Dana Reeve died of lung cancer.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

Breaking on msnbc tv now.

How sad!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/

Rest in peace, sweet lady. :(

[MadisonProgressive]

1. That's so sad. My thoughts out to her children.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

2. Indeed. Man, that breaks my heart.

[corporate_mike]

22. Sad and shocking, indeed

Join us in donating CPU power to find a cure to many diseases

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=514640&mesg_id=514640

[Critters2]

37. One kid

a 13 yo boy. Who now has to get by with no parents. Sad.

[Radio_Lady]

40. Hope he has some kindly grandparents or aunts/uncles to help

him get through to maturity. Stunning!

You never know what's coming down the 'pike. This life has so many twists and turns. My stepson lost his mother at age 13, and had a very hard time with it. His father and I have done our best, but he is still (I believe) an emotionally fragile man who has had addictions and perhaps still does (we don't know). He will be 48 years old in September.

Will Reese, I wish you the best.

[MadisonProgressive]

62. Actually she had 3 kids

The couple had a 13-year-old son, Will, and Dana Reeve had two grown stepchildren, Matthew and Alexandra.

[Critters2]

63. My bad

CNN this morning kept talking about one son, so I assumed. Never thought about an earlier marriage. Thanks for the correction! :hi:

[Dem2theMax]

69. The two grown children are Christoper's kids from his previous

relationship (no marriage) with Gae Exton.

[OKNancy]

3. Direct link to article:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11709546/

[undergroundrailroad]

11. Thanks for the direct link OKNancy. (n/t)

[allisonthegreat]

26. sad,sad..both my parents died of lung cancer...rest well Dana eom

[Jeanette in FL]

4. Rest in Peace, Dana Reeve

How incredibly sad to hear of this news. I just hope she is at peace with Christopher by her side. I don't think she could live in this world without him. Praying for their son and family.

[Why Syzygy]

53. I agree

He was such a strong personality. You know she had to be one special lady. Peace on her journey.

[peacefreak]

5. That's a tough one.

She proved to be a lady of courage & grace.

[OhioChick]

6. That's so sad for the kids........

losing both parents in a short period of time. My thoughts are with them.

[Rowdyboy]

7. What a heartbreaking way to begin today.....

This is such awful, awful news.

[no_hypocrisy]

8. She was my hero. Courageous on so many fronts.

RIP and peace to her son.

[zanne]

9. Unfair.

Things like this just make me want to climb to the highest point, lift my head up and yell "UNFAIR"!

[WinkyDink]

35. Agreed wholeheartedly. What's it all about, Alfie?

[hlthe2b]

10. Speechless...just speechless...

May you find your eternal peace with Chris, now, Dana. But how excruciating for their young son...

[connecticut yankee]

12. How sad

She was so brave and loyal to him.

They belonged to my Church and she was always by his side. When he asked her to help him die, shortly after his accident, she convinced him to keep living and devote his life to helping others.

She tried to continue his legacy after his death.

We will miss her.

[Ezlivin]

13. All of us in the SCI community honor the Reeves

When Christopher was injured I suspected that it might have an impact on the lives of those with Spinal Cord Injury.

Boy was I right.

Christopher and Dana were tireless advocates for more SCI research. Thanks to their efforts we are closer now to a cure. And they both supported stem-cell research, currently our best hope for a working treatment.

[The Wielding Truth]

49. Du'rs will pick up her torch. Thanks be to her mighty spirit.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

14. Rest in peace, Dana Reeve.

[qanda]

15. Oh my good Lord! Those poor children.

I had no idea she was that sick. I thought if anybody could beat cancer, it would be her. :cry:

[Renew Deal]

16. What?

That is terribly sad. She sang a song for Mark Messier at his number retirement Jan. 12. She looked pretty good. This is terrible. :cry:

People often live more than a year after a spouse dies, but this is ridiculous.

[adriennui]

17. how awful

she was a beautiful presence in her husband's life and a remarkable example of grace to the public.

[Frank Cannon]

18. Jesus Hernandez Christ, that's horrible.

That poor family.

That is so sad, I don't even know what to say.

[megatherium]

19. Awful. My dad died of lung cancer in December.

He was a former heavy smoker. It was terrible watching him grow weaker day by day.

On edit: Dana Reeves was not a smoker (20% of lung cancers in women happen in non-smokers). Just as sad regardless of the cause, of course.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

21. I am sorry to hear that, megatherium. My mother-in-law passed away

from lung cancer almost six years ago. It's a horrendous disease. Trying to encourage my husband to quit smoking (he's tried numerous times) for both of our sakes.

[Why Syzygy]

54. Even though

they think they find "causes", there really is no readily apparent explanation.

My dad went with common bile duct cancer at the age of 64. He smoked for about six months in his teens. Walked almost every day, lived a very moderate lifestyle with no alcohol. These things are much more psychosomatic, I believe. There is an emotional component. All cancers are horrific. Anyone who gets through that one way or the other is a very brave soul.

[onehandle]

20. Hollywood types sure live charmed lives.

You would have thought that fate would have given the poor woman a little more time to live life for herself.

