by Ouida Brown | Apr 8, 2016 | Blog
Who is your favorite superhero and why? Mine is wonder women. I wanted to be like her when I was younger. She was pretty, smart, intelligent. She was a bad ass too. She is the reason I love big bracelets today.
So I got to see “my girl” in action in the new Batman versus Superman movie. She was the best part of the movie in my opinion. The movie could have been better. It was a little too long. Ben Affleck did a great job as Batman. I was truly impressed when he was doing his weight training. Ben was getting it in. Lex Luther acting was also not the best, in my opinion. The movie also introduced the other members of the Justice League: The Flash, AquaMan, and Darkseid. I thought they were trying to do too much. The part of the movie the I liked the least was the fact that they killed Superman. I know he is not really dead, but I was traumatized when they had Man of Steel in a box. Will see how the spins offs fare, and the next Batman versus Superman movie.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwfUnkBfdZ4&w=560&h=315]
How did I become a superhero fan in the first place you might ask. Well of course it involves a man. A young man that is. I took my nephew to see Iron Man III. It was awesome. I loved the surround sound, the action, the fighting, and the suits. He too was a bad ass. After I saw Iron Man III, I had to go see Iron Man I, and Iron Man II. Also who does not love Robert Downey Jr.? He was made for that role.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CzoSeClcw0&w=560&h=315]
Seeing Captain America did involve a man. I went to see Captain America II on a date. I had no idea who Captain America was, but I was like sure. I go see the movie, and I was in Aww. He was fine, and the shield with the star. I loved it. ( It inspired another running outfit I have yet to wear). Stay tuned. Of course I saw Captain America II, so I had to see Captain America I.
So the Avengers come out 2015. I had to do some research because I had to see who else made up the Avengers. My goal was to see all of the movies that made up Avengers: Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor. I had no clue who Thor was. I became a fan. He was fine, and the big hammer. Another bad ass I was hooked. I was a Marvel Superhero fan.
I am falling for DC now. True confession, while Supergirl is not the best show I tape it, and watch every week. I have hope that a female superhero will one day come close to being as bad (in a good way) as the men. Don’t get me wrong I like the Black Widow, but she would not stand alone in a movie. Anyway The Flash was a guest on my show. I had also seen another episode on another date.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdr8_IQqT-E&w=560&h=315]
I was lost and of course I was prohibited from asking questions during the show. So after that episode I have binged watched The Flash on Netflix. While watching The Arrow was a guest star as well as Felicity on The Flash.
He too is a DC comic hero who knew. So I am now binge watching it. I am hooked. I can’t wait for the next Captain America to come out next month.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKrVegVI0Us&w=560&h=315]
by Ouida Brown | Jan 18, 2016 | Blog
It is a New Year! I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions, I do however use it as I time of reflection. I always have a renewed sense of purpose. I reflect on life, where I am, where I have been and where I am going.
It also helps that at church we always fast during the month of January. We seek the Lord’s guidance for direction for the New Year. I just made a vision board for the first time. The bible states to write the vision and make it plain Habakkuk 2:2 . I completed a vision board on-line versus making an actual board. I looked over my goals for last year, and while I made some progress, I still am a work in progress.
One of the goals that I completed was I finished editing my book. I still have to publish it. My goal was to get it done in 2015. My goal was to run a marathon in last than five hours last year. I did not run any marathons due to injury. My goal was to lose 20 pounds. I lost 10 pounds and gained five or so. I did start my blog and it is still going. So this year I will publish my book, I will run my sub-5 hour marathon. I will loss 20 pounds. I will also continue to work on my relationship with my Jesus. I will also give God, all my goals, because while we may think we have control we don’t. I will dream big, and dream and hope for the impossible. God is all-powerful, and all knowing. With him nothing is impossible Luke 1:37. I wish you all well as you embark on 2016. I wish you all love, peace, and happiness.
Some great moments of 2016- most of them involve sports and running. They are two of my favorites things.
by Ouida Brown | Dec 30, 2015 | Blog
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNCvaa-RogQ&w=560&h=315]
When I first learned about the movie Concussion, I was so intrigued. Anything that involves football catches my attention. I love football; it is my favorite sport. I had to see the movie opening day. I sat anxiously awaiting for the story to unfold. Of course I knew it was about concussions, football, and Dr. Bennet Omalu the physician/scientist who was played by Will Smith. That was my knowledge of the movie prior to seeing it.
As the movie begins Mike Webster is giving his Pro Football Hall of Fame speech. I think back to when I went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I get giddy like a kid listening to his speech. The reason I love football so much, is that I equate it with life. The passion, the hard work, and the nostalgic of the game are what fascinate me.
