Jahvid Best appeared to be on the road to football stardom. Drafted in the first round by the Detroit Lions, Best possessed blazing speed that was the envy of other running backs. Unfortunately, his professional football career met a premature end during it’s second year due to the effects of concussions. Best put forth great effort to get back into the NFL but ultimately doctors ruled against his return. For many people, this would be the end of the story. For Jahvid Best though it was the start of something new.
One of the key tasks that brain injury survivors must navigate is assessing their retained abilities so as to identify what they can still do best in spite of their injuries. Best understood that though his body was not ready to be tackled by 300 lb linemen, he still had his speed. Best worked tirelessly at his skills on the track. The hard word paid off. Best qualified for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, where he will be representing the island nation of St. Lucia. Best demonstrated how to thrive and succeed in spite of an injury! Though he was not a TLC patient, we certainly think he is a true hero for the brain injury community. Identifying a survivor’s skills and choosing activities that match those skills is a key part of the rehabilitation process.
Learn more about Jahvid Best’s journey.
Learn about the Moody Neuro’s brain injury treatment services.