Excerpts from press briefing by Dr. John A. Jane about Christopher
Reeve's surgery at University of Virginia Medical Center

 Monday,  June 5, 1995    4 p.m.



* "Everything went well.  I am confident he will be stable."

* Reeve is awake but still sleepy.   "He is a wonderful patient."

* The fusion of the 1st and 2nd vertebrae to base of skull was    
  successful.
* Doctors used 11 soft (titanium) wires for fusion;  also used bone 
  from his hip to create the fusion.
* They found no bone in the spinal canal.

* Surgery began about 8:30 a.m. and  was completed about 3 p.m.;  
  it took "a long time" because it was "an exacting procedure."

* Surgery will not affect the speed of  recovery or his breathing, 
  but will keep bony parts in alignment  to prevent further damage. 
  He is still on a ventilator.
* No change in level of sensation in upper body
* He will be in a collar, but they will start sitting him up little 
  by little beginning today because Reeve "is so eager to be      
  mobilized.".
* He should have some movement in his neck from side to side and  
  vertically; it will be restricted to some degree.

* Post-op recovery will take between 10 days to 2 weeks.
* Could be weeks or months before they know how much movement will 
  be regained

* Reeve received steroids within the first 24 hours, but nothing  
  else.
* Pneumonia is under control
* Family members have seen him and are coping fine