Mom thanks Garth for life
Thursday, August 08, 1996. The Calgary Sun
Story by Story by Lyn Cockburn

The Calgary Sun. For Mark Norman, tonight's Garth Brooks concert will be more than just another show. "I'm thrilled," said the Langdon boy when the Sun presented him with the tickets. His mom, Dianne Norman, entered a Sun contest hoping to win tickets for her son. She included a touching letter about how Garth Brook's music has aided her son's recovery from a serious accident.

Mark was injured in a auto accident in June 1995 that left him with a severe brain injury. He was unresponsive in hospital until last December when he finally nodded "yes" for the very first time when asked if he wanted to hear Brooks' new Fresh Horses tape. "He's since worn that tape out," said Dianne. Mark, who has progressed from bed, to wheelchair to crutches, to walking unaided, said the music is inspirational.

Dianne explained Mark's brain injury still affects his short term memory, but he has begun to remember the words to songs on Fresh Horses. And he definitely knows what he's doing tonight. "He keeps telling everybody, 'I've got Garth tickets,'" said Dianne.