Meredith Greenberg | Photo courtesy of Meredith Greenberg
After suffering a series of debilitating concussions, Bronxville’s Meredith Greenberg is determined to generate change for kids facing similar injuries.
Whether she is networking with NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre, furthering her advocacy organization, or being interviewed for a documentary, Meredith Greenberg’s mission remains helping those suffering from concussions. The Bronxville 19-year-old has had firsthand experience of how debilitating a concussion can be, having suffered seven of them herself.
Greenberg’s head injuries began in ninth grade, after a friend accidently hit her with a locker. A subsequent injury, from lacrosse, caused Greenberg to develop Post-Concussion Syndrome, which occurs when the symptoms of a concussion persist well beyond the typical recovery period. “You don’t realize how much a brain injury is going to impact your daily life,” says Greenberg, “but after my third concussion, I realized I wasn’t going to be able to do things the way I used to.”
Greenberg would ultimately sustain four more concussions. However, thanks to treatment, she did get better, which caused her to reflect on her good fortune. “There are a lot of students who might not have the knowledge about concussions that I did or might not be fortunate enough to receive such kindness and treatment,” she says. “I wanted to be able to pay forward the amazing opportunities I had and the knowledge I gained along the way.”
Greenberg primarily does this through her advocacy organization, the Athlete Concussion Foundation (ACF). “Some kids don’t report concussions to their coaches and are putting themselves at risk of brain damage,” explains Greenberg. “What the ACF is focused on is prevention through education and mental health resources.”
During the winter, Greenberg was interviewed for a documentary about a treatment developed by anesthesiologist Dr. Eugene G. Lipoff called a Stellate Ganglion Block. Soon, Greenberg was even teaming up with former Green Bay Packers QB legend Brett Favre in her mission to fight concussions.
“Doctor Jacob VanLandingham, a neuroscientist, met my mother and spoke to her about my concussions,” explains Greenberg, whose mother is former NBC and FOX News anchor Linda Vester. “He is good personal friends with Brett Favre, and Brett said he was interested in working with me. We talked about how I might be able to help raise money through a fundraiser, since they are working on developing a drug that will treat concussions quickly, administered through a nasal spray.” But the conversation didn’t end there.
“We also talked about one of my main ambitions,” she continues. “I want to develop an EEG device that can detect concussions quickly and can be used in an ambulance or on the sidelines of a sports field. The most important thing is that it be affordable enough for a school and that it is easy to use. I’m very much looking forward to working with Brett and Dr. VanLandingham on fundraising, developing this EEG, and spreading awareness.”
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