Appleton teen in a coma, continuing to fight after early-July power washer accident

APPLETON - Things are slowly turning around for an Appleton teen who was seriously injured last week.

Brett Jedwabny, 15, was using a power washer on July 9 around noon to wash a garden hose cart, according to JP Jedwabny, his uncle. When Brett was cleaning the wheel of the cart, JP said a piece of the wheel came off and hit Brett just above his right eye.

Brett was taken to ThedaCare in Neenah, where JP says they did a miraculous job and ultimately saved Brett's life, before doctors made the decision to have Brett airlifted to Children's Wisconsin hospital in Milwaukee.

What started off as a nightmare, has now given the family hope for the best in Brett's recovery process, according to JP.

"The progress the first day was not good. We got bad news on Wednesday morning down there. And I think due to whatever the doctors did and the power of prayer and our family going down there and getting to see him a little bit, he made a big turnaround on Wednesday night and Thursday," JP said. "He's been going in the right direction ever since. He does have a large mountain to climb, and he's been making baby steps forward every day."

Brett is still in a coma, but JP told the Post-Crescent Wednesday that the doctors at Children's Wisconsin are doing an "amazing job."

When asked about Brett's father, Tyler, JP said he is holding on strong.

"My brother is a very strong man when it comes to stuff like that. In crisis, this has definitely taken a toll on him," JP said. "Unless somebody was actually in his shoes, could know the pain and suffering that he's going through right now. But he is being rock-solid for his wife, his other son, and, of course, for Brett. I'm just so proud of him."

A GoFundMe was created by family friend Sarah Knutson in support of Brett and his recovery. The fundraiser is a little over a week old, and has raised over $70,000, far more than the goal of $40,000.

Rashad Alexander can be reached at ralexander@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Appleton teen in a coma, continuing to fight after early-July power washer accident