I met and spoke to Christopher Reeve when he was in Rehab at Kessler, I was/am a peer counselor at Kessler. At the time, 1995, he was still very angry and in EXTREME denial. I remember suggesting to him one day " ... don't dwell so much on waiting for a cure. Just try to keep yourself busy. Find something that you love and do it." Well, he blew up and told me off, he said " ... I am NOT going to live the rest of my life in this wheelchair. I'm going to walk and when I do the first thing I'm going to do is throw this chair off a cliff." Now, you need to remember that at this time, the vent was breathing for him, he had to wait for the vent to push the air into his lungs, then he could speak on the exhale. But when he got SO VERY MAD at me, he told me off in one "breath" and with Volume. I almost said " ... you should get mad more often, that was very good." But I knew better. Another thing; his wife, Dana and his son Will, came quite often a you can imagine. They only lived about 30 miles away in Princeton, NJ Reeve got sooooooo much fan mail that they had 3-4 volunteer's go through his mail the entire 6 -8 months he was living there. (The security was beefed up like you wouldn't believe, around the clock) I know this for a fact, because I was a volunteer myself, that neither Christopher or Dana never, ever came to see the fan mail or even thank the many volunteer's for their time. Bobbie
Smile Everyday > On Jun 30, 2014, at 2:39 PM, RONALD L PRACHT <[email protected]> wrote: > > Reeves was one of the best things that ever happened to people with spinal > cord injuries. He got the word out there to the public what a spinal cord > injury was and how anyone has the possibility to deal with one personally or > by family in their lifetime. He started numerous organizations and pumped > money into research which was never really there b4 him. Don't take this the > wrong way, but the more people that get injured wth an sci and the more high > profile sci's there are, the better off everyone with a spinal cord injury is. > > On the other topic of people that live to walk.............that's pretty > foolish. If you spend your time getting back to driving, going to school, > making your living quarters accessible, finding a workout program, meeting > people............you are living your life and will be ready to take > advantage of any future cures or help that comes along. The wheelchair itself > isn't hard to deal with if you have support and got your shit together. > > We need more people to be the voice for spinalcord injuries and wheelchair > users. So many people still think that because you are paralyzed means you > sit in front of the boob toob until you die of a pressure sore. > > ron > > > On Monday, June 30, 2014 12:29 PM, Danny Hearn <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Yes, Chris and his wife Dana did about all they could to help with spinal > cord injuries. While i was in St.Johns hospital in St. Louis, Mo area--he was > in St. Louis doing A radio call in show...My buddy called in and told him > about me being in rehab and at a certain time about 1 pm. I think he talked > to me and encouraged me and other Quads over the Radio here in St.Louis, that > was very nice and cool of him--I never forgot that. Dan H** > > > On Monday, June 30, 2014 12:14 PM, Don Price <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Interesting topic! Allow me to toss in my $.02. > > It seems to me that Christopher Reeve was in a no-win position: If he > utilized his money and fame to try to make a difference in the "SCI world" he > would be considered a pampered quad that could never really relate to the > "common person's" experience; whereas, if he did nothing, or used his > money/fame for only personal gain he would be accused of being selfish, > uncaring and egotistical. While his methods may seem flawed to some of us, at > least he tried to make a difference, and I can tell you first-hand that he > definitely increased awareness and funding of SCI. > > I, too, know friends with SCI who spend 24/7/365 focusing on walking again or > "overcoming" their paralysis instead of getting out and living a full life > with their disability. While I can't completely understand their lifestyle, > it's their life and their choice. > > I've heard numerous stories about the cause of Christopher Reeve's death. The > official story is that he died of cardiac arrest while directing a film. But > some who knew him told me that he had had serious issues with pressure sores > and was so busy and so in-demand that he didn't take proper care of > himself--staying in bed until they healed--thus causing infection and > ultimately the heart attack, possibly in reaction to antibiotics. Christopher > was so driven to find a cure and help others that he ended up shortening his > own life. I see his life as both heroic and tragic. > > Best wishes to all my quad brothers and sisters! > Don P. > Tempe, AZ > C5/6, 31 years post injury > > > > > On Saturday, June 28, 2014 1:58 PM, Larry Willis <[email protected]> > wrote: > > > I agree with you, Greg. Chris Reeve left an amazing legacy. Very few of us > will even come close to his accomplishments, SCI or not. > > Sent from my iPad > > Begin forwarded message: > >> Resent-From: [email protected] >> From: greg <[email protected]> >> Date: June 28, 2014 at 3:15:24 PM EDT >> To: <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] 16th >> >> I agree with the "Get busy living " part. But, I must defend Mr. Reeves. As >> a quad, he did more living than most non quads. He traveled the world, spoke >> to Congress, directed movies, etc. He did more as a quad than I've done in >> 50 years. >> >> Yes he talked about a cure a lot, but he sure lived as a quad a lot. >> Greg >> >> > Think of all the things that you can accomplish in the next 16 >> > years. Don't sit around listening to the Christopher Reeves of the >> > world "I'm going to find a cure". Get busy with living! Go get >> > em' >> > >> > Glenn Henry > > > > > >
