Posted on 10/11/2004 1:42:46 AM PDT by daylate-dollarshort
Actor Christopher Reeve Dead at 52
Monday, October 11, 2004
BEDFORD, NY Christopher Reeve, the star of the "Superman" movies whose near-fatal riding accident nine years ago turned him into a worldwide advocate for spinal cord research, died Sunday of heart failure, his publicist said. He was 52.
Reeve fell into a coma Saturday after going into cardiac arrest while at his New York home, his publicist, Wesley Combs told The Associated Press by phone from Washington, D.C., on Sunday night.
Reeve was being treated at Northern Westchester Hospital for a pressure wound, a common complication for people living with paralysis. In the past week, the wound had become severely infected, resulting in a serious systemic infection.
"On behalf of my entire family, I want to thank Northern Westchester Hospital for the excellent care they provided to my husband," Dana Reeve, Christopher's wife, said in a statement. "I also want to thank his personal staff of nurses and aides, as well as the millions of fans from around the world who have supported and loved my husband over the years."
Reeve broke his neck in May 1995 when he was thrown from his horse during an equestrian competition in Culpeper, Va.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
He was great as Superman, and I really liked "Somewhere In Time". RIP Mr. Reeve.
This is truly sad news. He had such strength and fought so hard to overcome his injury. May God give strength now to his family as they deal with the grief of his loss.
Problem is, they have no feeling there & someone has to check on them religiously & then they can still develop. She was lucky, hers did finally heal, but she had to lay for several months after coming home & could not sit at all.
Also, elderly in wheelchairs in nursing homes get them as the homes staff does not watch for them as closely.
Christopher Reeve gave a lot of joy to people in his fun films. May he rest in peace.
"Deathtrap" reminded me of my favorite movie, "Sleuth".
Sounds like a sensible policy. Christopher Reed lived life with courage, and honor, and it should be so noted,here in Free Republic.
Christopher Reeve
Rodney Dangerfield
Janet Leigh
Always goes in three's
Did any of you see this from Drudge, has to be a mistake, the Osbournes just hosted a charity event with Elton John at their home, I think Saturday nite.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?
OOPS, here is the correct link:
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=101124&page=1
You mean the Sharon Osbourne obit?? I wonder what the story is behind that?
I saw that-what the heck is going on???
BTW, I have been trying to post Superman images in tribute to Reeve and all I get is a red x-what am I doing wrong?
RIP Chris. I loved Somewhere In Time.
Looks like a mockup for the inevitable, or she actually did die & they forgot to replace the 'XXX's.
Good points. Did he wear some rigid braces? I've known active working paraplegics who had trouble with pressure ulcers from working too long in positions that caused friction and loss of circulation from braces, shoes--even socks. Or sitting in wheelchairs that had undetected pressure points on hips, backs of legs, etc.
No matter how much padding and cushioning there is, pressure ulcers can still develop, especially in those who lead active working lives. They are a fact of life for those with sensation and movement problems, and nearly impossible to completely prevent.
With Mr. Reeves working as a director, it's likely he had extended periods of immobility due to the hours he worked. Most people in a 2 hour meeting will move several times, unconsciously, and normal circulation will prevent the ulcers. For a paraplegic or quadriplegic, damage can take place with no warning, from lack of movement.
The poor man. Right at the moment of a triumph (airing of his new movie). And it must be grim times for his wife and kids.
The good news is that science marches on, at least where Islam does not forbid, and many of us will see, in our lifetime, treatments for acute spinal cord damage such as Mr Reeve suffered. Some future athlete will be carried off a sporting field numb... and walk out of the hospital after treatment. We shall see this, you and I.
Part of the exhilaration in riding a horse hard, or a motorcycle, or driving a car on the edge, or jumping or whatever, is that risk that you take in doing it. That is what makes it exciting. Sometimes you become a statistic -- more excitement than you were looking for. What happens then is a window to your character.
I have seen men I thought were strong fade and give up after such an injury. They die quickly. Or they yield to the impulse of suicide. The only reason we know that Reeve despaired is because he told us. Just think how many young spinal injury patients have been encouraged by the indomitable example of Christopher Reeve!
Who cares what his politics were? Not I: there was a man, and an American, by God.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
I bet that post won't last long.....
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