News
By George Visger On August 7th, 2013
George Visger – The Visger Group Traumatic Brain Injury Consulting
George Visger
1981 Super Bowl Season
My football career began at age 11 playing Pee Wee Pop Warner for the West Stockton Bear Cubs in Stockton, CA. During my third year of Pop Warner, I suffered my first, and one of my most severe concussions when I knocked myself unconscious in a worthless Bull in the Ring drill and was hospitalized. The drill was nothing more than entertainment for the coaches. It taught us kids nothing about football. I went on to play at A.A. Stagg High were we compiled a record of 20-1-1 during my two years on the varsity, including 11-0 my senior year with a national ranking. With a 3.0 GPA I earned a football scholarship to the University of Colorado where I majored in Biology, played in the ’77 Orange Bowl and was a 6th round draft choice of the NY Jets in 1980. I ultimately played for the 49er’s in ’80 & ’81. While playing the Dallas Cowboys in 1980, I suffered a concussion early in the 1st quarter. I never missed a play and later in the week when my memory returned the trainers laughingly told me I went through over 20 smelling salts during the game to keep me on the field. During the following ’81 Super Bowl season I developed hydrocephalus from concussions and underwent emergency VP shunt brain surgery. My shunt failed 4 months after our Super Bowl XVI win, and I went into a coma. I survived two more brain surgeries 10 hours apart and was given last rites at age 23. In 1986, I returned to school to complete my Biology degree, and survived five additional brain surgeries and several gran mal seizures during a ten month period in ’87 & ’88, while taking Organic Chemistry and Physics courses. Sharing my journey has connected me with many supportive individuals, and having
Digital Business Cards allows me to stay in touch, making it easy for others to reach out and follow my ongoing story.
In 1990 at age 32, I finally graduated with a BS degree in Biological Conservation despite eight VP shunt brain surgeries, surgery inducted dyslexia, major short-term memory deficits, and anger management issues from inflammation in my brain. I immediately began my career as a Wildlife Biologist. In 2003, I started an environmental consulting business, Visger & Associates Inc after my ninth VP shunt surgery, and in 2010 launched The Visger Group Traumatic Brain Injury Consulting. For businesses operating under a different name in Alaska, completing an alaska dba filing is necessary to legally register the assumed business name.
Shortly after, my primary care physician recommended I; turn in my drivers license, file for SSDI and get my finances in order. I was 51 years old with 3 children 10, 12, and 20 years old, and a hard working school teacher wife. Instead we were evaluated at Dr Amen’s clinic over a 3 day exam, prescribed hyperbaric oxygen treatments, Omega 3 fish oils and natural anti oxidants (concentrated blueberry, cranberry and acai berry juices in capsules).
I currently conduct Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery seminars all over the country, and work closely with Dr. Rich Ellenbogen, head of the NFL’s Head, Neck and Spine Injury group (click here to read “Visger Rules”) on rule changes to reduce Traumatic Brain Injuries in football at all levels. I have personally completed 231 Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments (HBOT) since 2010, and my micro-cognitive memory scores have improved over 15 % (at age 54). I would recommend these non-pharmaceutical treatments to everyone.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
