She Lost Her Arm, But She's Alive

MUKILTEO - At just 11-years-old, Victoria Sonnenburg is proof that kids can be resilient in the face of tragedy.

A freak jet skiing accident changed her life forever, but her courage inspired friends to hold a fundraiser in Mukilteo, to help out with medical expenses. Dozens of people packed into Amici Bistro in Mukilteo Sunday to attend, as a show of support for the Sonnenburg family.

"It's just really hard for her sometimes," explained Nathan Piccini about the jet ski accident Victoria was involved in nearly seven months ago. She lost left arm, but has since maintained a positive attitude and very strong determination to get on with her daily life.

Victoria's spirit inspired several of her close friends to start a lemonade stand, and after just two days, they raised more than $700.

Piccini, who helped raise money at the stand, said, "some people didn't know, so on our first day (one man) was going to give us a quarter, and then we told him what it was about and he picked up like five more (cups of lemonade)."

"These boys worked so hard all day out on this lemonade stand," George Sonneburg said of his daughter's friends, "so, they came over to the house with a paper bag full of money and handed it to Victoria, and it was so good watching these boys do this."

Victoria's mother, Amanda added, "I just believe that God touched her that day, and she believes that too. Yes, she lost her arm, but she's alive, and thankful for that. I think she realizes that she could have died that day, but she didn't."

No matter how old you are, it's a hard lesson to learn -- life can be very unfair at times. Remarkably, Victoria Sonnenburg takes what happened to her in stride.

"I just think it's natural to smile now, I'm just so happy all the time now. I have to learn how to do things with one hand, but it's easier when I get help from other people."

Victoria's got a lot of help. Everyone who attended the dinner at Amici's Bistro pitched in to help her buy a prosthetic arm. Victoria's determined to do all the things she used to do even better because she wants everyone to know "life goes on."

Victoria and her family are still in need of help dealing with medical expenses from the accident. If you'd like to donate, they've set up a benevolent fund under the name "Victoria Sonnenburg" at Washington Mutual Bank.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.