I did not know who Mike Webster was, so I had to do some research. I also researched the other players and scientists in the film. Football history excites me, which is why I tape NFL Football Life every week. Mike Webster known as Iron Mike was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997. He was drafted in 1974. He started in the final game of the 1975 season as a center; Webster began a string of 150 consecutive starts that lasted until 1986. Webster played more seasons (15) and more games (220) than any other player in Pittsburgh history.
Webster played for the Steelers during four of their six Super Bowl Championships. Webster was an all-pro choice seven times, played in nine Pro Bowls, the first five as a starter. Needless to say that he was an icon.
Concussion goes from the scene of one of the greatest moment of Mike Webster’s football career to a scene where he is homeless. He is not only homeless he is living in a truck. One of his former teammates who was an offensive lineman Justin Strzelczyk, comes to visit him in the truck. Justin tells him that he understands. That he is having similar symptoms. Justin states that he gets mad, and is scared he is going to hurt his wife.
Mike Webster later died of a heart attack at the age of only 50 in 2002. Prior to his death he goes to see Dr. Julian Bailes. Webster is desperate, asking for help.He does not understand what is going on in his mind. He feels like he is losing his mind. His doctor gives him some medicine to calm him down. Dr. Julian Bailes who is a neurosurgeon who was a former team doctor for the Pittsburgh Steeler is in awe because prior to this incident he had run a battery of tests. Everything was negative, and Dr. Bailes could not understand.
Dr. Bennet Omalu happens to be the coroner on call when Mike Webster died. Dr. Omalu found a joy to his job. He was meticulous in his autopsies. He often spoke to his decreased patients. Each person he believed had a story that needed to be told. He loved the science. He sought to get the answers literally at any cost. He knew despite all the negative tests, a normal brain on appearance that there was more to Mike Webster’s story. He sends off a battery of tests that he paid for himself. Another pathologist in his lab often told him to hurry up. He told him not to do an autopsy on the legend Mike Webster. Dr. Omalu had to know the answer to why this man was dead at such a young age. Through his intense research and analysis he discovered he had a brain condition caused by repeated trauma to his brain. The trauma caused plagues to form that basically choked the health brain tissue. This would cause his headaches, forgetfulness, could cause fits of rage, confession, depression, Alzheimer’s like symptoms. He presented his work to a Dr. Steven DeKosky a prominent neurologist at the University of Pittsburgh. After reviewing the information, Dr. Omalu told Dr. Steven Dekosky that the tissue was from Mike Webster’s brain. Through Dr. Omalu research he came across a condition called dementia pugilistica “punch-drunk” which was initially found only in those with a history of boxing. He named the condition that he found in the football players CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). It had the appearance of dementia pugilistica. In 2005 Omalu, along with colleagues in the Department of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh,published his findings in the journal Neurosurgery in a paper which he titled “Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in a National Football League Player.”
Dr. Omalu was happy. He had answered a question, solved a problem. He assumed that the NFL (National Football League) would appreciate his information. He assumed that this information could be used to help the game become safer. To prevent or to warn players so there would be no more Mike Webster’s. Unfortunately it was quite the contrary. The NFL had done studies on their own, and concluded that the game was safe, that concussions did not cause long-term problems. Dr. Omalu work was a contradiction to this and the NFL did not like it.
Dr. Julian Bailes who no longer worked with the NFL and was a good friend of Mike Webster reaches out to Dr. Omalu. They talked and Dr. Bailes believed Dr. Omalu’s work. The battle ensues. Dr. Bailes goal was to help Dr. Omalu. The NFL would not be receptive to listening to a physician who was not even from America. One that claims its favorite sport causes damage that could ultimately lead to death. Terry Long another NFL football player, former Pittsburgh Steeler offensive lineman commits suicide by drinking antifreeze in 2005. He had previously attempted suicide in 1991. Dr. Omalu does his autopsy and discovered that he also has CTE.
Another NFL player Andre Waters committed suicide with gunshot to his head in 2006. Andre Waters was regarded as one of the NFL’s hardest-hitting defenders. He was a safety. His tackle of Los Angeles Ram quarterback Jim Everett in 1998 led to a rule prohibiting defensive players from hitting quarterbacks below the waist while they are still in the pocket; for a while, it was unofficially termed the “Andre Waters Rule” His brain tissue was sent to Dr. Omalu and he was found to have CTE. He had the brain of an 85 year old.
Justin Strzelczyk, Mike Webster’s friend who visited him when he was living in his truck died in a car crash in 2004. The one who told him he had similar problems,died in a car crash. He hit a tank trunk while driving 90 miles per hour against the flow of traffic to evade capture by the police. He was 36 years old. He mother consented to let Dr. Omalu study his brain after his death, and he was found to have CTE in 2007.
