Former Crows captain Mark Bickley has opened up about his son Xavier's concussion ordeal to help other parents recognise the signs. Bickley, a former premiership captain, was no stranger to concussions but after his son was in a bike accident, he realised head injuries could present differently in children.
Xavier Bickley, 12, was on a family beach holiday in January when he was seriously concussed from getting thrown off his bike. "We got a phone call from him saying, 'help me, help me, help me', he didn't know what had happened," his mother Tory Bickley said.
While he has no recollection of the accident, the Bickley family suspect Xavier hit a bump while riding his bike downhill and was launched over the handlebars. When they found the boy, he had confronting face injuries but the family could not have expected the extent of the injuries.
After rushing him to hospital, doctors discovered Xavier was severely concussed alongside a broken left arm. "It was a pretty severe head bump, it was pretty scary for us," Ms Bickley said. "I thought we'd lost the Xavier we knew, so that was hard."
As a former AFL player and Crows coach, Mr Bickley experienced and witnessed many concussions through his football career. But, even he was taken aback at just how concerning his son's injury was. "I'd received a head knock and then wasn't sure what had happened, but after sitting down for 10 or 15 minutes, started to feel normal again … but then [Xavier] seemed to go the other way," he said. "He became more agitated and upset."
The father said Xavier lost consciousness in the ambulance on the way to the hospital while Ms Bickley noticed the boy was asking the same questions repeatedly. "At one stage, there was talk that he may be put into an induced coma so that was really distressing," Mr Bickley said.
Initially, Mr Bickley thought Xavier would recover with some rest and monitoring. "Maybe I was being a little bit laconic about how serious it was, because I'd had them and been OK, and generally, in all of my experiences I'd bounced back reasonably quickly," he said. But, the family are grateful they sought medical assistance quickly.
Concussion Symptoms Beyond the Obvious
Xavier was initially agitated, confused, and sensitive to sound and touch. Then, he started experiencing tiredness and difficulty sleeping — common concussion symptoms. It was a three-month-long recovery process before Xavier was able to resume vigorous activity, including a period where he had to completely refrain from using screens and limit the amount of reading and tasks that required concentration.
Physiotherapist Georgina Leov, from the Women's and Children's Hospital's (WCH) Child and Adolescent Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service, said it was important to note that only a minority of concussion cases lose consciousness. She said some of the more subtle symptoms could include headaches, sensitivity to noise and light, confusion, nausea, dizziness and changes to mood and sleep.
Returning to Activity After a Concussion
She said children should take a slow approach to returning to normal activity levels after experiencing a head knock. "If it does happen, seek medical help and the right advice to get back to what they love to do," she said. She also said while protective gear is recommended for kids playing sports where possible, it is important to note that only about 35 per cent of concussions were sport-related. "We see young people who have sustained concussions from a variety of causes, including bike accidents, motor vehicle accidents and falls," she said. "It's very important that children return to gentle activity early in their recovery, but only get back to high-risk sports once they are symptom free.
A return before this can risk further injury, longer recovery and poorer outcomes."
Experts say up to 25 per cent of children who experience a concussion require extra time and assistance to get back to their normal activities.
Growing Demand for Brain Injury Rehabilitation Services
SA Health Minister Chris Picton says demand for brain injury rehabilitation services continues to grow. "Already we're tracking well ahead of of the same stage that we were last year for those injuries," he said. The government said the WCH brain injury unit had seen 121 referrals so far this year — compared to 178 total cases last year. "We encourage parents to be wary of the more subtle symptoms and to seek medical help if your child is experiencing mood, sleep or behavioural changes after suffering a concussion," Mr Picton said.
The Bickley family are now speaking about their experience to help others recognise the signs of concussion and understand the importance of seeking medical advice and following a gradual return to activity plan. Concussions can be serious and require careful management to ensure full recovery and prevent further complications.
They encourage parents to stay vigilant and not underestimate the impact of a head injury, even if it seems minor. Early intervention and appropriate care can make a significant difference in the recovery process and help children get back to their everyday lives safely and confidently.
