Paco Rojas smiles as he pets one of his cats, Princess, at his home in San Jose, on Aug. 1. Rojas was hit by a drunk driver last year. His car went up in flames and he stumbled out and fell off the overpass. Since then he’s had 23 surgeries and is expected to walk again later this year despite his poor prognosis. DAI SUGANO — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Joe Thornton wipes a tear next to former Sharks player Ryane Clowe during Thornton’s jersey retirement ceremony before a Sharks game at the SAP Center in San Jose on Nov. 23. SHAE HAMMOND — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A snowy egret stands near the edge of a cluster of black-necked stilts at the Coyote Creek Lagoon Unit of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge on Jan. 14 in Fremont. ARIC CRABB — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Stanford womens basketball head coach Tara VanDerveer is celebrated by her team after a win at Maples Pavilion on Jan. 19 for her 1,202nd victory, tying her with Mike Krzyzewski for most wins by a college basketball coach. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) KARL MONDON — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A three-day old waxing crescent moon appears above a large tree during sunset in Walnut Creek on Nov. 4. JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

April Rose celebrates as Donald Trump is projected to win North Carolina during the Contra Costa County GOP Election Watch Party at the Back Forty Texas BBQ Roadhouse & Saloon in Pleasant Hill on Nov. 5. 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) JANE TYSKA — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER