The Gfellers know all too well the how the lives of families can change from a traumatic brain injury.
It was their younger son, Matthew who died after he sustained a traumatic brain injury during a football game at Reynolds High School in 2008. The 15-year-old was on life support for two days as a torn blood vessel caused his brain to swell. But since their son's death the Gfellers have been fighting for change and to save the lives of other children impacted by traumatic brain injury.
On Thursday, they were invited attend the Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit at the White House. In 2011, a bill named for Matt Gfeller passed state legislature promoting concussion awareness in school athletics. The Gfellers hope President Barack Obama's support will help raise awareness.
Bob Gfeller is now the Executive Director for the Childress Institute for Pediatric Trauma. The organization helps fund research for treatment for critically injured children including a study to measure head impacts in youth football.
