Hockey community rallies around Matt Sorisho; find out how you can help

 

UPDATE: On Wednesday, Nov. 20, Compuware Arena in Plymouth will host an event called “A Benefit for Matt on Center Ice” which will feature silent and live auctions. Items to bid on will include items like a trip to Africa, meet-and-greets with NHL players, a weekend at Jackson Hole, a condo at Marco Island, Hollywood memorabilia, signed sports items and more. The benefit will feature strolling dinner stations, a cash bar, guest speakers, a professional auctioneer, raffles and more.

By Michael Caples –

Jim Sorisho said the hockey community is what has been keeping his family going.

For him to use the word “wonderful” at all right now is a sign of what it’s truly meant.

Jim’s son, Matthew, was preparing for his senior season at Detroit Catholic Central when a collision into the boards during a preseason tournament left him paralyzed from the waist down.

“My kid’s been in hockey since he was 6 years old,” Jim said. “Along the way, we played all those years of AAA and then we moved over to the high school, and you talk about the support, the support is what’s keeping us going. It’s been crazy. We’ve had people from all over reaching us out, bringing us meals, talking to us, just being a shoulder to lean on. It’s been wonderful. It started off from that Friday at that tournament, I’m not going to lie to you, I couldn’t breathe for a day, I couldn’t get air in my body. It was devastating. Matt has been through crazy pain. I’ve seen the x-rays, his back was broken in half, and they put it back together.”

The hockey community has rallied around the Sorisho family, with support coming in many forms. Visits from his high school friends have lifted Matt’s spirits, while inspirational visits from fellow Catholic Central product David Moss, Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, and Michigan State coach Tom Anastos have motivated him to prepare for a new life.

“I think it’s been unbelievable,” Jim said. “Moss gave him his personal cell phone number, they were watching the Tigers the other day and they were texting back and forth,’ hey you think you should pull the pitcher’ or whatever, and he’s been very supportive. He said ‘I’m going to give you my personal number and you’re going to call me and I’m going to call you’ and he has been.

Click here to read MiHockey’s article on David Moss and Matt Sorisho

“Mike Babcock jumped in with both feet from the start, helping us out with anything we need. Get information, help this, help that, it’s just been unbelievable. The team’s rallied around him too, they got him a jersey signed, but not just having a signed jersey, but they backed it up with a ‘hey, we’re here to help you.’ It’s been unbelievable.

“Tom Anastos, Tom came in and it was a really tough, emotional time. It’s been in waves, I couldn’t even explain to you how this plays a role on your mind, but right at that time we were down, and Tom just came in with such strong encouraging words for Matt, and it instantly brought him back up. He told Matt that we could find something for you to do with the team.

“Our one son goes to Michigan State right now, he’s a freshman, and Matt’s got the high enough grades to get there too. He plans on still going to college. He’s just going to redirect himself. Right from the second or third day of the injury, he said, hey mom, I have to talk to the teachers at CC, I have to talk to my counselor. I have a Snapshot class, a Photoshop class next semester, I need to change that to a business course. His mind is already turning, what am I going to do, I’m going to do something, I’m going to make something of myself.”

Yet the most important form of support for Matt will come through the Give Forward fund created by family members. The Matt Sorisho Hockey Injury Fund is trying to raise money to get the funding the Sorisho family needs to allow Matt to pursue whatever goals and dreams come his way. The MiHockey team asks that you please visit http://gfwd.at/1bJkUvU or that you visit GiveForward.com and search Matt Sorisho’s name. The fund will help the Sorisho family modify their family home, assist with medical expenses not covered by insurance, purchase necessary equipment and offset increased living expense.