Northern Lights Installs Permanent Outdoor Lighting for Appleton Family Recovering from Traumatic Injury

The Jedwabny family in Appleton, Wisconsin, received a special gift from their community in the form of permanent holiday lighting.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:34pm

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The Jedwabny family in Appleton, Wisconsin, recently received a special gift from their community in the form of permanent holiday lighting. Nominated by a local resident through a Facebook contest hosted by Northern Lights, the family was selected to have smart, app-controlled soffit lights installed at their home. This gesture came at a meaningful time for the family, as they continue to recover from a traumatic injury that affected their son Brett in July 2024.

Why it matters

Brett Jedwabny sustained a severe traumatic brain injury when a wheel shattered during a power-washing accident, resulting in significant damage to his eye and skull. The family's journey has highlighted the strength found in local support networks during challenging periods, and the permanent lighting offers practical benefits by eliminating the need for annual setups that involve climbing ladders, reducing physical strain and risk, especially important during the family's recovery phase.

The details

The nomination originated from Michelle Curry, who learned of the family's situation through professional connections. Tyler Jedwabny works in real estate, and Michelle Curry, employed at a local title company, became aware of Brett's accident and the family's resilience. The permanent lighting offers practical benefits by eliminating the need for annual setups that involve climbing ladders, reducing physical strain and risk, especially important during the family's recovery phase. The installation, completed on December 11, 2025, involved 126 feet of Northern Lights smart permanent, app-controlled soffit lights.

  • Brett Jedwabny sustained a severe traumatic brain injury in July 2024.
  • The installation was completed on December 11, 2025.

The players

Brett Jedwabny

The Jedwabny family's son who sustained a severe traumatic brain injury in a power-washing accident.

Tyler Jedwabny

Brett's father, who works in real estate.

Nicole Jedwabny

Brett's mother.

Michelle Curry

A local resident who nominated the Jedwabny family for the Northern Lights contest through her professional connections.

Amber Ruffing

The owner of Northern Lights, the company that installed the permanent outdoor lighting for the Jedwabny family.

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What they’re saying

“Actually, it was a total shock. Somebody called and said you're going to get this, I kinda thought, yeah, right. So we were super stoked about it.”

— Tyler Jedwabny

“We just know that Brett loved hanging up Christmas lights; it still is his favorite holiday, and this just brought a lot of joy, a big surprise for our family.”

— Nicole Jedwabny

“That's one thing we do really like. We have fun with that.”

— Tyler Jedwabny

“Our neighbors have really enjoyed what theme we're going with. I look forward to having the patterns change as the themes come up. So it's pretty fun.”

— Nicole Jedwabny

“The process of it was phenomenal, the workers were awesome. They came, they got it done, and were very polite. It's such an easy process, it really is. And it's so much fun once you have it. It's like addicting to play around with the different patterns and the lasers, and the different things it can do.”

— Tyler Jedwabny

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This act of community support has resonated in Appleton, where neighbors have engaged with the family's changing light themes. The permanent outdoor lighting in Appleton, WI, serves as a symbol of resilience and collective care. By facilitating this installation, Northern Lights participated in a local effort to aid the Jedwabny family's healing process.