SACRAMENTO, Calif.--As exhausted Sacramento legislators wrestle constituent needs and budget realities back and forth, Fremont father Don. C. Reed sees the outcome in starkly emotional terms.

"Will my paralyzed son, Roman Reed, get the chance to walk again? That's what the budget means to me. The leadership of California will decide that question -- not only for my son, but also for 450,000 other paralyzed Americans who might benefit," says Reed, sponsor of Assembly Bill 750: the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Research Act.

"With an estimated $12 billion surplus," adds Reed, whose son was paralyzed in a football accident five years ago, "We can afford to spend $25 million on cure research."

Chairperson of a dedicated group of wheelchair warriors and friends called Californians For Cure, Reed has waged a two-year campaign to pass Assembly Bill 750, authored by Assemblyman John Dutra of Fremont.

"It's time people realized the true costs of paralysis," says Assemblyman Dutra, "Not just the $10.6 billion SCI paralysis cost our country in medical expenses and lost wages last year, but the human costs, which are immeasurable."

Soft-spoken Karen Miner, co-chair of Californians for Cure, knows human costs.

"When I became paralyzed, it broke up my marriage. I was suddenly a single parent, with two little girls to raise. It was difficult. But at least I could breathe on my own. Some folks need machines to breathe. Others have continual pain, like being on fire. And that's not even mentioning the endless indignities, like being catheterized for the restroom."

Can this terrible condition be cured? "It is not a question of if, but when," says Dr. Wise Young of Rutgers University, adding that, "SCI research targets are (also) highly relevant to Ahlzheimers's, ALS, Parkinson's, stroke and nearly 400 other neurological diseases."

And in a treasured personal letter, Christopher Reeve had something to say to the Reeds.

"One day, Roman and I will stand again, and walk away from our wheelchairs forever."

And Roman Reed himself? Appearing before the Assembly Judiciary committee, the broadshouldered 25-year-old said from his wheelchair:

"Let's take a stand, to cure paralysis. Take a stand -- so one day, everybody can."