#LivingwithCTE
Donation protected
Please help me secure a future to halt reverse the symptoms of mTBI 
This month, I am scheduled to meet with Dr. Daniel Lane with "Mid-Atlantic Brain and Neurological Rehabilitation." (http://mabnr.com/about/) After talking with Dr. Daniel Lane and retired NHL champion, Daniel Carcillo, this program has me feeling optimistic about the potential for a drastically improved quality of life. I have started this campaign with the hopes of raising funds necessary to allow me the opportunity to be a better father to my son and help me secure a future that is happy, healthy, and bright.
I will know more about my definite needs after my initial consult and I receive my personalized treatment plan. My expenses will consist of overnight visits to Holy Cross Hospital, the cost of travel to and from, lodging, food, and any other necessary expenses. Due to the ongoing symptoms that I have been experiencing, I have been unable to work and this has led me to ask those that once supported me on the field to take a chance and support me on my journey to rehabilitation.
After suffering the baffling onset of what seemed like unconnected mental health symptoms: fatigue, confusion, forgetfulness, headaches, balance issues, anxiety, depression, impulsive behavior, anger outbursts, isolation, etc. I sought testing and multiple interventions through my family physician, shrinks, counselors, in 2016 I went to the Amen clinic for 3D scans on my brain. The results were something I’d feared for years, horrific brain trauma from my years of football and the reckless life that followed living with compromised decision making that left me with damage. In the words of the doctor at Amen on my post consult after double checking to see if she had the right scan, ”would typically be seen in someone living in a nursing home!” At 42yrs old, I burst into tears uncontrollably as she explained that I had considerable damage to every region of my brain with cell death seen everywhere, large holes in the frontal, both temporal, parietal lobes, and extensive scalloping in every other area!
The term Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy CTE, formerly known as boxers dementia, and the subject of a Hollywood blockbuster starring Will Smith “Concussion telling the story of Dr Bennett Omahlu’s discovery of unusual pathology in multiple retired members of the Pittsburgh Steelers, beginning with Iron Mike Webster, whose life had taken unexpected turn of events and bizarre self-injuries all over his body! Watching the movie left me mortified, having been homeless on a number of occasions the scenes of Webster shocking himself with a taser to “feel” something anything scared me beyond belief seeing myself in the character all too horrifying! All too real! The overwhelming stress and fear lead to an attempt on my life in January of 2017 in a hotel room with my parents in the adjacent room. Not sure what had just happened, I woke up on the floor, got up and went back to the tradeshow as if nothing had happened! For the next two years, I have lived in isolation and estranged from my family. I can no longer manage my business or personal affairs, I have lost myself, lost my family, lost my child. Efforts to share my reality and truth has lead to a series of events I could have never in a million years anticipated!
A few days later, I spent one month in “neurological rehab” at Eisenhower Center in Jacksonville, Florida, I put neurological rehab in quotes because it was, in reality, a behavioral health hideaway for former NFL & NHL players, other professional athletes, and military! While there, I received no medical care even after contracting MERSA, was subject to HIPAA violations, treated like a juvenile delinquent, and had an antagonistic former youth corrections psychotherapist intentionally sabotage a family counseling session. None of the staff knew what CTE stood for or what it was, none!
Efforts to silence me have been inhumane. From hospitalization to being cast as a potential school shooter. This leaves me feeling angry, hurt and confused! I started the Heart of Virginia Foundation and Music for Mental Health to raise awareness for mental health and stigma reduction, as a way to prevent school shootings, not contribute to them. Over several years, the organization had 32 performances at high schools, community colleges, universities, Veterans organizations, community events and more. I poured my heart and soul into our efforts only to turn around and lose it all too.
