Sunday, November 9, 2025
The last few days here in Chicago have been busy and full of some really good moments. Paige and the girls were able to come out and stay for a few days, which meant a lot to Brennen. While they were here, they did a little exploring around the city, including a stop at the American Girl Doll store, and spent time hanging out with Brennen whenever they could.
The girls absolutely love and adore their big brother. Like any big brother in recovery, he gets a little frustrated at times with the nonstop questions and attention, but he has done a great job trying to balance it all out. You can tell he is happy to see them and be around family again, even if it can be a little overwhelming at times.
Our friends Amanda and AJ also came out for the weekend. They were with us on vacation when we got the call about the crash, so having them here with us during this stage of things meant a lot. It has been a roller coaster ride for everyone involved, and moments like that help remind us how strong the support system around Brennen really is.
Today, though, is the big day.
After 42 days in hospitals and rehab, Brennen got into my truck and we headed home. Saying that out loud still feels a little surreal. There were moments during the early days where we did not know what the outcome would look like, and now here we are driving home together.
I still cannot completely understand how this entire process has felt both incredibly fast and unbelievably slow at the same time. Some days seemed to drag on forever, while other parts of the journey seemed to move at lightning speed. No matter how you look at it, Brennen being able to come home after everything that happened feels nothing short of a miracle.
When we got back from Chicago, we unloaded the truck and started settling in. It did not take long before some of Brennen’s friends started showing up. Watching him sit there, smile, and talk with people he had not seen in weeks was something special. Those moments of normal life mean a lot right now.
Starting tomorrow we will be transitioning to his mom’s house for the next phase of recovery. Most of Brennen’s outpatient rehabilitation will take place in the Quad Cities area and in Iowa City. Staying there will help cut down on the amount of time he has to spend in the car, and his mom has a more flexible schedule right now to help manage the appointments and therapy sessions.
This has definitely been an interesting adventure so far, and there are still more chapters ahead of us. But tonight Brennen is home, and that is a milestone none of us will ever forget.
~ Dad