Reeve Foundation Paralysis Community

This October 10th it will be 5 year's since Christopher Reeve died. In memory of that, please add your thoughts here. Thank you.

Rob

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Rob Gerth
Director Online Communications
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
(800) 225-0292 ext. 7123
"Nothing good is a miracle, nothing lovely is a dream."

Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/reevefoundation

Where do I start, it's so many things that happened to my life for the better because of Christopher Reeve. I was shot in my neck October 11, 1987, for 2 months I didn't know I was paralyzed. My friends and family kept me alive by not telling me the dark truth about what the doctor said. I couldn't use my hands to DJ anymore but I could still talk. A friend named John told me to Rap, not to give up my dreams because I lost one function. So I rapped, rapping about everything but paralysis. DJ Hung Gar was my name, rapping about hardcore, revenge and disrespect, I was angry.  It wasn't until around 2003 I decided it was time to accept ''Paralysis''. As I laid in bed I thought of a song that was battle between myself. A song that was about one personality overcoming another, this song was called, I am the X. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqSDDvOuAs8&feature=player_profilepage

This song was my first video and it tells a story about one personality telling another to stop avoiding the truth and accept paralysis and it being a life time situation. It didn't mean giving up hope, it just ment it's time to face who you are today. Then along with family and friends we saw video was a stronger message and decided to do a documentary on my life. A City Called Heaven, a productions of the things my life deal with and views of friends that knew me before the wheelchair. My team was Tashhana, Jahid, Paul, Jay , Jamie and my mom.  We came together to not just show how our lives was like but to show others what life may be like for others like myself.

http://www.guba.com/watch/3000016646?duration_step=0&fields=23&filter_tiny=0&pp=40&query=a&sb=10&set=-1&sf=0&size_step=0&o=280&sample=1230626283:b934d8c7587bbf5e88fc1f46991320d304d54a87

During this time I was watching what  the news put out about Christopher and his work. At this time the TV Show Smallville was out and seeing Christopher on the show was the moment I began to compile this man's passions. I never knew becoming Professir X and creating media for SCI awareness was because I was being  inspired. Today I believe many things we do sometimes comes from someone's other life and when we see others doing it, we believe it to is possible for us.

That's what it was that I got from Christopher without knowing. Sacrifice. Christopher sacrificed himself to save others. Whether it be their emotions, mind or body, Christopher moved many paralyzed as well. When he passed on, I went quiet when I saw the news. I sared at the ceiling and tears overcame me. I was afraid, Saying  how,how did they let  him go. When you are a fan, it's hard to beleve your heroes can pass on. Then I turned to my laptop , stared for a while and began typing. When I got up I asked a friend named OUTTHERE to produce a track for my lyrics to Christopher.
The song was Forever Superman. My first song not about myself. It's usually about yourself, rap sometimes is about who you are and what miracals you make. But Forever Superman was the opposite, it was about Christopher and his miracles he brings. Jahid helped me ake a video in my kitchen and I composite under and overlays of tthe movie Superman into it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKrSi4OAyc0

I then searched on the net for a forum dedicated to SCI and posted the video in Care Cure Community. I was then  contacted by Bethany from Unite2Fight Paralysis to come to DC and perform the song. April 12, 2005 was the day I became the Advocate. I am now at a point I feel purpose. A very difficult thing that many never find in their lifetime but something Christopher opened up in my life. Purpose not only keeps me fighting paralysis every day but also gives me character  to help others. Christopher and his foundation is the reason why I  do everything I can.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV7Pdd0OwKc

Thank you Christopher Superman Reeve.

He (and Dana) are greatly missed!   Doesn't seem like 5 years already!   The foundation has been instrumental in getting me help for my step-daughter who has spina bifida and for myself as I have have two back surgeries due to working with severely and profoundly, medically fragile children.  

I really hope that my step-daughter will look beyond her disability and see what she can do to enrich the lives of others, just as Mr. Reeve did.   I am thankful for his example that she can look to as she grows older.  She is very lucky, as there are a lot of children that are worse off than she is and she can be a help to others who are better off and/or worse off or who have different disabilities than hers, just as Mr. Reeve was during his lifetime.   I am sure his children are proud!   May we all leave behind a legacy such as this!   Our loved ones and those we have never met would be so lucky to benefit from such generosity!  May we continue to donate time, money, supplies or whatever we have to give to those in the name of Christopher Reeve during the month of October as a testament to what he left behind that continues to give.

I still can't really believe he's gone. I still think of him, and he follows me in everything that I do. I think I had become a better person in attempt to live his dream.
He helped me in so many ways, even though I never met him. He helped me to become a stronger woman after my granfather died 9 monthes ago.
I'll allways love him.

TRUE SUPERMAN.

One thing I remember 5 years ago, was being invited to go the "Magical Evening" and seeing Paul Simon just after Christopher's death.  It was a sad, but also positive event.

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jrm