In this deeply moving episode, I speak with Sarah Reikowski, a fellow Speech-Language Pathologist and mother of five, as she shares the heartbreaking story of her son, Alex. Sarah reflects on the subtle but alarming changes she saw in Alex before he tragically took his own life—changes that were later linked to repeated head trauma from sports and life experiences. With incredible courage, Sarah opens up about her grief, her journey toward healing, and the message she hopes to share with other parents: to trust your instincts, take symptoms seriously, and advocate fiercely for your child’s brain health.
Help raise awareness about the impact of physical trauma on the brain by following and sharing! Just because we can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not important. Kandid Konversations is here to shift the way people think about brain health—join our community of listeners as we learn, grow, and make a difference together!
**Trigger Warning**
This episode of Kandid Konversations with Dr. Kelli contains mentions of very serious topics like violence, depression and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs support, please reach out to a mental health professional or contact a crisis helpline by dialing 988 accessible 24/7.