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Normally, 15-year-old Brett J. and his family would be spending the holidays at home in Wisconsin, but this season looked a little different.
Several months earlier, Brett experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a power-washing incident. Over the holidays, he continued his recovery at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, with his family at his side.
Brett’s rehabilitation journey was featured in a recent story on WBAY-TV Action 2 News in Green Bay, Wisc.
In the segment, Brett’s parents, Tyler and Nicole, shared how he is regaining his abilities — including relearning to walk. Also, on the day Action 2 News visited Brett’s family at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Brett sat without support for the first time since his accident.
“He’s doing a lot better job walking, rolling in bed, getting in and out of bed. Those are things we’ve been practicing a lot,” said Sarah Lipscomb, Brett’s physical therapist who was featured in the segment.
Patients from around the world, including pediatric and adolescent patients like Brett, come to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab to benefit from the hospital’s 70 years of experience treating complex brain injuries.
Tyler said throughout Brett’s recovery, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab doctors and therapists have encouraged the entire family to cheer on Brett’s progress and milestones.
“They want you to celebrate every single step of the way, even when it’s something small, because it means something big,” said Tyler.
