One year after harrowing COVID-19 battle, Lightning's anthem singer 'blessed' to return for Stanley Cup Final
Lightning anthem singer ready to return to ice after COVID
After a battle with COVID-19 last year landed her in the ICU, Lightning national anthem singer Sonya Bryson-Kirksey is excited to be back on the ice with a microphone in her hand.
TAMPA, Fla. - It's as beloved as any other part of the Bolts pre-game festivities: Sonya Bryson-Kirksey, decked out in Bolts blue, delivering a rousing rendition of the national anthem.
"Even if I had to sing for five people in that arena, just being in that arena is a blessing. You know, being able to represent both the military myself and the Lightning, as it were, is a blessing in itself," the Air Force veteran said during a recent sit-down interview with FOX 13. "I still can't believe I get paid to do this."
There was a point, however, where it all nearly ended. Despite being vaccinated, she was diagnosed with COVID-19 following the team's Stanley Cup celebration last July. Complicated by her struggles with Multiple Sclerosis, she would spend a month in the hospital and eight harrowing days in the ICU. Her voice – and more importantly, her life – hung in the balance.
"I had I wondered a lot of things. I wonder if I was going to get out of the hospital. You know, if I was going see my kids again, my husband, my family," she said. "I actually never even thought I would be able to have the volume back that I have. But God is good."
Lightning's anthem singer ready to take the ice after COVID battle
Nearly two months to the day after she left the hospital pledging to get her singing voice back, Sonya Bryson-Kirksey will be back to belt out the national anthem at Amalie Arena, after beating COVID-19.
She credits the support from Lightning fans across Tampa Bay with helping her push through and beat COVID. Bryson-Kirksey spent months rehabbing with deep-breathing therapy, and essentially re-training her lungs to sing. She made her emotional return to Amalie Arena in October.
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Now, she's back on the biggest stage: the Stanley Cup Final.
"The chance for a three-peat, first of all. How blessed can you be as a city? How blessed can you be as a team?" she said. "It's going to be a madhouse. I love it because it's a great madhouse. It's who we are as a fan base, it's who we are as lovers of this team."