Editing Christopher Reeve (section)

===Rehabilitation===
After a month in the hospital, Reeve spent six months at the [[Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation|Kessler Rehabilitation Center]] in [[West Orange, New Jersey]], to continue with his recovery and learn skills such as operating his [[sip-and-puff]] electric [[Motorized wheelchair|wheelchair]] by blowing air through a straw. In his autobiography ''[[Still Me]]'', he described initially not wanting to face the reality of his disability. Getting used to sitting strapped into a wheelchair or taking a shower was initially terrifying. Reeve developed a deep fondness for many of the staff at Kessler, and through conversations with the other patients gradually started to see himself as being part of the disabled community.<ref>Reeve, Christopher (1998), pp. 96–126</ref>{{refn|group=note|In September 1995, ''The Journey of Christopher Reeve'' aired on ABC News' ''[[20/20 (American TV program)|20/20]]''. Featuring in-depth interviews with Reeve and Dana, and showing his rehabilitation process at Kessler, the special became a winner of the [[Peabody Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |title=20/20: The Journey of Christopher Reeve |url=https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-journey-of-christopher-reeve/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240528103014/https://peabodyawards.com/award-profile/the-journey-of-christopher-reeve/ |archive-date=May 28, 2024 |access-date=November 14, 2024 |website=[[Peabody Awards]]}}</ref>}}

For the first few months after the accident, Reeve relied on a ventilator, which was connected to his neck through a [[tracheostomy tube]], for every breath. With therapy and practice, he developed the ability to breathe on his own for up to 90 minutes at a time.<ref>Reeve, Christopher (1998), p. 141</ref>

At home, Reeve exercised for up to four or five hours a day, using specialized exercise machines to stimulate his muscles and prevent [[muscle atrophy]] and [[osteoporosis]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=February 9, 2003|title=Superman's toughest battle|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2736277.stm|access-date=October 22, 2020}}</ref> He believed that intense physical therapy could [[regeneration (biology)|regenerate]] the [[nervous system]], and also wanted his body to be strong enough to support itself if a cure for paralysis were found.

Beginning in 2000, he started to regain the ability to make small movements with his fingers and other parts of his body. By 2002, he could feel the prick of a needle and sense hot and cold temperatures on 65% of his body.<ref>{{cite news|author=Oliver Burkeman|date=September 17, 2002|title=Man of steel|newspaper=The Guardian|location=London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0,3604,793417,00.html|access-date=July 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Blakeslee|first=Sandra|date=September 12, 2002|title=Actor Regains Some Movement, Doctor Says|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/12/us/actor-regains-some-movement-doctor-says.html|access-date=July 16, 2018}}</ref> He regularly exercised in a swimming pool and could push off with his legs from the side of a pool and make a [[snow angel]] movement with his arms. He also had a sense of [[proprioception]], which is critical for movement control.<ref name="New Yorker">{{cite magazine |last=Cappello |first=Daniel |date=November 2, 2003 |title=The Reeve Factor |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/11/10/the-reeve-factor |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202094010/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/11/10/the-reeve-factor |archive-date=December 2, 2024 |access-date=December 9, 2024 |magazine=The New Yorker}}</ref> Initially, Reeve was given an A grade on the [[American Spinal Injury Association|ASIA Impairment Scale]], indicating no motor or sensory function. In 2002, his grade was changed to C, indicating some degree of muscle movement and sensation. Reeve's doctors were surprised by his improvements, which they attributed to his intensive exercise regimen. The degree of his recovery was reported in scientific journals.<ref>{{cite journal |date=June 14, 2003 |title=Man and superman |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1126178 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208011155/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1126178/ |archive-date=December 8, 2024 |pmc=1126178 |last1=Eaton |first1=L. |journal=BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.) |volume=326 |issue=7402 |pages=1287–1290 |doi=10.1136/bmj.326.7402.1287 |pmid=12805155 }}</ref>

In February 2003, Reeve became the third patient in the United States to undergo an experimental procedure in which electrodes were implanted in his diaphragm to help him breathe without a ventilator.<ref>{{cite web |title=NeuRx DPS® |url=https://www.synapsebiomedical.com/faq/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241227124702/https://www.synapsebiomedical.com/faq/ |archive-date=December 27, 2024 |access-date=December 26, 2024 |website=Synapse Biomedical|date=November 23, 2015 }}</ref> Previously, he could force air into his lungs using his neck muscles, which required a lot of effort. With a [[Diaphragm pacing|diaphragm pacing device]], he was able to breathe normally through his nose, regaining his sense of smell and normal speech.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morales |first=Tatiana |date=March 13, 2003 |title=Reeve Pushes Ahead |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reeve-pushes-ahead/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226110134/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reeve-pushes-ahead/ |archive-date=December 26, 2024 |access-date=December 26, 2024 |website=CBS News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Higgs |first=Robert |date=March 14, 2003 |title=Reeve hopes UH implant frees him from ventilator |url=https://www.cleveland.com/pdextra/2009/01/reeve_hopes_uh_implant_frees_h.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226180839/https://www.cleveland.com/pdextra/2009/01/reeve_hopes_uh_implant_frees_h.html |archive-date=December 26, 2024 |access-date=December 26, 2024 |website=cleveland.com}}</ref> At first, the device allowed him to breathe for 15 minutes an hour, but over time this increased up to 18 hours a day.<ref>{{cite web |last=Vergano |first=Dan |date=November 15, 2003 |title=Reeve speaks after rare op |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-10049841.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226110407/https://www.irishexaminer.com/world/arid-10049841.html |archive-date=December 26, 2024 |access-date=December 26, 2024 |website=Irish Examiner}}</ref> In November 2003, Reeve appeared in public without a ventilator for the first time since his accident.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 23, 2003 |title=Reeve makes speech without ventilator |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30122949.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108092027/https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30122949.html |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=December 26, 2024 |website=Irish Examiner}}</ref> In 2008, the device was approved by the [[Food and Drug Administration|FDA]] under a [[Humanitarian Device Exemption]], and received [[Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938#Premarket approval (PMA)|premarket approval]] in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last=MacMillan |first=Owen |date=April 7, 2023 |title="When you can't breathe, nothing else matters": Oberlin company receives FDA approval |url=https://chroniclet.com/news/347642/when-you-cant-breathe-nothing-else-matters-oberlin-company-receives-fda-approval/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250108092200/https://chroniclet.com/news/347642/when-you-cant-breathe-nothing-else-matters-oberlin-company-receives-fda-approval/ |archive-date=January 8, 2025 |access-date=December 26, 2024 |website=The Chronicle}}</ref>