It has always been a family tradition. Your dad played, your grandfather played, your husband played. Football is one thing that has always brought your family together and brought you joy, even during the hard times. As you sit in the stands and cheer for your son who made varsity this year, you feel the familiar swell of pride and anticipation as he jumps into the air to catch a pass. But before his feet can touch the ground he is hit by what seems like a locomotive and he drops heavily to the ground.
Your joy is quickly dashed as you stare in disbelief at your unmoving child on the field. The team medic rushes onto the field, and an ambulance is called. The diagnosis is a severe concussion. Your heart sinks. What will be the long-term effects of this traumatic brain injury? Where can you find hope for him, for your youngest baby? Though he might be in high school, he will always be your baby, and you are determined not to lose hope for him.
According to the Centers for Disease Control in 2010 more than 800 per 100,000 people in the United States entered the emergency room, were hospitalized, or died from traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The long term health impacts can be severe. Effects of traumatic brain injuries can vary widely, from sensory issues like impaired vision or hearing, to physical ones like loss of motor control or memory, to emotional functioning like personality changes or depression.
TBI is a major life changing event that impacts people from all age groups, though rates are highest for individuals over 75. For children ages 19 and under the rate of emergency department visits for sports or recreation related injuries where a TBI occurred more than doubled.
Though the numbers are startling and the impacts are depressing, there is good reason to keep hope from fading after you or someone you love has experienced a traumatic brain injury. Hope Unfading is an organization that was founded by Liz Rooney after her own personal experiences with TBI and in response to her frustration at the lack of resources and assistance for people who have experienced a TBI. Liz found that after her many personal brain injuries there was reason to maintain hope for a full recovery due to the brain’s ability to heal itself through neuroplasticity.
With a hefty dose of determination and persistence, Liz has found out first hand that for anyone who has experienced a TBI there is reason for hope. She has gathered her resources and experiences into her organization so that anyone who has experienced a TBI can access her knowledge base. Hopefully others will be able to avoid the years of unrewarding trial and error that eventually led Liz to the many resources and answers she has been able to compile and maintain they will also find for themselves a hope unfading.
You can rely on the compassionate San Francisco personal injury attorneys at Alexander Law Group, LLP to guide you through the difficult time that follows a traumatic brain injury. We are here for our clients and will passionately seek appropriate compensation for you. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
