and how to
best care for yourself.
Gary Barg:
I just want to tell you I was a
tremendous fan of Dana Reeve.
We did a cover interview with her in
1999 and I will always remember her
fondly. She was just a
remarkable person and a great
caregiver. And the things that
she told me in that interview I talk
about in speeches to this day.
I know you received an award from
the foundation.
Jane Seymour:
Dana was an amazing woman.
Chris and Dana, to this day, are my
inspiration; both of them for what
they did. Chris could very
easily have focused on what he
needed to make his life more
comfortable. Instead, he went out of
his way and pushed himself to the
limit to try and find a cure and
work for other people with
disabilities and all kinds of
ailments. And Dana was a tirelessly
wonderful caregiver. It’s just
inconceivable to me that we lost
her.
Gary Barg:
She had given me some ideas that I
put in my book. The whole idea
of caring for yourself by taking
what she would call a mental bubble
bath. She thought we should try to
get rested throughout the day
instead of waiting to go away for
three, four days at a stretch.
And how to get your friends and
family members to help. Those were
really novel ideas in the last
century when we spoke.
Jane Seymour:
Yes.
Gary Barg:
You’ve been a longtime advocate of
homeopathy and alternative
medicines. Could you tell me
why you think this is important
information for family caregivers?