Justin Strzelczyk was killed during a high-speed police chase on Sept. 30, 2004, when his pickup collided with a tractor-trailer and exploded
Dr. Bailes sest up a meeting with Dr. Joseph Maroon a neurosurgeon at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, one of the team doctors for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dr. Omalu discovered during his review of the medical records of Steelers players that had CTE that Dr. Maroon was physician of record. Dr. Omalu and Dr. Maroon have a heated discussion. He tells of his findings which Dr. Maroon had publicly refuted. Dr. Omalu does not back down. He repeated states just tell the truth. Dr. Macron understood that NFL football was a business. The goal was to return the player to the field by any means necessary. Football was and is a business. He challenged Dr. Omalu because he was not American and knew nothing about how great and almighty football was and still is today. Dr. Omalu boss Dr. Cyril Wecht told him that he was taken on the NFL, and to beware that the NFL owns Sunday the day that use to be own by God and the church. I thought that was a powerful statement.
The Commissioner at the time of Mike Webster’s death was was Paul Tagliabue, but Roger Goodell took over in 2006. Roger Goodell made a public relations move and claimed to be open to hearing Dr. Omalu’s research. Right before the meeting, Dr. Omalu was not allowed to speak. They did allow Dr. Bailes to speak, one of their own. It was all a public relations move. They were not ready to listen. The NFL just wanted to state that they had heard his findings. Dr. Omalu anxiously waited in hallway. After the meeting Dave Duerson walks out of the meeting, and confronts Dr. Omalu. He tells him to go back to African. Duerson was a safety in the NFL who played for the Chicago Bears, the New York Giants, and the Phoenix Cardinals.He earned significant honors during his career, including selection to four consecutive Pro Bowls for NFL. Ironically Duerson while adamantly against Dr. Omalu’s research, ended up committed suicide via a gunshot wound to his chest. He left a suicide note that he wanted his brain to be studied for CTE. After his death the NFL was forced to listen. They did listen.
Further information of NFL and CTE
In 2012, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher killed his girlfriend and drove to stadium and killed himself in front of the general manager and his head coach It it was confirmed that he suffered from CTE in 2014.
An autopsy conducted in 2010 on the brain of Owen Thomas, a 21-year-old junior lineman at the University of Pennsylvania who committed suicide, showed early stages of CTE, making him the second youngest person to be diagnosed with the condition.
In October 2010, 17-year-old Nathan Stiles died hours after his high school homecoming football game, where he took a hit that would be the final straw in a series of subconcussive and concussive blows to the head, making him the youngest reported CTE case to date.
In 2012, retired NFL player Junior Seau committed suicide with a gunshot wound to the chest. In, 2013, the brain pathology report was revealed and Seau had CTE.
The NFL has taken measures to help prevent CTE. As of July 2011, the NFL has changed its return-to-play rules. The number of contact practices has been reduced. Today players get fined for helmet to helmet hits intentional and unintentional.
In 2012, some four thousand former NFL players “joined civil lawsuits against the League, seeking damages over the League’s failure to protect players from concussions, according to Judy Battista of the [New York] Times”
On April 22, 2015 a final settlement was reached between players and the NFL in the case, but NFL never admitted to having prior knowledge on the dangers of concussions. Terms include payments to be made by the NFL for $75 million for “baseline medical exams” for retired players, $10 million dollars for research and education, as well an uncapped amount for retirees “who can demonstrate that they suffer from one of several brain conditions covered by the agreement”, with total payments expected to exceed $1 billion dollars over 65 years.
Bernie Kosar, who sustained several concussions during his twelve-year NFL career and has shown symptoms of CTE, has submitted himself to an experimental treatment program led by Rick Sponaugle of Florida that has alleviated many of his symptoms. The program, involves increasing blood flow to damaged portions of the brain. He has spoken out in public about his successes with the treatment in the hopes that others who suffer from the disease can find relief and avoid the fates of Duerson and Seau, both of whom were personal friends of his.
I loved the movie, but the impact from concussions is concerning. It was if the scientist was in contrast to the football fanatic in me. I fell in love with football when I was doing a sports medicine fellowship in Philadelphia. Part of my training was covering football games. I stood on the sidelines and looked out for injuries. I had to pay attention to make sure we monitored all the players. Also if I didn’t pay attention I would risk being injured myself. Remember Sean Payton New Orleans Saint’s head coach injury on the sideline a few years ago. It was as I was watching every snap, run, touchdown that I learned the game. I used to ask the athletic trainer questions when I was unsure of what was going on. I then only knew the basics. I fell in love with the game, and it only grows more and more. One of the scenes in the movie that I vividly remember was when Dr. Bailes was talking to Dr. Omalu about speaking with the NFL. He talked about his passion for the game. The spark in his eyes as he talked about his love of game, I could relate to. It literally hurt him, the fact that the game he loved could be potentially dangerous. That the multiple hits could cause damage that could potentially result in death. I feel the same way. While I see the science, I love the game. I think there needs to be more research into making the game safer, but I will never stop watching football. If I had a son and he wanted to play football, I would let him.