I thank you in advance for contributing to this opportunity for me to get treatment that will help me have a better future. My son Weston, who will be 3 in April, needs me and I need to be well for him! My life is devoted to being a great dad and protecting other children from unnecessary exploitation, abuse, and brain damage to ensure they have to greatest potential for success possible! Thank you
This month, I am scheduled to meet with Dr. Daniel Lane with "Mid-Atlantic Brain and Neurological Rehabilitation." (http://mabnr.com/about/) After talking with Dr. Daniel Lane and retired NHL champion, Daniel Carcillo, this program has me feeling optimistic about the potential for a drastically improved quality of life. I have started this campaign with the hopes of raising funds necessary to allow me the opportunity to be a better father to my son and help me secure a future that is happy, healthy, and bright.
I will know more about my definite needs after my initial consult and I receive my personalized treatment plan. My expenses will consist of overnight visits to Holy Cross Hospital, the cost of travel to and from, lodging, food, and any other necessary expenses. Due to the ongoing symptoms that I have been experiencing, I have been unable to work and this has led me to ask those that once supported me on the field to take a chance and support me on my journey to rehabilitation.
After suffering the baffling onset of what seemed like unconnected mental health symptoms: fatigue, confusion, forgetfulness, headaches, balance issues, anxiety, depression, impulsive behavior, anger outbursts, isolation, etc. I sought testing and multiple interventions through my family physician, shrinks, counselors, in 2016 I went to the Amen clinic for 3D scans on my brain. The results were something I’d feared for years, horrific brain trauma from my years of football and the reckless life that followed living with compromised decision making that left me with damage. In the words of the doctor at Amen on my post consult after double checking to see if she had the right scan, ”would typically be seen in someone living in a nursing home!” At 42yrs old, I burst into tears uncontrollably as she explained that I had considerable damage to every region of my brain with cell death seen everywhere, large holes in the frontal, both temporal, parietal lobes, and extensive scalloping in every other area!
The term Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy CTE, formerly known as boxers dementia, and the subject of a Hollywood blockbuster starring Will Smith “Concussion telling the story of Dr Bennett Omahlu’s discovery of unusual pathology in multiple retired members of the Pittsburgh Steelers, beginning with Iron Mike Webster, whose life had taken unexpected turn of events and bizarre self-injuries all over his body! Watching the movie left me mortified, having been homeless on a number of occasions the scenes of Webster shocking himself with a taser to “feel” something anything scared me beyond belief seeing myself in the character all too horrifying! All too real! The overwhelming stress and fear lead to an attempt on my life in January of 2017 in a hotel room with my parents in the adjacent room. Not sure what had just happened, I woke up on the floor, got up and went back to the tradeshow as if nothing had happened! For the next two years, I have lived in isolation and estranged from my family. I can no longer manage my business or personal affairs, I have lost myself, lost my family, lost my child. Efforts to share my reality and truth has lead to a series of events I could have never in a million years anticipated!
A few days later, I spent one month in “neurological rehab” at Eisenhower Center in Jacksonville, Florida, I put neurological rehab in quotes because it was, in reality, a behavioral health hideaway for former NFL & NHL players, other professional athletes, and military! While there, I received no medical care even after contracting MERSA, was subject to HIPAA violations, treated like a juvenile delinquent, and had an antagonistic former youth corrections psychotherapist intentionally sabotage a family counseling session. None of the staff knew what CTE stood for or what it was, none!
Efforts to silence me have been inhumane. From hospitalization to being cast as a potential school shooter. This leaves me feeling angry, hurt and confused! I started the Heart of Virginia Foundation and Music for Mental Health to raise awareness for mental health and stigma reduction, as a way to prevent school shootings, not contribute to them. Over several years, the organization had 32 performances at high schools, community colleges, universities, Veterans organizations, community events and more. I poured my heart and soul into our efforts only to turn around and lose it all too.
I thank you in advance for contributing to this opportunity for me to get treatment that will help me have a better future. My son Weston, who will be 3 in April, needs me and I need to be well for him! My life is devoted to being a great dad and protecting other children from unnecessary exploitation, abuse, and brain damage to ensure they have to greatest potential for success possible! Thank you
Organizer
Tommy Edwards
Organizer
Radford, VA