Lindsey Young

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Laurent D’Almeida understands adversity.

Perhaps that’s why he loves the Lynx so much—he understands the ups and downs, bad calls, overcoming obstacles, personal victories, and team wins.

Originally from Togo, West Africa, D’Almeida moved to the United States with his family when he was seven years old. Sports have always been a big part of his life, and he immediately became a fan of both the Timberwolves and the Lynx. He fondly remembers shooting hoops outside for two or three hours at a time, imagining and playing out various game scenarios.

The past several years, however, have been a lot more than fun and games for D’Almeida.

On June 27, 2010 the sports fan was hanging out with friends; one of them overthrew a golf Frisbee, accidentally hitting D’Almeida in the neck. He doesn’t remember much of that moment, but he spent several days in the hospital; doctors diagnosed him with both a neck injury and a traumatic brain injury (TBI). D’Almeida experienced problems for a few months, the symptoms eventually getting worse. In 2011, he received a Post-Concussion Syndrome diagnosis.

Five years later, D’Almeida continues to struggle with chronic migraines, shoulder and neck pain, sensitivity to light, and anxiety.

“The biggest thing I didn’t expect was how many people do not understand [the condition] and how much it impacts my life,” he said.

One of the largest ways the TBI affects D’Almeida is in school. Currently a student at Augsburg College, he is working toward a degree in communications with an emphasis in journalism. Since his accident, however, D’Almeida struggles with focusing, reading, and taking notes—things that students do every day. He says Augsburg has a great disabilities program that provides necessary accommodations to support him, but it’s still difficult.

Just like an athlete who suffers an injury, though, D’Almeida remains positive and refuses to let these obstacles stop him from reaching his goals—to graduate and become a journalist.

“I love writing about other people who are going through similar situations,” D’Almeida explained. “I know there are many people not as fortunate as I am; I want those people to know there are others who will listen to their story and share it.”

Although he can’t play sports the way he used to, D’Almeida is just as big a fan as ever. In fact, he says that watching the Timberwolves and the Lynx throughout the year proves to be a sort of therapy for him.

“Being a sports fan in general, I think sports have always been a form of healing for me,” he said.

And it certainly helps to be excited for such a cohesive and successful Minnesota Lynx roster. The squad is off to a strong start for the 2015 season, and D’Almeida couldn’t be more thrilled to see his team projected to have yet another great year.

“I’m most excited to see the Lynx win another championship,” he exclaimed. “It’s been fun seeing the excitement [and this] brand of play over the past couple of seasons.”

Although he’s only attended one game at the Target Center thus far, the fan follows the Lynx closely and makes sure to catch the games online or on TV. And don’t worry—he fully intends to see more of the action in person when he’s able.

When asked about his favorite players, D’Almeida finds himself unable to choose just one. After all, so many talents and playing styles combine to make the Lynx as successful as they have been. Moore of course ranks very highly for the fan;  he compares her style to his all-time favorite NBA player, Kobe Bryant. And having lived in Minnesota for so many years, D’Almeida loves watching hometown hero Lindsay Whalen, whom he supported when she played for the Gophers.

“She’s clutch,” he said of Whalen. The veteran has anchored the Lynx for several seasons, but D’Almeida also identifies Seimone Augustus as a major role player in Minnesota.

“[Seimone] was probably the beginning of a turnaround for the franchise,” he said, “and I was a fan of hers from the very beginning.”

The Lynx didn’t start out on top, though, and D’Almeida recalls the first few years of fandom:

“I became a fan even before the Maya Moore days. I remember seeing them through the losing times and feeling frustrated as a fan. I remember following the WNBA Draft online before it was televised.”

D’Almeida hung in there with other dedicated fans, and it’s been a rewarding journey to see how far the team has come. Similarly, the fan aims to continue overcoming barriers in his own life and achieving his goals; he has every bit of confidence that he’ll succeed.

Although it’s been a slow process—being unable to drive and work for long periods of time have prohibited D’Almeida from finding internships—he intends to continue down the path to his dream job, which is to write for a newspaper or online publication. He also plans to bring his positivity right along with him to the workplace.

“There is a lot of judgment and criticism in journalism,” D’Almeida said. “When I see athletes criticized, [I can remember] we all go through dark times in our lives. These people are like you and me.”

Whether it’s athletes, other TBI patients, or just everyday individuals, D’Almeida has a passion to advocate for others through journalism. So remember his name, because in a few years you might just see this Fan of the Pack in the media… and he might want to tell your story.