Thursday was magical for the DeAngelis family from Doylestown. Several months ago, Sing Me A Story Foundation, out of Tennessee, reached out to the family about having their 5th grade son, Dominic, write a story about his brother, Sonny, who has severe disabilities.
Dominic wrote a sweet and energetic story called “The Epic Shot”, where his brother Sonny was given the opportunity to play basketball, to run, to jump and to be a part of an amazing team, with some of Dominic’s favorite NBA players. The story included all of Dominic’s NBA basketball heroes, his love for the game, and his favorite human: his brother Sonny!
“I just want to thank everyone for giving me a chance to give Sonny a normal moment in life,” Dominic said.
Michelle DeAngelis (left), with her son, Sonny (in red), local artist, Cruz (in blue) and family members as the Sing Me A Story event ended.
Dominic and Sonny’s Aunt Abby helped illustrate the story and then it was given to a local artist named Cruz who turned it into a beautiful song. That song was then sent to the Wadsworth High School choir director who turned it into an unforgettable show.
“So much work went into this performance,” the boys’ mom, Michelle, said. “It couldn’t have been more perfect!”
“Watching Dominic pour his heart into this story and seeing the incredible support from the community has been truly overwhelming,” said TJ DeAngelis, the boys’ dad. “This experience has given our family a gift beyond words—a moment when Sonny’s spirit and love for life were celebrated in such a powerful way. We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped bring ‘The Epic Shot’ to life.”
“I couldn’t be more proud of Dominic either,” said Michelle. “Thank you to Wadsworth High School for all of the memories you created for our family!”
Watching the show and knowing this incredible family brought me to tears. You may need tissues when watching, too.
YOU CAN WATCH “The Epic Shot” performed by the Wadsworth HS Choir here (3:37 in length)
Sonny, who is 5 years old, was born a micro preemie at just 24 weeks. He has cerebral palsy, Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and cortical visual impairment. He also has a joyful spirit that lights up a room, eyes that sparkle with love and a smile that melts your heart!
Sing Me A Story Foundation gets stories from various non-profits and/or children’s hospital patient families. The foundation gives children in need the opportunity to write and illustrate stories about anything they want and then has the stories turned into songs and sent back to the families.
Their mission is to serve children and families in need through the imaginative stories of their kids and the power of music. The songs and stories remind us all of how much we have in common, they raise awareness and financial aid for non-profits around the world and, most of all, provide families with an unforgettable experience that brings joy and healing.
You can read Dominic’s story brought to song, “The Epic Shot” below:
