A Sample Post off a Random Blog

 

Christopher Reeve as Superman

 I grew up in a time when the quintessential Superman, Christopher Reeve, inspired  millions of children to believe that they could do anything and playground battles against Evil were fought with light sabres by Jedi Knights; or in my case ‘Knight’-ess. Ask any kid at that time whom he looks up to, the answer would invariably be either Superman or Luke Skywalker – the Jedi Knight who defeated the ‘Forces of Evil’ spearheaded by Darth Vader.  Then – my reply would have probably been no different.


Reeve wheelchair-bound



Today, however, my reply is totally different.  The first person I look up to would have been Superman………..’s wife.  Dana Reeve, married ‘Superman’ in April 1992 and on May 27, 1995, after just a short three years of married bliss, Christopher Reeve was thrown from a horse during an equestrian competition.  He landed headfirst, shattering his first and second vertebrae resulting in instant and permanent paralysis from the neck down. His injury disconnected his skull from his spine turning him into a quadriplegic, paralysed from neck down unable to move a body part.  Reeve cconsidered suicide.  He mouthed a painful plea to Dana, “Maybe you should let me go.”   

She tearfully replied, “I am only going to say this once: I will support you whatever you want to do, because this is your life and your decision.  But I want you to know that I’ll be with you for the long haul, no matter what. You're still you. And I love you." Reeve never considered suicide as an option again.

Christopher and Dana Reeve

Dana Reeve supported Christopher in his numerous hospital visits, unending cycles of health scares, medication and resuscitation, cared for all his needs as well as brought up their son at home even as she worked tirelessly with him in his various charity as well as career projects.  Together the Reeves raised millions of dollars for disability as well as stem-cell research.  Dana’s role could not have been a small or minor one.  I believe she gave so much of herself to care for ‘Superman’ that after he passed away of cardiac arrest in October 2004, her grief and exhaustion further compounded by the death of her beloved mother, Helen Simpson Morosini in February 2005, her own body and spirit gave out.  Dana Morosini Reeve, who had never smoked in her life, died of lung cancer in 2006 at the age of 44.  She was truly a self-less ‘Super’woman.   By: Joshua Decker