Concussion: Four survivors

[guest]

Jane Clark. Errol McGihon


JANE CLARK, 55
How: Slipped and fell on ice.
When: five years ago
Symptoms: dizziness, nausea, headaches, auditory and visual sensitivities.
Career interrupted: Leading patent litigation lawyer, after graduating magna cum laude from the University of Ottawa.
Quote: “It’s a condition that really has profound effects. Dizziness and nausea — they don’t sound bad on their own, but together and chronically they are very limiting.”

Frances Casey. Errol McGihon


FRANCES CASEY, 24
How: soccer collision
When: 2010
Symptoms: Headaches, fatigue, visual perception issues, challenges reading and driving.
Career interrupted: Student athlete, high-level soccer player. Altered study path to graduate from Carleton University in 2018. Took 13 semesters, including online study.
Quote: “I was knocked unconscious and I had micro-bleeding in my brain, but others with concussion symptoms are no less injured than I am.”

Meg Milne. Errol McGihon


Meg Milne, 58
How: Suffered nightmare, tackled phantom attacker while sleepwalking, crashed headfirst into dresser. Fifth concussion, four others sports related.
When: 2012
Symptoms: Speech impairment, slowed thought processing, difficulty breathing, balance issues.
Career interrupted: On long-term disability; English teacher, coach, Canterbury High School
Quote: “I love teaching. It’s been really difficult, heartbreaking, not to be there.”

Natalia Rybczynski. Errol McGihon


NATALIA RYBCZYNSKI, 46
How: Cross-country ski collision.
When: 2011
Symptoms: Layering of issues, headaches, nausea, fatigue. Physiological issues related to heart rate. Exercise intolerance.
Career interrupted: Medical retirement as research scientist, Museum of Nature. Carleton University professor. PhD from Duke University.
Quote: “Concussion research is exploding, and the medical community is scrambling to catch up.”

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