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Actor Christopher Reeve
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Actor Christopher Reeve Dies
It is with great sadness that the National Spinal Cord Injury Association joins with the world in mourning the death of activist and leader, Christopher Reeve. Christopher died on Sunday, October 11, 2004, after a systemic infection from a pressure sore caused cardiac arrest. NSCIA is proud to work closely with the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation and the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center. We serve on their Paralysis Task Force, and our Peer Support Network and other programs have been strengthened by the support of their Quality of Life grants.
Recently NSCIA was the recipient of a very generous grant for our upcoming Spinal Cord Injury Summit, to be held in Spring 2005. Christopher and Dana and their family received significant support from NSCIA in the early months after Chris’ injury, and our organizations have shared a close relationship over the years.
We will continue to work together and redouble our efforts to improve the prevention and treatment of the kinds of secondary complications so many people with SCI experience, most notably, pressure sores and other conditions that compromise health.
The pressure sore that contributed to the untimely and unfortunate death of Christopher Reeve is a far too common life threatening condition for many individuals who sustain spinal cord injuries.
After sustaining a C1-C2 spinal cord injury in 1995, Christopher put a face on spinal cord injury (SCI) for a world that had previously been largely unaware of SCI. His tireless efforts have moved spinal cord injury and the many issues faced by those living with paralysis into the awareness of people around the world.
His advocacy has had a seismic impact on paralysis research and the quality of life for millions of people living with paralysis.
Our hearts go out to Dana and their children, Matthew, Alexandra and Will, and their entire family. We also want to acknowledge the incredible work of so many people who have made the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation and their Resource Center a strong and valuable resource for people living with paralysis.
We offer our condolences to Kathy Lewis, Michael Mangainello, Trisha Brooks, Joe Canose, Bernadette Mauro (formerly of NSCIA) and the rest of the CRPF team. Please visit the CRPF website for more information: www.crpf.org
We thank Christopher for his leadership, and for his tireless advocacy. And, we especially thank him for letting the world see life after spinal cord injury.
We celebrated his return home, his strong and loving marriage, and his return to work. When the world saw Chris getting on with his life, the message they got was that it’s possible to live a wonderful life after spinal cord injury.
For all of his gifts, and especially for this one, we are eternally grateful. |
