Patricia Neal Learning to Live Again

May 20, 1965 - Actress Patricia Neal flew into London on her way home today and talked about learning to live again.

Miss Neal, 39-year-old Oscar-winning star, is recovering from three strokes earlier this year which, at first, left her partly paralyzed and affected her speech. At one time, she was not expected to live.

Now, she is piecing together the life damaged by illness, relearning even the simple things like reading and writing.

The American-born actress, who lives with her family at Great Missenden, Bucks, England, arrived today from California, where she was working on a film when she had the strokes.

As she stepped from the plane at London Airport with her husband, 48-year-old British writer Roald Dahl, she was wearing a black patch over her left eye. On her right leg was a steel-and-leather support.

Her speech still has lapses. And as she talked, she constantly fingered the black patch.

She said: “Apparently, they expected me to die — but I’m continuing to tick. I may never work again. But, there again, I might. I’d like to, but I might not be able to. If I couldn’t, I suppose I would settle down to being just a wife.”

Miss Neal, who won a best-actress Oscar in 1964 for her role in “Hud,” added: “I’m looking forward tremendously to being home again. We have been away long enough.”With Miss Neal and her husband were their three children — Tessa, aged eight, Theo, four, and Ophelia, 12 months. An illness killed another daughter.

Now, Miss Neal is expecting a fifth child — in August.

Her husband said: “The doctors say there is no reason why it should not be a normal birth.”

Just before the family left the airport, Miss Neal said: “There are many things which give me pleasure now — simple things like waking up to find I’m alive.”

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