Families Of Athletes Affected By CTE Have To Make Tough Decision About Giving Football Second Chance
Palm Desert resident Samantha Buono's father was a NFL player who developed CTE. But that isn't stopping her from letting her son play.
The Desert Sun:
CTE From NFL Ended Her Dad’s Life, But It Won’t Stop Her Son From Playing Football For Palm Desert
And after more than two decades of watching her dad struggle with the most advanced stage of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – the brain disease detected in scores of deceased former NFL players from Junior Seau to Frank Gifford – [Samantha] Buono is allowing her own son, Luca, to strap on a helmet and play for Palm Desert High School this fall. She’s among the many sons and daughters who’ve witnessed the NFL’s collateral damage and are now making decisions whether to let their own children play the brutal game. Many have distanced themselves from the sport. Buono is still giving it a chance. (John, 10/12)