Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada committee  Not really. I guess everyone experiences concussions differently. In my own personal experience, I know people who have had a hit to the head and a concussion, and two weeks later there was no problem at all. What I learned was through my own experience and that of the people around me who had experienced concussions, maybe not as severe.

Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada committee  I think I was definitely leaning towards what you said—thinking I must be fine because everyone said I was fine. For the first week, I completely ignored it. I had a headache, but I just thought it was a headache. I just moved forward, tried to ignore it and did what I could to distract myself by doing school work, running, or whatever it was at the time.

Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada committee  Yes. I actually completely forgot to mention that during my introduction speech. A couple of months into it, when I wasn't getting better, my family doctor said that maybe we should get a CAT scan and an MRI done. The CAT scan found nothing. I got the MRI done a couple of days later.

Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada committee  You can go ahead.

Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada committee  I'm at U of T right now, studying. After grade 11, I did not go anywhere near soccer for two or three years. I was absolutely terrified. Even though I was cleared to run and stuff, I was terrified to go back to soccer. In my second year of university, a couple of my teammates from high school convinced me to come out and play house league soccer.

Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada committee  They were a little bit concerned about it. As far as I know, I was the only person training at that academy at the time who ever had a concussion. They just kind of sent me on my way. It wasn't that it was normal, but it was “normal-ish” to be in pain after practice. That just kind of came along with the sport, I'd say.

Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada committee  No. I didn't after that. After I got up, I knew that I wasn't right, but I thought it would go away. I thought it would just disappear. I didn't use my head. I kind of backed off and shied away from the ball because I knew there was something wrong with me. I continued to play, but I didn't use my head in that practice again.

Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada committee  It was about a week after, I'd say. I went to my family doctor.

Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada committee  That's okay. I was definitely thinking, “Wow, there's something wrong here.” I've never felt that kind of blow to my head before. But, at the same time, you don't want to disappoint your coach. You don't want to disappoint the teammates around you, and you don't want to look like a weak little player.

Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada committee  At the time of my concussion, I was playing rep soccer with the North Mississauga Soccer Club. Along with that, I was training with a high-performance soccer academy. I moved out of the rep/competitive league and focused more on the training. It was kind of like a step forward and a lot more intense.

Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada committee  I was not asked, initially. I was just kind of like, “Ouch, that hurt”, and I got up and continued. After the practice, I was dizzy and disoriented, and my coach asked me those kinds of questions, like “What's the date today?”, “Where are you?”, “What are you doing right now?” and that kind of thing.

Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada committee  It was 30 minutes or so.

Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada committee  It was not at the time it happened.

Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada committee  Yes, definitely.

Subcommittee on Sports-Related Concussions in Canada committee  It's 100% frustrating when you just can't function. You can't walk. You can't talk. You can't do anything without having this headache that's telling you to stop, and all you want to do is lie down because you can't function. That's very frustrating. It's also very scary when you're in that moment, when you're two months into the situation and nothing is getting better.