Yahoo! Sports profiles founder's son
Most red-blooded males I know think Patrick Hruby is brilliant. I have to agree, which is why my 18-year-old son Drew and I spoke to him at length about our experience with concussions.
What happened to us is why this website was founded.
QB speared
Drew was "speared" by an opponent in 2008, suffering a significant concussion from a helmet-to-helmet hit. He continue to play, which could have cost him his life.
When he finally came out of the game he showed classic signs of a brain injury but sat on the bench, deteriorating, for 45 minutes. He was cognitively unable to cry out for help. In the photo (above) his teammates realized something was very wrong. He continued to sit.
I was part of the problem. I was uneducated.
The next 70 days were harrowing. It took me that long to find competent medical care. We made mistakes, including allowing him to return to school far too soon. His recovery took four months and then some. The entire non-catastrophic process cost nearly $25,000. We did nothing out of the ordinary.
I came to realize there were tremendous gaps between what was happening to our sports-loving children and what was known about the risks to their brains. I couldn't keep what I was discovering to myself and began educating in 2009. SportsConcussions.org was born the following year.
Hruby's take
There are parts of Hruby's article on Yahoo! Sports' "The Post Game," entitled "End Game: Brain Trauma and the Future of Youth Football in America" where I differ philosophically. Namely, I don't believe the testing platform ImPACT is a scam nor do I believe football should be abolished at any level. In fact, through our program iBaseline, we help locate testing or establish testing programs for parents, schools, teams and leagues.
We love sports -- all of them. But we don't like what they do to young brains in particular. Like Hruby, we applaud all of those researchers who are working to give us data that will guide us on our quest, showing us how to play safer. We're all waiting for answers.
Effort creates change
When my son was injured in 2008, the CDC had five pages of general information on their site and there was little else available. We were completely in the dark for 70 days, with a son who was no longer cognitively capable, funny or "there." He was gone. We didn't know if he would return. It was terrifying and that fear (and gratitude) propels me to bring you the quality information you need to make choices for your schools, leagues, teams, and your own children. What happened to us can be avoided.
Locally, my children's school district complies with our state law. Parents sign a form before their children can participate in sports and coaches are trained. Athletes are removed when a concussion is suspected and not allowed to return to play without written medical approval. I have shown them what other school districts are doing nationally in an effort to shore up their program. There is much to be done.
Champions have been born out of our experience. Clallam County Fire District 3's chief, Steve Vogel, sends volunteer paramedics and EMTs to all varsity and JV football games. They are on top of this issue in every way and true leaders in our community. Our local hospital's CEO, Eric Lewis, made sure his ER was not sending athletes back to the field with medical clearance, and former Olympic Peninsula College President Dr. Tom Keegan, opened his doors for community baseline testing. Thanks to all of you. We'll get there.
As for "stalking" the superintendent, driving around town looking for him on a Friday night was not something I ever pictured myself doing. But in 2008, I needed my son's football team and his coaches in those seats at the conference the next day to hear Dr. Stan Herring speak. About 200 people attended, some driving two hours to reach us; mission accomplished. Years later, both parents and athletes still ask Now what did the doctor say about this or that? I know it worked.
Further challenges
The obstacles faced by those who care about concussions are real. State laws help break down the barriers, a meaningful first step. Many are now in the implementation stage, in other words, how to make these new laws work. We can learn from each other, so check the site or sign up for our newsletter and we'll keep you up to date. Growth will take place in fits and starts but our youth athletes are already benefiting.
My job -- and yours -- is to hold everyone's feet to the fire when we see things amiss. Yes, I talk to coaches from opposing teams when they ignore obviously concussed players on their bench. I poke my head into dugouts when players say they see stars and are put back in. I tell referees to take a stand when they see things but feel they have no authority. I track down parents and hand them CDC information that I carry with me and leave them my phone number.
So take the time to educate yourselves and others and please speak up. Concussions are so complex it takes all of us to help keep our children safe. Use the tools and stories we bring you every day as a guide and know there are many others engaged in this cause. It can still feel like a lonely occupation, but it's worth it. May you never know why, firsthand.
Sincerely,
Jean Rickerson
CEO/Founder
(photo Michael Dashiell, Sequim Gazette)
