Christopher Reeve (Superman) and his wife Dana's foundation for spinal cord injuries
is dedicated to funding research for cures as well as improving lives of people living with spinal injuries in the here and now.
The foundation, now run by a board including their three adult children, has given over $138 million to research over the years and has been one of the backers of the research that led to this: "One minute I was walking with the trainer’s assistance and, while they stopped, I continued walking on my own." -- Kelly Thomas, research participant at the University of Louisville.
I wish Dana and Chris Reeve, who spent his last years confined to a wheelchair, paralyzed below the neck, could see what their efforts have led to. I give thanks for their generous spirits, and to their children for carrying on this important legacy.
https://www.christopherreeve.org/blog/daily-dose/a-historic-day-epidural-stimulation-leads-to-stepping
A historic day: epidural stimulation leads to stepping
Posted by Reeve Staff in Daily Dose on September 24, 2018
Historic. That is the best word to describe what is happening in spinal cord research. Since 1982, the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation has been on the frontlines of pursuing the best and most promising science to speed the development of treatments and therapies for spinal cord injury. We made a promise to never stop until cures were discovered and, today, we have taken a quantum leap forward.
Over the years, the Reeve Foundation has invested more than $138 million in labs around the world to unite the brightest minds and accelerate scientific discovery. It is thanks to the Reeve Foundation’s persistence that cures for spinal cord injury are no longer the impossible dream, but a near-term reality.
When the idea of epidural stimulation was first introduced, many refused to believe that technology could give rise to effective therapies for paralysis. It wasn’t until Rob Summers -- the first participant -- that our eyes were opened to what was possible in a way we never imagined. We thought it was the biggest breakthrough of all time. And, it was...until now.
Stepping: Achieving the impossible dream
Dr. Reggie Edgerton is one of the founders of modern day spinal cord research and the Reeve Foundation has been proud to support his lab over the years. Many of the recent advancements in spinal cord stimulation can be traced directly back to his work and mentorship of prominent scientists like Dr. Susan Harkema and Dr. Grégoire Courtine.
Today, Dr. Edgerton along with researchers from the Mayo Clinic and UCLA unveiled new research in the scientific journal Nature Medicine.Through the application of epidural stimulation in combination with task-specific training, a young man living with chronic complete paraplegia recovered the ability to step over ground while using a front-wheeled walker with trainers providing only sporadic assistance. Additionally, he was able to take bilateral steps on a treadmill.
SNIP
https://www.christopherreeve.org/about-us
We're dedicated to advancing quality of life and discovering cures for spinal cord injury in the here and now. There are many ways to get support, get involved and donate to support the Reeve Foundation mission.
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It's flat-out amazing and the first person I thought of was Reeves who so wanted to be that first stepper. He and his wife were absolutely committed to the viability of spinal stimulation therapy. Now it's a reality.
Also read within the last few days that early stimulation in brain-injury cases is now considered vital, the difference between a functioning and a non-functioning-to-mediocre recovery.
But then I could have told you that 15+ years ago when my brain-injured son had the good fortune to work with a physical therapist who was thoroughly convinced early stimulation was the key. And by early I mean as soon a my son was removed from a respirator, he was doing fundamental movements and exercises in bed.
The doctors thought this woman was nuts, off the wall. Turns out she was dead ass right.
Sometimes it takes a single person with vision and unrelenting passion to make the impossible possible. Financial backing doesn't hurt either. 
A stunning breakthrough.
Thank you for sharing that. What wonderful news!
