Christopher Reeve

A Superman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_(film))

Christopher Reeve was at the top of his game, his life was going perfect, he was well known for acting the roll of Superman. When he got in a horse accident and became crippled in one of the worst ways, he was paralyzed from the neck down. However, this did not stop him from living, he kept going and became an inspiration for others who shared his disability.

Christopher first knew he wanted to be an actor at the age of 9, in 1962, and was accepted as an apprentice in Williamstown, Massachusetts at Williamstown Theatre Festival. He succeeded and went on to be hired at Harvard Summer Repertory Theatre Company, and did well in all of his performances.

Reeve's characters Clark Kent and Superman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Reeve)

Reeve applied for college at his mother’s request. He chose to go to Cornell, mostly because it was close to New York where he had hoped to start his career in acting. He excelled wonderfully in theatre. Christopher eventually built up enough popularity that he was asked to audition for the lead role of a big budget film, “Superman.” Even though he was denied this role 3 times he persisted and eventually got in the movie. But the producers did not tell him whether he would be Clarke Kent (the main character and Superman in disguise), or Lex Luther (the villain). He went to London for a screen test where they would decide who played what character, and to Christopher’s surprise, his driver commented, “I’m not supposed to tell you this but, you got the part!” He was Superman, the invisible, untouchable and strong hero of the movie! Christopher went on to become an amazing actor; he played in four more Superman movies and many others as well. He received compliments such as “Christopher Reeve’s entire performance is a delight. Ridiculously good-looking. With a face as sharp and strong as an axe blade, his bumbling, fumbling Clarke Kent and omnipotent Superman are simply two styles of gallantry and innocence” – Newsweek, Wikipedia.

This is Christopher riding his horse (http://www.chrisreevehomepage.com/biography.html)

Christopher Reeve took sports very seriously and was very competitive; horseback riding was no exception. He started riding in 1985 and eventually bought a 12 year old horse, for competitions. As untouchable as superman was, Christopher Reeve wasn’t. On May 27, 1995 his horse had a refusal; Christopher fell off, severely injuring himself. He became paralyzed from the neck down with cervical spinal injury. No one really knows what caused the horse to refuse, but they all saw what happened to Reeve. He landed head first on the ground. Although his helmet prevented all brain damage he shattered 2 vertebrae and couldn’t move his arms or legs.

This is Christopher after his accident. (http://www.chrisreevehomepage.com/biography.html)

After the accident, he was immediately flown to the University of Virginia’s medical centre where he was physically alive but suffered from ICU psychosis. A problem which meant he experienced a form of acute brain failure. He would wake up and say phrases like, “get the gun!” and “they're after us!” When he regained consciousness the doctor told them what had happened and explained how his head was dislocated from his spine, and his lungs were filling with fluids. Reeve overcame that but while considering he would never walk again, he thought of committing suicide. When he told his wife Dana, she said, “I am only going to say this once. I will support whatever you want to do because it’s your life, and your decision. But I want you to know that I’ll be with you for the long haul, not matter what, you’re still you, and I love you.” Christopher never thought of suicide again. Dr. John Jane performed the surgery to reconnect his head to his spine, but he still couldn’t move his limbs.

Christopher later went to Kessler Rehabilitation Center in New Jersey. While there he progressed enough to be able to stay off a respirator for half an hour. When he got out of rehabilitation, he travelled to Israel to help others like himself. Reeve felt inspired from his trip and used his fame and fortune to start the Christopher and Dana Reeve foundation to support spinal injury research and help others who were not so able to help themselves.

After attending his son’s hockey game on October 10, 2004, Christopher went into a coma and his heart failed 18 hours later. He was only 52 years old. After his death his wife Dana leaded their foundation, but she died of lung cancer just 2 years after her husband.

Even after their deaths the foundation continued in the hands of their children. On March 30, 2009 U.S. President Barack Obama signed the Christopher and Dana Reeve paralysis act, “Superman’s Bill.” This bill will connect the best minds with the best labs to focus on finding a cure for paralysis. In the words of the U.S. President, “That’s the mission of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.” In the lobby of their facility in New Jersey sits Christopher’s empty wheelchair. His son, Matthew Reeve was once asked if the sight of it ever saddened him and he replied, “no.” He said, “Empty chairs—that was Dad’s goal, we hope there will be many more of them.”

Christopher Reeve was truly an amazing inspiration and a Superman. He didn’t just act the part, he lived it.