Young Man Paralyzed in Car Accident Passes Away
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Updated: 8:38 PM Jun 24, 2008
Young Man Paralyzed in Car Accident Passes Away
31-year old Christopher Bodenheimer shared his story of life after a car accident left him paralyzed many times over the years. The wreck happened in July 1995. Christopher died Sunday night.
Posted: 8:38 PM Jun 24, 2008
Reporter: Melissa Brunner
Email Address: melissa.brunner@wibw.com

Remembering Christopher Bodenheimer
From the Archive: 1996 Story with Chris Bodenheimer
Ieshia Remembers Christopher
April Remembers Christopher
Mark Remembers Christopher
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Six months after a car accident left him paralyzed, then 18-year old Christopher Bodenheimer was pushing himself to move forward - and sharing his comeback story with 13 News.

"He's stubborn," recalls his sister-in-law, April Bodenheimer. "His nickname was "Bear" for a reason."

Christopher would share his story many times over the years, telling of how life had changes since he crashed his car his way to work July 27, 1995. Sunday, at age 31, the injuries finally claimed his life.

"He handled it better than I could have," his younger brother, Mark Bodenheimer, said. "If I was in his situation, I couldn't have done half the stuff he did."

Christopher came back to finish high school and even took classes at Washburn University, his father, Gary at his side. His family says Christopher loved to tease people, watch the Denver Broncos and hang out at Topeka Civic Theatre.

"Everything was so big, so amazing," his sister, Ieshia Goodell says. "He wanted to be that - he wanted to be amazing."

Ieshia, Mark and April agree Christopher was amazing.

"He loved life. He loved everything about it," Ieshia says. "No matter how hard it seemed to us, he just went right through it. He made it seem easy."

"I learned from Chris to take one day at a time; leave no regrets because you never know what tomorrow will bring," April says. "He always said he wouldn't be around forever, so to live, you had to get out and do, not sit around and talk about it."

"He was an amazing guy," Mark says.

As for why Christopher continued to share his story, Mark says it was so other people in his situation could see that if you are in a car accident and are paralyzed, "there is life and you can move on."

Christopher's family says they tried to get him life insurance, but were always turned down. They were also told social security will only pay a benefit to a surviving spouse or child, which Christopher has neither. To help the family pay for funeral expenses, a fund is set up. Send donations to the Christopher Bodenheimer Funeral Fund, c/o Capital City Bank, 3710 S. Topeka Blvd., Topeka, KS 66609. They can also be brought to any Capital City Bank branch.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Katie Location: Topeka, KS on Jul 9, 2008 at 07:20 PM

I met Chris when his dad Gary was a techie for the Topeka Civic Theater and Academy's production of "Beauty and the Beast." I never stopped seeing Chris' famliy ever since. Later on I met Mark and April and Gary. I just wish God hadn't taken his life. He was my friend.
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Posted by: Telia Location: Topeka Kansas on Jun 26, 2008 at 05:34 PM

I don't Christopher but i'm so sorry for your loss may god be with you during this time
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Posted by: Deana Perry Location: burlington ks on Jun 25, 2008 at 04:28 PM

We met Chris threw his brother Gary and his wife Amy and are very saddened of his passing, it has been forever since we have seen them and i feel bad for that, life always takes us in different ways and , i just want the family to know that Jason and I and our family are so sorry for their loss, Chris was always teasing and giving us a hard time when we would go visit and he is what i would hope everyone would look back on and remember his outgoing personality and we are blessed we had the time for him to make a lasting impression on our lives...
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