Brain Injury Awareness Month highlights one Presque Isle family’s concussion journey

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) - March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and for one Presque Isle family, the effects of a concussion became all too real. NewsSource 8’s Brian Bouchard has this story.

What started as a concussion for Carly Guerrette in high school quickly became something much more serious. In November 2019, Carly was hit in the head by a basketball in gym class. Carly then had an incident in the locker room when she hit her head, followed by a fall on the ice while skating which resulted in another head injury.

“I definitely remember just like a lot of sleeping and like the unknown was scary, but then even more scarier because COVID hit. So like, was I going to be able to see a doctor to like, see what was wrong with me or how it could be fixed? So definitely scary was the word, but I knew that like, there were people that I could trust and like rely on that would help me.”

After being hit in the head multiple times in a short period, Guerrette developed post-concussion syndrome. What followed were migraines, trouble concentrating, and a recovery that stretched far beyond what she expected.

“I was working on an English assignment one day and I like literally couldn’t read the line and I was like, okay, this is more serious than I thought. I think this is going to be a long road ahead.”

Her mother, Jamie, says the injury changed nearly every part of Carly’s life - from school to friendships to even simple day to day activities.

“I think it definitely took a bigger impact on our family than we would have thought. Carly was not an athlete, didn’t play football, shouldn’t really have had a concussion. So to have had multiple concussions in a short time, And to see the impact it had on her academically, social, emotionally, everything was really a surprise that we weren’t prepared for.”

For the Guerrette family, one of the hardest parts was how unpredictable recovery could be. There was no clear timeline, and even riding in a car or sitting in a classroom could become overwhelming.

“It was super frustrating as a parent to just not be able to understand and have the patience that a kid who previously had a very healthy, functioning brain was now forgetting the simplest tasks.”

Medical professionals say that’s why concussions need to be taken seriously from the start.

“I think what a lot of people don’t realize is that a concussion is a traumatic brain injury.”

Rachel Emery, a Physical Therapist at Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital says many people brush off a concussion as minor, but symptoms can linger for weeks, months, or even longer if the brain is pushed too hard too soon.

“The thing about concussions, though, is that we all only have the one brain and we need to protect it.”

That message is one Carly now hopes others will hear. She says even what seems like a simple blow to the head can have lasting consequences and compassion can go a long way.

“I just wish that people would understand that they’re serious, even if it’s just a simple hit to the head. Just be nice to the person, not that, like, be nice to people in general, I guess, but like, just care for them and ask them how you can help them.”

Her mother has a message too: trust what your child is telling you, and keep pushing for help if something doesn’t seem right.

“I think definitely just kind of letting the kids take the lead that despite kind of a provider or a teacher who may say that it’s nothing, that if your mom instinct says otherwise, then to just kind of follow that and pursue it until you’re able to kind of get the answers, I think is really crucial.”

As Brain Injury Awareness Month shines a light on these often invisible injuries, Carly’s story is a reminder that recovery can be long, difficult, and deeply personal but with support, anything is possible.