Sonny and Lorrie (sister) in June 2005

On September 4, 2008, Sonny was riding home on his Harley Sportster when a pedestrian stepped off the sidewalk directly in front of him. Attempting to avoid hitting the pedestrian, Sonny crashed his bike and suffered a massive closed head injury. Fortunately he was wearing his helmet or he would not have survived. He was unconscious for over a week, and when he awoke he was moved from Harborview Trauma Center to North Creek Health and Rehab where he lived up until just recently when North Creek announced their imminent closure. Sonny now resides at Health and Rehab of North Seattle on 133rd and Greenwood.

The doctors were not encouraging about Sonny's prognosis at the beginning. They said he would likely never be able to be off his feeding tube, would never be able to communicate...essentially that there was not much hope. But they just didn't know Sonny. :)

Sonny eats ordinary food now, and can manage finger foods by himself. He takes all of his liquids by mouth and is learning to hold a cup himself. He smiles and kisses loved ones hello and see ya later (I hate the word goodbye), clearly makes it known when he is happy/angry/sad or doesn't feel well, even though he as yet has not regained the ability to speak verbally...YET. In short, he seems intent on proving all the nay-sayers wrong!

Meanwhile, the day-to-day struggles for him can take their toll. When everything you do requires great effort, it can become very tiring. We try to encourage his friends both far and near to stay in touch whenever possible. Of course visitors are ALWAYS welcome, and we do bring Sonny home for visits pretty often. But even cards, letters, photographs and emails also help to keep him in touch with the world at large. I often call a friend and hold my phone up to Sonny's ear so that they can talk to him...he always smiles at familiar voices. :)

Sonny and I have matching thread bracelets...black as the signature color for head injuries, and red because it is HIS favorite color. We never take them off. His injury is part of him now, and also part of all those who love him. We stand together that way...he is my only sibling, my Big Brother who on numerous occasions showed up to be strong for his little sister.


We try to keep his facebook updated with recent photos and information about how he is doing, and we share all posts and messages that people send in. Seeing people's faces and hearing their comments reminds him that he is not forgotten...just quiet, but definitely not forgotten. So, you can all find him there on his facebook page, here on his journal/blog page, and/or on his main website at Sonny's Road. 

Sonny's address is:
13333 Greenwood Ave. Room #140
Seattle, WA 98133

His email address is:
Sonny@SonnysRoad.com


We welcome your comments and we hope you will walk with us, and with Sonny, if even for just a few steps along this journey.


Blessings,
Lorrie...Sonny's very grateful little sister
Lorrie@SonnysRoad.com

Welcome!

Welcome to the first post in Sonny's official freestanding journal/blog. In the days ahead, every journal entry from his injury on September 4, 2008 until present will be imported here. Until then, here are a few inspiring thoughts...

Sonny was injured nearly four years ago on the evening of September 4, 2008...it has been a long journey for him to this point, but his sojourn is far from over. He has struggled, cried (we saw it!!), laughed, wrestled, and triumphed over so many obstacles. Yet, his climb toward his personal summit continues. "Rome wasn't built in a day", as the saying goes...and Sonny's recovery happens slowly, sometimes with fits and starts, but it continues relentlessly forward nonetheless.

So, at his point we invite you all to walk with us on Sonny's road...you will notice the repeated theme of Ancient Rome and the amazing story of how that city came to be. This road is sometimes not a pleasant one, but always a beautiful one. There are many who say that Rome was amazing...others say she fell short of what she could have been. The blood of thousands was spilled within the bricks of her building...her history is not a pristine one, but a story speckled with pain, failure, shining victory, blessed progress, and everything in between. Funny, people tend to be that same way. But the point is, Rome became what Rome was ABLE to become...built with the sweat and determination of a people committed to her forward progress.

WE are committed to forward progress, as Sonny leads with his own efforts. Some will say that Sonny "was amazing in his recovery", others will say "he could have been so much more". But as with Rome, Sonny will become all that he is able to...and it will take the sweat and determination of not only himself but also many others to see him get there. Each day on the journey teaches us about life, love, and the amazing ability of a human being who tenaciously holds on and continues to grow. Some say how blessed Sonny is to have his family and friends around him as support...I say that WE are the ones who are blessed to learn true courage and unwillingness to fold when the cards dealt are not the hand we would choose.

Special blessings go to my Mother Loretta and Daughter Samantha, who were here from the beginning when Sonny was first injured. I was not able to be here until almost two years later...I remember countless times that Mom called me and held her phone to Sonny's ear so I could talk to him...she said he smiled. Seeing one's own child recover from a potentially deadly injury is unfathomable. My Mother has a heart and determination that amaze me, and I only hope to have that strength somehow imparted to me. Samantha was also was a vital part of Sonny's early days, and I have no doubt that her love sustained him even when others weren't sure of his awareness. I'm sure he knew his Mama and his Niece were near and watching over him. To say "thank you" to these women, those closest to me on opposite sides of a generation, would seemingly trivialize their connection. "Thank you" will never be enough...but they know....they were there.

Rome wasn't built in a day...Sonny won't be, either. But we will continue the work, stone upon stone...and we have the greatest Teacher a person could wish for. Sonny is obviously not giving up...so neither will we. Here's to the road...the journey...and every lesson learned that makes us stronger and more loving human beings.

Thanks and love to my amazing big brother, aka my Superman. He leaps tall buildings every day and I am awed by his spirit.

Our mantra has become and will remain: "Never give up".

Every blessing...

Lorrie