OLYMPIA -- Tammy* sat in her usual spot in the stands cheering her son, Cole*, and his Silverdale football team in 2007. It had been a close game and the score was tied. Cole threw a pass and took a hit that dropped him to the ground. He popped back up and continued playing. Cole quarterbacked for seven more plays and completed two touchdowns – running one himself. Once in the end zone he gave the football to the referee and said "something's really wrong."

Cole's eyes were nearly swollen shut and he was incoherent by the time medics transported him to the local hospital. The emergency room doctor told Tammy that Cole's injury was "significant." It was, in fact, a traumatic brain injury.

March is Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month. The goal is to help educate the public on prevention of TBI's and connect survivors with TBI services and resources in Washington state. Tammy hopes to improve her community's awareness and prevention of brain injuries to ensure another family does not have to experience the nightmare she did. She plans to work with local school sports staffs to develop a protocol for all coaches to follow regarding athletes returning to a game after a head injury.

Looking back on the four months it took her son to recover, Tammy realized many mistakes had been made the night of Cole's injury, mistakes that could have cost him his life. If he had been hit again after his initial injury he could have been severely disabled or worse. Medical care, a few yards away, was not called to evaluate him while he began exhibiting symptoms of a brain injury over on the sideline. She realized how little most people, including the coaches, knew about concussions or brain injuries."

Tammy researched TBI recovery issues and physicians before she found a doctor she could trust. Dr. Stanley Herring is a team physician for the Seattle Seahawks, and an expert on youth concussions. He had the combination of experience with cutting-edge brain trauma research and "gotta-play-no-matter-what" athletes. Dr. Herring was just who she needed.

Dr. Herring is currently working with the state Legislature on legislation calling for evaluations before players with brain trauma return to sports

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the "Heads Up" program -- which provides education and prevention resources for youth sports related injuries – football accounts for 60 percent of all concussions that occur in high school competitive sports. The leading cause of high school sports concussions for girls is soccer. In Washington, the Department of Health reports that every year 1,300 residents die of traumatic brain injuries. Annually there are 55,000 TBI hospitalizations. It is estimated that Washington state has nearly 123,750 residents living with a TBI related disability.

For more information, resources and support services, call 1-877-TBI-1766 or log on to www.TBIWashington.org. Traumatic Brain Injuries are a life-altering impact. However, there are resources for TBI survivors in Washington state.

(Editor's note, *The names in this story have been changed to protect Tammy and Cole's privacy. However, "Tammy" is willing to speak to the media and use her real name.)

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND BACKGROUND:

Samantha Asbjornsen, TBI Council coordinator, ADSA, DSHS, 360-725-2320

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