Brain injury is a terrible thing, no doubt about it! There are so many times when music can greatly assist in brain-related injuries and disorders. I’ve written in this space about music with strokes, dementia and Parkinson’s disease. But when one has a sports-related injury to the head that could have been prevented or greatly minimized by wearing a helmet, it’s doubly tragic. Why Natasha Richardson did not wear a helmet is unknown, but the reasons most people give are:
It’s too heavy
It obstructs my vision
It ruins my hair
I’m just going on a short run
etc., etc.
Here’s the story, as quoted in the New York Post:
Actress Natasha Richardson is brain dead – after falling in a ski accident in Canada – and is now on sad journey home to New York, friends told The Post today.
Richardson, who was being treated at a Montreal hospital, is being transported to New York this afternoon so her mom Vanessa Redgrave, two children and other loved ones can say goodbye before she’s taken off life-support, friends said.
If you ski, ride a bike, skateboard, snowboard or do any sport where helmets are recommended, please put on a helmet! Thank you!
Dear Dr. Alice,
Saw you are following me on Twitter and had to check out your site and follow you back.
What did I find on your site?
A wonderful testimonial about wearing a helmet for sports. And I read about the sad loss of Natasha Richardson, a beautiful actress who is the mother of 2 children.
I was one of the lucky ones that recovered after a traumatic head injury 10 years ago. I did not wear my bicycle helmet on a short 6 mile ride with my husband on a sunny Sunday afternoon. What was I thinking? I never wore a helmet. I was not a serious bicyclist. Bicycling was a weekend fun outlet.
While attempting to cross railroad tracks, my bike tire was trapped in the rail and I went down. My naked and unprotected head took the brunt of the impact. Blood was everywhere. I had a seizure. I lost consciousness. I woke up 5 hours later in the ER. Confused. However, I was one of the lucky ones. I woke up. The bruises on the outside and the stitches in my head healed in a week.
The brain was not as quick to recover. It took about 9 months. I had difficulty finding words. Writing a business letter that was coherent was a challenge. A patient husband, co-workers and a loving family helped me through the recovery.
I am now a professional speaker. Part of my head injury story is at the core of one of my inspirational keynotes. My goal in sharing my story is the same message you share.
Parents need to set the example for their children. If a parent says, “Do as I say not as I do” they are not fulfilling their duty as a parent.
There is not age limit for when you are too old to wear a helmet. Helmets save lives.
Nice article
Thanks