Paper Cranes: A mother's story of hope, courage and determination

At the age of twelve, Cheryl Koenig’s son Jonathan 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 school friends who filled their school prayer room with hundreds of handmade paper cranes, symbols of hope and healing.
Paper Cranes tells the story of Jonathan’s extraordinary courage and the Koenig family’s unceasing drive to help him defy the ominous predictions. The book outlines their desperate search for knowledge in the area of recovery from traumatic brain injury, set against the background of Cheryl’s heartfelt grief, denial, and anger. 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 has completed a TAFE course and is currently learning to drive. He can walk well, and has just begun to run; 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!
The message that shines through is that together with persistence, determination, family and love, almost any challenge can be faced and conquered. If we maintain hope in the face of adversity, we can all achieve what some may see as impossible dreams. Most importantly 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.
Cheryl Koenig won the NSW Woman of the Year Award for raising awareness about brain injury. She was born and still resides in the southern suburbs of Sydney, meeting her soulmate whilst still in school and married at the age of just nineteen. Almost 30 years later she is still very happily married and has two treasured sons. Apart from volunteering much of her free time helping to improve government policy and services in the area of brain injury, she attributes her happiness to the simplicity of nurturing and nourishing her very special family. She also loves to read and write biographies about extraordinary people.