Christopher Reeve is breathing without the help of a respirator for the first time in seven years. A recent operation, in which the Superman star had electrodes implanted in his diaphragm, appears to have been a success.
The 50-year-old actor was left paralysed and unable to breathe after a riding accident in 1995 which damaged his spinal chord.
Doctors who carried out the experimental procedure say it has yielded "impressive" results. Prior to the operation, Christopher could only breathe for ten minutes wihtout a respirator, but he can now manage for over two hours.
"I acturally woke up and smelled the coffee," joked the star, who has regained his sense of smell as a result of the operation. He is also enjoying life without the constant hum of a ventilator: "All you could hear was me breathing through my nose," he said. "Regular rhythmic breathing from my nose for the first time in nearly eight years!"
It is hoped that the electrodes will eventually strengthen his diaphragm enough for him to stop using the respirator altogether. Dr Raymond Onders of University Hospitals of Cleveland says that as his recovery progresses, he should also be able to talk more normally.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
