7/29 - Encouraging Message - NICU Parents and Families are True Heros

...a hero is an ordinary individual
who finds the strength
to persevere and endure
in spite of overwhelming obstacles.

They are the real heroes,
and so are the families and friends
who have stood by them.

Christopher Reeve
1952 - 2004

NICU Parents are the Real Heroes
I think anyone who has lived through a NICU experience would agree that NICU Parents and their families are the real heroes. These are ordinary people who have been challenged with an extraordinary event (the sudden NICU hospitalization of a newborn) and yet despite this obstacle, somehow find the courage, the strength and the will to persevere despite the challenge.

Christopher Reeve - Superman, Super Human Being
Anyone who was around in 1978 remembers Christopher Reeve as Superman and the Super Hero.

At least for me, the image of Christopher Reeve as Superman is one that has been etched for me...particularly in light of the tragic riding accident in 1995 that left this talented actor and "Man of Steel" a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic for the last decade of his life.

Christopher Reeve's accident has always been a reminder to me that how life can change in just a flash of a moment, a blink of an eye. Everything is normal one moment and very different the next.

The Full Quote
Here is the text of the full quote and how his definition of hero change with time and with circumstances:

When the first Superman movie came out, I gave dozens of interviews to promote it. The most frequent question was: What is a hero? My answer was that a hero is someone who commits a courageous action without considering the consequences.

Now my definition is completely different. I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. They are the real heroes, and so are the families and friends who have stood by them.

Rising above Tragedy to Focus on Living
I remember being so amazed at how Christopher and Dana Reeve were both able to quickly rise above their family tragedy and focus on the positive. Their grace and great courage in the face of adversity has always been a source of inspiration for me.

The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is an example of one of the many organizations that has formed as a result of a tragic event and gone on to do so much to help so many.

I think another one of his quotes summarizes how he was able to keep on living despite experiencing such a life changing event:

There will be ups and there will be downs,
there will be times when things make sense,
there will be times when they won't,
but you'll always be on an adventure of meaning
if you live for self, family, and others.

These words of wisdom also apply to anyone facing a challenge. I hope that NICU Parents and families will find them to be as inspirational in facing challenging times and I do.

Other Related Blog Posts:
Dyer KA. Comforting Message - Struggling for Your Dreams. July 23, 2007.
Source:
Christopher and Dana Reeve. About Us. Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

Photo Source: Erica Johnson. Superman Pillow. Royalty Free Use.