"To say that it has been a busy six months would be the understatement of the millennium  Here is a re-cap in a nutshell..."

Finally a recent update for Sonny's Road! Check out Sonny's latest news and send him a note to say hello!

http://sonnyproad.blogspot.com/

One brief note today, as there is a LOT going on around here!. You may have noticed that the theme of Sonny's Caringbridge page has changed from the Classic Car motif to a skyline view of ancient Rome. There is a reason for this.

Sonny was injured nearly four years ago...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 this point I decided to change the artwork and invite you all to walk with us on Sonny's road. It is sometimes not a pleasant one, but always a beautiful one. There are many who say that Rome was amazing...others say it fell short of what it could have been. But the point is, Rome became what Rome was ABLE to become...built wih the sweat and determination of a people committed to forward progress.

Sonny's forward progress and our sharing of his story will now include his very own website, "Sonny's Road", where we will also share research and current articles related to brain injury, Sonny's personal recovery, and forums where those interested can learn more. We invite you all to join us on this journey, whether it be for just a few steps or many long miles.

WE are committed to forward progress because SONNY tries so hard.  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.

Rome wasn't built in a day...Sonny won't be, either. But we will continue the work, stone upon stone, step by step.

Every blessing...

Lorrie

Sonny update Thursday June 16, 2011

Happy summer!

Well, here we are again, sunny June and summer is nearly upon us! There has been a lot going on with Sonny I recent weeks, so I will do my best to re-cap it all for those who are at the mercy of this Journal to stay informed...

It seems that we have a great deal of trouble keeping Sonny's new headrest in good working order. No matter how many times it has been repaired and tightened, somehow it mysteriously ends up disconbobulated to the point of being nearly useless. Must be those gremlins again, since no one else seems to be willing to fess up to it.

Meanwhile, it does seem that Sonny is lifting his head up and turning it around more often, which is a good sign. Obviously it means that he is able to physically lift and move his head, but it also shows us that he is interested enough in what goes on around him that he wants to observe and pay attention. Those are big milestones as well, so we are thrilled to see them.

In other news, we have continued with Sonny's regular visits home every other weekend, and added a new activity a couple weeks ago! Our cousin sings in a men's acapella group, and they were performing...so we took Sonny to an afternoon concert! Fortunately the auditorium was very comfortable, and there was a good location to park Sonny's chair next to us so that he could see well. He very frequently lifted up his head and was obviously paying attention when the singing was going on, and he even seemed to look intently at the pictures in the program when I opened it on his lap. He has always really loved music, so we really think it was an enjoyable afternoon for him.

After the concert, we stopped for a good hamburger and got him a milkshake to go with. He did a great job eating the burger and fries, of course! It was very close to his ordinary bedtime when we got him back to North Creek, but he stayed awake the whole day up until then...another important milestone. We thought back to when we first began bringing him out and about, how tired he would become just from a short trip to the house and how he would fall asleep from the fatigue. He doesn't seem to get so tired anymore, so it looks like he has slowly acclimated to the increase in activity and does very well with his outings. We try to be careful not to do too much or get him too tired, as extremes for Sonny are always a possible seizure trigger. Stress is bad for him, so we try to keep things calm and low-key even when doing something fun. So far so good!

Even the sore red areas on his skin seem to be doing better. The staff at North Creek have been much better about putting his cream on regularly, which is a definite help. Of course, once again this keeps him more comfortable, and reduces his general stress level, which leaves him more energy for other things.

With summertime here, we know that everyone gets busy and has lots to do. But we sure hope you all will stay in touch with Sonny, and know how much all of your contact means to him and to us. I recently saved all of the journal entries and guestbook notes to files on my computer so that they will never accidentally be lost...they are a precious keepsake to us, a reminder of just how far he has come from ground zero. So, in Sonny's words:

"Whatever doesn't kill me makes me stronger."   Here's to our own personal Superman!

Blessings to all,

Lorrie...for Sonny and the whole fam-damily!

