Podcast Summary: “Ran Over and Disabled My Dad”

Podcast: We’re All Insane
Host: Devorah Roloff
Guest: Courtney Klein
Date: January 19, 2026

Episode Overview

This deeply personal episode features Courtney Klein sharing the life-altering story of accidentally running over her own father as a teenager, an event that left him permanently disabled. The episode explores not only the trauma of the accident and its aftermath—including her father’s addiction, depression, and a family unraveling—but also Courtney’s journey toward healing from guilt, loss, and the generational impact of unprocessed pain. Through raw honesty, Courtney reflects on how trauma can shape identity, the struggle to redefine herself as a woman and mother, and ultimately, how both she and her father found redemption and a new sense of self.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Childhood and Family Background

Timestamp: 00:00–04:18

• Courtney describes a happy childhood in rural West Virginia with a fun-loving dad who was beloved by the community (“he’s the dad that likes to give out nicknames, picks on my friends, everyone loves him” [00:21]).
• Her father worked as a school custodian and had a zest for adventure.
• Sets up childhood as divided between “before the accident” and “after”—a line that would split her sense of self.

2. The Accident: Trauma in an Instant

Timestamp: 04:18–08:24

• As a teenager, Courtney, while driving too fast on a narrow rural road in her dad’s truck, nearly collided head-on with her father driving a four-wheeler.
• Both panicked; her dad locked the brakes, was thrown from the four-wheeler, severely injured.
• “I just remember jumping out of the truck…and running to him…he was not conscious, just very bloody. And I just remember being like, he’s dead. Like I just killed my dad.” ([05:29])
• The chaotic aftermath included emergency response, her mother running to the scene, and Courtney’s guilt becoming immediate and overwhelming.

3. Hospitalization, Guilt, and Blame

Timestamp: 08:24–13:44

• Her father survived with a broken neck, back, shattered arm, and head injuries; underwent seven surgeries.
• “It was like…this realization that it was my fault…. I did this to my dad.” ([09:29])
• Courtney describes her struggle with long-lasting guilt even though her father insisted it was not her fault: “He was very much like, I shouldn’t have been…I was going way too fast… but I was 17 dealing with all this, it felt like…we’d be in a very different place.” ([13:09])
• Her dad, declared disabled, entered a cycle of pain, addictive pain medication, and drinking.

4. Family Breakdown: Grief, Addiction, Depression

Timestamp: 13:44–24:59

• Her mom became the sole provider, her father was homebound, increasingly depressed, and addicted to pain medication and alcohol.
• “Addiction and depression just became his identity…it was a very quick downfall, I feel like.” ([15:18])
• Living states apart, Courtney grappled with guilt for leaving, and with episodes of her dad’s substance abuse spilling into public and police incidents.

5. Hitting Rock Bottom: Suicide Attempt and Divorce

Timestamp: 19:45–28:04

• In 2016, her father, drunk and suicidal, was surrounded by police with a gun to his head at a small-town gas station, narrowly averted tragedy.
• “...He decided, I’m going to commit suicide… they finally got him to put his gun down, tackled him,” ([22:02])
• He spent Christmas in psychiatric care; her mother finally ended their marriage: “That was her breaking point…I’m not going to be with your dad anymore.” ([24:40])
• Courtney, overwhelmed: “Everything was a mess. Nothing was in my control.”

6. Fallout and Courtney’s Caretaking Role

Timestamp: 28:04–38:40

• Her father’s spiral worsened: estrangement, substance abuse, lost jobs, living in poverty, further family fracturing, and repeated arrests.
• “It really did just feel like it became my responsibility…When he would have a meltdown, I would have to stop everything I was doing and try to talk him off a ledge.” ([28:29])
• Simultaneously, her mother started a new relationship, deepening family conflict and emotional strain on Courtney, who was struggling as a young mother herself.

7. Further Crisis: Family, Loss, and Estrangement

Timestamp: 38:40–53:42

• Recalls a night receiving a “goodbye” text, believing her dad would kill himself, and calling 911.
• A subsequent altercation led to her dad injuring her uncle and being arrested, which also resulted in his beloved dog’s death: “I was like, my dad’s not going to survive this.” ([39:57])
• The emotional burden built up, culminating in court dates, moving her father, periods of estrangement with her mother, and feeling caught entirely in the middle.

