Where is Tim Sheehan?

Doctors told Tim Sheehan his healing process would take months, maybe years.

Turns out they were right.

The Arlington Heights police officer continues to recover from the 2006 car crash the nearly took his life.

His physical therapy continues with the ultimate goal being to walk again. It's not an unattainable goal -- soon Tim will have special shoes made, followed by gait training, water therapy, exercise and stretching, said his wife, Maryann Sheehan.

But it isn't all therapy at the Sheehan home.

Tim and Maryann recently went out to the Wellington Restaurant with his parents, Bob and MaryAnn Sheehan, to celebrate his mom's 75th birthday.

"Our family is all doing very well," Maryann said. "Our kids are great."

Everything wasn't always so great.

On Feb. 15, 2006, Sheehan, an Arlington Heights police officer, was starting his 10:30 p.m. shift at Northwest Highway and Euclid Avenue, when a drunken driver hit Sheehan's squad car dead on.

The impact killed the other driver and crushed the right side of Sheehan's body, breaking most of his bones from his pelvis down. It damaged his brain, affecting his speech, memory and vision.

Sheehan's had more than 10 surgeries. Fifty-three pieces of metal have been put in his body to repair the broken bones. He spent nine weeks in a coma.

Today Tim and Maryann's oldest son, Mike, is back at school seeking either a second degree or to continue graduate work. He's also helping out around the house. Son Mark is working at Waubonsee Community College as the coordinator for the photography department. Daughter Katie is plugging away as a freshman at Elmhurst College.

Tim's parents still come from Chicago to stay with him two days a week while Maryann goes to her job at the park district.

"Tim is doing very well," Maryann said. "His recovery is just a long, continuing process."