Sports
Former Wolfpack Football Player Shares His Concussion Story
Player Kevin Saum and Suzanne Barba shared the story of Saum's serious head injury as a Wolfpack player.
LONG VALLEY, NJ — Kevin Saum had been playing football his entire life. During his senior season as a member of the Wolfpack football team he suffered a concussion-- but he didn't tell anyone. Instead, Saum tried to tough it out.
That decision could have proven fatal. In the next game, Saum suffered "second impact syndrome," a specific type of brain injury that is often times fatal.
Saum was taken to Morristown Medical Center, which is a trauma center, where he stayed for ten days. In a new video about his injury produced by Morristown Medical Center, he credits athletic trainer Suzanne Barba's quick thinking and decision to take him to Morristown Medical in saving his life.
Find out what's happening in Long Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Toughness isn't playing injured. The toughest thing I could have done on that night was to say that I was hurt," Saum said.
He has made brain injuries a focus of his work, hosting the Heads 'n' Tails podcast that shares others' stories of perseverance through head injuries.
Find out what's happening in Long Valleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
You can watch Saum and Barba discuss Saum's injury in this video:
Image via Shutterstock
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
