Donation of Brain Raises Hope

By Melinda Gustafson Gervasi
Late last week the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that the family Derek Boogaard decided to donate his brain to a brain bank established at Boston University for study related to athletes and brain trauma. While the news of a sudden, unexpected death of a young person is deeply sad, the donation by his family offers hope that scientist can learn more about head trauma and sports.

I want to emphasize, this does not mean Boogaard died of complications of a concussion. It's just a selfless act by the Boogaards, who believe in these researchers who are trying to raise awareness when it comes to brain trauma.

"Derek loved sports and obviously in particular hockey, so we believe Derek would have liked to assist with research on a matter that had affected him later on in his career," Ryan Boogaard said

Right now, the cause of death of Boogaard is unknown and won't be known for at least a few weeks once test results and toxicology reports are back at the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office.

Boogaard's funeral will be in Regina, Saskatchewan, although the date is not yet known.

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