I suspect Dana neglected her own health care while she was caretaker to Chris. This happens a lot. So I don't know if the Lung Cancer was primary, or if it metastasized from else where?
She was an advocate for stem cell research. Kudos to her.
sw
Now that is really sad. Their poor little child losing both his parents at such a young age. That IS tragic and beyond my comprehension. May she rest in peace with her husband and may they both have their hand on the shoulder of their son to guide him through this tough time and througout the rest of his life. My prayers will be for this little guy.
Dana Reeve: Death of a 'Super-Hero'
http://www.1010wins.com/pages/12519.php
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (1010 WINS) -- Dana Reeve, who won worldwide admiration for her devotion to her ``Superman'' husband, Christopher Reeve, through his decade of near-total paralysis, has died of lung cancer at age 44.
1010 WINS Video: Dana Reeve
Reeve, a singer-actress who gave up some of her own career to be one of the nation's best-known caregivers, died late Monday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Medical Center of lung cancer, said Kathy Lewis, president of the Christopher Reeve Foundation. Dana Reeve had succeeded Christopher Reeve as chair of the foundation, which funded research into spinal-cord paralysis cures.
Lewis said she was at Reeve's hospital bedside on Friday, and Reeve was ``tired but with her typical sense of humor and smile, always trying to make other people feel good, her characteristic personality.''
``She was a woman with an incredible heart who really put herself out there to help people with disabilities and especially those who are caregivers, something she knew a lot about.''
Reeve is survived by the Reeves' 13-year-old son, Will; two grown stepchildren, Matthew and Alexandra; her father, Charles Morosini, and two sisters. The foundation said no plans for a funeral have been announced.
Four months ago, at a fundraising gala for the foundation, Reeve looked healthy in a long, formal gown and said she was responding well to treatment and her tumor was shrinking.
``I'm beating the odds and defying every statistic the doctors can throw at me,'' Reeve said then. ``My prognosis looks better all the time.''
Reeve, a nonsmoker, had announced her lung cancer diagnosis in August. Doctors say 1 in 5 women diagnosed with the disease never lit a cigarette.
Asked how she kept her spirits up, Reeve said she ``had a great model.''
``I was married to a man who never gave up,'' she said.
Christopher Reeve, star of Hollywood's ``Superman'' movies, became an activist for spinal cord research after a horse-riding accident paralyzed him on 1995. He died Oct. 10, 2004.
Dana Reeve was a constant companion and supporter of her husband during his long ordeal and his work for a cure for spinal cord injuries.
Reeve, who lived in Pound Ridge, had appeared on Broadway, off-Broadway and regional stages and on the TV shows ``Law & Order,'' ``Oz,'' and ``All My Children.''
She was on the board of the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts, where she met Christopher Reeve doing summer theater, and the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.
A year ago, she won a Mother of the Year award from the American Cancer Society. A society vice president, Dr. Michael Thun, said Reeve ``has shown strength and courage in the face of tremendous adversity.''
A reminder to us all at how precious life is. Prayers to her young son and all her family and friends.
Elect John Edwards and he will make sure lung cancer people can smoke again.
My prayers for the children and loved ones of the Reeves.
This really upset me. She is so young and now her son is an orphan without his mom and dad. We were recently discussing cancer in a medical class I am in and talking about what specifically causes the cells to mutate (ie. what really causes cancer) and there are a lot of theories about stress. I think in time we will come to see that this plays a pivotal role in certain and maybe even all cancers.
Very sad. She seemed to be the perfect soulmate for Chris Reeves.
On the topic of lung cancer and her age: The cause may have been due to genetics, high concentrations of unvented radon in her home, she was exposed to high doseages of radiation from an unknown source in her world travels, etc..
As a widow myself she is at peace she is with her husband. My thoughts and prayers are to her family and son
Tragic indeed.
Very sad news. Condolences to her family.
:o(
ping
Oh this is so sad. I thought she was getting better! I know they have a young son....oh my heart goes out to that child!
I cannot believe the number of posts this generated. Why is this so big? Folks die everyday, sad though it may be, and many leave orphans.
I know a little something about the riding "accident". Mr. Reeves was a bit arrogant, as most actors are. Supreme confidence helps you deal with rejection and forge ahead in a tough industry. However, such an attitude when dealing with 1200 pound animals can help you write a check your body can't cash. I've seen him frequently try to perform beyond his abilities horseback. Sometimes that is good, as it allows us to grow, but in his case it was catastrophic. No criticism here, just observation; these things happen.
Now, simply being married to someone who suffers a paralysis, DOES NOT MAKE YOU A HERO. Why is she special?
Why are these people so special? Doesn't anyone remember "Death Trap"? A pioneering gay flick? Caan and Reeve kissing on the big screen? Were this one of the Brokeback actors dying everybody would be chiming in good riddance. ANd don't try the "he did so much for cripples" speech either. That line went sour with Tookie.
Sad story yes, but nothing special.
I am so impressed with her dedication to marriage in general and her own marriage specifically.
She spent almost ten years taking care of Christopher after his riding accident in 1995, and kept their family's spirits high the entire time. I never heard her utter a negative word about the situation, she was continually positive, supportive, and determined.
This is quite a rare trait in today's liberal approach to any commitment, especially marriage: At the first sign of trouble or discomfort, you are supposed to get a lawyer, take as many assets out of the marriage as you can, and bolt for the door, shirking your responsibilities that you vowed to uphold.
How sad! Neat Lady Poor young orphan, Will Reeve.
God Bless and comfort the family!
First their Dad, now their Mom, those poor children. May God watch over them.
It's possible that Dana had Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, which is fairly common (and runs in my family).
Basically it makes the lungs less capable of protecting and repairing damage.
And makes the person more susceptible to lung cancer.
It is genetic, but isn't a part of standard testing, so it's not uncommon for adults to go undiagnosed until they experience a significant issue. My daughter has it, but neither my wife nor I have ever been tested/diagnosed. One of us must have it.
Having Alpha-1 and being a smoker radically increases risks of lung damage, as would living with a smoker or working in a very smokey environment.