Somewhere in Heaven: The Remarkable Story of Dana and Christopher Reeve [Hardcover]

I have just finished reading Somewhere in Heaven, The Remarkable Love Story of Dana and Christopher Reeve, written by Christopher Andersen. I did not think that I could feel such sadness for this couple, but from the opening lines, I found myself actually crying as I read and pretty well continued doing so until the end of the book.

Although I thought Christopher Reeve was a good actor, I never really followed his career or his life. Of course, I was shocked by his tragic accident, but it wasn't until I heard about the death of his wife Dana that I clued in that maybe there was more to this family than I had originally thought.

When I was given the chance to read this book, I jumped on it. From the opening pages, which described the last few hours of Chris' life, I immediately feel in love with this couple. After a brief description of Dana and Chris' childhoods, the author details, for us, their romantic and beautiful courtship as well as the birth of their son Will. I just loved the way these two people looked across a crowded room and just `found each other' - it was so perfect. All I kept thinking, as I read, was how lucky they were to find each other.

However, as it seems to be with this couple, tragedy was never far away - apparently just about to strike. Most of us are, by now, quite familiar with the horrible riding accident Chris Reeve was involved in shortly after the birth of his child, in 1995. Although I was familiar with some of it, this book details the struggles that Dana had to go through to prevent Chris' mother from asking the doctors to remove him from the ventilator. From the moment Dana found out about the accident, she was determined to be there for her husband and it is apparent that she fulfilled this desire and became, in many ways, his `Superwomen' when he needed her most. I loved reading about her strength and her conviction that the man she loved, would come out of this somehow. How lucky Chris was to have picked this woman to be his wife.

Chris and Dana truly showed the world that love can conquer all. They became activists and dedicated their lives to finding a cure for spinal cord injuries and through it all, you felt the intense love these two people had for each other. Just writing this, I feel as though I am going to cry again.

Tragedy would strike again and again as Chris would suddenly die of a massive heart attack followed shortly by Dana's mother death and finally the biggest blow of all - the diagnosis that would tell Dana that she was dying of lung cancer. How much can one family take? Throughout all her fear, pain and sadness, Dana continued to champion on - and focused on her son and keeping Chris' message alive.

Dana would eventually die of her disease, but in the wake of all the pain, this beautiful couple has left me in awe of their courage and strength. I applaud them and am truly inspired by their spirit.

This book captures all of the events of their lives and is told in beautiful prose. You never feel as though you are intruding on their privacy, but rather as though you are asked to share in the joys and in the sorrows.

The author did a wonderful job of writing a story that must have been emotionally draining to write, but it was also a story that needed to be told.

Although the ending is tragic, the journey is beautiful. I suggest you get this book and find out just how strong the power of love is.

Christopher Reeve became the world's Superman, but his real-life struggle with spinal cord paralysis showed a strength far surpassing the comic book hero's, present both in him and his wife, Dana. Their stories, from their time of meeting to their reunion in heaven are eloquently recalled in Christopher Andersen's Somewhere in Heaven.

This heart-breaking recollection of one of the most beautiful relationships to see Hollywood collects the family's best and worst times, from Christopher's first sight of his future wife to the horse accident that left him paralyzed. Their story, dotted with emotionally shattering moments, was one of true love and trust, as Dana took the full-time role of caregiver to her disabled actor husband, who, from his first awakening post-accident to his very last breath, felt the hardship of raising a family without the ability to physically interact with his and Dana's son, Will. But through their hardships and struggles came hope and inspiration, as their constant lobbying for stem cell research brought spinal cord paralysis to its highest awareness and amazing breakthroughs, often in Reeve himself.

Upon Reeve's devastating death, Dana continued her husband's inspirational endeavours until stage-4 lung cancer reunited her with her husband less than two years later. However, son Will and Christopher's children with actress Gae Exton, Matthew and Alexandra, continue their parents' motivational work to raise awareness for spinal cord paralysis through the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. And it is through them, as well as the timeless works Christopher and Dana left behind, that they will live on in the hearts of millions. An absolutely beautiful, tear-jerking read that should be on every bookshelf.

- T.C. Robson

Christopher Andersen's sensitively written and touching portrait of Christopher and Dana Reeve in life and death--"Somewhere in Heaven''--beautifully describes what Larry King called "... two unforgettable profiles in courage." The poignancy of their struggle and the monumental solidity of their life together is underscored by their own words. Chris Reeve: "Real love, and the ability to love somebody as damaged as I was, that is a very rare and precious thing." Dana Reeve: "I didn't fall in love with Superman. I fell in love with a super man." This was not only an amazing marriage, but a true partnership to the very end. Sure to hit an emotional chord, "Somewhere in Heaven" is equally thoughtful and insightful--in short, a super read.