Somewhere in Heaven: The Remarkable Love Story of Dana and Christopher Reeve

Worth every penny. I could not put this book down. Although I already knew the outcome and so many things (or so I thought) about Chris and Dana Reeves; I was still very touched by this book and how very much Dana and Chris loved each other. It also helped me with my profession as a nurse and enlighted me more into the aspects of what a family goes through when this terrible type of accident occurs. I hope; through this book, that I will be even more compasionate towards my patients and their families and understand more fully what they may be feeling. Certainly a loss to this world of these two wonderful people and ofcourse especially to their son (and Chris's two older children).

You didn't hear your alarm clock. The kids have trashed their room again. The guy messed up your latte order. You were late to work because of traffic. If you think the above are anything like your own problems, read this book. You will get a crystal clear picture not only of what real problems are, but you will be awestruck at how these two people decided that life - and its curve balls - would not get them down. The book delves briefly into the backstories of this famous couple, but not enough to get bogged down. As I read it, I said to myself "good grief, what NEXT for these people?" over and over again. In the space of just over a year, Christopher Reeve dies after years of paralysis, Dana Reeve's mother dies, her father has a stroke, and she is diagnosed with lung cancer. This book is a testament to what true love - not to mention true faith - can do. Andersen writes in a style that makes the reader almost feel like a houseguest of the Reeve's. I finished the book almost in one sitting, and at the risk of sounding Hallmark-y, it really opened my eyes as to how blessed in many ways I really am. An amazing story of courage, determination, love, and tragedy.

This book was a very emotional read. It was written so well that I felt like I got to know Chris and Dana on a much more personal level. I would like to quote what a neighbor observed about what Chris and Dana did for their son Will. "Fortunately", observed family friend John Bedford Lloyd, Chris and Dana "gave Will exactly what he will need-the gift of bravery and grace." I strongly recommend this book to everyone. :)

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.

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