Dana Reeve, widow of Christopher Reeve, has died of lung cancer

[Jules]

How absolutely heartbreaking. I remember her being diagnosed with cancer, but thought she had been doing ok. I can't imagine what their poor son is going through. I pray he is strong enough to get through this.

 

[Cypros]

I was very sad to hear about this when I woke up this morning. Dana Reeves was a woman I truly admired. All those years she sttod by Chris and remained his bigget supporter and fan. She had such grace and style. I feel so badly for her son, but he was raised by two inspiring role models and so has a strong foundation.

 

[lisag]

Ohh, How sad.. I feel so sad for their son, Will. That poor boy has been through alot!

 

[NewMom2003]

I was very sad to hear about this when I woke up this morning. Dana Reeves was a woman I truly admired. All those years she sttod by Chris and remained his bigget supporter and fan. She had such grace and style. I feel so badly for her son, but he was raised by two inspiring role models and so has a strong foundation.

You're right. He was given a strong foundation by two wonderful parents.

 

[Lauren]

I think he has an older sister and brother, half-siblings, from Chris's first marriage.

Chris has 2 kids from another relationship with Gae Exton from England who was also an actress. They are older. Will his son with Dana is only 13. How heartbreaking. God bless him. Dana did great work. RIP.

 

[T'sNana]

Rest in Peace, Dana. I was shocked as well. She was a beautiful person inside and out and I believe she wanted her suffering, illness to be more private. She just seemed that type of person....when it came to others, she was there and fighting with all of her might and asking for help for others, but I think when it came to her personally, she was more private. I think she probably knew the grim outlook and did not want any (media) attention and only wanted to live out her time with her family and closest friends. JMO. I feel she and Christopher are now walking hand-in-hand in Heaven. They deserve the peace they have been given. They are missed!

 

[BrendaStar]

This is truly sad to see Dana Reeve pass. She stood by her husband so gallantly, that it was a shock to find out she had a terminal illness so soon after his passing. Their souls are beyond a doubt together now.

 

[indigomood]

I am saddened to learn of her passing. A courageous woman, full of grace, an inspiration to all, may she rest her beautiful soul in eternal peace. Will has been through more than most 13 years old, may he be strong of character so that whatever adversity may come his way in those tough years, he will look to his parent's memories for inspiration and guidance to make the right choices.

Dana and Chris, your love story was timeless and endured forever... From up in the skies, please drop over your family's heads a little strength and adaptation so that they may continue to live without you.

 

[blueclouds]

shocked doesn't describe my thoughts right now. Their poor little guy. I am greatful that Chris has older children that (I'm certain) will look after their little bro. But still, no parents at the start of his teen years. I know they'll watch over him but that won't stop him from making bad choices or acting out in anger. Terrible sorrow for him.

 

[PrayersForMaura]

Dana and Christopher were an inspiration for all. Dana was a wonderful woman. Stood by Christopher through thick and thin for 9 years. That's love.

I didn't even know she had lung cancer ... and she didn't smoke! Gosh, it just took over so quickly. Rest in peace, Dana and Christopher. Give Will the strength to live. Gosh, to lose both parents at such a young age. Almost his entire life must've been so difficult. He must be a strong young man already. I hope and pray he is. I hope he has lots of love and support around him.

Such a sad, sad story.

 

[IdahoMom]

Her mother died from cancer recently, too:

http://people.aol.com/people/articles/0,19736,1132212,00.html

snip
...
Reeve credited her late husband, Christopher Reeve (who died at age 52 on Oct. 10, 2004), with helping her find the strength to fight her disease...
"I was married to a man who never gave up," Dana said Thursday. "He taught me so much about courage and about going forward. He really was in this with me." As for the couple's son Will, 13, she said, "He's an incredibly upbeat kid. He is the definition of resilience."

Reeve said she's also received tremendous support from such close friends as Robin Williams. "I have so many rocks," Reeve said. "I have a mountain's worth of rocks."

