Paper Cranes: A Mother's Story of Hope, Courage and Determination

At the age of twelve, Cheryl Koenig's son Jonathon was involved in a horrific car accident. He was given very little chance of survival, and when he did miraculously pull through, doctors predicted that due to his extremely severe traumatic brain injury, he would most likely never walk, talk or even eat again. Cheryl refused to accept this prognosis and set out on a relentless and ultimately successful quest to save her son and prove the medical profession wrong. Her fervent hope that he would one day be well again was poignantly expressed by his many schoolfriends who filled their school prayer room with hundreds of handmade paper cranes, symbols of hope and healing. Drawing on Cheryl's diary from the time, Paper Cranes tells the story of Jonathon's extraordinary courage and the Koenig family's unceasing drive to help him defy the ominous predictions. Set against the background of Cheryl's heartfelt grief, denial, and anger, the book outlines their desperate search for knowledge in the area of recovery from traumatic brain injury. At the same time she and her husband were forced to deal with the trials and tribulations of the legal system in their search for justice for their son. Now, ten years since his horrific accident, Jonathan can walk well, has just begun to run and is learning to drive. He can snow ski, swim laps, play tennis and astounds many with his piano-playing skills. All this as well as working five days a week in three part-time jobs! This inspirational, uplifting story demonstrates that with the right attitude it is possible to determine your own destiny regardless of what life throws in your path.Koenig, Cheryl is the author of 'Paper Cranes: A Mother's Story of Hope, Courage and Determination', published 2010 under ISBN 9781877437106 and ISBN 1877437107.