He was a boy, she was a girl, could I make it anymore obvious? Despite the best efforts of many, it could have been more obvious. We met from the incessant recruiting of Alex and Braden to an IM basketball team. We settled into the same group of cool nerds who share our interests and shared platonic adventures to Walleye games, anatomy lab, and McCarthy’s. We left for a summer break, returning single and that’s when… nothing changed. We continued on adventures to the Ann Arbor, Indian Lake, and Toledo. Friends from Hillsdale encouraged our courtship, but nothing clicked. As Advent approached, we decided we would keep each other accountable for Church attendance. In classic fashion, holding hands in Church finally changed something. I convinced Madison to come back to Toledo between Christmas and New Year’s and finally asked her to go on a date. We went to the only restaurant in Toledo open on January 2nd and then watched Tarzan while eating fancy ice cream. We continued to spend more time together until medical school prom.  It was NOT the Jaguars winning a playoff game from down 28-0 that night that convinced me to ask Madison to be mine, but it certainly helped make it memorable. My family came up for dinner and Madison, who had already met Max, fit right in. I met Mrs. Stolly and Nate a month prior to our courtship and the rest at Olivia’s basketball game. Like Ross and Jake predicted months before, John and Matt confirmed that I had found the one for me after she bowled a strike on her first toss during a birthday party in PC. I met the rest of the Stolly family at Ethan and Ellie’s wedding, where I received Grandma Stolly’s approval for being Catholic and a fellow Joe. That was the first of eight weddings that summer and we got to continue to meet all of the people we love. During rotations, our schedules were never the same but we studied together often and made time to decompress with Madi’s roommates Mike, Nate, and Jen and neighbors Shiv, Brian and Erika. I lived with the Stolly’s for a month and they continued to tolerate me despite my eating all their food. Watching the Heat in the Finals with Nate and Aidan and teaching Olivia how to suture were highlights. The biggest test of our relationship came during this time, not because of school, but because we hiked Pike’s Peak with Aunt Gracie for 14 hours, 14,267 feet, and no water. Grandma Irene’s approval was also given that trip as she told me I could marry Madison as soon as I was ready, or sooner. Nan and Pap loved Madi immediately, even after finding out she was a Browns fan. 4th year was full of travels as we went to Detroit, Greenville, Chattanooga, Kansas City, Louisville, and even got to visit Lolli and Pop in Oconomowoc for an interview in Milwaukee. Towards the end of our journey, we were headed to Madi's favorite place: Greenville, SC. As my plans set in motion, I ventured to Lima to ask for her hand in marriage.I choked down a Michelob Ultra, that’s how much I love you Madison, as I asked and anxiously awaited Mr. Stolly’s answer, who gave a gracious yes and offered to drive Madison down to Greenville for her interview. That weekend, I drove from Louisville to Greenville through the black night and the hills of the Smokies and took Madison to Pretty Place Chapel where I proposed. I was pretty sure she was going to say yes because she told Nate G. she was excited to be Mrs. Dr. Brenner on a secret mission to find her ring size.  Happily engaged we created our residency match list. Despite our travels, when we submitted our list, Michigan topped her list and Detroit Medical Center mine. We couldn't choose to leave all the people we love for five busy years. With lots of powerful prayers, that is where we now train to be Emergency Medicine and Orthopedic Surgery doctors. Now, we work 80 hours a week, living in Livonia and looking forward to seeing you all May 2, 2026. Grandma Irene and Pap, we miss you everyday and are so grateful you were part of it.