Okay, so Brennan is the guy in the hat. Now that that is clarified here is the story. It's really impressive for the 17 year old Tuerlings Graduate to be accepted to West Point yes, but the more impressive aspect of the story is his journey there. I'll say this, 15 years ago, Brennan and I would not have been scheduled to take this picture, according to doctors. See, Brennan was diagnosed with cancer at birth. I have been knowing his family since before he was born. I remember the phone call, we had just opened our 3rd restaurant (where this picture was taken) and his wonderful and loving parents had given birth to a miracle, Brennan. It was shortly thereafter they found out he had been born with a rare form of cancer. He immediately underwent treatment and according to the doctors he would not live past the age of 2, well 2 came and went and then Brennan was 6 (against the odds issued by his doctors) and life was pretty good for Brennan. We joke a lot about being pampered because he wasn't expected to have a normal life and now look at him. He has played All Star Baseball, played football, and workouts with some of the toughest people in the gym, of course it's all paid off now. I'll spare a long story and say at age 13 Brennan beat cancer. Ironically, this is where life got tough. For 13 years Brennan lead a life of a kid who was not going live very long. All of his friends and family patronized that theory which lead Brennan to want for nothing, now, at the ripe old age of 13, at the height of his adolescence, he goes from a pampered life of luxury to being treated like a "normal" kid. (I use the word normal because most kids expect to live to 13, Brennan wasn't expected to live past 2). He was being punished for disrespect and reprimanded for insubordination and he really didn't know how to accept it, I was witness to it all, it reminded me a lot of my trek at that age, although there were some differences... Remember when I said he had loving and wonderful parents? Yeah? Good, because I wasn't just saying that to be nice. These folks never stopped trying, they never stopped loving, and certainly never let the situation get the best of them. Now, to this day, Brennan eats lunch with his parents everyday. He is one of the most respectful and reverent kids of his generation. 6 months ago he and I were sharing a smoothie at Planet Nutrition in Broussard, that's when he told me he wanted to go to West Point. I could not express my deep level of appreciation and pride for him in that decision. It came as no surprise when I got a text message saying he had gotten in 2 weeks ago. Last night was his going away party at Ruby's. A 17 year old son is going away, there was a guest list of 125 people, 250 showed up to see this young man off. He leaves next Sunday for New York, once on campus his parents have exactly 90 seconds to say good bye. I chatted with his mom last night and she was in great spirits. Considering what she has been through I can't imagine that life can throw anything at her that she couldn't handle. I won't go in to the major situations that arose when Brennan was young, I want to stay positive, but I cannot say with certainty that I would've been able to rebound from life with such fervor and exuberance. I wish Brennan the best, he and I will be in touch, if not then I will definitely be in touch with his family as I see them once a week for lunch. If there is need I will get updates accordingly.
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