The Visger Group Traumatic Brain Injury Consulting

16/07/2023

CTE is not just an NFL problem.

Today we pause to remember Joseph Chernach on what would have been his 37th birthday.

Joseph Chernach (July 11 1986 - June 6 2012) was a multi-sport athlete youth through highschool. He played tackle football with Pop Warner for 4 years, and high school an additional 4 years.
He was MVP of the high school football team, all-state defensive back, and awarded senior athlete.

Symptoms of CTE started shortly after high school, including paranoia, mood issues, depression and suicidal thoughts. He died by su***de at the age of 25, and diagnosed with brain damage and Stage II-III CTE.
He was attending CMU with hopes to become a Physical therapist. His symptoms began the first year of college, and he was unable to finish his degree.

His mom, Debra Pyka, was the first in history to sue Pop Warner for brain damaged, including CTE, to get justice for her son. His family also gives out an annual scholarship in his memory.

Joseph had a smile everyone will remember, and also made others smile with his sense of humor. He is missed by his father Jeffrey, mother Debra Pyka, step-father Fred Pyka, brothers Tyler & Seth, and sisters Nicole & Samantha.

Please share his story to honor him on his birthday and to bring awareness to the dangers of preventable brain damage in collision sports for our youth.

16/07/2023

One of many

Today we pause to honor Ken Stabler on the eight year anniversary of his passing.

Kenneth Michael Stabler (December 25, 1945 – July 8, 2015), nicknamed "Snake", was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Oakland Raiders (1970–1979), Houston Oilers (1980–1981) and New Orleans Saints (1982–1984). He played college football for the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Stabler quarterbacked the Raiders to victory in Super Bowl XI, was the 1974 NFL Most Valuable Player and was selected as a quarterback for the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team. Stabler was posthumously elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

After his death his brain autopsy revealed he had artifact brain damage, including Stage III CTE.

Stabler served as chairman of the XOXO Stabler Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission "to raise funds, build awareness and hope for a variety of charitable causes." Stabler's celebrity golf tournaments in Point Clear, Alabama have raised nearly $600,000 for charitable partner The Ronald McDonald House of Mobile, which serves families of seriously ill and injured children receiving medical treatment at local hospitals. His daughter Kendra Stabler Moyes carries on her father's legacy raising awareness about CTE and as the VP of the XOXO Stabler Foundation.

You can help us honor his legacy and raise awareness of CTE by sharing his story.

31/01/2023

Today we paused to remember Patrick Grange - (NOVEMBER 4, 1982 - APRIL 10, 2012) on CTE Awareness Day.

Grange was the first soccer player to be diagnosed with CTE. A high school soccer star in Albuquerque, N.M., Grange played at the collegiate and semi-professional levels. Like many soccer players, throughout his career he often headed the ball. At the age of 28 Grange was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and in 2012, at 29, he died. When researchers examined his brain they found surprising evidence of CTE that could have long-term implications for soccer.
In 2016 Attorney Derek Howard, along with his co-counsel, and legal consultant Kimberly Archie successfully settled litigation with US Soccer to remove headers for children 10 and under. They also agreed to count headers from 11-13 year old athletes, setting a new, ground breaking legal precedent in sports law. Patrick's story, along with other child athletes in other sports, and studies dating back to 1928 on brain damage, help inspired the strategies used to protect future children.

Patrick is greatly missed by his parents, Mike and Michelle. You can help spread awareness about CTE by sharing his story.

31/01/2023

31/01/2023

We paused to remember and honor John Maioli on CTE Awareness Day.

John H. Maioli, III - (November 8, 1956- April 6, 2013) - John grew up in the Pittsburgh area and played football in the 1970's,
a very popular time for football, in Steeler country. He played in middle school, high school, and then college on a football scholarship.

John played hard during his years as a "center', as he knew no other way. He sustained multiple concussions over time.
However, it was the sub-concussive hits during practices, that he recalled to me years later, that he felt did the most damage.

John had a sense of humor and intellect matched by none. John, is loved and missed each and every single day by his family and friends.

CTE isn't only happening to pro players, but college and youth as well.

31/01/2023

Dave was one of the first to take his own life.

We paused to remember David Russell "Dave" Duerson on CTE Awareness Day.

Dave(November 28, 1960 – February 17, 2011) was an American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) who played for the Chicago Bears (1983–1989), New York Giants (1990), and Phoenix Cardinals (1991–1993). He was selected to four consecutive Pro Bowls for NFL seasons 1985 through 1988.

Duerson was found dead at his Sunny Isles Beach, Florida home on February 17, 2011. The Miami-Dade County medical examiner reported that Duerson died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. He sent a text message to his family saying he wanted his brain to be used for research of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. He was later found to have Stage III CTE.

He left behind three sons and a daughter from his previous marriage. You can help raise awareness of CTE and save lives by sharing Dave's story.

31/01/2023

Today was paused to remember Greg Ploetz on CTE Awareness Day.