[Blue Diadem]

23. My sympathy to all her loved ones

I had so hoped and prayed that she'd be able to beat the disease. This was a real shock finding this out this morning. My heart goes out to her family.

[Rose Siding]

24. Go in peace, dear sister

http://www.deathbyhmo.com.nyud.net:8090/images/animated_candle.gif

[latebloomer]

25. Oh no, I am shocked!

I was so hoping she'd beat this. Her poor son! :cry:

[LibDemAlways]

27. If anyone deserved some

calm, contentment, and peace in her life after a decade selflessly devoted to her spouse, it was Dana Reeve. There is simply no justice. RIP, Dana. You were an inspiration.

[serryjw]

57. That was exactly what I thought when she was DX

So young, vital and she gave yourself tirelessly and asked nothing in return. She looked great at the Madison Square Garden on January 13th. She is now with Christopher by her side for eternity. RIP sweet lady, you earned a long rest. It really is true..The good die young, life is just unfair. Our hopes and prayers with Will and the family.

[Blue_Roses]

28. I am so heart-broken over this

what a beautiful person. I feel sorry for her young son. My heart is so heavy. How so very, very sad.:cry:

[indie_voter]

29. So sad. She deserved a long life. n/t

[Coventina]

30. I take comfort in belief that they are together now, and whole again.

But those poor kids. I hope they have lots of love and support.

[Radio_Lady]

41. I wish I shared your belief. But I don't... no afterlife at all.

Perhaps the older children can take the younger boy under their wings. I read somewhere they did have a good relationship.

What happened to Chris' first wife? Is she still around?

[OldLeftieLawyer]

55. Dana was his first, and only wife

He had two kids with - was it his agent, manager, something like that - and they went their separate ways, but they apparently had a very cordial relationship.

[Dinger]

31. Dana, The World Is Better Because You Were Here

My heart truly goes out to her family.
:-(

[lovuian]

32. She was a wonderful woman... She was one of those Angels

out there!!!!!!!

[AnneD]

33. This is just heartbreaking.....

I know she is reunited with Steve...but how hard on their son....

[yppahemnkm]

34. So very sad.

I feel so bad for the family. My wishes go out to them.

[arwalden]

36. Tragic. -- She Was So Eloquent...

... and did such a great job at keeping Christopher Reeve's message alive and in front of the public. I remember seeng her on Oprah... she was a fantastic woman.

[goclark]

38. Beyond sad ~ RIP

[jasmeel]

39. She was such a positive person I didn't believe she would die.

I thought she would beat it. How the heck does a non smoker get lung cancer anyway?

[DrBloodmoney]

42. Adenocarcinoma

as opposed to squamous cell or small cell is less likely to be associated with smoking. It occurs more frequently in women, younger patients, and non-smokers.

Pretty common actually.

[kestrel91316]

73. My dad died of pulmonary adenocarcinoma at age 47............

he had smoked when young, but quit in his early 30s. He also had probable fallout exposure from aboveground nuclear testing in the 1950s, and suspected Agent Orange exposure during the Vietnam War. So he had a lot of strikes against him.

It's AWFUL to lose a parent in the prime of their life, when you are still young and maturing. I have never really gotten over the loss.

I feel sorry for Will, but he has grandparents and uncles and aunts and cousins and a sister and brother, so he will be ok.

[Southsideirish]

52. I understand that it is very insidious and there are no symptoms until it

has spread to the brain. By that time it is like stage 4 and too late.

[henslee]

43. That is sad. She was a lovely person.

[flamingyouth]

44. That is so sad

:cry:

[Dr Ron]

45. Statement by John Kerry on Dana Reeves

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2160

[Spirochete]

46. Very tragic week

Kirby Puckett yesterday (also only 44), and Dana Reeve today. Very sad.

[Radio_Lady]

47. dupe -- self delete

[Radio_Lady]

48. (PHOTO) Gae Exton, mother of Chris' two older children.

I didn't know that Exton and Reeve were never married. I guess she is not really related to Will at all.
Wonder what has become of Ms. Exton in the ensuing years?

http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2004/10/11/in_depth_showbiz/photoessay648491_0_11_photo.shtml

[LiberalEsto]

56. Dana was the nanny

for Gae's kids. I think it was kind of crappy for her to get involved with Reeve while babysitting their kids.

RIP

[MADem]

59. I thought he met her when she was singing in a nightclub n.t

[PVK]

60. Homewrecker. n/t

[Dem2theMax]

67. Oh for crying out loud. Christopher met Dana while she was

SINGING in a club. She was never the nanny to his kids. She didn't steal him from Gae. She wasn't a homewrecker. Quit the ugly gossip.

[Radio_Lady]

75. Edited: Unless someone comes up with the true story, I'll be charitable.

After all, both parents are dead now.

[PVK]

80. Says here they met AFTER he and Gae broke up.

http://www.chrisreevehomepage.com/biography.html

[saracat]

50. Dana Reeve has passed away at the age of 44!

httpDana Reeve, widow of Christopher Reeve, 44


By AP
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Dana Reeve, who won worldwide admiration for her devotion to her "Superman" husband, Christopher Reeve, through his decade of near-total paralysis, has died of lung cancer at the age of 44.

