By Mimi McKinnis
Three years ago, Rye Haller was a typical 10-year-old boy — a devout Christian, BMX biking, dodgeball-loving big brother, who had just completed Learn to Skate USA classes at Blazers Ice Centre in Oklahoma City, and Learn to Play (hockey) with the Dallas Stars.
On April 21, 2018, his father Rick found him unresponsive, and after being rushed to the hospital, it was estimated that he had been without oxygen for 30 to 40 minutes. An MRI showed massive damage and cell death on both sides of his brain. He did not respond to any of the hourly neurological tests the doctors performed. His parents were told he would not survive.
Six days later, the day before he was scheduled to be taken off life support, he opened his eyes and responded to pain. After miraculous survival, Haller turned 13 last May, and, brain injury aside, his family continues to keep the faith as he engages in therapeutic activity and brain stimulation.
“My guiding principle through all of this has been ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you,’” Rye’s mother Julie Haller said. “I want to give him every possible opportunity, and God has been unbelievable in his provision.”
Meanwhile, William Brenner was rising through the ranks in his budding hockey career.
At just 17 years old, he’d attended two USA Hockey National Player Development Camps (15s and 16s), Western Regional Select 14 High Performance Camp, and had been drafted to the USHL Cedar Rapids Roughriders. In November 2020, Brenner underwent shoulder surgery, removing him from junior hockey for the season to focus on his recovery. Without the ice, he turned his attention to academics, community service and ways to give back to the sport he loves as he continued to heal.
In December 2020, Brenner was cleared to glide. That same month, Haller’s family planned their return to the ice. While Brenner was meeting with Larry Donovan, general manager of Blazers Ice Center, as a family advisor, the Haller family arrived at the rink. Donovan connected the two families, and the rest is history.
On Dec. 30, Haller and Brenner returned to the ice — together.
After skating for two hours, the details of their divinely written story came to light. While the Haller family originally hails from Colorado, both boys first took the ice in Brenner's home state of Oklahoma. Both of their dads are from Ohio. Haller was even born at Vail Valley Medical Center in Vail, Colorado — the same hospital where Brenner’s surgery was performed.
“[Watching them skate] was bittersweet,” Julie said. “Rye had just finished his first official hockey practice Thursday night before the incident on Saturday. Hockey was his most recent passion. He loved it so much, he’d sometimes even sleep with his skates. It was emotional in missing the boy he used to be, but such a joy to connect through a physical activity that wasn’t entirely focused on therapy.”
“The feeling I had when I was pushing him on the ice was something I have never felt before,” Brenner said. “I just felt like I was making a difference and giving him the ability to be on the ice again, and maybe bringing back the memories he had with his buddies before the incident. I felt like I made a difference in his and his family’s lives to bring back what Rye loved the most. It made me feel like I should never take anything for granted. Always stay positive and always look at the glass as half full.”
Brenner and Haller have since considered weekly skating sessions — Brenner fulfilling his desire to serve as he continues to heal and regain his hockey skills, Haller through adaptive skating and on-ice therapy for brain stimulation through vestibular motion.
“I think they need each other,” William’s mother Jackie said. “I think that this will be Will’s service, coordinating these sessions with Rye each week. It will be a way of saving his heart, and it’s helping Rye developmentally as they both continue to heal.”
“Through all of this, I hope skating can give Rye a sense of enjoyment,” Julie said. “You can be alive but you need a reason to live, too. Of course the acceleration and changes of direction are wonderful forms of stimulation, but it also gives him something to look forward to.”
While different circumstances brought them together, skating continues to serve as the tie that binds Brenner and Haller as they glide down the road to friendship, fulfillment and recovery.
“Rye was a friend to all,” Julie said. “Now he can’t talk back or play dodgeball like he used to, so to be his friend is to genuinely show unconditional love. I’m so thankful that he made a new pal in William. He’s truly an amazing guy. God has brought so many people and resources into our lives. If sharing stories like this can encourage more people to pray for Rye, then that’s all we can ask.”
To support the Haller family and follow Rye’s journey, visit Facebook.com/PrayForRyeGuy.