Greg Ploetz - (FEBRUARY 11, 1949 - MAY 11, 2015) Gregory Paul Ploetz was a Renaissance Man. He was brilliant, clever, and could do most anything. He was not only a gifted teacher and artist, an educated speaker, but he could also change the oil in his car and plumb and wire an entire house.

His success as an athlete was proven by his participation on the 1969 University of Texas National Championship Team. He was a formidable Defensive Tackle and was elected to the All Southwest Conference team twice and 2nd team All-American. Unfortunately, this success caused him to suffer and die from Stage IV CTE after battling the disease for more than ten years. He had no other health issues.

Greg was married to his wife Deb for 37 years and they had two wonderful children. He taught art for 40 years after getting his Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Texas.

CTE robbed Greg of his golden years with his family, he is dearly loved and missed by all who knew him. You can help honor his life by sharing his story to raise awareness.

31/01/2023

Today we paused to remember Dr. Michael King (4/27/46-10/7/11) on CTE Awareness Day.

He was a beloved orthopedic surgeon who had spent many Friday nights on the sidelines, helping local football teams. As a quarterback he played from childhood through college, when he hung up his cleats for medical school.

His many surgeries over the years due to his time on the gridiron took a toll, he also had rheumatoid arthritis that eventually robbed him of his ability to perform surgeries. He suffered tremendously over the years with depression and eventually took his own life at just 65 years old.

Dr. King loved his family. He was survived by his wife Donna, his children Katie, Mike, Marylynn and Alex, step-daughter Meagan Ferrell, his former wife and dear friend Susan Gordon King, and one brother and three sisters. They choose to donate his brain to research where he was found to have Stage II CTE.

You can help Dr. King's family honor his life, by sharing his story to raise awareness of CTE and the needed changes to protect young athletes like playing flag football until high school. ***de

31/01/2023

I roomed with Jt’s cousin Terry Tautolo at SF. I found Terry living under an overpass in Long Beach in 2012 after a 9 year NFL career.

Today, we pause to remember Junior Seau, on CTE Awareness Day:

Tiaina Baul "Junior" Seau Jr. (January 19, 1969 – May 2, 2012) was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). Known for his passionate playing style, he was a 10-time All-Pro, 12-time Pro Bowl selection, and named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. He was elected posthumously to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Originally from Oceanside, California, Seau played Pop Warner football then high school and college football at the University of Southern California (USC). He was chosen by the San Diego Chargers as the fifth overall pick of the 1990 NFL Draft. Seau started for 13 seasons for the Chargers before being traded to the Miami Dolphins where he spent three years, and then to the New England Patriots where spent his last four seasons.

Seau retired from pro football after the 2009 season. A standout on San Diego's only Super Bowl team, he was later inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame and the team retired his number 55. Seau died by su***de with a gunshot wound to the chest in 2012 at the age of 43. Later studies by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) concluded that Seau suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a type of chronic brain damage that has also been found in other deceased former NFL, college and even youth players like Paul Bright Jr and Tyler Cornell.

More than anything, Junior is immensely missed by his family and friends. His sister Mary Seau started the Mary Seau CTE Foundation to make a difference and honor her brother. She also helped start CTE Awareness Day on January 30, 2017, which was first recognized by the California State Assembly.

You can read Junior’s story, told by his sister Mary, in our book, Brain Damaged Two-Minute Warning for Parents on Amazon. Please share Junior’s story and help spread awareness of CTE.

31/01/2023

CTE is not only an NFL disease

Today we pause to remember Cody Hamblin(June 2, 1993 - May 29, 2016) in CTE Awareness Day.

On May 29, 2016 Cody Hamblin had a seizure while fishing with his grandfather, causing him to fall into the water and drown, just a few days short of his 23rd Birthday. Cody struggled with depression and other symptoms of brain trauma like the seizure he suffered that day, and in the years previous to his death. In light of this, his brain was sent to Dr. John Lee for autopsy. He was found to have brain damage, including Stage II CTE.

Cody played football from p*e wee to high school. In high school he played quarterback, among other positions. He was a phenomenal player and person. His dad filed the first lawsuit of its kind against Riddell helmets to honor Cody. They overcame Riddell’s Motions to Dismiss their case, giving the green light for discovery of what they knew and when they knew it.

Cody’s family, as a part of the Faces of CTE initiative to establish January 30 as “CTE Awareness Day”, worked with state law makers to introduce and pass into law, “Cody’s Law”. Cody’s Law recognizes January 30 as “CTE Awareness Day” in Ohio.

Help us raise awareness and honor his life by sharing his story.

31/01/2023

Today we pause to remember Zac on the 7th annual CTE Awareness Day.

Zac Easter (June 2,1991-December 19, 2015) played tackle football from a young age through high school. He played fullback and linebacker with ease.

Zac suffered at least 6 years from his brain trauma. He had constant and severe headaches, slurred sp*ech, blurred vision, loss of balance, brain tremors, and dementia.

Zac took his own life so that his brain could be studied, he had Stage II CTE. He left plenty of unanswered questions, but left the inspiration for the new foundation, CTE Hope.

Please share Zac’s story to raise Awareness and save lives.