How tough is this: Christopher Reeve's wife has lung cancer

Gentle Giant · August-9th-2005, 11:11 AM

What an incredible shame. I wish her the best luck.

Christopher Reeve's wife has lung cancer
August 9, 2005

NEW YORK --Dana Reeve, who spent nine years caring for her paralyzed husband, Christopher Reeve, until his death last year, announced Tuesday that she has lung cancer.

Reeve, 44, said she decided to disclose her illness following rumors about her health in the media.

"I have recently been diagnosed with lung cancer, and am currently undergoing treatment," Reeve said in a statement. "I have an excellent team of physicians, and we are optimistic about my prognosis."

"Now, more than ever, I feel Chris with me as I face this challenge," Reeve said. "As always, I look to him as the ultimate example of defying the odds with strength, courage and hope in the face of life's adversities."

Christopher Reeve, the onetime Hollywood "Superman" turned activist for spinal cord research after a horse-riding accident, died Oct. 10, 2004.

Dana Reeve, an actress, was a constant companion and supporter of her husband during his long ordeal and his work for a cure for spinal cord injuries.

She is chairwoman of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, which funds research on paralysis and works to improve the life of the disabled. To date, it has awarded $55 million in research grants and $7.5 million in quality of life grants.

She was performing in the Broadway-bound play "Brooklyn Boy" in California when she had to streak home to reach her husband's bedside before he died. She gave up the role for the New York run.

Their son, Will, is 13 years old.

August-9th-2005, 11:48 AM

Damn.

What a cursed family. Too bad.

walto · August-9th-2005, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gentle Giant

What an incredible shame. I wish her the best luck.

Christopher Reeve's wife has lung cancer
August 9, 2005

NEW YORK --Dana Reeve, who spent nine years caring for her paralyzed husband, Christopher Reeve, until his death last year, announced Tuesday that she has lung cancer.

Reeve, 44, said she decided to disclose her illness following rumors about her health in the media.

"I have recently been diagnosed with lung cancer, and am currently undergoing treatment," Reeve said in a statement. "I have an excellent team of physicians, and we are optimistic about my prognosis."

"Now, more than ever, I feel Chris with me as I face this challenge," Reeve said. "As always, I look to him as the ultimate example of defying the odds with strength, courage and hope in the face of life's adversities."

Christopher Reeve, the onetime Hollywood "Superman" turned activist for spinal cord research after a horse-riding accident, died Oct. 10, 2004.

Dana Reeve, an actress, was a constant companion and supporter of her husband during his long ordeal and his work for a cure for spinal cord injuries.

She is chairwoman of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, which funds research on paralysis and works to improve the life of the disabled. To date, it has awarded $55 million in research grants and $7.5 million in quality of life grants.

She was performing in the Broadway-bound play "Brooklyn Boy" in California when she had to streak home to reach her husband's bedside before he died. She gave up the role for the New York run.

Their son, Will, is 13 years old.

Quote:

If I believe in a loving God, then I believe it's cool with the Big Guy if I don't pick up a single one of them.

Why then try to pick up stones at all? Because it's a meaningful, intentional way to live. It's a choice to stop and be grateful for a hot dinner. Doesn't make the dinner taste better, nor does it buy me an extra day on earth. But it gives me a good feeling about myself and my place in the world. I didn't grow the wheat that was used to bake my bread. Nor do I have any sense of how and why a seed sprouts into a stalk of wheat. Or how and why when you do certain things to a bunch of wheat, it becomes this thing that's good to eat.

So to take about five seconds to say a simple prayer -- Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha'aretz -- to give thanks for the fact that I have sustenance doesn't seem like such a big deal.

I'd personally love a gig where I get credit for all the nice stuff, like wheat growing and turning into bread somehow, but then prettily get absolved from all the nasty stuff. Instead of stopping to give thanks, why not the daily stopping to cast blame?--or better yet, why not come to realize that both attitudes are....

Ah, sorry, as Alistair said well, everybody has a perfect right to believe or not believe whatever he or she wants....Loving God, impersonal God, no God, no idea.

On your marks, get set, PICK!

Gentle Giant · August-9th-2005, 01:31 PM

Giving praise makes you higher, casting blame makes you lower.

It's quite conceivable God had nothing to do with either, and it's possible God had something to do with both.

Mostly, it's possible that God can comfort and strengthen Mrs. Reeve and her loved ones, and that's where my thoughts are going.

graypencil · August-9th-2005, 01:37 PM

Any way you want to cut philosophically, it's still absolutely rotten luck ..and my best wishes go out to her.

i hate cancer of any type.

walto · August-9th-2005, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gentle Giant

Giving praise makes you higher, casting blame makes you lower.

It's quite conceivable God had nothing to do with either, and it's possible God had something to do with both.

Mostly, it's possible that God can comfort and strengthen Mrs. Reeve and her loved ones, and that's where my thoughts are going.

I don't want to be the bad guy here. May your (self-raising) praise of God serve to comfort and strengthen Mrs. Reeves.

And may my non-committal posts do the same. More, actually.

Ron Thorne · August-11th-2005, 01:34 AM

What a blow to an already courageous woman.

My best thoughts are with Dana and her family as she battles this vicious disease.

walto · August-11th-2005, 07:53 AM

There was a story in yesterday's paper here about how non-smoker lung cancer is on the rise, especially among Asian women, for some reason they haven't yet determined. The good thing is that these folks seem to be helped by a particular drug treatment.

bluenoter · August-11th-2005, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gentle Giant

Giving praise makes you higher, casting blame makes you lower.

It's quite conceivable God had nothing to do with either, and it's possible God had something to do with both.

Mostly, it's possible that God can comfort and strengthen Mrs. Reeve and her loved ones, and that's where my thoughts are going.

Excellent post, GG.