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Movie about a snowboarder with a TBI
I normally don’t watch much television and never anything about extreme sports, but last night I was channel surfing and noted that HBO was showing a movie “Crash Reel” about a snowboarder, Kevin Pearce, who received a Traumatic Brain Injury in the run-up events for the 2010 Olympics. I started watching this film and I was extremely impressed with the realistic presentation of traumatic brain injury and the life changing issues which occur for the person. We see Kevin, a snowboarding champion, struggling with the realities of the injury he experienced and the difficulties he faced on his road back which took him on a very different path from returning to his dream of the Olympics and the changes in his life focus after his injury. Kevin’s doctor warns him that a another TBI could end his life. He emerges as a TBI advocate and a person who can speak to other people with a brain injury in a unique and powerful way. The film allows us to see his exceptional family and their roles in helping Kevin on the new road. Kevin’s brother, David, offers him advice, support and love when he struggles with not returning to the sport he loves with his statement: “I don’t want you to die.”
This film has made the rounds of the film festivals to great acclaim and opened as an HBO special documentary on July 15th. It’s certainly a film about brain injury which is worth watching for professionals, family members and people living with the effects of brain injury.
Click here to learn more about the film.
