Tedy L. Bruschi

New England Patriots Logo (www.google.ca)

Tedy Lacap Bruschi (pronounced BREW-ski) is an NFL (National Football League) linebacker for the New England Patriots. He was born June 9, 1973 in San Francisco, California and has Filipino and Italian heritage. Bruschi went to Roseville High School in Roseville, California, where he played High School football. Bruschi played college football at the University of Arizona as a defensive end. He tied the NCAA Division I-A sack record with 52 quarterback sacks. In the 1996 NFL draft the Patriots, picked him in the third round.

In Super Bowl XXXIX Bruschi helped the Patriots win 24-21 against the Philadelphia Eagles with six tackles, a sack and an interception. On February 16, 2005, Bruschi went to the hospital with symptoms including numbness, blurred vision and headaches. He had suffered a mild stroke, he had a broken blood vessel is his brain and experienced temporary paralysis. After several months he announced he would not play the 2005 NFL season. On October 16, 2005 Bruschi was medically cleared to play football. He soon rejoined the Patriots and was practicing with his team three days later. Bruschi was named 2005 comeback player of the year.

Tedy Bruschi (picture found on www.google.ca)

Tedy Bruschi is my hero because of the determination and strength it must have taken to suffer a stroke no matter how small and still be able to play in the NFL. It is one thing to suffer a mild stroke, fully recover, and resume average daily life of an average Canadian or American. But to resume playing a full contact professional sport must have taken months of determination and rehabilitation to even think of playing in the next season, or even ever again.