Although the following article has nothing to do with Nancy, it does
involve someone that Nancy has known for a very long time and once
worked with.

When Nancy was coaching the Detroit Shock, Sonny Allen was one of his
assistants. Sonny and Nancy go way back, to the days when they were
both at Old Dominion University.

And as some of you probably know, ex-Monarchs coach Sonny Allen was
stricken with the West Nile Virus two months ago.

From the "Dallas Morning News" online site, here's an article on his
updated health status:

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AREA BASKETBALL COACH, FAMILY GET "MIRACLE"

Allen fighting off effects of West Nile virus
12:51 AM CDT on Thursday, September 21, 2006
By EDDIE SEFKO / The Dallas Morning News



West Nile virus. Of all the intimidating words in the medical
dictionary, few strike as much fear into people as those.

When it comes to beating a sickness, everybody knows West Nile is a
tough opponent.

That's what makes Sonny Allen's story so uplifting.

Allen, the former SMU coach who also spent time as a Mavericks
assistant and has worked at every conceivable level in the basketball
industry, has been enjoying retirement for the last few years, but
had that time frighteningly interrupted when he contracted the virus
this summer.

Doctors are unsure exactly where he picked it up, but the best guess
is during a July trip to New Orleans.

What is confirmed is that Allen, 70, slipped into a coma in early
August and suffered through bouts of encephalitis and meningitis. His
life was in jeopardy.

In what his son, Billy, now calls a miracle, Sonny Allen appears to
have beaten the viral infection.

"He's getting stronger each day," says Billy, a key accounts
executive for adidas who lives in Plano. "It's really been a miracle.
That's what the doctors have said. They think the two things that
made a difference were that he's always been extremely healthy and
that he never drank or smoked. That helped immensely, they said."

He said praying, which family and friends did for weeks, played a
part, too. Sonny Allen survived a long stay in intensive care and has
returned to his home in Reno, Nev. While he still needs a walker to
get around, he's making progress.

He had a positive visit with his neurologist Tuesday and can walk for
90 minutes in a swimming pool without help. He hopes to ditch the
walker someday. It's a major leap from the night he went into a coma
that lasted five days.

Allen realizes how fortunate he is. He did not feel up to an
interview Wednesday, but he recently told the Reno Gazette-
Journal: "I feel encouraged by everything now. The rehab specialists
and doctors feel I will get back to normal. To me, that's being able
to walk without the walker. They say most people don't survive [the
severe cases]. From that part, it's a miracle. I'm really thankful."

The virus also has put life into perspective for Allen, who used to
think losing basketball games was the most crucial thing, as coaches
do. He has coached at every level from high schools to the NBA – the
WNBA, too – and led the Mustangs during an entertaining basketball
era during the late '70s. He coached at Nevada from 1980 to 1987 and
has lived in Reno much of the time since.

Allen's wife, Donna, has to fill in the blanks for him about his time
in the intensive care unit. But family members believe he is out of
the woods in regard to the virus.

"It's just a real good story to give a lot of people hope," Billy
Allen said. "West Nile is a tough, tough thing. But of all the great
memories I shared with my dad, this one is the most special, him
getting through this.

"We're hoping people who may be in similar situations can gather some
hope from this."

Allen said the two things his father always asks about are the
Mavericks and SMU basketball. For now, however, the key thing is
getting his quality of life back.

"He's got a lot of work ahead to get back all the way," Billy
said. "But the doctors and everybody feel good about the progress
he's made. He's back at home, which is great, and everybody just
feels like it's a miracle."

E-mail esefko@...


SONNY ALLEN

•Old Dominion captured the NCAA Division II national title in 1975
with a 25-6 record.

•In Allen's first season at SMU in 1975-76, the Mustangs were named
the most improved team in the nation by Basketball Weekly.

•Coached basketball in six decades (1959-2001).

•Is only person to have coached high school, college freshman, NCAA
Division I and II, WBL, CBA, NBA and WNBA teams.

•Won championships on the college and pro level (1988 World
Basketball League title).

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Steven
Sacramento, CA