So I get a call from my dad at 10:30 telling me he has some bad news. My cousin is 13 years old and he loves sports (football, baseball, basketball). I have probably seen him almost every weekend of my life for ~8 years (that I can remember). Today he was playing a football game for his Middle School and he gets knocked down hard. They think he has a concussion so they take him to the ER and come to find out his brain is actually bleeding. They then send him straight to Charlotte Medical and the doctors haven't given him more than 2 hours to live from when my dad called. He told me there was no reason to drive there because I probably wouldn't make it. It really is crazy to me because I played football for 13 years and had 2 concussions and 2 shoulder surgeries along with 6 broken bones and to see someone lose their life for the game at that age really makes me question a lot of things about my own life.

[Edited on October 10, 2007 at 11:11 PM. Reason : ,]

10/10/2007 10:59:56 PM

damn....sorry to hear that. I can't imagine how hard it must be to lose someone at such a young age. Here's hoping for a miracle...

10/10/2007 11:03:46 PM

Here's hoping for a miracle...

for sure. so sorry to hear

10/10/2007 11:09:08 PM

Damn, sorry to hear that man. I got chills just reading your post. I'll definitely keep him and your family in my prayers.

10/10/2007 11:09:36 PM

From what my dad said he is being kept alive by machines and it's just whenever they turn them off.

10/10/2007 11:10:20 PM

NY Times had recent articles about this issue

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/15/sports/football/15concussions.html

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/09/16/sports/20070916_CONCUSSION_GRAPHIC.html

10/10/2007 11:12:43 PM

10/10/2007 11:14:53 PM

i was a QB growing up with a shitty O line every time, we never won a game.

I dont know how many times i blacked out in games or became dizzy

heres hoping for a miracle

10/10/2007 11:15:20 PM

im so sorry to hear that man, stuff like this breaks my heart

10/10/2007 11:28:02 PM

10/10/2007 11:32:11 PM

Sorry dude

10/10/2007 11:56:27 PM

sucks to hear

i'm sorry for your loss

10/11/2007 12:07:42 AM

Yeah I get chills reading and thinking about that.

At least it seems you had some good memories with him.

10/11/2007 12:14:29 AM

By the way, both him and whole family are huge State fans. Coming to the games or at least watching all of them.

[Edited on October 11, 2007 at 12:58 AM. Reason : .]

10/11/2007 12:34:35 AM

Moral of the story: don't play football.

But in all seriousness, I hope he pulls through.

10/11/2007 1:23:06 AM

Quote :

"But in all seriousness, I hope he pulls through. "

Have you read the thread at all? That doesn't seem likely.

I've known people with brain injuries though (from a car accident-- brain bleeding and they needed a tube in their skull to drain it) that recovered. He must have been hit REALLY hard.

10/11/2007 1:38:58 AM

id like to hear a status update on the poor kid

10/11/2007 1:49:35 AM

status update?

are you fucking dense?

Quote :

"...his brain is actually bleeding...the doctors haven't given him more than 2 hours to live from when my dad called. He told me there was no reason to drive there because I probably wouldn't make it."

life is fragile. it's not something we like to be reminded of. balls.

10/11/2007 2:13:48 AM

its called hope asshole

10/11/2007 2:47:33 AM

everything happens for reasons unseen to begin with

we dont know why or how or what if, but in the end a few months, years or decades later it all makes sense.

sometimes it takes the loss of one life to get your own back on track. without heartbreak and sadness joy wouldnt feel so good.


the meaning of life is unknown, but the state of the life that we live is known and thats to live a happy life every minute of every day and realize we are given a short time here, and what we have here is not nearrrrrrrr as close as to what we do and who we help.



once again, as a not so repetitive praying soul who every now and then talks to the big man, i wish him the best of well from someone who has been there in his shoes and told they dont have many times left.

heres to you and your family in this time of need...shutting of a door just opens another window for life.


my thoughts prayers and concerns go out to you all.
God bless him.

10/11/2007 2:58:06 AM

That's terrible. God bless. I don't know you in the real world, but if I can do anything please let me know.

10/11/2007 2:59:19 AM

I'm sorry

10/11/2007 3:00:28 AM

my condolences to your family.

10/11/2007 3:59:27 AM

Sorry about your loss.

I wonder how the kid who hit him is dealing with this.

10/11/2007 9:34:10 AM

My mom's brother died from a head injury playing backyard football on Thanksgiving.

10/11/2007 9:37:48 AM

ive already been thinking about the title of this thread a lot recently, so this just gave me a double frown.

10/11/2007 9:47:55 AM

sorry to hear that, my condolences to your family.

10/11/2007 11:05:25 AM

he passed away around 6:30 this morning.

10/11/2007 12:45:16 PM

10/11/2007 12:48:12 PM

Sorry dude

10/11/2007 12:49:23 PM

10/11/2007 12:52:20 PM

condolences

10/11/2007 1:03:41 PM

Was this the kid at North Lincoln? As an alum of East Lincoln, we've had our tragedies as well, off the field. Sorry to hear that man. I know their high school has a kid still having a hard time recovering from a nasty accident. We'll keep you guys in our thoughts.

10/11/2007 1:05:04 PM

Condolences.

Also, they should not be playing football in middle school. Geez.

10/11/2007 1:34:42 PM

sorry man

10/11/2007 1:48:20 PM

^^

*carl face*

10/11/2007 2:06:17 PM

10/11/2007 2:07:12 PM

http://www.charlotte.com/109/story/314618.html

10/11/2007 2:10:47 PM

10/11/2007 2:11:22 PM

yea that is the correct link to the story

10/11/2007 2:14:32 PM

Quote :

"According to the UNC-Chapel Hill based National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury research, , only one player died nationwide in 2006 directly from a football injury. Since 1997, 50 players, including McLeod, have suffered fatal injuries."

Middle school kids have a much greater chance of being killed while in school than playing football after school. Sad.

10/11/2007 2:17:28 PM

Damn.

Still.

[Edited on October 11, 2007 at 2:18 PM. Reason : s]

10/11/2007 2:18:07 PM

man this still has me bummed. so sorry man

10/11/2007 2:21:18 PM

how terribly tragic.

I can only imagine your and your family's pain. I feel awful for your aunt and uncle.

...

My boy is almost 3. My wife says she'll never let him play football. I don't necessarily agree with this approach, but i don't know how i can argue against it. because I'm sure he'll want to at some point.




your family has my sincere and deepest sympathy. I don't know how parents can cope with the loss of their child. It's not natural.

God, I hope they can find some comfort.





[Edited on October 11, 2007 at 2:46 PM. Reason : ]

10/11/2007 2:43:18 PM

wow there is alink to this story on cnn.com. Sorry for your loss

10/11/2007 3:48:30 PM

that's so sad.

10/11/2007 4:04:32 PM

very sorry man

10/11/2007 4:16:35 PM

my grandmother that i had a really good relationship with passed away 2 weeks ago and the feeling is still almost fresh. i feel your pain.

10/11/2007 4:20:33 PM

So sorry about your loss. May you and your family find peace.

10/11/2007 4:24:27 PM

Thanks for all your condolences.

Here is another news link with a video.
http://www.wsoctv.com/news/14318251/detail.html

10/11/2007 4:24:37 PM