Reeve, a singer-actress who gave up some of her own career to be one of the nation's best-known caregivers, died late Monday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Medical Center, said Kathy Lewis, president of the Christopher Reeve Foundation.

Reeve had succeeded her husband as chair of the foundation, which funded research into spinal-cord paralysis cures. She announced in August that, while she wasn't a smoker, she had been diagnosed with lung cancer.

Lewis visited Reeve in the hospital Friday and said Reeve was "tired but with her typical sense of humor and smile, always trying to make other people feel good, her characteristic personality."

"She was a woman with an incredible heart who really put herself out there to help people with disabilities and especially those who are caregivers -- something she knew a lot about," Lewis said.

Four months ago, at a fundraising gala for the foundation, Reeve looked healthy in a long, formal gown and said she was responding well to treatment and her tumor was shrinking.

"I'm beating the odds and defying every statistic the doctors can throw at me," ://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/people/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002117367

[calimary]

51. DAMN. Just DAMN. I feel bad for their young son.

Small comfort that at least the lovers are back together again now. You know he was standing there, tall and handsome and fit and able-bodied, on the other side of The Gates to escort her in.

Such a loss. Such a magnificent woman! FORTY FOUR years old.

:cry:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

58. This is so very tragic

My condolences to the Reeves family on their loss and I feel especially for the children of Christopher Reeves and his wife -to lose two parents in less than a year is a nightmare that no child should have to experience

:cry:

[Ayesha]

61. My mother died of lung cancer

She was a non-smoker and only 55. She had survived thyroid cancer at 13 and breast cancer twice. I work with cancer patients now as a therapist/support group facilitator. It is a terrible disease and I offer my prayers to Dana's family, especially her 13 year old son who has now lost both parents within two years. So sad. :(

[eppur_se_muova]

64. Some particularly saddening observations from CNN article...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/03/07/reeve.obit/index.html
***
Sen. Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat, said Reeve helped generate support for a bill that would expand funding for embryonic stem cell research. It was passed by the House last year, defying President Bush's veto threat.

"If it had not been for her, we would not have had the number of signatures on the stem cell bill that we had," Harkin said. "I'm absolutely convinced of that."
***
and this quote from Sen. Arlen Specter, a cancer survivor:

"President Nixon declared war on cancer in 1970. Had we devoted the resources to that war which we devoted to other wars, perhaps Dana Reeve's life could have been saved," he said.
***
And last month, Lewis said in a statement she was "deeply disappointed" that Bush's proposed budget eliminated funding for the foundation's Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center and other nonprofit groups.
***
Harkin has said the funds will be restored.

[flaminbats]

65. Chris and Dana gave hope to all who have suffered from paralysis..

and to those suffering from Cancer, Diabetes, along with other chronic medical conditions. ;(

[progressivebydesign]

66. How much pain for one family? That is just really sad.

She was such a role model for so many.. for marriage. RIP

[Radio_Lady]

76. Reminded me of the Kennedy family. So much pain, unrelieved.

[Raine]

68. R-I-P Dana

This is such heartbreaking news, I cried when I heard it. :cry: Life is so unfair. :-(

[Bucky]

70. Not surprised if the caregiving stress made her more vulnerable to illness

That happens a lot. When a loved one suffers for a long time, then dies, often the partner dies shortly thereafter.

[Greylyn58]

71. RIP Dana...now you can be with Christopher again

I hate that her son has been left behind because of this. So sad!! :cry:

[ChiciB1]

72. We Lost Another Loyal Soul... The Only Question

is WHY?? I'm sure their children must really feel they were dealt a raw deal!

I'm presently living through a crisis with my son that at once angers me, but scares me to death also, but and it's times like these that breaks my heart and I wonder why he can't dig himself out of his hole.

For sure, he has some things happen to him that don't generally happen to most of us, not withstanding his wife leaving him, but he just went down hill and I have no idea where he's at right now. I now know how it feels when you "don't" know circumstances, and I can tell you CLOSURE is supremely important!

My refuge is my politics and trying to stay focused, but I feel so badly for the remainder of Reeves family. What a tragedy!

[JI7]

74. very sad

especially for their son.

[wordpix2]

77. a friend of mine who does a lot of health research said she died of chemo

and not of the disease. I don't know if this is true as I didn't question my friend about how she "knows" this. Has anyone else heard this?

[onenote]

78. hadn't heard that but its not out of the question

A close friend of ours was diagnosed with lung cancer last year. Like Dana, he never had smoked. In fact, he was the cleanest living person I've ever met. He died 8 months after being diagnosed. While in his case it appears he died from the cancer, he had severe reactions to chemo when he first began treatment and nearly died, so I suppose its possible.

onenote

[Delphinus]

79. My mom had severe reactions to her

radiation treatments for breast cancer - she said it came close to killing her, so she stopped halfway through. Have to say, she's not been the same since.

Sympathies to the Reeve family. May she rest well.