| R. I. P. Christopher Reeve A Real Super Man |
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Yesterday the world lost a real hero, actor and advocate Christopher Reeve. The official
cause of death was due to complications from an infected pressure wound. Mr. Reeve
was 52.
While many will note that he was the actor that starred in the Superman movies, my
personal favorite work of his was "Somewhere in Time." Over a decade ago Mr.
Reeve was at an equestrian competition when he was thrown from his horse. The
accident left him totally paralyzed from the neck down. His injury was so severe that he
was unable, for a time, to breathe without a ventilator. Many were shocked and
morbidly amused when Mr. Reeve vowed that he would walk again.
Mr. Reeve put himself on a regimen of intense physical therapy, hoping to regain some
use of his motor functions. Many secretly chuckled at the attempts and called his
efforts an exercise in futility. However they were silenced in the year 2000 when Mr.
Reeve moved his index finger on his own. While many called this a triumph, Mr. Reeve
saw this as a mere stepping-stone to doing more some day. However, with the wiggle
of his finger, Chris showed us all the power of rugged determination. Those of us in
the disabled community saw this as an inspiration to try the impossible.
Not that long ago, Chris had an experimental surgery in hopes of breathing without the
ventilator. He had electrodes implanted into his diaphragm so that his breathing
muscles would work on their own. While the surgery didn't free him totally from the
vent, he was able to breathe and TALK on his own without assistance. Those of us
who followed his progress cheered, while the majority of the world yawned.
Christopher Reeve was one of my inspirations for what I am trying to do-give hope to
the disabled. His dogged determination was nothing short of super. While I am not a
regular viewer of the television show "Smallville," I tuned in to the episode that guest
starred Mr. Reeve. Many watched and said, "wow." I cried. There he was, a
quadriplegic, earning a paycheck in the field he loved, acting. At the time I remember
thinking, "So can I."
While his passing will go unnoticed or be shrugged off by most of the world, today in
the Koch household we are in mourning. The world will note the passing of the actor
that played a superhero. We, though, note the passing of the man that WAS a
superhero to so many.
Rest in peace, Christopher Reeve, for today you ride again.
Dwain "Sponge Daddy" Koch
10/11/2004
cause of death was due to complications from an infected pressure wound. Mr. Reeve
was 52.
While many will note that he was the actor that starred in the Superman movies, my
personal favorite work of his was "Somewhere in Time." Over a decade ago Mr.
Reeve was at an equestrian competition when he was thrown from his horse. The
accident left him totally paralyzed from the neck down. His injury was so severe that he
was unable, for a time, to breathe without a ventilator. Many were shocked and
morbidly amused when Mr. Reeve vowed that he would walk again.
Mr. Reeve put himself on a regimen of intense physical therapy, hoping to regain some
use of his motor functions. Many secretly chuckled at the attempts and called his
efforts an exercise in futility. However they were silenced in the year 2000 when Mr.
Reeve moved his index finger on his own. While many called this a triumph, Mr. Reeve
saw this as a mere stepping-stone to doing more some day. However, with the wiggle
of his finger, Chris showed us all the power of rugged determination. Those of us in
the disabled community saw this as an inspiration to try the impossible.
Not that long ago, Chris had an experimental surgery in hopes of breathing without the
ventilator. He had electrodes implanted into his diaphragm so that his breathing
muscles would work on their own. While the surgery didn't free him totally from the
vent, he was able to breathe and TALK on his own without assistance. Those of us
who followed his progress cheered, while the majority of the world yawned.
Christopher Reeve was one of my inspirations for what I am trying to do-give hope to
the disabled. His dogged determination was nothing short of super. While I am not a
regular viewer of the television show "Smallville," I tuned in to the episode that guest
starred Mr. Reeve. Many watched and said, "wow." I cried. There he was, a
quadriplegic, earning a paycheck in the field he loved, acting. At the time I remember
thinking, "So can I."
While his passing will go unnoticed or be shrugged off by most of the world, today in
the Koch household we are in mourning. The world will note the passing of the actor
that played a superhero. We, though, note the passing of the man that WAS a
superhero to so many.
Rest in peace, Christopher Reeve, for today you ride again.
Dwain "Sponge Daddy" Koch
10/11/2004