Faces of TBI

Willi Bosch was an avid hockey and lacrosse player in elementary and middle school. He played for his local association as well as AAA hockey teams. On July 7, 2014 Willi fell while riding his longboard alone in Roseville. He called a friend who helped him return to his dad’s house. What unfolded from there was unthinkable. Willi was taken to United Hospital where it was discovered his brain was bleeding. He was transported to Regions Hospital where two more brain bleeds were discovered as well as two skull fractures. Willi underwent an emergency craniotomy. His parents were told his chances of surviving were slim, but Willi isn’t much of a quitter. Three weeks after his accident he woke up and continued to fight back to who he was on July 6. He worked with speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and doctors at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare to regain and strengthen everything he could. Willi was aptly named because his will is his greatest gift in his recovery. Mary Barsness is a school administrator at Prodeo Academy and the founder/presenter of the No Helmet No Ride program,  a program offered through Regions Hospital that Mary founded after her son, Willi, had a near fatal fall off his skateboard. During Willi’s prolonged hospital stay the family saw more teens coming in with similar injuries. None of those patients had been wearing helmets. It was clear that kids were not understanding the potential severity of the decision to not wear helmets. sponsored by: www.mnfunctionalneurology.com