Faith for rehabilitation

Press, 4 February 1982, Page 14

Faith for rehabilitation

Joni Eareckson (above) plays herself, a quadraplegic who broke her neck in a diving accident at the age of 17, in the true story, “Joni,” which starts at the Avon tomorrow. The film, produced by World Wide Pictures, an ancillary of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, follows her struggle to accept and adjust to her handicap and find meaning in life — with the help of faith in God. Before the accident, she was outstanding in a variety of sports including ice hockey, baseball,. oasKetball and diving.

“Joni” follows her progress from the moment of the accident. Every step along the road was an obstacle she refused to face, until she saw purpose to her existence and began the long, hard fight towards rehabilitation. World Wide Pictures saw the inspiration Joni was to so many and asked her to play herself in a film based on her life. Today, at 30, Joni is a successful artist who paints by holding a pen in her mouth. The discovery of this skill (“My God-given gift,” she calls it) occurred while she

- was passing the time in f convalescence. P At first, she learnt to hold a pencil in her teeth, then to make circles and other r marks. She progressed to •’ letter writing, and from drawing on moist clay, moved to charcoal sketches v and, eventually, at the reha- “ bilitation centre, learnt to produce line drawings with 11 colour tints. a The film shows the s strength of Joni’s character, r what a special person she is to overcome such a devastat--1 ing setback, and still be able e to piece together a future e" from shattered dreams.