Written by Cherry Bombe
May 27, 1995 is a day that will live in infamy. It was the day that Christopher Reeve spoke those fateful words, "Helmet? I don't need a helmet! I'm Superman!" and was then thrown from his horse in an equestrian pissing match, damaging his C1 and C2 vertebrae. It seemed that this high flying silver screen super hero had met his kryptonite, in the form of a thoroughbred horse named Eastern Express.
But with the help of hard work, determination, international fame, millions of dollars and a private team of specialists, Reeve persevered. Fall of 2002 found him wiggling digits and twitching extremities. For an alien once capable of stopping the flow of molten lava with the sheer force and chilliness of his breath, this seems no big deal, but for the all-too-human and fragile Reeves, this feat is a personal victory, and a medical miracle.
The medical community was astounded that Reeve was even alive after an accident of such magnitude. Many die from injuries such as his, and as it was, Reeves relied on a ventilator to breathe. But seven years later, Reeve shocked his doctor and the rest of the world when he performed a trick he'd been practicing in private for months: slowly, deliberately, Reeve raised his middle finger--a message for everyone who'd ever said he'd never move below the neck again.
Tragedy, however, has seen fit to strike again. Since the discovery of his new ability, Reeve has been invited to appear on every major evening news and daytime talk program on air and demonstrate his unbelievable and newfound motor skills. This constant and repetitive motion has taken a toll on joints and tendons unaccustomed to any movement at all and has led to a rather severe case of carpal tunnel syndrome, again immobilizing Reeve from the wrists down.
He remains courageous and optimistic though. "I know I will overcome this setback. Lex Luthor couldn't stop me. A little carpal tunnel syndrome sure as hell won't. And besides, I can still wiggle my toes."
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