by Ouida Brown | Nov 24, 2015 | Blog
One of the many things I’ve learned is attitude is everything. As I age I realize that life has its fair share of challenges. In Job 2:10 Job has suffered an insurmountable lost. He wife states that he should curse God and die. ” But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. While we can’t stop bad things from happening, we can chose how we react to them. In James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” Chose joy, chose to not let circumstances determine the mood. God has taught me to count it all joy. That no matter what that he is in control.
November is the month of Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving because it is what I call a pure holiday. It is not so commercial that the true meaning of the day gets distorted. This year, as well as last year I posted on Facebook what I was thankful for. It was an easy task. I have so much to be thankful for. Don’t get me wrong my life is far from perfect. I am a work in progress.
I say to everyone, think about all you may have to be thankful of it does not matter how big or small. You don’t have to do a month of thankful posts, but think about all you have to be thankful for. Also, please tell other people you are grateful for them. My mother was an icon in the town of Brookhaven Mississippi. Everyone loved her. She used to tell me and my brother LaMonte all these stories when she was young. I did not know the magnitude, until I actually talked to my mother’s students from when she was a band director. I then thought about the college students that she counseled when she was a counselor at Collin a junior college in Wesson Mississippi. I thought about how our old station wagon was a bus for the elementary students she use to have in the car when she was a counselor at Brookhaven Elementary School. I thought of all of her piano students who are now grown who have majored in music, one is a minster, one is a doctor. I could go on and on about all of the people lives she touched while she was here. My mom, was all that but have the sweetest spirit. My mother’s past student honored in a beautiful ceremony, and set up a scholarship in her name. I say all of that to say that my mom was given was given her flowers will she was alive. Her students thanked her while she was here which meant the world to her. She died later that year due to breast cancer. Give people their flowers while they are here.
BE THANKFUL
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIPKnj-0Czw&w=420&h=315]
by Ouida Brown | Oct 27, 2015 | Blog
October is a special month for several reasons. It is the month of the Chicago Marathon, my favorite Marathon. It is also the month my mother passed away October 27th 2008. The day my heart took her last breathe. In my mother’s memory I have been raising money for breast cancer for years.
I did my first Susan G Komen fun walk in 2004. It was the 1-mile walk. It is what motivated me to start running again. After the fun walk, I started going to the track. I would run one lap, then walk one lap I worked my way up to running a mile. I gradually worked my way up to running a 5k. In 2006 I did my first fundraising effort with Susan G Komen in honor of my mother and others who were fighting the battle and those who had passed on. Those like my Aunt Estella who is a breast cancer survivor. Those like my fellow Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University (FAMU) alumnus and sorors Lawanda Renee Henry, and Patricia Sherfield Polite who passed earlier this year. With the help of my friends, family, co-workers, and some complete strangers I have raised over $26, 0000 for breast cancer/ cancer research.
This year I was to run Chicago Marathon for American Cancer Society. My goal was $5,000. My requirement was only $1500, but I aim high and more money means more funds to help people, and more money for research. I started my quest to raise my funds. Again, I am so thankful for those who donate to my cause every year, but deep down I feel bad for soliciting funds every year. I feel like I am “bleeding people dry”, but I know that the cause is worthy. NO one should lose a love one to cancer, so I continue my quest. This year was bitter sweet, I had no problem raising my minimal, but during the early part of my training my feet were bothering me. I had been plagued by a nagging injury on and off for a year. I later found out that I had a stress fracture in one of my feet, and could not run the race. Initially I was devastated. Not only could I run my favorite race in honor of my parents who both had cancer. My mom died from breast cancer, and my and from lung cancer. I felt like I was letting people down who had donated to the cause.
One of my good friends explained that the money I raised would still help people, and they would understand. I thought about it, and related it to cancer patients. In life there are things that are out of our control but we deal with the hand that we are given. We fight, we may fall down, but we get back up. We continue to fight no matter what.
I will get back up, and next year I will run Chicago Marathon for Team Determination. I hope to have my faithful supporters behind me. Together we all are stronger. So today seven years after my mother passed from breast cancer I will continue the fight for her. I have hope; cancer does not win.
I encourage all my female family, and friends to do monthly breast check, and get yearly mammograms. Early detection does save lives.
Webster played for the Steelers during four of their six Super Bowl Championships. Webster was an all-pro choice seven times, played in nine Pro Bowls, the first five as a starter. Needless to say that he was an icon.
