Recently, an article in CBC News came to my attention about a 17 year old girl who ignored concussion symptoms, leading to her death.
I am always saddened by news like this. Especially when people ignore concussions because they think it’s “just a concussion”. It is never “just a concussion”. Concussions are mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI); it’s as simple as that.
Multiple concussions are even worse. Brain injuries compound upon themselves. Every time a person, such as an athlete, gets a successive concussion, the possibility of permanent damage and death rises exponentially. When death is caused by a pre-existing head injury followed by another trauma to the head, it is called “Second Impact Syndrome”.
The teen in this story, Rowan Stringer, had suffered multiple head injuries playing high school rugby, but refused to get her injuries examined and continued to play.
Click here to read the article, “Rowan Stringer ignored concussion symptoms days before death”.
I cannot stress enough how serious head injuries are. Even if you think it’s “just a concussion”, you must keep a close eye on the symptoms and absolutely avoid any activities that could cause another head injury.
Concussion Support in Ontario
For anyone currently living with a concussion (or, “mTBI”), the Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA) has launched a new weekly online support group for adults, facilitated by two registered social workers who have lived experience with concussion.
It’s easily accessible with an internet connection. No fee is charged to be part of the support group, and everything is strictly confidential.
For more information or to register for an upcoming group, contact the OBIA at 1-800-263-5404 or support@obia.on.ca.
>> Roger R. Foisy is an experienced Ontario Personal Injury Lawyer with an expertise in brain injury cases. If you or a loved one has sustained a brain injury at another party’s fault, don’t hesitate to contact us today for a free consultation and immediate support.
*Roger R. Foisy has completed courses in Neurorehabilitation, Advanced Brain Injury Rehabilitation, and Neuropsychological Assessments: Beyond Testing from Brock University. However, he is not a medical professional. The advice in this blog is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.
I Encourage You to Watch My Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Video Series:
- What is a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI)?
- Why are Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries Often Missed?
- Accessing Funding for Medical Rehabilitation after Suffering a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in a Motor Vehicle Accident
- Finding the Right Team for Your Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
- Coping with the Emotional and Psychological Impact of a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
