Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Well, it has been about 18 days since that phone call. Brennen has been doing beyond amazing. He is well on his way down the path of healing. The chest tubes are out. He now only has an NG tube for supplemental feedings and a single IV. The staples are out of his chest, and hopefully in the next day or two the staples will come out of his abdomen as well. He has begun the battle of eating actual hospital food. Until today, I had never in my life seen a pork chop turned into a pureed pile of brown yuck. He has started working on his calorie count and keeping up with that so he can get the NG tube out.
But enough of that. I walked into his room this morning and he was watching Elf and smiling the best he can. He has really woken up, if that makes sense. He is talking more and more each day, starting to put words together, able to answer questions and ask questions. Some of the highlights have been his colorful language, telling me to F off and using voice inflection when calling making from of his friend Troy. Little moments like this amaze me and everyone around him. We are seeing more and more of the kid come out every day.
I noted on his board that he walked 120 feet yesterday with the assistance of two people. I asked physical therapy if that was the goal again today, and they said anything beyond that would be great. So Uncle Ben and I watched as he went on a 500-foot walk around the unit with a bit of help. I was blown away, and physical therapy was astounded. He is bound and determined to move and leave. Staff who have seen him throughout this whole process cannot believe how fast and how well he is doing.
Last night I was able to get a copy of the body camera video and the 911 calls from the night of the incident. Paige and I reviewed them together and we both cried. Listening to the calls and the things said was incredibly difficult. The deputy, Andy Petersen from Clinton County who handled it, will forever be held to the highest standard in my opinion. I will always be grateful for his words, professionalism, and calm in the middle of complete chaos. I don’t know who the firefighter from Andover was, but hearing him say that if Brennen survived it would be a miracle hit deep. It cut like a knife, but it was the truth, and with everything we learned in the days that followed, I would not have disagreed.
It truly was an absolute miracle that he is alive. I don’t know what is planned for this kid or what his future completely holds, but it is definitely something amazing.
Today Brennen asked who had come out to see him and who had called to ask about him. I watched as he started to cry while I explained all the people who called, texted, and came to see him, those who helped him, who they were and where they were from, who called 911, and how people from all across the county have been praying for him. Through tears he asked how he could tell them all thank you. I told him he could when he is ready, but that they already know.
Today was a good day, one of many more to come. Just another great step forward.
During our conversations I explained to him that this is nothing more than a roadblock, and we have two options from here: go through it, or go around it. Brennen has clearly chosen the smash-through-it option.
The support from so many of you, sharing your personal experiences with your own families, your suggestions, your moments of fear and joy, and the reminders that the path forward is rarely straight, has all been heard and felt by us. We cannot be more thankful.
The future we hope includes moving to Shirley Ryan in Chicago soon, followed by a trip to On With Life in Ankeny. We have heard so many amazing things from all of you about these places, and that support has helped calm the worries and nerves about the next chapters and the unknown ahead.
~ Dad