On behalf of Justin and his family, thank you for taking the time and consideration to sign and share this petition to get him urgent medical treatment for his Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and brain shunt. We have built some momentum and have started the dialogue about what safety and care should look like in all contact sports. The loss of Marion Barber today at 38 years old was portrayed as a loner who had "mental illness" and "run ins with the law." Too many good men are being tarnished by the symptoms ,but few are standing up and speaking out on their behalf about the condition; Barber's death is listed as unknown cause- the brain-bruising elephant in the room is CTE. This portrayal will cause many more players to hide in the shadows for fear of being misdiagnosed or judged instead of helped. We need to get Justin the care he deserves and then move beyond to help the many others in need. I am attaching a story about a dear friend of mine ,Caitlin Ledbetter, and her tribute to her Dad, Cody Ledbetter about what it is like to live and love someone with CTE. I hope this helps promotes more compassion, grace, and  better understanding of what these players and their families are truly going through:

"I was 9 years old when I met my step dad. My uncle had been a staff member of the Hamilton tiger cats and he had told my mom a friend of his from his CFL days needed a place to stay and my mom let him know he was welcome to stay in our spare room.
I dont rememeber much of the first couple of months when my not yet stepdad, cody, had started staying in our basement for the time being. But the most important parts for me were the ones where I was shown a kind of compassion from cody that I had NEVER come close to receiving from my biological father.
I owe my drive for playing music to him. I'd never seen anybody but my mom smile so wide when I'd play. Even more so when he was the one taking the time to teach me more about playing. My biological dad had only ever discouraged my guitar playing with comments like "you should learn how to play a real song" after my very first time showing him what I'd taught myself. For once I had a father figure that showed interest in my hobbies and encouraged me to be great at everything I loved.
I couldnt throw a baseball like I can today if he hadn't shown me how to "th'ow"(as he'd say it with his thick Texan accent) it properly with my thumb underneath and 2 fingers over the threading of the top of the ball.
The more I spent time with him, the more I felt like I was meant to be in his life. It was a feeling that both my mom and I just had and the relationship my mom and him ended up having made my wish that cody was my dad come true.
I've never seen another relationship like theirs and I dont think I ever will. I cherish the way my dad, cody, loved my mom so much. It was something I'd never seen my biological dad genuinely express. As a child I didnt think much of it but I think back and remember the things that not only he did for her but she did for him.
My dad is the reason I believe in past and future lives. He always told my mom that he would see her in the next life and that maybe in that one they'd meet sooner. He's the reason i believe there are simply just souls that are meant to stay together though the end of time. Hes the reason I can love deeply and so unconditionally for the people I care about.
For a man that thought he was nothing but dirt, he was a diamond underneath that not many people got the privilege of seeing. And I thank the universe that i was one of them. This is the man he was before cte took over.
He was the man who made sure the birthday card he had drawn by one of his cell mates in prison at the time, got to me on my actual birthday. He even had a little cross neckalce made out of threads from towels in the prison for me. And that little cross and card meant more to me even as a child than any expensive item you could buy.
He was the man that came to every single track meet of mine even though I know now it must've been awful to endure while having cte. He was the man that wanted his wedding ring tattooed because his tattoos were an extension of himself.
He was the man that bought me a guitar for the first and only birthday I spent with him becuse I missed playing so much and he never wanted my passion to die down.
And it's all of this that I see as an adult as his true self. It's hard to understand as a kid but I've come to learn about this disease and how hard it is to live with and it proves even more to me how just simply good hearted he was. Even through the worst of things, his true self always found a way through. And it'll always be those true moments of his that I choose to remember over the ones that were a result of his severe cte.
I've focused alot on the negative affects of Cody's cte and for once, I thought I would share the man he truly was. So hopefully those reading this can understand the changes in people with this disease. My biggest hope is that people can see the way my dad used to be and look at the man cte made him out to be and see that those struggling arent monsters.
CTE is.
The more we talk about this the more likely it is that these stories will reach those that need to hear them.
Those parents thinking of putting their kids in contact sports too young without knowing the damage that's being done.Those highschool athletes that think they need to conceal injuries to sustain game time. Those coaches who still use outdated information surrounding the science of head trauma or even refuse to acknowledge the existence of cte and continue putting their players in danger.
Whoever these stories need to reach to make a change, I hope it does and people can be saved from the fate that my dad, like so many before and after him, sadly met because of the lack of knowledge and awareness surrounding CTE.
It's my dads story that has brought me to the motivation I have to spread Cte research information anywhere I can because nobody could do that for him when he was most vulnerable. I never imagined myself getting to a point where I could talk about my dad at all, let alone make a group dedicated to awareness for the disease he struggled with.
My life has been changed by CTE & Brain Injury Global Support and I wouldnt be here telling Cody's story to all of you if it wasnt for the support I found in it. I cant thank you all enough for helping me find the peace that I've worked so hard towards and for helping me use this tragedy in my life as a way to help people in the future. " 

Thank you Caitlin for these insightful words

Keep signing, sharing, and educating - CTE is real