An accident survivor with quadriplegia can have significant difficulties in life. Quadriplegia is a severe type of spinal cord injury and can involve loss of function for all four limbs.

In May of 1995, actor Christopher Reeve was horseback riding when his horse made a refusal during a jump. The abrupt stop sent Reeve flying off the horse and headfirst into the side of a fence. After being brought to the hospital by emergency responders, Reeve lay unconscious for several days. When he woke up, doctors told him the bad news; he was paralyzed from the neck down.

For the rest of his life, Reeve would require modifications to his home, a ventilator to breathe and around-the-clock assistance from others. Even with the best care, Reeve suffered for a long time. In a 2002 article published by The Guardian, Reeve described waking up every morning and what it was like to go about his day paralyzed from the neck down.

He would describe being able to move in his dreams and the torture he would go through upon waking. After waking up, he would go through his morning routine, taking dozens of vitamins, going through physical therapy with nurses, having electrodes taped to his limbs, being fed with the assistance of others, and hours of getting his ventilator and valves set up that help him breathe and use the bathroom.

How Can Individuals With Quadriplegia Receive Financial Help?

As a famous actor, Reeve had the financial resources to afford the best care. Many people who sustain C1 and C2 spinal cord injuries will not have these resources readily available, and they may require care in nursing homes. It is extremely important for individuals who have sustained spinal cord injuries to seek out legal help. In cases where a negligent party has injured someone to the severity we have just described, damages can help pay for medical care and the cost of suffering.

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