SUPER MAN
"Christopher Reeve has proved that courage and determination can help a person fly higher than any Hollywood special effects." EUAN B. SHARP St. Catharines, Canada
What an extraordinary article on Christopher Reeve and his battle to walk again after spinal-cord injury [MEDICINE, Aug. 26]. His courage, resolution and wit in the face of enormous physical challenges are truly inspiring. Roger Rosenblatt managed both to humanize and to exalt this man of steel. Many people will be cheering on his progress, both physical and legislative, in the years to come. While he can no longer move freely in the beautiful landscape near his home, Reeve will surely have many exhilarating journeys across the landscape of his mind. LAURA KELLY Pleasantville, New York Via E-mail
Reeve is a valiant person and a magnificent spokesman for spinal-cord-injury regeneration research. His accomplishments should certainly be applauded. But his bravery is far outshone by those thousands of "average" men and women with quadriplegia who, despite less-than-optimal health care, little or no family support and few opportunities for independence through employment or education and training, go on day after day, always trying their very best to live their life in a positive, loving and productive way. They are the real heroes. CATHERINE W. BRITELL, M.D. Mercer Island, Washington Via E-mail
As Christopher Reeve's mom, I congratulate you on your excellent profile of him. Although I knew that this cover story was coming, I confess I was unprepared for the onslaught of tears that overcame me when I read it. Your report brought back a lot of memories and painted a very vivid picture of Chris' life today. As a journalist, I admired the scope and detail of the piece and the skillful way Chris' accident, therapy and campaign for spinal-cord research were interwoven with the personal aspects of his life and thoughts. You captured the paradox in his driving perfectionism and his unsure self-criticism. The opening paragraph was especially masterly in its description of Chris in his chair, inert and immobile but all forward motion in his eyes and his thinking. Similarly, the last image of him, on the tilt table, standing tall, was so apt and telling of his strong desire to walk again. BARBARA L. JOHNSON Princeton, New Jersey
Look no further for TIME's next man of the Year. He is on your cover for all the reasons you cite as criteria for your selection. Reeve is truly inspirational. RENEE KIRK Thornton, Pennsylvania
I worked with Reeve on the first two films in the Superman series. And as the uncle of a 27-year-old quadriplegic who crushed his spinal cord in a teenage diving tragedy, I am all too aware of the unspeakable horrors attendant on this kind of catastrophic injury. I know that Chris will bring the same intensity, energy and intelligence he displayed as an actor to his efforts to reverse paralysis from spinal-cord trauma. I pray that I will live to see the day when Chris and my nephew Adam will walk again. DAVID M. PETROU Washington