Any One Of Us Could Get Hurt At Any Moment
In 1995, actor and activist Christopher Reeve suffered an equestrian injury that left him paralyzed from the neck down, and unable to breathe without the assistance of a ventilator. After a hard, and long period of grief, and slow acceptance, Reeve decided to make the most of his new life.
The first few months and years after Reeve’s accident were not easy. He had to undergo intense rehab to learn new skills such as how to use his Sip & Puff wheelchair, take a shower, and breathe for small periods of time without his ventilator. Reeve followed an intense exercise regimen, exercising 4-5 hours a day to avoid muscle atrophy. He hoped to live long enough to see a cure for paralysis and wanted to keep his body in shape.
In 1998, during an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Reeve said, “any one of us could get hurt at any moment.” Before his accident, Reeve used to visit with paraplegics when he played one in a movie and think “I’m glad that’s not me.” But after his accident, he came forward with a stronger message. His new message was:
“Do not be afraid of people in wheelchairs because any day that could be you. Any one of us could get hurt at any moment”
Reeve became an advocate for wheelchair-bound people and used his influence and celebrity to start the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. The Reeve Foundation funds many scientific grants that aid in the research of paralysis. Reeve’s goal was to aid organizations that enhance the quality of life for those living with the day-to-day challenges of a disability.
One of the recent accomplishments of the Reeve Foundation is epidural stimulation (see video). An epidural stimulator sends generalized electrical signals to the spinal cord that remind the spinal cord of its potential. This research is already helping paralyzed people gain feeling and even helping some gain the ability to move. So far the foundation has raised $15 million dollars to continue this life-changing research. We can’t wait to see more amazing advancements take place in the spinal cord injury medical world.
Reeve’s message and legacy resonate with us at QuadLIFE, because of how true it is. In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need to sell our product. However, when tragedy happens, we are happy that we are able to help. If you would like to know more about QuadLIFE, and how we can help people with life-altering injuries, reach out to us today. We look forward to helping you.
