And I Quote... Dana Reeve's Life A Testament to Courage

By Kate Knowles
Collegian Staff
March 22, 2006

“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.” -Dana Reeve

On March 6, the world lost a heroine. Dana Reeve, the widow of the late Christopher Reeve, passed away from lung cancer at just 44 years old. Not only was she the wife of Superman, but she was a woman of strength and passion all on her own.

In August 2005, she announced that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer, even though she was not a smoker. In 2004, she lost her husband, who became a quadriplegic from a horseback riding incident in 1995. Dana Reeve was an advocate for stem cell research.

The Reeves also founded the Christopher Reeve Foundation, an organization centered around helping those who suffer from paralysis by funding research for new treatments for spinal cord injuries. After Christopher passed away, Dana became the
chairperson of the organization, and fought endlessly to help those in need.

When discussing her own illness, Dana referenced her husband’s struggle as source of inspiration: “As always, I look up to him as the ultimate example of defying the odds with strength, courage and hope in the face of life’s adversities.”

Dana looked to her husband’s situation, which enabled her to become the epitome of strength herself. She knew that fighting for such a worthwhile cause would not be easy, especially with her husband’s passing and own illness. But lung cancer did
not stop Dana from fighting for progress in stem cell research, and her husband’s courageous life enabled her to continue to be there for others.

Most importantly, her admiration for her husband and his perseverance encouraged her to keep going as well and keep making a difference in her personal life and the lives of those who looked up to her. She possessed strength, courage and hope amidst life’s most frustrating adversities.

There is a saying that accurately depicts Dana Reeve and her efforts: behind every great man is a great woman. She was an exemplary woman and role model for her son, her family and for those of us who know adversity exists, but who are not sure
of how to overcome it.

knowlesk1@lasalle.edu