Earlier this year, I spoke to the Alleghany Highlands School Board about my son, Noah Green, being diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE. Noah, allegedly hit two US Capitol Police Officers with his car on April 2, 2021, sadly killing Officer Billy Evans and injuring Officer Ken Shaver. He was shot and killed when he allegedly got out of his car with a knife and lunged at another officer. Some question my use of the term “allegedly”, it is because we have not been allowed to see these alleged videos.
CTE is caused by repetitive hits to the head and as acknowledged by the NFL, these can be concussive or sub-concussive hits. According to the CDC:
“A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth. This fast movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.”
“A subconcussive head impact is a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that does not cause symptoms. This differs from concussions, which do cause symptoms. A collision while playing sports is one way a person can get a subconcussive head impact. Studies are ongoing to learn about subconcussive head impacts and how these impacts may or may not affect the brain of young athletes.”
All parents, guardians and student athletes need to be aware of this and search for as much information as they can about CTE. Concussions and Subconcussions are brain injuries that can affect a student-athlete for years after they thought they were recovered. These injuries can cause problems with depression, anxiety, changes in personality, memory loss (no matter how small), changes in appetite, body temperature, sight, hearing, hallucinations, etc.
One thing I did not talk about at the meetings was the importance of having your student-athletes brain examined for CTE after their death. The only reason I knew about this exam was because the FBI and Capitol Police Officers told me the day after my son’s death.
The majority of CTE studies are focused on the NFL, but their players started as student-athletes. Parents, guardians and loved ones who may be responsible for burying a student or former student-athlete, ask that their brains be examined for CTE, irregardless of their cause of death. I pray for all who are affected by Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
Mazie Green
Covington, Va.
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