On a journey to

A history of brain trauma, and the death of our joyful boy.

"It's hard to believe two years have passed since Patrick's unexpected death took all of us by surprise and left Bob and I with a lot of questions we didn't have the answers to. Our quest to understand the 'why' ultimately led us to discover the many facets of brain trauma and how even a single concussion may change the course of one's life. Patrick, not unlike most active boys at his age, endured several concussions over a relatively short period of time. The story of Patrick's life and what Bob and I discovered surrounding his cause of death is currently published on the Concussion Legacy Foundation website in honor of the second anniversary of his passing, February 15th, 2019. 

My goal in sharing our journey is to help raise awareness and highlight the connection between brain trauma and suicide. Studies show suffering just one concussion doubles your risk of suicide. Even without any history of depression or observable changes in mood, it's important for everyone to understand the potential link. Patrick wasn't depressed, he was hopeful and full of life. Something happened in his brain that night that can't be fully explained, not yet...

Patrick's Sigma Alpha Epsilon brothers have held two successful "Patrick's Day" fundraisers - Last year the funds were directed to CLF. If you are affiliated with SAE or a family member making a donation, please indicate SAE in the comment box so I can track the impact on this effort and it can count towards their philanthropy goal for this year.

The Concussion Legacy Foundation is committed to helping individuals and families understand the impact of brain trauma and navigate the road to recovery. They are at the forefront of concussion research, education, and prevention. The work they do could not be closer to my heart.

Thank you in advance for your kind donations and for taking the time to read this post and Patrick's story. Your love and continued support as we navigate this grief journey is a blessing we will always cherish."

- LeeAnn Anderson

The Concussion Legacy Foundation's mission is to support athletes, Veterans, and all affected by concussions and CTE; achieve smarter sports and safer athletes through education and innovation; and to End CTE through prevention and research.

Concussion Legacy Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.