Day 344 - Saturday October 22, 2016
Day 344
We had plans to see Jen's brothers' band play at the Bridge bar tonight. We had plans to possibly go on a limo ride with one of my friends that just turned 40, but life had a different plan today and sent us some jolts of reality.
My son adores the game of football--he eats it up. Loves to watch, keep track, stats, everything--he breathes it, lives it, and loves it.
He plays for our team as a guard and tackle both on offense and defense. He loves to play, and we love to watch him play. It also helps calm him down a little bit around the house with all that energy he has, whether it be nervous energy, or just plain outright energy of a twelve year old.
The interception happened mid way through the third quarter as we were driving on a bigger, faster, team from Pensacola. I'm not sure if it's taught (I think it is) but during an interception return, it seems everyone is fair game. This team caused four, yes FOUR concussions against a team from Pace, and although this always is in the back of your mind as a parent, if you let it consume you, you're already beaten.
As my son saw the pic, he attempted to catch up to the person carrying the ball, focusing only on the person carrying the ball--the one that is a safety or cornerback, MUCH faster-a back that my son does not have the speed to catch. Unfortunately he was TOO focused on the back as one of the other teams' biggest players, along with a smaller one sandwiched my son--not to throw a decent block and free the runner that had already passed him, but to inflict hurt and pain.
After the hit, I saw my son point to his head and just lay there. I always told him to let me know of this as I would not let the coaches put him back in if he receives a head blow or a helmet to helmet hard hit. This was far worse. As Jen and I watched both coaches help him off the field, I knew there was something wrong. We ran to the fence as they carried him off the field (with his head to the side, walking--I was hoping for a shoulder stinger) they said he was having trouble walking and kept wanting to close his eyes. I kept my calm, and helped get his helmet off and his pads off, while Jen tied to get to the car on rubbery legs. We knew we were going to spend some time in the ER tonight, just not knowing how severe.
I called my good friend who's a nurse practitioner to come have a look in case the wait was long, she was awesome, came up (as they live right near the hospital) and told us what to expect as they took him in. The scary thing was lack of focus, and getting him seated in the wheel chair among other things. There are scary moments as parents, but if it's a broken bone or a sprain or something over a head injury, yes, give me that any day (as long as it's not a life disabler, of course)
One good thing I noticed was that he started to come around minute by minute as we waited in the room for the Dr. We knew there'd be a CAT scan, and were hoping for the best. Once they wheeled him back, Jen couldn't hold her emotions in anymore and started crying. It was very unsettling that our child, whom we love more than anything, was getting a catscan on his brain. It made me rethink the whole football thing, and whether we're being protective enough. What if he gets migraines now? What if his brain is bruised? What if he can't think correctly? These are all the thoughts that go through your mind. One thing I knew, right then and there, was that his football season is over. No matter how he felt after the hospital visit, or whether our team makes the playoffs or not. No matter what people say, I won't let my son play ball for at LEAST a month after suffering an injury like that.
As I type this blog a week later, we were both relieved to know that yes, it was a concussion, but a minor one. He, as expected, has had intermittent headaches over the past week, and the Dr hasn't cleared him to play yet anyway until 5 days after the headaches are gone. As much as I hate keeping my son from doing what he loves right now, I understand that football play is a very temporary thing in life with sometimes permanent complications. We thank God, and Lori and folks that prayed for him, expect a complete recovery, and hope that next year he makes a different decision-if not we'll stand by him with whatever he chooses to do.
We had plans to see Jen's brothers' band play at the Bridge bar tonight. We had plans to possibly go on a limo ride with one of my friends that just turned 40, but life had a different plan today and sent us some jolts of reality.
My son adores the game of football--he eats it up. Loves to watch, keep track, stats, everything--he breathes it, lives it, and loves it.
He plays for our team as a guard and tackle both on offense and defense. He loves to play, and we love to watch him play. It also helps calm him down a little bit around the house with all that energy he has, whether it be nervous energy, or just plain outright energy of a twelve year old.
The interception happened mid way through the third quarter as we were driving on a bigger, faster, team from Pensacola. I'm not sure if it's taught (I think it is) but during an interception return, it seems everyone is fair game. This team caused four, yes FOUR concussions against a team from Pace, and although this always is in the back of your mind as a parent, if you let it consume you, you're already beaten.
As my son saw the pic, he attempted to catch up to the person carrying the ball, focusing only on the person carrying the ball--the one that is a safety or cornerback, MUCH faster-a back that my son does not have the speed to catch. Unfortunately he was TOO focused on the back as one of the other teams' biggest players, along with a smaller one sandwiched my son--not to throw a decent block and free the runner that had already passed him, but to inflict hurt and pain.
After the hit, I saw my son point to his head and just lay there. I always told him to let me know of this as I would not let the coaches put him back in if he receives a head blow or a helmet to helmet hard hit. This was far worse. As Jen and I watched both coaches help him off the field, I knew there was something wrong. We ran to the fence as they carried him off the field (with his head to the side, walking--I was hoping for a shoulder stinger) they said he was having trouble walking and kept wanting to close his eyes. I kept my calm, and helped get his helmet off and his pads off, while Jen tied to get to the car on rubbery legs. We knew we were going to spend some time in the ER tonight, just not knowing how severe.
I called my good friend who's a nurse practitioner to come have a look in case the wait was long, she was awesome, came up (as they live right near the hospital) and told us what to expect as they took him in. The scary thing was lack of focus, and getting him seated in the wheel chair among other things. There are scary moments as parents, but if it's a broken bone or a sprain or something over a head injury, yes, give me that any day (as long as it's not a life disabler, of course)
One good thing I noticed was that he started to come around minute by minute as we waited in the room for the Dr. We knew there'd be a CAT scan, and were hoping for the best. Once they wheeled him back, Jen couldn't hold her emotions in anymore and started crying. It was very unsettling that our child, whom we love more than anything, was getting a catscan on his brain. It made me rethink the whole football thing, and whether we're being protective enough. What if he gets migraines now? What if his brain is bruised? What if he can't think correctly? These are all the thoughts that go through your mind. One thing I knew, right then and there, was that his football season is over. No matter how he felt after the hospital visit, or whether our team makes the playoffs or not. No matter what people say, I won't let my son play ball for at LEAST a month after suffering an injury like that.
 |
| My #50 |
Comments
Post a Comment