#concussions

Your character who keeps getting knocked out early in the story, and keeps coming-to at strange moments in which they believe they are hallucinating.

Going Once, Going Twice (8k)

"Could be some childish prank or–” Pain explodes across the back of his head and he falls to his knees with a cry. The blow stuns him, causing him to drop the knife, and his phone. He falls forward as the world tilts and spins, bile rising in his throat. His ears ring as his head hits the road. “Eddie?” Athena’s voice sounds like she’s underwater. Hands wrap around his ankles and drag him backwards, past the bumper of his truck to another car. He tries to lift his head to avoid scraping his face on the road, but he can't find the strength. The last thing he sees before losing consciousness is the trunk to a car opening.

For the @badthingshappenbingo prompt: brain damage

scott stevens (who famously changed the trajectory and longevity of Lindros' career with a head hit) had his career end on a slapshot to the head. hörnqvist's second to last known concussion came during warmups when -- out there without a helmet -- he was hit by friendly fire.

subconcussive impacts can cause brain damage, and research from BU suggests head impacts rather than concussions cause cte. that's head hits. that's fighting. that's pucks that get past protective gear.

head hits have no business in hockey, not only because it can take a player out of a game or a series or a season, but because players have to live the rest of their lives with the brains and bodies they're left with in retirement.

Gary Bettman and the rest of the nhl saw what happened with the NFL lawsuit and dug their heels in about denying the science and accepting zero responsibility. The NHL paid 70.6 million dollars in legal fees for a settlement with players that paid out only $18.49 million. they wanted to send a message to anyone else who ever tried to hold the league accountable.

In March, the wrongful death suit of Steve Montador was set to start. It will argue that the nhl failed to keep Montador safe and misled him about the longterm repercussions of brain injury. we'll see if it goes anywhere.

I hate plenty of guys for ending or nearly ending the careers of some of my favorite players. there are guys I think actively make the league worse because of their style of play, and I wouldn't be sad to see them immediately retire into obscurity.

but i also think about what beloved Paul Kariya said when asked about ending illegal hits:

“I’m a believer that you don’t go after the employees, you go after the employers.… If you start at 10-game suspensions and go to 20, that sends a message to the players. But if you start fining the owners and suspending the coach, then it’s out of the game.”

Bennett shouldn't have hit Stolarz in the head. but Craig Berube and the Leafs medical team should have cared enough about their goalie to pull him as soon as that first hit to the face happened. it's giving 2017 when gallant let flower finish the game after laying on the ice, holding his head after being hit.

Buddie | Rated T | 5,7k | hurt/comfort, near death experience, drowning

@whumptober alternate prompt: concussion

This is the fic I teased yesterday

He doesn't even realize that he is still calling out his name until his lungs beg for air.

Everything is loud. The rain, the river, the wind in the trees. His heart and his breathing. But the loudest of all is his mind.

I can't lose him. I can't lose him. I won't lose him.

The ground goes down, eventually getting to the same level as the river. He spots a flash of neon yellow in the water. And calls out again. But it's gone just as quickly. And it feels like his heart follows.

(Or: the search for a missing kid in the woods doesn't go as planned)

For example, getting punched in the head? That can literally kill you. If you get hit in the head and knocked out, and you don't wake up in a few seconds. You gotta go to the hospital. Now. If someone gets knocked out from blunt trauma and is asleep for hours??? They're not waking up without serious intervention, honey.

If you break a bone and it isn't set properly and fast? Especially in the hands? You're looking at months of physical therapy at the very least, possibly never fully gaining full mobility of that area again.

Also open wounds in a dingy cell? That's a recipe for infection. And if that infection isn't treated, and Whumpee's immune system isn't strong enough to fight it off? You got it: death!