Kathy Lewis, President and CEO of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (CRPF) issued the following statement today in response to the death of CRPF’s Chairman, Christopher Reeve.
(Springfield, NJ) – “On behalf of the entire Board of Directors and staff of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, we are deeply saddened and shocked by the sudden death of our Chairman, Christopher Reeve,” said Lewis.
Mr. Reeve passed away yesterday of heart failure. He was 52 years old. Mr. Reeve fell into a coma after going into cardiac arrest while at home. Reeve was being treated for a pressure wound that he developed, a common complication for people living with paralysis. In the past week, the wound had become severely infected, resulting in a serious systemic infection.
Mr. Reeve’s death was not a direct result of his spinal cord injury, but an example of how secondary complications can have fatal consequences for people living with paralysis.
“Christopher was a hero to many people, yet he always said it was the ordinary people living with Disability who were truly extraordinary” said Lewis. “His memory will serve as inspiration for the work of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation and we will continue in his honor to be steadfast in our goal of finding treatments and cures for paralysis.”
“The Foundation extends condolences to the entire Reeve Family. Our thoughts are with all those who mourn in the passing of our Chairman. He will be missed for his life, his work, his passion and his ceaseless courage in the face of adversity that brought hope to millions around the world,” added Lewis.
For those who care to do so, the family has requested that donations be made in his honor to the Foundation. Cards may be sent to the family in care of the Foundation at 500 Morris Avenue, Springfield, New Jersey 07081.
