Boy's story inspires new concussion program
»Play Video
SEATTLE -- One teenager's struggles that fueled a new state law has also inspired area doctors to team up.
Nearly two years ago, Zackery Lystedt, then 13, suffered two vicious hits and a severe concussion while playing football for Mount Tahoma Junior High. His coaches thought the boy was fine, and sent him back in the game.
But as soon as the final whistle blew, Lystedt collapsed. His brain had begun bleeding.
Two emergency brain surgeries saved Lystedt's life. But it was clear his life had forever been changed. For one, the boy could no longer walk.
"Before he was tackling kids and hitting long balls, and now we're just really wanting him to walk again," said Victor Lystedt, the boy's father.
But some good has come out of Lystedt's hardship.
Gov. Chris Gregoire signed the Zackery Lystedt bill into law, requiring all young athletes in the state who suffer head injuries to to get a doctor's permission before playing again.
"He's touched my heart in a very big way," said the governor.
And on Thursday, Harborview Medical Center launched the new Seattle Sports Concussion Program, a joint project with the University of Washington Medical Center and Children's Hospital. Both the governor and Lystedt were present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
"That kind of makes me feel delighted," said Lystedt of the clinic.
Since his injury, all he had wanted to do was to help other kids in similar situations. And it appears he has just done that for Adrian Gault, another football player who suffered the exact same injury.
On Tuesday Gault and his mom drove from Sequim to meet Lystedt at Harborview Medical Center.
"I've been wanting to meet you for the last couple of years now and I finally get to do it. And I'm glad to see everything is going all right for you," Gault said.
Nearly two years ago, Zackery Lystedt, then 13, suffered two vicious hits and a severe concussion while playing football for Mount Tahoma Junior High. His coaches thought the boy was fine, and sent him back in the game.
But as soon as the final whistle blew, Lystedt collapsed. His brain had begun bleeding.
Two emergency brain surgeries saved Lystedt's life. But it was clear his life had forever been changed. For one, the boy could no longer walk.
"Before he was tackling kids and hitting long balls, and now we're just really wanting him to walk again," said Victor Lystedt, the boy's father.
But some good has come out of Lystedt's hardship.
Gov. Chris Gregoire signed the Zackery Lystedt bill into law, requiring all young athletes in the state who suffer head injuries to to get a doctor's permission before playing again.
"He's touched my heart in a very big way," said the governor.
And on Thursday, Harborview Medical Center launched the new Seattle Sports Concussion Program, a joint project with the University of Washington Medical Center and Children's Hospital. Both the governor and Lystedt were present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
"That kind of makes me feel delighted," said Lystedt of the clinic.
Since his injury, all he had wanted to do was to help other kids in similar situations. And it appears he has just done that for Adrian Gault, another football player who suffered the exact same injury.
On Tuesday Gault and his mom drove from Sequim to meet Lystedt at Harborview Medical Center.
"I've been wanting to meet you for the last couple of years now and I finally get to do it. And I'm glad to see everything is going all right for you," Gault said.
