“Truth, Justice and the Accessible Way”

Written by Vincent Kustush

Paying tribute to a personal hero.

There are those few days from childhood that I can remember as if they were yesterday. You know those days…those were they days that shaped you in some way or fashion. Those moments give you insight or just the ability to dream.

The year was 1978 and I was nine years old. It was opening night of “THE BIGGEST DEAL IN A BOYS LIFE” since the building of the great pyramids! I mention that because it was the year the King Tut phenomenon took the country by storm. It was opening night for “Superman: The Movie” starring someone I had never seen before the day I won that superman movie poster from my school’s annual fun fair, just the week before. There was superman protecting metropolis and underdogs everywhere.

Those two hours changed my life. My sister Jill had bought me a Superman; The Movie program after the movie and it flicked a switch in me as a young boy. No matter who you are you will have problems, some small, some big, but if you help people…down the line you’ll be ok.

For years Christopher Reeves was Superman and Superman was Christopher Reeves.

Fast forward about two decades and I’m recovering from my back surgery and dealing with tasks and things I couldn’t do or people didn’t understand what someone goes through when they have a surgery of that magnitude or a new disability that you are trying to transition into your life.

That brings me to yet another day in my life that stands out from all others. I was making my way into the living room when I heard the newscaster report…. “This just in, Actor Christopher Reeves famous for portraying Superman in a popular series of films was seriously hurt in a horse riding accident and is in intensive care…I stopped cold in my tracks in front of the TV my mouth wide open and a sinking feeling in my heart. I remember thinking to myself “Nothing can take down Superman, Nothing!” There I was in my mid twenties and in my mind that was a fact. You cannot take down Superman and boy was I right!

This is where my news channel addiction began. Over the next few weeks we learned more about what had happened to Chris. The world learned more about spinal cord injury, about what families and friends do and how to rally around a life-changing event. That backroom issue was finally finding the international stage it deserves.

Out of the Red, Yellow and Blue came a hero dedicated to helping those who need it. Still bigger than life but sitting down. Our friend, Superman had again come to the rescue of those in great need, societies underdogs.

A common thread that connected Christopher Reeves, Superman and his legion of fans and supporters was compassion. He made the world look at a problem that was being ignored, pushed off to the back burners. He rallied, protested and advocated, through science and research there is a solution.

Every time there was a television interview or show segment highlighting Christopher Reeves I watched. He wrote books and I read. He made movies and I watched. He sat there dignified I stood there awestruck. What an incredible gift he and his family gave  and continue to give to the world.

It was clear I had nothing to whine about. Every time I would get depressed Chris Reeves was somewhere in the media to give me hope and to inspire me to help change the world.

 What he showed us was that like Superman one person can make a difference, those days were not over. Christopher Reeves will be remembered in history as a great leader of civil rights and the advancement for the disabled community. The right to fund the research and development of different therapies, to find a cure for paralysis.

He may of not been flying over head in his red cape, but he rolled into the halls of congress and into the worlds heart. He may not of been an alien from Krypton but he was now in a world that was alien to him. Like the character he played he exuded dignity. The parallels are many and interesting.

Then there was the day that I will never forget. I had been up really early because of my back problem and I was of course watching my news channels. It was a breaking news alert…I thought it was probably an update in the war so I immediately turned the volume up so I could give it the attention soldiers deserve. It was not a war report.

“This just in…Superman to millions Christopher Reeves has passed away due to complications………” I broke down in tears as I sit there in my chair. My Supes’ had just passed away. Superman was dead. My idol Christopher Reeves, the disabled revolutionary was no longer here. Or was he? See, I’ve learned that people may die but their ideas and thoughts can live much longer.

The Christopher Reeves Paralysis Foundation will continue to live on, it will continue to inspire, to influence policy, politics, funding and research. Dedicated to making peoples life the best it can be. There’s nothing better that that.

Christopher Reeves understood what he meant to people. He knew when Superman speaks to the world, the world would listen, giving him the respect he deserved.

Through his actions Christopher Reeves unknowingly gave to me hope of one day opening Given The Ability, Inc. We believe we are furthering what Christopher Reeves strived for in the final years of his life. There were three things: Truth, Justice and the Accessible Way.

Thank you Mr. Reeves for a lifetime worth of inspiration and the ability to dream.

V.