Nearly a year after their teenage son suffered a traumatic brain injury, the boy’s family is reflecting on the horrific event and making plans for the future.
On July 9, 2024, Brett Jedwabny, then 15, began cleaning the cart containing the equipment while assisting with power washing at his family’s Appleton, Wisconsin, residence.
When the tire exploded, it shattered his eye socket and launched debris into his brain, removing a portion of his right frontal lobe. Nicole, his mother, called for help right away.
She just yelled, “He is gone.” He is no longer alive. “His brains are all over,” recalls her husband Tyler, a 44-year-old real estate salesperson working at the time. The couple also had a 13-year-old son, Grant. Tyler rushed to the hospital, not knowing who had been injured.
When he tried to call his oldest son, he did not answer. Then he gave his wife another call. “Hold on, you should slow down. “You must tell me who.” Tyler recalls asking the question to her. “I discovered it was Brett at that point.”
Despite her fear, Nicole dialed 911, and rescuers arrived quickly. Tyler claims to have arrived in time to witness a “miracle” after traveling 34 minutes to a nearby hospital in less than 20 minutes, according to People.
Because a cancer patient who was scheduled for a craniotomy gave up his appointment, his child was able to have surgery right away. “Those precious seconds saved his life,” Tyler says.
Brett was airlifted to Milwaukee Children’s Hospital after having part of his skill removed to relieve pressure.
The teen received prompt attention, but things did not look good. After a restless first night, the doctor advised Brett’s family to say their final goodbyes because he was unlikely to live for another twenty-four hours. “That simply breaks your heart,” Tyler says.
Tyler claims that the doctor was shocked to learn that their son had survived against the odds the next morning and was unable to provide a medical explanation.
Brett was still making progress, but the danger was far from over. Brett received inpatient treatment for the next ten months, first at Milwaukee Children’s Hospital, then at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago, and finally at the Ronald McDonald House, where he slowly recovered.
Brett, now sixteen, was finally allowed to return home in May 2025, but this time he was accompanied by a fire engine. He had the opportunity to meet with life-saving emergency personnel.
“He knew to say thank you to each and every one of them,” according to his dad. “He was excited, smiling, giving a thumbs up, and kissing their hands. He recognized the significance of that moment.”
Brett’s left-side mobility is limited, and he still requires a feeding tube. However, on the way home, he surprised his parents by taking two steps. Nicole accompanied her son to a school meeting on May 29 to prepare him for his return.
In an email, the 44-year-old mother, who was an elementary school teacher before the disaster, writes, “I was anxious about what people or friends would say.” “A large sign on the computer board welcomed us.” Three other boys from Brett’s high school fishing team, as well as his best friend, arrived to greet him.
According to his parents, Brett is still the same “old soul”—and funnier than ever—despite being more open about his feelings now that his right frontal lobe has been injured.
Brett has done everything he can to rehabilitate over the last year, and their family bond has only grown stronger. “You can not really have a bad day when you see the progress your son has made,” Tyler jokes. He does not let it happen. He does not tolerate bad days. He simply never stops trying to reclaim as many of his former abilities as possible.
