Provo Correspondent

PROVO -- Last June the Sorensen family was in Provo Canyon for a picnic when a tree fell suddenly, killing two relatives and leaving Norm Sorensen's daughter, Emma, paralyzed.

While most fathers would be devastated, Norm saw it as a challenge.

"I take Emma's situation as a trial and take it as a personal challenge to do more, understand faith more to step it up," he said.

Norm and Ingrid Sorensen are parents of six children and Emma is five years old.

Amidst the chaos Norm says there was peace. BYU students and others who were at the park immediately came to their aid. If they couldn't help comfort or physically help, people began to pray for them.

"There were a number of people just on their knees praying," he said. The Sorensens feel the experience was spiritual and has built their faith.

Not only did the accident draw the family even closer, they saw how many good-hearted people live here.

The students who helped still visit and help out every week. A lot of people in this community followed their hearts, and offered help.

People brought food and raised money. A few months ago someone gave Emma a special handicapped bicycle that she can ride with her hands.

The Sorensens tell how an ER doctor ended up at the park when they needed him.

For some reason he decided to stay late that day. When he did leave he felt like he should pull off the road near the park. Right then the ambulance came and they recognized him and picked him up so he was able to treat the victims on the spot.

Emma has improved and isn't shy about her handicap. When asked why she's in a wheelchair, she replied, "a tree fell on me."

She has more feeling in her right hand now and can use both hands, but only her left hand has feeling.

She still can't feel her bogy from her chest down. Norm and Ingrid believe Emma will someday learn to walk.

"We firmly believe Emma will be healed," Norm said.

There are poignant moments still. Recently Norm was teaching his kids a dance. He noticed Emma.

He saw her drop her head down and then quietly wheel out of the room. He hurt for her.

"There's the tugging at your heartstrings a lot," he said.

When in public he watches people look at Emma and realizes "people think our child is different, and it kind of hurts a little bit."

It's striking how positive the Sorensens are and how well they've adjusted to changes in their life.

"You don't know what's going to be thrown at you in life," Norm said. "You look at Emma and the other kids and see how fragile life is and how easily she could not be with us. It makes us cherish her and our children more," adds Ingrid.

Janet Knudson can be contacted by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it