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
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
| R. I. P. Chrisopher Reeve A Real Super Man |
