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The brain we need

By Fielden Baker, | January 1, 2018

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ONE BRAIN Fielden Baker, a junior at Second Baptist School, decided to stop playing football after getting two concussions. He now advocates for brain health. (Photo: Mario Wise Photography)

I suffered my second concussion on the final play of a junior varsity football game in October of my freshman year. I knew concussions were cumulative, and though this concussion was not as severe as my first, I knew the decision whether or not to play football again was a serious one.

I read all I could get my hands on to help me make a good decision, and at each visit with the neurologist, I asked questions. “Yes,” she said. “We do now believe that the jostling of your brain is a problem.” She continued: “If you were my child, I would prefer you didn’t get that third concussion – and I might advise you to let football go if you can.”

And that’s how I found myself knocking on my coach’s door to tell him I wouldn’t be playing football – a sport that I had loved from the age of 6 when my dad taught me to run routes in the street in front of our home. I live in Texas, where football is king and dominates Friday nights in many schools, including mine.

With around 350 students in my upper school, every athlete matters. It was not an easy decision. At first, I didn’t talk much about the reason behind my decision – maybe because I didn’t expect many to understand.

However, despite missing the camaraderie of football, I have felt strong in my choice to leave football and to focus instead on playing my favorite sport, baseball, in the interest of protecting and preserving my brain health.

I have since had close friends and a first cousin suffer serious concussions. They faced the same decision about their sports as I did, and that has made me open up more about my thoughts around the issue. I’ve realized that not every student has the same opportunities to research the impact of repeated hits, as I did.

I want to share what I am learning about concussion and CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) developments in safety and legislation, and potential changes in the way the game is practiced and played. With great research leading to well-considered changes, players won’t have to decide to leave a game they love to protect the brain they need.

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