                                ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, December 15, 1995              TAG: 9512150062
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 11   EDITION: METRO 
COLUMN: The people column
SOURCE: FROM WIRE REPORTS

THE PEOPLE COLUMN

Christopher Reeve is looking forward to spending the holidays at home after being released from a rehabilitation center.

The ``Superman'' star, paralyzed from the neck down in a May fall from a horse, left the Kessler Institute in West Orange on Wednesday after nearly seven months of rehabilitation.

``As I leave Kessler Institute, I experience many profound feelings,'' Reeve said in a statement. ``Most of all, happiness to be going home with my wife and children.''

Reeve's doctors said he is able to breathe for 15 minutes at a time without a respirator. He uses a wheelchair he operates with his mouth.

Reeve, 42, thanked ``hundreds of thousands of people from around the world who have called, sent letters, cards and gifts of inspiration.''

``You will never know how much your concern for my well-being has helped me,'' he said.

LENGTH: Short :   29 lines

by CNB