Christopher Reeve's widow dies

Gentle Giant · March-7th-2006, 09:18 AM

Too fucking sad. This family's been through too damn much.

(Sorry, Scott, but I had to do it.)

Dana Reeve dies of lung cancer - US media reports
Tue Mar 7, 2006 8:53 AM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dana Reeve, the widow of Christopher Reeve who nursed the paralyzed "Superman" for nine years, has died of lung cancer, media reports said on Tuesday.

CNN and other outlets quoted the Christopher Reeve Foundation as saying Reeve had died on Monday night.

"On behalf of the entire Board of Directors and staff of the Christopher Reeve Foundation, we are extremely saddened by the death of Dana Reeve, whose grace and courage under the most difficult of circumstances was a source of comfort and inspiration to all of us," said Kathy Lewis, president and CEO of the foundation, in a statement quoted in media reports.

No one was immediately available at the foundation, which backs research on the treatment of spinal cord injuries.

Reeve devoted herself to her husband after a riding accident left him paralyzed from the neck down in 1995. Christopher Reeve, best known for his role in the "Superman" movies, died in October 2004.

steve(thelil) · March-7th-2006, 09:45 AM

I blame Stallone

Scott Dolan · March-7th-2006, 10:00 AM

Thank you Mr. Reaper.

bluenoter · March-7th-2006, 10:01 AM

Steve, this is a situation in which you may want to act like an adult.

R.I.P., Dana Reeve

jazzy mary · March-7th-2006, 11:02 AM

Isn't this so sad? I feel really bad for their 13 year old son, losing both parents like that so close together. I wonder how she got lung cancer?

Doc Martin · March-7th-2006, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzy mary

Isn't this so sad? I feel really bad for their 13 year old son, losing both parents like that so close together. I wonder how she got lung cancer?

Sad Indeed. Anyone who goes through what she went through and still kept her sense of humor and grace deserves to be called a hero. Every time I saw her on TV, she was nothing short of classy, stylish, strong and witty.

I would imagine she had the Adenocarcinoma type of Lung Cancer, this is the most common form seen in non-smoking woman.

hornplayer · March-7th-2006, 11:35 AM

It made me so sad to read this.... lots of prayers going out to all her loved ones, but most especially their 13-year-old son! What a loss!

jazzy mary · March-7th-2006, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc Martin

Sad Indeed. Anyone who goes through what she went through and still kept her sense of humor and grace deserves to be called a hero. Every time I saw her on TV, she was nothing short of classy, stylish, strong and witty.

I would imagine she had the Adenocarcinoma type of Lung Cancer, this is the most common form seen in non-smoking woman.

What is that, Doc. How does that happen?

Doc Martin · March-7th-2006, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzy mary

What is that, Doc. How does that happen?

Why non-smokers develop this is still not known. Some researchers speculate it's more prone to develop in those whose lungs have been scarred by recurring bouts of pneumonia, tuberculosis and other illnesses. Others say that genetics and atmospheric exposure to a variety of products such as industrial chemicals (arsenic, nickel, chromium and zinc, come to mind), Radon gas and heavy diesel exhaust may also be responsible.

Chris D · March-7th-2006, 12:08 PM

Not every cancer develops as a result of behavior. Implying that is like blaming the victim.

patricia · March-7th-2006, 12:12 PM

If nothing else, Ms Reeve's not having ever been a smoker reminds us that there are environmental and industrial factors which cause not just lung cancer, but other cancers as well.
I remember the same question being asked when Andy Kaufman also died of lung cancer, never having smoked.

Valerie · March-7th-2006, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzy mary

Isn't this so sad? I feel really bad for their 13 year old son, losing both parents like that so close together. I wonder how she got lung cancer?

this is definitely beyond sad and tragic, especially for this young boy. i'm hoping he has incredibly powerful support around him. chances are that he's a very strong young man and will certainly have to gather up his resources. just too horrible to imagine.

what a special woman dana reeves was. and so young.

jesus marion joseph · March-7th-2006, 03:10 PM

I echo the sentiments expressed above (except steve thelil-rat bastard).

frankiepop · March-7th-2006, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesus marion joseph

I echo the sentiments expressed above (except steve thelil-rat bastard).

such a quote is further proof - thelil is right.

jazzy mary · March-7th-2006, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris D

Not every cancer develops as a result of behavior. Implying that is like blaming the victim.

