A real-life Superman: Christopher Reeve's daughter says his foundation has raised $138M for spinal injury research, helping develop a promising new technique that has seen the paralyzed walk again
- Alexandra Reeve Givens says the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation has raised $138million for scientific research into paralysis
- The Superman actor looked forward to seeing new developments such as the new technique that has helped paralyzed people stand and take steps again
- Reeve's spinal cord was injured in a 1995 horse riding fall. He died in 2004
- She remembered her dad helping others before and after his accident
Christopher Reeve's daughter says her late father's charity work has helped develop research into a new technique that has assisted the recovery of paralyzed people.
Alexandra Reeve Givens works on the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation – named after her late parents – and has revealed the Superman star's name has contributed towards raising $138million for scientific research.
The mother-of-two shared that the funds for looking into treatment for spinal cord injuries, like what affected her dad after he hit his head in a 1995 horse riding fall, have paid for trials into advancing cures.
Christopher Reeve (center) wife Dana (left) and daughter Alexandra (right). His daughter says the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation has raised $138million for scientific research
Reeve's spinal cord was injured in a 1995 horse riding fall. He's pictured with son Matthew during an event to Benefit The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation in New York
'There are new techniques called epidural stimulation, which submits electronic stimulation to people's spinal cord as they're undergoing physical therapy,' she told Fox News. 'The promise of this is really amazing. For the first time, we are seeing people get regained motor function. Some people are standing, and some people are even taking steps.'
Adding that there's 'still a long way to go' and only a small group have been able to test the therapy, she shared that it was incredible getting FDA approval after her father excitedly dreamed about the possibility.
But she says now what was 'abstract' is 'really real'.
Reeve Givens said the 1978 Superman: The Movie star not only worked hard to make sure his daughter and two sons led a normal life but he was keen to help others even after his injury.
Superman star (left) Reeve was a real-life superhero before and after the accident. Right he is pictured circa 1977
Reeve is best known for his role as hero Superman but he used his fame to help others
'He could call up researchers and ask to go see them in the lab, and see what they were doing…And he would listen to them speak for a half hour about their research and then say, 'That all sounds great. When is it going to help me?'
'Suddenly adding that force, adding that timeline, saying, 'I am somebody here right now who could benefit from your work' — That urgency was really powerful.'
Reeve Givens added that they had to get involved in the research he was doing to cope with life as a paralyzed man because he insisted they assist him in his quest.
She said just a couple of months after the accident he was reading all he could as fast as possible.
'He would have these huge tomes on the spinal cord and the latest research. And they actually got so heavy he would have us hold them up for him so he could read them,' she recalled. 'And we ended up lobbying him to get a music stand so we could put the book down and just sit next to him and turn the pages without actually having to carry the book.'
The Superman actor looked forward to seeing new developments such as the new technique that has helped paralyzed people stand and take steps again. He's pictured at the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation's A Magical Evening Gala
Hi daughter said he was reading about paralysis treatment just months after his accident
But she also remembered the actor and philanthropist, who passed away in 2004 after he fell into a coma, as a great family man.
Reeve Givens explained how the festive season is one of the most poignant ways she remembers life after Reeve became paralyzed.
'On Christmas morning every year after his accident, he would start his morning routine at 4am just so that he could be in the living room waiting at 7am when he knew that my little brother would be coming downstairs …' she said. 'When I think about that, the effort that it used to take for him to get out of bed, to do that whole routine, but knowing that he wanted to have the same traditions that we had before his accident — I think that's really telling.'
She remembered Reeve being especially kind to his fans when she was very young
She also explained while he had a desire to help others, it was his fans gave him the motivation to do good work after his accident.
Reeve considered suicide following his paralysis but letters from people who loved him kept him strong.
Even before he became wheelchair-bound she remembers her dad was so willing to help others that he accidentally abandoned her
'I have a very strong memory when I was probably four or five years old, and I was riding a bike with him in Central Park, and obviously still needed his support as I was figuring out how to do it,' she explained.
'A big crowd of kids rushed up and came to get his attention. I remember so clearly that he picked up his hand from holding the back of my bicycle and turned to the kids to say hi. And I thought, "Oh dad, of all the moments to talk to kids, I get the gist, but this is the time to pay attention to me".'