JustLorrie@gmail.com

206.330.3269

Sonny Update Monday May 2, 2011

Haven't put a note in here for a while and I do apologize.  It just seems like something is always going on.  

Sonny is doing great again, still progressing in baby steps but progressing.  The wheelchair people were there on Friday to get his headrest set up correctly.  It was really good for a while until someone bent it out of shape again.  Lorrie got it set right again yesterday and showed the CNA how to move it to get Sonny in and out of the chair.  He promised top tell whoever came on the next shift so hopefully it trickled down and they can all position him correctly.  I didn't realize how much it bothered him to not be able to see straight out until he could and just smiled and smiled.

Sonny with his Native drum
before his accident occurred.

He is also having a wonderful time with the TV remote.  Lorrie wrote numbers on his sketch pad and asked him where they were on the remote.  He was 100% correct so he isn't doing this randomly.  We had a care conference on Friday also and they are going to put his lap tray on for all meals now.  He can reach his food that way and really likes to do it himself.  Kind of messy since he doesn't handle silverware very well. But oh well.  He is trying to drink himself too.

 We are going to expand his "Go Talk" with pictures so we are looking for family and friend pictures that will fit.

Angela - Lorrie said you were there yesterday.  I'm sorry I  missed seeing you but thank you for going.  We will probably be bringing him home next weekend, not sure which day.

Take care everyone

Loretta (Sonny's Mom)

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/sonnyperencevic

Seven knots that never let go...

Also known as my personal reminder bracelet.

The signature color for head injuries, as well as for mourning, is black. My brother's favorite color is true red. This evening I made this knotted thread bracelet in Sonny's honor. A few details...

• To honor his courageous progress following his injury...black thread.
• To honor his personal favorite color...red thread.
• Each segment is comprised of seven knots, the perfect number of God and traditionally the number symbolizing good fortune.
• There is one flaw knotted into the bracelet, though it is not visible and even I couldn't go back and find it...symbolizing that life is never perfect and neither are the people we love, but we cling to both just the same as we accept the good and the bad together.
• Made of very strong embroidery floss, the bracelet will hang in there through wear and tear...reminding me to never let go.

Just wanted to share.

Visit Sonny's Caringbridge website to read his journal updates, sign his guestbook, and see photos.

Join the Head's Up! traumatic brain injury support and encouragement group on Facebook.

Friends of Sonny Perencevic

Friends of Sonny Perencevic 

Since his motorcycle accident on September 4, 2008, my brother Sonny has made amazing strides in his recovery. He continues to gain new ground and through his progress he is brave and persevering. He has come a long way, but still has a long way to go...which is where his friends are so valuable

Recovering from a severe head injury is difficult, and Sonny needs all the support he can get. We encourage those who know him to stop by for a visit, no matter how brief, to let him know he is remembered and cared for.

Sonny can do a lot of things!  He recognizes familiar faces and voices, and will often smile when he is happy to see someone. He enjoys music, going outside, and watching favorite comedy TV shows. He especially enjoys watching the Seahawks play  He loves a big hug as much as anyone, and both ice cream and chocolate remain two of his all-time favorite treats.

Anyone can visit Sonny during the day and/or evening, and we would be happy to be there for a “re-introduction” to smooth the way. Questions are welcome, as we know that the more someone understands about Sonny’s condition, the easier it is to interact with him and be a positive force in his life.

If you have questions about visiting Sonny, or would just like to know more in order to make the most of your time with him, please feel free to contact his sister, Lorrie:

206.330.3269   JustLorrie@Gmail.com 

You can also visit Sonny’s online Caringbridge journal and leave a note for him: www.Caringbridge.org/visit/sonnyperencevic 

Sonny resides at: North Creek Health and Rehabilitation Center

        10909 NE 185th St Room 113, Bothell, WA 98011

Feel free to stop by or mail a note...every contact is precious. 

“Don't be discouraged.  It's often the last key in the bunch that opens the lock.”

Here’s to Sonny, and to a whole ring of keys!