Update: 11:30am on 1/23

Yet another early morning with Forrest. Early morning never used to describe his or my schedule, but here we are together. Austin took the midwatch and Uncle John the late watch. His vitals are stable at the moment and in times like this I am reluctant to disturb him in any manner. He has started movement and elevated temperatures and agitation that is called "storming activity". It manifests in muscular movements similar to mild seizures and profuse sweating and elavated heart rates and blood pressure and temperatures. It is worrisome to watch but is evidently a phase the brain goes thru as it tries to regain control of his body. We are told his version of it so far is mild, but could get worse before it gets better. Hopefully it will pass soon.

They continue to slowly back off the anesthetic and pain relief drugs but that is slowed or has to be reversed if the storming activity is significant. A concern at this point continues to be pneumonia and the irritation from the tubes in his throat. If things continue on an even course, with only mild storming activity, he may get a tracheostomy Monday. This would allow him to have his breathing tube moved down to below his adam's apple and get most of the tubes out of his throat and nose, which I think he would appreciate. The fever is being fought with advil and a cooling blanket that currently has his temp down to 38 Celsius or 100.5 F. It has been considerably higher than this but is somewhat cyclic and appears to be associated with the storming activity. He has moments when his arm movement and eyes are open that seem much more purposeful than random muscle activity. He has yet to respond to commands in a repeatable purposeful way. But then he is still on a lot of meds and he never did what I told him to do anyway! Just kidding!

On the non-medical front, we are amazed at the friends and family and well wishers who follow and especially post on his blog. Thanks also for the tons of cards, banners and food that you all have sent (updated picture of the wall from Forrest's perspective below). Sometimes we are so focused on Forrest and his care that we don't pay attention to anything else and the alternating shifts can be grueling. Then we read the blog and the cards and emails and are uplifted by the support, stories, prayers and care that is out there for Forrest and keep keeping on. Thank you Ted for the book and paper weight with Winston Churchill's message, "When you are going thru Hell....KEEP ON GOING! We are all marching thru it together and with Forrest's strength and your support and prayers we are going to march out the other end and look back at it and say to Forrest look how tough you are and how many people love you.

On a more pragmatic note, if any of Forrest's buddies know his passwords to his phone or computer, we would really appreciate knowing that. The pictures, messages and contacts on his phone and computer will help Forrest regain his memories and reconnect with all of you. Please pass along password suggestions to Dad or Austin's email. Dad is kallendvm@aol.com Austin is a.asalle@gmail.com. You can also send any pics you want posted to Austin.

Dad