Monday, September 29, 2025
Here I sit with Brennen, about 36 hours after the accident, watching you fight for your life. I’m still shocked you are even here today. I’ve told you so many times to be safe, to make smart decisions, to respect the road and the horsepower under the hood. To pay attention. To always come home.
Before I go further, I need to say thank you. To the first person who stopped and checked on my son and stayed with him until EMS arrived—you will never know how much that means to me and my family. For you, sir or ma’am, I will always be grateful that someone was with him in those first moments. To Andover Fire and EMS, Clinton Fire Department, Mercy in Clinton for stabilizing him for transport, the air crew, and the staff and doctors—we cannot thank you enough for everything you have done to give Brennen this fighting chance.
“Now I sit here begging and pleading with God that you will come out of this alive.”
The doctors say the first 48 hours in the ICU are full of ups and downs, improvements and complications. Brennen, you’ve given us more complications than ups—but you’re still here, and we are grateful. You are loved more than you know, and I am proud of the young man you’ve become.
For everyone wondering, Brennen’s injuries are severe. He has bilateral subdural hemorrhages (bleeds on both sides of his brain), cerebral swelling, and sluggish pupils. An intracranial pressure monitor has been placed to measure the pressure and activity in his brain. He has a retroperitoneal hematoma (bleeding in his groin), large pulmonary hematomas in both lungs—he is on ECMO (life support) just to keep his body going. His spine has multiple fractures: L1 broken in two places, T12 displaced, along with several rib fractures. He also had major abdominal trauma, requiring surgery to repair a liver laceration, remove part of his small intestine, and stop nearly a liter and a half of internal bleeding.
A bit ago, we met with his care team. Brennen will need spine surgery, but that cannot happen until he is more stabilized, likely in the coming weeks. He also requires additional abdominal surgery. Even with everything being done, we were told that Brennen’s current chance of survival is less than 50%. That is the heartbreaking reality we are facing right now.
To Brennen’s friends—please, let this be a reminder. Life can change in an instant. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, young drivers (16–20 years old) are involved in fatal crashes at nearly three times the rate of older drivers. In 2022 alone, over 2,300 young drivers were killed in crashes, and thousands more suffered life-altering injuries.
Don’t become another statistic. Slow down. Put your phone down. Respect the road. Respect the machine under the hood. Do not put your family through this heartbreak. I’ve told Brennen many times—every action has a reaction, good or bad.
Brennen, we love you. We’re here for you. Keep fighting, son.
~ Dad