Sorrentino hasn’t seen Samantha since the whole family was together on the Vikings visit to the Giants in Week 1. Shortly after, they thought Cameron had fluid buildup in his ears, which spurred hospital trips.
“It was definitely tough. I try to – not being there, it’s hard.” Sorrentino said, sharing Samantha has handled Cameron’s diagnosis well. “I have two sisters, I’m the only brother, not being there is tough, so I try to be very positive in everything. I kind of treat life like a football game; there’s gonna be prosperity and there’s gonna be adversity. You’ve got to treat them both the same and always look for the positives.
“We don’t know what the future holds,” Sorrentino added, considering that with technology, education money and research, functionality of people with AS may improve. “We’re gonna take it one day at a time, one step at a time and celebrate the small victories. That’s honestly what I believe in, in life – ‘Hey, celebrate the small victories; hiccups are gonna happen, but we’re gonna bounce back,’ and if he takes a step or crawls, or if he responds, because he has a tough time hearing, let’s celebrate that victory.”
Sorrentino understands Cameron must go about life a little differently but knows he will be rallied around.
“Again, I just keep on telling myself things could be much worse, and he’s such a happy little boy that that’s like the key thing to me,” Sorrentino assured. “I feel positive about the things he can accomplish.”
Sorrentino plans to spruce up his blue and white sneakers, already highlighted in royal blue lettering with the words “Cameron” and “Family,” with autographs from superstars Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Maybe one day, pictures from the pregame meet-up will speak to Cameron like photos speak to Susan.
Sorrentino and Jurgens had not jelled a ton – as often is the case with rookie players and coaches of different positions – until broaching the subject of AS. But now they’re bonded by a common purpose.
Helping raise awareness for Angelman Syndrome.
This Sunday, the universe devised them to be together. Like Samantha Kudlacik and her family of four, Mary Jurgens will be on hand. It’s a chance to admire Cameron and Susan, and for the mothers to relate.
An opportunity to gain awareness through an improbable connection.
“I told my mom and my sister after I talked to him, like, ‘Hey, this is kind of crazy.’ What a blessing to be able to have that,” Sorrentino said. “And for my sister to be able to bounce ideas [off] Michael’s mom.”
“It was just like a little bit of a sigh of relief,” he emphasized. “Like, ‘OK, we’re hit with this,’ but we’re going to attack it, and we’re going to take the small victories and stay together as much as possible.”