"I don't want to stop football, but I do want to stop [brain trauma] from happening to other kids," said a mother who is dealing with the after-effects of her son's brain trauma believe to be caused by his participation in high school football. Her 19-year-old son and former high school football player sued the Highlands School District in federal court last Thursday for personal injury. The former football player alleges that he still experiences brain trauma symptoms caused by his former coach and train incorrectly allowing him to participate in games after injury.
The former football player's mom has said her son's injury has changed her whole family, and it is becoming apparent that football head injuries are changing others' lives across the country. Attention has been growing nationally and locally regarding football and concussions through growing awareness and legislative efforts. Over the last six years two high school football players in western Pennsylvania have died from concussions sustained in practice.
Since 2007, when the young man suffered a helmet-to-helmet hit during a game, the 19-year-old has experienced nausea, insomnia, depression, hot flashes, vomiting and dry heaves. The young man began playing football as a fullback despite his smaller size at age 8. When the young man was a 15-year-old sophomore he sustained a serious head injury during an October 12, 2007 game. Unfortunately, the high school player was not evaluated on the side line and was allowed to continue playing according to the 19-year-old's attorney.
The former football player was injured two more times. During a November 2 game he again suffered a serious head injury and was allowed to continue to play. On November 9 the then 15-year-old suffered a third helmet-to-helmet hit. According to the complaint, the 15-year-old was not removed from the game and his mother took him to the emergency room after the game where he was diagnosed with a substantial head injury. Today, the 19-year-old has problems working an eight-hour day and needs to lie down after working for only an hour.
Source: Pittsburg Post-Gazette, "Former high school football player sues Highlands over head injuries," Vivian Nereim, 4/8/11