You and your children only get one brain — keep it healthy and it will last a lifetime.
Of all the horrific brain-damaging events that change lives forever, such as accidents, explosions, war, fire, and oxygen-deprivation, none could be prevented. Sports initiated Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) are 100% preventable, and players of contact sports are 100% at risk.
Anxiety when an athlete goes down.
I remember when my husband, in a friendly game of basketball, fell to the floor during a play, injured. His leg. The rush to the hospital. My worst fears of him not being able to walk again won’t keep quiet despite his assurances. His leg healed. However, from that point on, I knew anything could happen at any time.
Watching a child left lying on a field, ice, or mat, has to be the worst feeling in the world. Families send prayers of well-being to the fallen and prayers of “thank goodness it wasn’t my child” follow silently. Concussion and/or paralysis and/or death may be the immediate outcome. No one speaks of #CTE. It’s not diagnosed until after the player dies.
What happens after the collision on the field?
Your youngster suffered head trauma, gets up and walks off the field. Unless it’s college or national teams, there is probably not a neurosurgeon on the sidelines to assess the player. It’s up to the coach to decide if the player goes back into the game, or, a parent who is brave enough to override the coach.
This scenario can play out many, many times in highs school sports, and on through college and pro. At the end of a glorious career, the player is ready to take their place in the economy — if they’ve earned a degree or learned a trade or can think.
Brain damage hurts and can lead to AD, PD and ALS
With brain damage, you are aware you can’t make decisions. You find yourself immobilized by depression. You can’t keep up your grades or hold down a job. Your impulse control is non-existent. And, YOU KNOW IT. Enter self-medication: drugs and alcohol, anything to combat the doubts and fears. Unfortunately, they also mask any impulse control. Results: suicide, drunk-driving accidents — car and motorcycle, uncontrollable anger, assaults.
Your child has survived all these possibilities. Are you and they home free? Not at all. Early onset of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) might surface at any time, often when the player is in their forties.
Scary? You bet!
On the following interviews on The Dr. Vibe Show, you will hear the stories of parents who have lost their sons, players, and coaches who have played and now understand the seriousness of repetitive head hits.
When your child comes home with a waiver to play a contact sport, don’t sign until you watch/listen to the following interviews.
May 14, 2018 VIDCAST The Dr. Vibe Show™: Carol Bluestein And Melvin Lars “You, Me & CTE”
June 23, 2018 PODCAST The Dr. Vibe Show™: Melvin Lars And Larry Anderson “You, Me & CTE”
June 23, 2018 PODCAST The Dr.VIBE SHOW™ PODCASTS: Kimberly Archie, Faces of CTE
June 23, 2018 PODCAST The Dr. Vibe Show™: You, Me & CTE – Debra Pyka “Save Your Brain”
July 25, 2018, VIDCAST The Dr. Vibe Show™: Cyndy Feasel “You, Me & CTE – After The Cheering Stops
July 27, 2018 PODCAST The Dr. Vibe Show™: Karen And Doug Zegel “You, Me & CTE – StopCTE.Org
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Photo Credit: Timothé Lejeune on Unsplash