Who did that?

Gary Sisco · March-7th-2006, 04:07 PM

I can't even speak. I too have a quadriplegic partner and to have this on top of her experience, for her family.

It's just too tough.

kedoane · March-7th-2006, 06:13 PM

It is hard for me to find the words, but my heart does go out to Will as he deals with the death of both of his parents.

cookie · March-8th-2006, 12:19 AM

If she *had* been a smoker, would she have "deserved" cancer thus making this easier for all to accept her death?

No. I hate the blame game played around lung cancer in particular. All cancer is sad. It's a tragedy that anybody, smoker or non, dies of it.

BTW, I haven't had a cigarette in a week, but the whole blame thing that gets brought up anytime somebody dies of cancer (did they deserve it or not is the implied thought) it just makes me want to smoke and die. The more sober and healthy I get over time, the more I despise most of the human race.

I feel sorry for her kid. She was an amazing person.

cookie · March-8th-2006, 01:41 AM

OK. Nic fit has passed (for now). I don't despise "most" of the human race right now--a good portion, but not most and certainly not any person here. Let's be clear, I don't want you to think that I think anyone here is/was playing the blame game. I'm talking primarily about how the media frames it and in some ways, how anti-smoking activists frame it.

Anyway, the bottom line is that it's a shame this woman, who did so much good for all of us, died so young for any reason. It's a tragedy for the world because she was a person who was truly making a difference (I have a quadraplegic brother. Stem cells could hold a cure or improvement for him), but it's an even bigger tragedy for her poor son. He's gone through so much already. As Dana Reeve herself said in an interview, "How much can one little soul take?" I hope he will have all of the emotional support and care he needs.

BTW: until today, I wasn't aware that she was a singer. Apparently, she had appeared on some tv shows because they brought out some footage today. She was quite good. I heard her singing Sondheim's "Not While I'm Around" to Chris on one show and it was pretty damn good. But Dana Reeve was a whole lot more than a pretty girl with a nice voice. She epitomized so much of what *is* good in people. She was loyal, strong, determined, brave, smart, and creative. I have always admired that about her and it's sad that she won't be here to continue to set that example. It is certainly worthy of remembrance.

RIP. Dana Reeve.

Gary Sisco · March-8th-2006, 07:39 AM

I never encountered her, even on tv, but I feel a connection regardless from common experience and also because it was Bronwyn who taught Reeves how to get on a horse the first time he ever did (she was the groom and barn manager). His accident was an incredibly unlucky freak of athleticism. He just landed exactly the wrong way that day and that was that. Bronwyn was a pro equine athlete and a patch of black ice in the morning at 35 mph and a wrongly placed telephone pole was it for her.

These things can happen to any of us, any day, no guarantees for anyone, ever. The same with cancer. My father died from asbestos induced cancer from his time in the Navy during the Korean War. He was a Korea casualty for all of those years without knowing it, but one still, nevertheless. He bought his death on his aircraft carrier without knowing it until many decades later. My maternal grandmother never smoked or drank alcohol or any such behavior her entire life, even once, and she died of lung cancer, too, while I was still single digits. So did my maternal grandfather, who did smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol, like the merchant seaman he was, all of his life. So what?

We all meet our fate when we meet it. No one is immune.

I'll tell you what lots of people can't do, though, because they don't have the strength or loyalty to do it, and that's to stand by a partner that damaged, that steadfastly, let the cards fall where they may.

Shit, there are millions of people today who think their entire day's been ruined to the point of medication because they had to wait in line at the Piggly Wiggly for five minutes longer than they thought they would.

She was tough, man, no doubt. I hope her kid is as tough. He'll have to be.

Gentle Giant · March-8th-2006, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Sisco

l
We all meet our fate when we meet it. No one is immune.

I'll tell you what lots of people can't do, though, because they don't have the strength or loyalty to do it, and that's to stand by a partner that damaged, that steadfastly, let the cards fall where they may.

Shit, there are millions of people today who think their entire day's been ruined to the point of medication because they had to wait in line at the Piggly Wiggly for five minutes longer than they thought they would.

She was tough, man, no doubt. I hope her kid is as tough. He'll have to be.

Amen.