8. Steps Toward Change and Recovery

Timestamp: 53:42–56:22

• After the death of a close family friend (her dad’s best friend), Courtney was forced to bring her divorced parents together for the funeral: “I was at a breaking point. I need to just focus on my life, my kids, my husband. What do I want to do with my life?” ([51:47])
• Her father managed two weeks of sobriety—the beginning of real change.
• “He did make amends with everybody and kind of tried to say, I’m not going to…I want you to see that change in my life.” ([57:04])

9. Family Reunion and New Normal

Timestamp: 56:22–59:04

• Her parents reconciled, remarried by the same pastor on their anniversary.
• Courtney experienced relief but struggled adapting to “normalcy” after so many years of chaos: “I had some struggles adapting to the normalcy of it again… I was still holding on to all this trauma.” ([58:09])
• Her father remained sober. Physical pain persisted, but he reclaimed his happiness.

10. Processing Guilt & Healing Her Own Identity

Timestamp: 59:04–73:51

• Courtney was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety; she entered therapy, but the guilt narrative (“I wrecked my whole family’s life”) persisted.
• Subsequent trauma: secondary infertility, two pregnancy losses (including stillbirth at 23 weeks), and deep depression.
• “That became my personality. Like, I was just not in a good place mentally, and I hated myself. …I let that, like, define who I was.” ([68:25])
• Realized she never wanted her children to feel responsible for her emotional well-being: “I don’t want my kids to feel like they have to heal from me and my issues that I didn’t work through.” ([71:10])

11. Transformation and Growth Through Sharing

Timestamp: 73:51–85:59

• Began sharing her story online, lost weight, and found community and healing: “I woke up one day after starting that, and I was like, I’m gonna make a TikTok… My whole life completely changed. Met so many people that could relate.” ([73:52])
• Her message: don’t let trauma define you—work through it, get uncomfortable, and pursue healing.
• “Whatever the narrative that you’re giving power to…things are going to happen to you, but they don’t define you.” ([75:57])
• Both she and her father now have clarity: the accident was not her fault, both have found healing, and her story is now one of resilience and hope.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I just remember being like, he’s dead. Like, I just killed my dad.” (Courtney, [05:29])
• “Addiction and depression just became his identity…it was a very quick downfall, I feel like.” (Courtney, [15:18])
• “I don’t want my kids to feel like they have to heal from me and my issues that I didn’t work through.” (Courtney, [71:10])
• “You have to get uncomfortable to pull yourself out of that. That’s why it’s so hard. We’re not taught those things.” (Courtney, [79:52])
• “Change in perspective and what you’re giving power to determines what your life’s gonna look like.” (Courtney, [82:23])
• [On family healing:] “He did make amends with everybody…and showed that change in his life.” (Courtney, [57:04])
• “My dad could do anything…now you go and see your dad in a situation like that…just the saddest thing.” (Courtney, [25:07])
• “It’s heartbreaking to watch somebody you love go from one version of themselves to another.” (Host, [83:29])
• [On forgiveness:] “It’s literally talking about how he forgives his parents because it’s their first time on earth too…you got to have grace.” (Courtney, [85:38])
• “Anyone who feels like they’re there, like, you have potential. You can pull yourself out of that.” (Courtney, [83:35])

Important Segments by Timestamp

• 00:00–04:18 – Childhood memories, family dynamic, dad’s personality
• 04:18–08:24 – The accident, immediate trauma
• 08:24–13:44 – Hospital, guilt, family’s medical and financial struggle
• 13:44–24:59 – Addiction, depression, family separation
• 22:00–24:59 – Father’s suicide attempt and psychiatric hospitalization
• 28:04–38:40 – Courtney as caretaker and crisis manager, multiple family meltdowns
• 38:40–53:42 – Dad’s ongoing spiral, family deaths, further loss
• 53:42–59:04 – Participating in dad’s recovery, setting boundaries
• 59:04–73:51 – Counseling, PTSD, more loss, self-rediscovery
• 73:51–85:59 – Healing journey, sharing story online, advice for listeners

Tone & Takeaways

Courtney’s storytelling is raw, self-aware, and darkly humorous, embracing both the heartbreak and the absurdity of trauma (“He still does it to this day…she hit me with a truck, and nobody knows what to say” [84:30]). The episode moves from shame and guilt to a place of resilience; the tone is compassionate, at times heavy, but ultimately hopeful and motivating. Listeners are left with a message of agency—that no matter how deep the trauma, it is possible to change the narrative, set boundaries, pursue healing, and shape a story not just of survival, but of transformation.

Final Message

“Whatever you’ve been through, don’t let it define you. But I encourage you to get uncomfortable; do that thing that you have felt like is far out of reach…because you could change the whole course of your life.”
—Courtney Klein ([80:19])