Christopher Reeve and Spinal Cord Recovery

Chris Reeve's Motto: Nothing is Impossible--Internal Journey

Aug 13, 2008 Jeannie Delahunt

Suicide was the thought that plagued Reeve as the reality of his paralyzed condition sunk into his consciousness. Thankfully, for those needing inspiration, Reeve lived.

The unfortunate equestrian accident breaking Reeve's neck just below the brainstem and leaving him paralyzed from the shoulders, down, served as the beginning of a new life internally and externally.

Chris Reeve's Internal Journey Begins

Not only was suicide a dominating thought, but intense anger was the dominant emotion. The predicament he found himself in after the accident catapulted him into a sea of self-discovery. The knowledge that his life was truly worth living not only for himself, but for those who loved him began with the faces of his family. They loved him and wanted him to live--just the way he was.

His mind and emotions grappled with the deepening knowledge that he would probably be totally dependent upon others for the remainder of his life. However, his desire to walk and breathe on his own fiercely motivated him to seek answers from the scientific community. He was not content to believe or accept that a wheelchair existence would be the apex of his life.

Chris Reeve's Fight

Despite emotions running the gauntlet of the emotional register, Reeve found ways to cope with his predicament. He demanded his own reservoir of self-discipline to engage in daily exercise. Since he could not move, electrodes were hooked to him to provide electrical stimuli to his muscles. In this way he could ride a bicycle for almost 45 minutes. There were other methods used as well.

He did not want his muscles to atrophy. He wanted his body to be ready to walk, again, once a cure was found. Reeve believed that cure was just around the corner.

The fight also involved his insurance companies. They wouldn't pay for the resources he needed. With this quest he discovered that most people gave up the fight. He did not. Public advocacy for the needs of spinal cord injury victims helped to fuel his resolve.

The Recovering Process

Reeve learned that if recovery was possible, it would occur within the first two years of the spinal cord injury. He proved the known scientific information, wrong.

Five years after his accident, his fingers began moving. He could command his fingers at will. Eventually, he was able to lift both of his arms. Medical tests were performed and to the delight of everyone involved, there was conclusive evidence--his brain was sending messages to his lower body. This meant that there was healing. With various therapies he was able to breathe for almost an hour again on his own. Additionally, he discovered there was movement beginning in his legs.

The leg strength and movement was further tested when he was placed in a pool. With weights attached to his ankles, he was able to stand and kick one leg at a time forward, shifting his weight so as to walk! Of course he could only go as far as his ventilator hose would allow, but, nonetheless, what was deemed impossible was happening.

Medical Explanation for Reeve's Spinal Cord Recovering

After close scrutiny, testing and documentation, it was concluded that exercise, ...promoted recovery in spinal cord injury.

Had Christopher lived, perhaps, he would be walking again. The world will never know. He died of cardiac arrest in 2004.

Reeve's words: ...you always have to believe in your worth as a person. That's what counts.

Source

Christopher Reeve, Nothing Is Impossible, Random House, Inc., 2002. ISBN 0-375-50778-7.

The copyright of the article Christopher Reeve and Spinal Cord Recovery in Disabilities is owned by Jeannie Delahunt. Permission to republish Christopher Reeve and Spinal Cord Recovery in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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