Reeve's diagnosis capped a year that saw her lose both her husband and her mother, who died unexpectedly following surgery for ovarian cancer. "It's been a very difficult year for our family," she said. "Just when you think, 'Okay, I see the light at the end of the tunnel,' I got the diagnosis. There's so much unknown with a cancer diagnosis that's so dire."

But Reeve said she refuses to feel sorry for herself. "It isn't fair," she said, "but I learned a long time ago life just isn't fair, so you better stop expecting it to be. You just forge ahead. We're going to get through this like we've gotten through everything else."

...Looking forward, Reeve said she is thinking about resuming her career as an actress and singer. "My prognosis," she said, "looks better all the time."

 

[Rachael]

I am deeply saddened by this. How horrible for her 13 yo son to lose two parents at such a young age. I remember reading that Dana's mother died shortly after her husband (CR) died.

 

[Tricia]

OMG, that was so fast, just unbelievable. The last I had heard she was doing well and responding to treatment. She looked good. Her poor son; the Lord acts in strange ways sometimes. Why, why? Beautiful woman, inside and out.

This is beyond tragic. Their poor son.

My mother had the same type of cancer as Dana. She was diagnosed in September, repsonded well to treatment, and died in early April.

Small Cell lung cancer is the most deadly and fastest spreading cancer there is.

Their poor son. This is just so sad.

 

[Lesleegp]

I remember hearing right after she came out to the public with her diagnosis, which was right after Peter Jennings died.....that she did not want anyone to know about her illness.....the only reason she made the news public was because a tabloid had gotten the information and was planning to run the story within days of her announcement. I find that tragic as well. She was certainly entitled to her privacy and I think that was taken away from her.

 

[IdahoMom]

It's being reported that Will Reeve will live with friends:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,187076,00.html

snip

Dana Reeve and Christopher Reeve’s 13-year-old son, Will, will stay with friends in the town of Bedford, N.Y.
Sources say that Dana, who passed away last night, made the arrangements with a local family because Will was already close to their son, and the parents agreed so that the boy, who’s already had a roller-coaster life, would have continuity with his existing friends.

It’s not that Dana or Chris didn’t have family. Each had a sibling who was ready to take Will, I am sure, but this was the agreement. And it was completely like Dana to want Will to be as comfortable and secure as possible. That was the kind of woman she was.

 

[michelle]

This is Horrible! So sad. I was just thinking about her the other day.

 

[MrsMush99]

I was truly shocked and saddened when I heard this on the news this morning. May Dana rest in peace.

 

[Michelle Read]

As with everyone here, I am terribly shocked that Dana is no longer with us. What a beautiful, courageous woman the world has lost. Prayers for her family during this difficult time. The Christopher Reeve foundation is accepting donations in her name. This may be a good time to remember a loving couple that is no longer here in body. Godspeed Dana~

http://www.christopherreeve.org/site/c.geIMLPOpGjF/b.899265/k.CC03/Home.htm

 

[Socks]

The beauty of a woman,​

isn't in the clothes she wears,​

The figure that she carries,​

or the way she combs her hair.​

The beauty of a woman,​

must be seen from in her eyes,​

Because that's the doorway to her heart,​

the place where love resides.​

The beauty of a woman,​

isn't in a facial mole,​

but true beauty in a woman,​

is reflected by her soul.​

It's the caring that she cares to give,​

the passion that she shows,​

And the beauty of a woman,​

with passing years, only grows.​

Dana Reeve​

February 19,1961​

March 6, 2006​

 

[dark_shadows]

Middlebury Alum Dana Reeve Dies

Middlebury, Vermont - March 7, 2006

Middlebury graduate Dana Reeve, and the widow of the actor known as "Superman" to millions, has passed away.

A spokesperson for the Christopher Reeve foundation, named after her husband, said Dana died Monday of lung cancer.

She was 44.

Dana Reeve fought for better treatments and possible cures for paralysis through the foundation named for her late actor-husband.

She graduated laude from Middlebury College in 1984, where she majored in English and took theatre classes.



Dana once lived here...