Bring Sonny Thandi Home
This is Sonny. Many of you remember him from William Beagle Jr. , or Q.E. Secondary in Surrey. You may have grown up with him in his early years in Prince George, and later in Surrey. Some of you remember him through Trail Appliances, Coast Mountain Bus Company and Pizza Factory. However you know him, I bet the one thing that stands out in your memory is his bubbly personality! Sonny was always up for a good time, he loved going for Sushi, he loved his Crown, and he loved making everyone laugh with his cheesy jokes.
On Christmas Eve of 2016, we nearly lost Sonny. He developed pneumonia and became septic to the point his organs began to shut down. At 1am on Christmas morning, Sonny suffered a cardiac arrest and was without oxygen for nearly 20 minutes. He was given a 40% chance of survival. His wife of 9 years Sharika, His 8 year old Son Ayden, and his 4 year old Daughter Aniya stayed by his side preparing for an inevitable goodbye.
Sonny made it through the night and the next several days were touch and go. An MRI showed extensive brain damage, and Doctors told us Sonny would never wake up, let alone walk, talk, see, hear, eat or even sit up. Doctors were pressuring Sharika to discontinue Life Support. But within a few weeks, Sonny was awake and alert, he could recognize people, and once he was breathing on his own, he began to talk! Even up until 2 weeks ago, the Doctors were adamant that Sonny would not make a full recovery, and that Sharika's efforts were aimless. Sonny celebrated his 35th birthday in the hospital, as well as his 10 year wedding anniversary with Sharika, (singing 'Jumma Chumma De De), and Ayden's 9th birthday. He hasn't changed one bit, with his cheesy jokes, and constantly laughing and smiling, and making conversation.
Sharika continued to fight long and hard to move Sonny to a rehabilitation centre that could get him walking and moving, so that he could come home. Unfortunately, it was roadblock after roadblock with the hospital not matching our views on his successful recovery. However, On June 13th 2017, Sonny finally moved into a rehabilition home!!
A portion of the rehab program is being funded by healthcare. Unfortunately, there are many things that are not, and it is becoming worrysome and more stressful with fears of not being abe to provide Sonny with the full, proper care, supplies and treatments that he needs to be able to walk out of that facility. Currently, he needs a fitted wheelchair at a cost of over $5000, a Suitcase Ramp starting at $400 for the wheelchair for days he visits home, an Air Mattress at $3,000 to prevent sores, Splints and many other daily use equipment. As you can see the costs are just accumulating. There are several therapies that will be so beneficial to his healing, some hydrotherapy helping to stretch and relax limbs, among so many others. One program is a 12 session program with proven results but that alone is $15,000! Unfortunately, these therapies are not covered, and the single sessions run $150 per half hour session!!
We want to give Sonny the best care. The costs of the equipment and therapies are becoming overwhelming. On top of paying rent, utilites, the Children's school expenses, clothing for the evergrowing rugrats, and meals... funds are running out. Sharika has exhausted all of her resources, and with 6 months of not working so she could be by Sonny's side from morning to night, and only receiving a portion of care benefits, their Savings for the last 10 years + have been depleted.
We ask you to please consider donating a few dollars to help cover the fees for Sonny's equipment and care. It has been a big, and difficult decision for Sharika to go ahead with this, but it is also her only option. Sonny wouldn't hesitate to do this for any of us so let's return the generosity to him. Sonny, Sharika and the kids will remember this gesture for the rest of their lives and the kids will be so happy to know you helped bring their Dad home!
Thank You so much from the bottom of our hearts!
