Life isn't fair always, but indeed it's up to us how we want to revive and rebound!! what an inspiring story to read.
TEDx Speaker | Keynote Speaker | Growth Mindset Coach |Inspirational Storyteller | Culture Catalyst | Mental Wellness Advocate
One day he was a Hollywood superstar and the next day he was paralysed from the neck down. Life can change in a split second and it did for Christopher Reeve. He was an actor who played the famous role of Superman. He got the role just 35 days before filming started, and though he was tall enough at 6'4", he worried about being too skinny so he hit the gym and packed on 14kg of muscle in two months. His commitment paid off, and when Superman was released, he became an overnight sensation but life took a drastic turn on May 27, 1995. Reeve is also an experienced horseman and he was competing in an equestrian event when his horse, Buck, suddenly stopped at a jump. Reeve was thrown off, landing headfirst and shattering his upper vertebrae. The injury left him paralyzed from the shoulders down and unable to breathe without a ventilator. Facing this new reality was unimaginably tough. Just before a risky surgery to reattach his skull to his spine, Reeve found solace and strength from an unexpected source—his old friend, Robin Williams. Williams burst into Reeve’s hospital room, pretending to be a Russian proctologist (proctologists are notorious for shoving a scope up the posterior!). For the first time since the accident, Reeve laughed. We all need a friend like Robin. Despite his severe disability, Reeve didn’t give up. He became a relentless advocate for spinal cord injury research and stem cell research. His belief that a cure for paralysis was possible drove him to establish the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which has raised millions for research and support. He often spoke about his wish to walk again by his 50th birthday. Doctors and scientists were skeptical, but Reeve made remarkable progress. He regained some movement in his fingers and toes, could feel pinpricks anywhere on his body, and could tell the difference between hot and cold temperatures. Unfortunately, he passed away in 2004 from complications related to an infected pressure sore. His wife, Dana, continued his mission until her own untimely death from lung cancer in 2006. Their children now continue their parents' legacy through the foundation. Reeve’s life shows that life isn’t always fair, but it’s how we respond to its challenges that defines us. He turned his tragedy into a powerful legacy of hope and advocacy. He was truly Superman, in every sense of the term. This is your sign to bring out something positive from that negative situation. Don’t let it bring you down. #ChristopherReeve #Inspiration #GrowhMindset #BoundlessWithRamG
