DE Assistant Politics Editor

Max Hall’s sister compares him with Christopher Reeve, the man who played Superman in the movies and was paralyzed in a horseback riding accident; the only difference is Hall can breath on his own without the assistance of a ventilator, she says.

Following a shooting on Aug. 8, 1995, before he was supposed to come back to SIUC for the fall semester, Hall was left in a full quadriplegic state. He has no use of his arms and legs, is completely disabled and is confined to a wheelchair, however his family is celebrating the accomplishment of Hall being taking off a ventilator.

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Hall, 21, was a junior in the construction program at SIUC when the shooting took place, his sister Sue Hall said. His future plans are uncertain, but he plans to continue his education, she said.

He plans to take correspondence courses as soon as his health is stable, she said. It depends on if his classes are available. His intent is to stay in construction, but it’s very early.

Hall was shot during an attempted robbery when he and some friends were in a car in Hall’s hometown of Romeoville. According to his sister, the suspects wanted a stereo from the car. When Hall and his friends refused to give up the stereo, Hall was shot in the neck, she said.

After the shooting, Hall was unable to speak due to damage to his vocal cords. He has now regained the ability to speak, has full mental capabilities, has been released from the hospital and is involved in physical therapy, but further recovery is unknown, Sue Hall said.

There’s no way to know if he’ll recover, she said. It’s really to early to tell. He’s strong and has an inner strength that is unbelievable. I’ve learned a lot from him.

Hall’s sister said her brother is braver than most, a quality which she admires.

He is probably one of the most courageous, strong men I know, she said. He is my hero.

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Hall is currently living at his grandparent’s house in Woodridge because he could not get his wheelchair into his mother’s home in Romeoville, Sue Hall said.

When Hall was unable to return to SIUC, his sister said he not only left behind his friends, but also his love for the school.

He loved it there, Sue Hall said. One of his biggest battles would be coping with not being there and the life he knew there.

Brian Dahl, who said he has known Hall about three years, said he visited with Hall over break and called him a couple of days ago. Dahl said Hall appears to be doing well.

Emotionally, every time I see him he seems to be in good spirits, Dahl said. He’s coping as well as he can. You can’t keep Max down. He tries as hard as he can to keep going

Dahl said Hall is the type of person who is always happy.

John D’Alboro, another friend, said Hall was a fun person to be around.

I only knew him a couple of years, but he was a guy who always had a good time, D’Alboro said. He was willing to do anything.

D’Alboro said Hall was coping well with everything that has happened to him.

If it had to happen to anyone else, I don’t know if they could cope as well as Max, he said. Myself, I’m not sure if I would be as strong as he is. He’s always fighting.

To help in curtailing some of the expenses Hall’s injuries have accumulated, including widening doors and building ramps to make Hall’s house accessible, a Friends For Max fund has been established at Aetna Bank of Chicago, Sue Hall sister said.

The fund was set up by Chris Depaepe to assist Hall’s family costs associated with his injuries.

Depaepe said the fund has received a lot of donations, but many of the donations are small because they are being made by people in his age group and college students.

The expenses, Depaepe said, could amount to over $100,000 this year.

To make donations to Hall, make checks payable:Chris Depaepe, c/o Friends For Max, 655 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL. 60613.