Hope in Healing Story in the Media
Explore the stories of Zachary and Isabelle as covered by national and local news outlets. From the initial 2018 reporting of their injuries to their miraculous 2025 engagement.
The Proposal - Land of 10,000 Stories
National Feature: A Miraculous Reunion
They met while being treated for brain injuries. Now they’re getting married.
The couple reconnected years after meeting in a Minnesota hospital, and bonded over their experiences: “I’ve dealt with that, sweetie. I understand that.”
Zachary Zarembinski jogged onto the sideline at his high school football game and abruptly collapsed... Isabelle Richard, who had recently gotten her driver’s license, had crashed her Jeep into a tree and also was put into a medically induced coma.
But nine days later, Zarembinski did wake up — about the same time a teenage girl was taken to the same hospital with a similar injury.
Two Teens Met in the Hospital While Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries
Zach Zarembinski and Isabelle Richard met after they were both injured and ended up in the same hospital.
While Richard was still in a coma, Zarembinski had recovered enough to reassure her family. "He was telling us she'll be okay," Wilzbacher told the outlet.
When Richard came out of the coma, the two teens met for the first time in her hospital room. Their mothers stayed in contact via Facebook, and years later, they planned a family dinner.
Couple who met after waking from comas gets engaged at same Minnesota hospital
Years after waking up from separate comas and meeting inside a Minnesota hospital, Zach Zarembinski brought Isabelle Richard back to the place where their story began — this time to pop the question.
"I was surprised, definitely. I kind of knew [it would happen], but I didn't at the same time," Richard shared Wednesday on "America's Newsroom."
Zarembinski convinced Richard to return to Regions Hospital by telling her he’d gotten permission to film an episode of their podcast, "Hope in Healing."
Couple who met after waking up from comas get engaged in hospital: ‘We complement each other’
A happy couple who first met seven years ago when they both awoke from comas got engaged inside the same hospital where they were treated as teenagers.
Before proposing, Zarembinski got his now-fiancée to stand up as he pointed to the area where he first met Richard’s family in November 2018 after he woke from his coma.
The lovebirds’ parents were excited for the engagement, but wouldn’t take credit for getting their children together. “We’re just blessed to have a front row to their miracle,” Wilzbacher said.
Meet the couple who met at Regions Hospital — after emerging from comas
Zach Zarembinski fell in love with Isabelle Richard over a head of lettuce. It happened in October 2024 at a restaurant in Lakeville.
“She just started eating,” he said. “She’s so authentic. She doesn’t have a closed face that has to be revealed..."
The newly engaged couple first met in 2019 after each had woken up from a coma. Isabelle Richard and Zach Zarembinski arrived at Regions Hospital in 2018, nine days apart.
ICU to ‘I do': Couple who met in hospital after waking up from comas are getting married
Seven years ago, two Minnesota teenagers suffered life‑threatening brain injuries just days apart and were placed in comas in the ICU at Regions Hospital in Saint Paul. Now, they are preparing to wed.
Fast forward seven years, Zarembinski and Richard returned to the same hospital to record an episode of their “Hope in Healing Podcast.”
Teens who met in hospital after emerging from comas are getting married
ST PAUL, Minn. — In the fall of 2018, two teenagers arrived at Regions Hospital in separate ambulances. 16-year-old Isabelle Richard suffered a massive head injury in a car crash. 18-year-old Zach Zarembinski suffered his brain injury playing football.
Earlier this month, seven years after their brain injuries, Zach convinced Isabelle to return to Regions Hospital to record an episode of a podcast they’d started producing.
2 survivors, 1 love story
Somehow God wove their survival stories into one beautiful love story. Zarembinski and Richard, both devout Christians, will celebrate their romance this Valentine’s Day at their favorite Italian restaurant as they continue to plan their September wedding.
In the months that followed, neither faced an easy road to recovery. Both leaned on their faith. Zarembinski’s spiritual life had been cultivated by many Catholic influences.
When people hear their story, many remark that it sounds like a Hallmark movie. Zarembinski has the perfect reply: “God writes better stories than Hallmark!”
