] Christopher Reeve, the actor who has been paralyzed and on
] a respirator since breaking his neck in a riding accident
] eight years ago, has had electrodes implanted in his
] diaphragm in an effort to restore his ability to breathe
] naturally.
]
] The results are extremely promising, said Dr. Raymond
] Onders, who performed outpatient surgery on Mr. Reeve at
] University Hospitals of Cleveland on Feb. 28. He can
] breathe without the respirator for more than two hours at
] a stretch compared with 10 minutes before the operation,
] Dr. Onders said. As his diaphragm muscles regain strength
] over the next couple of months, Mr. Reeve may be able to
] wean himself permanently from the respirator.