This is the continuation of a new program here at TCB. Called “Outreach”; the purpose is to publicize the good (we hope the vast majority) and sometimes the not so good of concussion management and experiences across this vast planet. One thing I realized real quick in Zürich is that the stories of the bad are relatively the same, usually highlighted in the media. Meanwhile the stories of good are different and helpful and not heard at all. I am asking our readers to send in stories of your cases (please be mindful identifying specifics) so we can share. There are vast stories in the comment section but I would like to bring forward as many as possible.
Ashlee Quintero was a soccer player at the University of Miami in 2009 when she sustained a concussion. Through this process she decided to become more involved in awareness and education of this injury. Below is her contribution to The Concussion Blog.
Dog, Cat, and Fish.
The more I am exposed to the public’s reaction to sports concussion (and that’s a lot, I am a youth soccer coach and the Concussion Program Coordinator at UHealth Sports Medicine), the more I realize how far we still have to go with concussion education. Despite the warnings, educational seminars, and the accessibility of concussion information on this little thing called the internet, coaches, youth coaches especially, are more often than not severely misinformed on how to screen who’s taken a hit. My most recent educational presentation really illustrated this need.
I am a youth soccer coach and volunteered to present concussion information to my fellow soccer coaches at our league’s pre-season coaches meeting. While I was speaking on Florida’s new concussion legislation and discussing the ever-difficult sideline evaluation and decision to sit a kid out, I got the inevitable questions, “Well, how do you know if it is a concussion? What’s the tell-tale sign I am looking for?” Before I could vocalize my response to those questions, Continue reading
You have seen him post in the comments and there have been many stories written on him and his plight, but it is nice to get those involved to write about themselves as much as possible. George Visger a former NFL player has taken the time to send along a couple of notes, it began with this email;
We are beginning a new program here at TCB. This one is called “Outreach”; the purpose is to publicize the good (we hope the vast majority) and sometimes the not so good of concussion management and experiences across this vast planet. One thing I realized real quick in Zürich is that the stories of the bad are relatively the same, usually highlighted in the media. Meanwhile the stories of good are different and helpful and not heard at all. I am asking our readers to send in stories of your cases (please be mindful identifying specifics) so we can share. There are vast stories in the comment section but I would like to bring forward as many as possible.
Admittedly, I didn’t understand or even appreciate the importance of my physiotherapy rehab after my brain injury. When the doctors first told me that I’d be going to the Miller Centre (the rehab hospital in St. John’s, NL) I was really excited! At least I’d be out of the hospital! I couldn’t sleep. When I was eventually able to eat food it was terrible. I was bored to say the least. I was newly dealing with my double vision, so I couldn’t read. I figured, when I got to rehab, I’d be able to go to the rehab gym all day, at least it was something to do. They’d never seen me at rehab. I’ll be awesome! “Sure I can’t walk now, but you let me at that place for a few weeks and I’ll be running the stairs and doing burpees in the hall in no time!” “I’ll run home one day and won’t need to go back.” It’ll only be a few weeks, a few months tops.
Yesterday evening, as I was about to talk to receive a call from someone from the 