Two People from Minnesota Who Met in the Hospital After Waking up from Comas Are Getting Married
Everyone knows love works in mysterious ways; but rarely more mysterious than in the story of Zach and Isabelle.
Partners in life and partners in podcasting, it was 7 years ago that the two Minnesotans were partners of a distinctly less pleasant kind.
In Regions Hospital, at the same spot where Zarembinski gave a conference as a teen, the pair of TBI survivors recorded a special episode of their podcast Hope in Healing... Zarembinski asked Richards to marry him, and the hospital staff that had ensured they both survived erupted into applause.
Couple who met in hospital after emerging from comas as teens now getting married
Two people from Minnesota who met in the hospital after waking up from comas are getting married. The man and woman who were escorted into Regions Hospital earlier this month have come a long way.
Just nine days apart, Zarembinski and Richard arrived by ambulance to Regions Hospital. Two lives that intersected in the worst of times are now paving a road together in the best of ways.
From ICU to 'I do': Zach Zarembinski and Isabelle Richard both suffered life-threatening brain injuries and were placed into comas at the same ICU just days apart seven years ago. Now, they're preparing to get married after getting engaged at the hospital that saved them.
From Comas to “I Do”? This Love Story Will Melt Your Heart 💍
Some stories feel like they belong in a movie. This one? It happened in real life.
This month, Zach brought Isabelle back to the very hospital where they first met. In front of a heart-shaped floral display that read, “Will you marry me?” he popped the question. Her answer? A quick and happy “Yes!”
After severe brain injury, Twin Cities prep football player heads home
From the moment he collapsed on the football field due to a severe brain injury to his discharge from the hospital, Zachary Zarembinski has been enveloped in a web of love, encouragement and support.
That web, his family said, is a big reason why he's able to return home this week, after spending less than three weeks in hospital care.
Hill-Murray player makes miraculous recovery
"I just really truly believe that medicine and prayer worked together," said Tracy Zarembinski, referring to her and her husband's son.
On October 27, Zach Zarembinski - a senior football player for Hill Murray - collapsed during a game. He was immediately rushed to Regions Hospital, diagnosed with a massive brain bleed, had emergency surgery, and placed in the ICU.
Mass held for Hill-Murray football player hospitalized in coma
Friends and family of Zach Zarembinski, the Hill-Murray football player placed in a medically induced coma this weekend after collapsing during a game, attended a Thursday Mass at the Maplewood Catholic school’s gymnasium to offer prayers for him.
After brain injury, Hill-Murray football player returns to hospital to thank doctors, community
Less than three weeks after a Hill-Murray football player collapsed on the sidelines during a playoff game, he is on his way to a full recovery.
Zach Zarembinski was released from the hospital earlier this week. On Friday, however, he returned to Regions Hospital to show gratitude and look toward his future.
'I'm Just Grateful': Zach Zarembinski Thanks Community For Rallying Around Him
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Twenty days ago, Zach Zarembinski was in a coma. Friday, he was at home. The Hill-Murray senior collapsed during a football game on Oct. 27 and was diagnosed with a massive brain bleed.
"It's just unbelievable and I'm just grateful for all the support I've gotten and all the people that have been there for me," Zach said.
Hill-Murray football player who suffered brain bleed remains in intensive care
Three days after collapsing on the sideline of a football game, Hill-Murray senior Zach Zarembinski remains in intensive care, his sister, Becca, wrote on her brother’s CaringBridge page.
'He's A Tough Kid': Hill-Murray Football Player Zach Zarembinski Remains In Coma
At 6-foot-2-inches tall and weighing around 300 pounds, football nose guard Zach Zarembinski is an imposing player on the field. But tragically, the Hill-Murray School senior is now at St. Paul's Regions Hospital, where he remains sedated in the Intensive Care Unit.
Prep player placed in medically induced coma after collapse
A Hill-Murray football player was placed in a medically induced coma after collapsing during a playoff game. Senior lineman Zach Zarembinski took himself off the field during Hill-Murray’s 28-0 loss to St. Paul Johnson... and collapsed.