Caue's Concussion Recovery Journey

In middle school, I was attending a soccer camp. I was playing with boys who were older, stronger, and bigger than I was. During one play, a guy was dribbling straight toward me, and I tried to step in and make a solid tackle to stop him. Instead, he ran right through me. I fell backward and hit my head hard on the turf, and I remember my head bouncing back off the ground.

Almost immediately, I felt dizzy and was in a lot of pain. I was picked up shortly after, and I clearly remember sitting in the car and looking up as the roof above me was spinning, the sky felt like it was spinning too. That was the moment I realized something wasn’t right, and I thought to myself that I probably had a concussion.

I went to the doctor a couple days later because I wasn't sure if it was just a temporary thing. And I’m glad I did, they confirmed that I did have a concussion. Fortunately, it didn’t last too long, and after taking the proper time to recover, I was able to return to playing a couple of weeks later. Even though the injury healed, the experience stayed with me.

Ever since then, I’ve been much more aware and cautious when I play. I’m more prepared for contact and I make sure to take preventative steps to avoid hitting my head again. When I go up for a header, I focus on using the correct technique and positioning, making sure I protect myself as much as possible. That experience changed how I approach the game, and it made me more conscious of my safety every time I step on the field.