THRIVING Melanin Family Magazine November 2018 | Page 20

that I became aware that he (commensurate with  They have shared stories of being harassed and
CTE symptoms) was indeed a casualty of this having had attempts to portray them as frauds all to
dreaded brain disease. Can you imagine being so discredit them and to protect the pocket books of
ashamed of admitting to those closest to you that the owners and their insurance companies.
you are experiencing neurological problems and are What a tragedy, can you imagine this life; to live
afraid to seek help for fear of what others may think your dream, to be in a position that is envied and
of you? My heart bleeds with sadness, encapsulated coveted by the masses, to earn more money than
in anger because I was not there for him, although, I you have ever seen in one place in your life and it all
continually tell myself, how could I be there If I did belongs to YOU, only to be awaken to the nightmare
not know. My answer to myself is that I should have that far outlasts the dream?
recognized that something was wrong and
addressed it. I contributed the frequency of his The aforementioned question was posed to one of
short time memory loss to age, family stressors and my friends, he shared a personal story with me of
to life in general, never did I consider BRAIN always wanting to earn more than his father, he
DAMAGE! ( I’ll never forget his quote when one of became a star and a much sought after player,
the reporters asked him  about his most exciting entered the NFL, received many awards and
moment during his stellar football career at his accolades, amassed a stellar playing career and
College football Hall of Fame induction at the rode off into the sunset or so he thought, only to be
University of Notre Dame. “I just wanted to play diagnosed several years later with; chronic
football.”) Such a simple answer or is it, ‘what you traumatic encephalopathy. His answer; “with
don’t know can hurt you’ who’s responsible for everything that I am going through, I would
cleaning up the blood after a DECAPITATION! probably do it again to insure that my family is
provided for.”
As if this wasn’t enough to process and comes to
terms with, three more of my close friends all of I can only say this; he is a dear friend of whom I
whom starred in the NFL are experiencing appreciate, admire and love, however; with the
symptoms of CTE. Sadly, they too, reluctantly shared knowledge that I have acquired from personal
their stories with me and have asked that I not print research and their “testimonies,” I would have to
nor mention their names publicly. find another avenue to provide for my family.
NOVEMBER
2018 • THRIVE | 18