O/T: Can I get some good thought, son has a head trauma

[Froro]

My oldest boy was playing football on Friday and took a very hard tackle. He was brought into emerg by ambulance, incoherant, in a repetitive loop, disorientated etc. He has zero memory of Friday at all.

After a ctscan/xrays they sent him home with us as a "mild" concussion and we had to wake him every two hours Friday night.

He has been much better since, is no longer in a loop, still has no memory of Friday, but while better he is still off balance, and has reduced cognitive function. Lightheaded etc.

I brought him into our family doc today for a once over and he took one look at him and sent him back to the ER for another ctscan. I went in thinking he was getting better and the doc scared the pants off me. Back to the ER we went. My girlfriend was doing the CT scans today over there so I had a friendly face. I asked her to stay with us for the consult with the doctor.

Doc did more neurological assessments, but was concerned about radiating him with another ctscan. My girlfriend agreed. Doc has ordered an urgent MRI now to see what's going on in his brain now. No idea when he will recover. No idea when his balance will be back. Doc figures his memory is gone and won't come back. He told us he is not to go to school until he can walk unaided for extented period of time, and until he has improved cognitive abilities. I"m kinda freaked out here. Hopefully we will get into the MRI tomorrow.

I have a family history of epilepsy as a result of brain injury (my brother, who passed away from it, my mother, my grandmother, and my uncle who also passed away as a result). I"m a little neurotic about it and will fully admit it. I'm having a really hard time with this.

The doctor today said that while the original diagnosis was mild concussion this is actually the most severe level of concussion he can have and should have been admitted on Friday for observation. He is home again with me now as the "danger" of coma has passed.

Thank God his girlfriend was on the field at the time. The kids were playing a pickup game as they ended up with a spare period, no equipment. Bell rang, kids took off and left Alex on the bleachers, vomiting, unable to stand. His girlfriend saw and went to him, called for some help and they tried to get him to the school where he collapsed in the parking lot.

School was trying to call me, but of course, the one friggen time I take a really really long shower, it is that moment. I call the school in a panic and they tell me he is on his way to emerg with one of the guidance counsellors with him. I got to the hospital in minutes.

Anyway. If I could get some good thoughts, I'd appreciate it. I have no doubt he'll make a full recovery but it will be long one. I'm just having a hard time with this and it's bringing back some very painful memories. I know I need to remember that my brother is not my son but it's hard.

[Raj]

I'm sending you both my blessings and my very best thoughts. Stay strong!

[DyannaK]

I am sooo very sorry... I have no words of wisdom but wanted to let you know that as a mother too I understand what you are going thru. I will keep your son in my thoughts and prayers that all will be ok...

[Kiralynx]

Prayers, good thoughts, and, as it's said in another Forum, sending lots of

PINK LIGHTS

Just remember to take care of yourself during the crisis. (Say I who haven't done enough of it during our own current family crisis.) You can't help your son if you are falling over.

HUGS!

[Uncle_Bob]

Sorry to hear about this incident and I hope he continues to improve.

The only advice i can offer that may help is Neurofeedback for improving congnitive function, once the immediate medical issues are taken care of. At the practice I attend i see some kids recovering from injury's such has falling off horses etc.

http://www.eeginfo.com/
http://www.eeginfo.com/therapeutic-appl ... .htm#brain

Best wishes to your family

[Driver59]

Prayers and possitive thoughts to you and your son. Please keep us informed on his progress.
Don

[tattooyu]

All the best to you and your son!

[fuzzy96]

ah pickup foot ball game. i remember my brother taking a knee to the head during one of our neighborhood games.. we were a rough crowd. (once playyed with a rock cuz we trashed the balll) but everything stopped when he didn't move. scared the hell out of us. we carried him to the house and loaded him in the car for mom to run to the hospital. when mom came home without him we really got scared. next day he came home and layed around for a week or two. football gave way to baseball for a month or two till a line drive broke a jaw. aw crap. that was 30 yrs ago and he's the one that wants to start the game . he just says "no knees " though.

i guess kids will be kids . we were and our kids will be too .

our story turned out fine years ago and i'm sure yours will too....

sending healing vibes your way

[tossandturn]

Froro, I'm sorry to hear about your son. I'll be praying for him and for you. I know you're not in an easy place right now, and I'd be the same way if it were me. Keep us informed of his progress.

[Froro]

Thanks all. Was a rough night. I am now convinced that stress affects apnea. This is twice now I've had horrible nights based on this. First was friday night when he was brought in by ambulance and again last night. No leaks, just more longer apneas.

Anyhow. Not much change today. I just got a call from the hospital and I'm to bring him back at 6pm for an MRI. Hopefully will get some answers.

Had a chat with the VP of the school today and he is working something out so my son hopefully will be able to get back whenever that is with no loss of any of his year. (I think they are seriously concerned about a lawsuit and while I haven't really thought seriously about it, I'm waiting to see how this all pans out with my son before I make a final call) If this was a case of kids just goofing around after school I wouldn't even worry about it but he was supposed to be in a classroom. The only reason they were out on that field unsupervised is because they couldn't get a substitute teacher and they ended up having a free period instead of accounting. I"m pretty PO'ed about that but HE is my main focus now, not the other. That will all get washed out in the end.

[kteague]

Read your post very late last night and came back first thing this morning to check for an update. You're right, he's all that's important right now. You probably won't get results of the MRI till tomorrow, but please keep us informed as your time permits. Hopefully his symptoms show improvement.

Kathy

[OutaSync]

Froro,

My heart goes out to you. I'm so sorry that you are having to go through this. I wish there was more I could do to help.

Bev

[Catnap]

Sending out good thoughts and prayers! For what it's worth, my son went through this from a skiing accident when he was in high school and although it took a few days (and as predicted, he never did remember the accident or any of the time immediately prior to that), he was able to recover fully. Hoping for the same for your son!

[DreamStalker]

For what it is worth ... kids are extrememly remarkable at these types of recovery.

When I was a kid, we used to play tackle football out on the street. We would often come home for dinner all scraped, bruised, and bloodied and our parents would scold us for not getting cleaned up before sitting down to eat

Then there were the daredevil bike stunts where we would try and re-enact Evel Knievel (early 70's) jumps. Once my buddy veered to far left off the ramp (spring loaded with old car tires) and had a mid-air collusion with the neighbors tree ... very impressive sight to see and yet he survivied with only a broken arm which he later charged a dollar to anyone who wanted to sign his cast

If he is just a kid, I think he will recover just fine ... what you need to be afraid of is the alcohol and partying once he reaches his late teens and early twenties.

[JayC]

Healing thoughts, prayers, healing energies for your son, you, and all your family.....