Just finishing sitting thru the morning rounds bedside with Forrest, Uncle John took the night shift. There is a full moon setting over Charlottesville as the sun rises. It reminds me of the times in the summer when Forrest would show up in his hoodie, shorts and flip flops at ten at night headed outside with his dog Sundance. I'd ask him where he was going and he'd say, I'm going to look at the moon. Sometimes I'd go join him but most times he just wanted to be alone with his dog and probably think about many of you, his good friends. I think Forrest often subscribed to that saying "one's company, two's a crowd and three's a party." He has always been comfortable being alone but loves to hang with his friends a lot. We know he is keeping himself company in there with his memories, but I keep reminding him by reading him your blog posts that there is a whole party of friends and loved ones here just waiting on him. So for you youngsters, forget Facebook for a while and follow and post on here because I promise it gets to him!
On the medical front, he continues to fight his fever and there will be a discussion later this morning on his lung issues. He is fitted with a back brace to stabilize the back fracture and they would like him to wear it in case he moves suddenly during waking up or coughing but it will likely cause skin irritation, which is also a major concern with bedridden patients. So some time today they will attempt a sitting x-ray with the brace on to check alignment of the spine. His blood pressure is stable and they continue to wean the anesthetic drugs off slowly.
So another day, we watch over our young fallen warrior knowing that with the great medical care, love prayers and good wishes from family and friends and many more 44 stories, we will all walk out of here together. Thanks again for you comments, they make us laugh and cry and I know he hears them.
Dad
Dear Forrest,
ReplyDeleteYou are that rare sort who is so at ease with adults and so unabashedly entertaining. During our drive to and from Annapolis last summer to watch the MLL playoffs, you relived your experience saving turtle eggs from poachers. From describing the rescues to describing life there, you had us captivated. You were infectiously enthusiastic about the possibility of saving even a few of the eggs…waiting for the mommas to lay their eggs so you could run in to scoop them up and move them to safe haven areas. You described your day-to-day with equal enthusiasm, you made light of the lack of creature comforts: your sleeping arrangements (outside, in a hammock, if you hung it right), or the food (terrible), or phones/ipods (not even). We understand why Nick is so eager to be with you whenever he is home: “Hi, great to be home…so…think I’m gonna hang with Forrest tonight…”
The Weedens
So glad you posted -- was waiting to hear of Forrest's progress. Sounds like the care there is exemplary. Each day dawning brings such hope...
ReplyDeleteWas totally excited to see all the DQ references as I'm a big Dairy Queen fan and then realized what that really meant! :) Who'd have thought my two favorite things - ice cream and dolphins - were both represented by the same initials.
To post a comment at age 66 is like well I don't know as I am concentrating very hard one letter at a time just to post. I had to get my IT guy to show me how to do this much. What I have to tell you Forrest is that I can't work forever and I was really counting on you to be a famous rock star make gobs of money so that with your brother you could be my only clients and I could relax a little and worry less. So if you please wake up, get up off your rear end and go become famous before I start drooling and have to move in with my son and wear support hose. We are all praying for you and the whole family and we ask ABBA father to heal you body mind and spirit and to visit you in your place of rest and assure you of the plans He has for you to do you good and to glorify himself through your life. Bill Hurley
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Forrest. The s'more comment from yesterday reminded me of one of my first trips to Brightwood. The house wasn't quite finished, but we stayed above the clinic and had we had a holiday picnic in the new house. After dinner, your dad started a huge bonfire. We had planned to roast marshmallows, but it was quickly apparent that the fire was way too big to get close enough for that. But you were tiny and so excited about s'mores, so Grandpa Doc convinced you that if you held a marshmallow in your hand and stood about 25 feet from the fire, it would eventually roast. We all stood there giggling as you stood with Grandpa Doc, confidently "roasting" the marshmallow in your hand. I love that memory. (I can't remember the conclusion, but I'm going to assume that someone - probably Grandmom - eventually found a way to get you a s'more.)
ReplyDeleteRest up, Forrest - we miss you.
Lisa
Good Mowning Mr. Fowwest,
ReplyDeleteI twied to write you a wetter yestuwday but the writing thing expowded on my face. So Ms. Wobyn is hewping me.
I heawd you have another name – I have a few names too. No, Down, Drop, Monster, Stop, Come, and a few others that I cannot wemember wight now. I have a vewry cool stick that I think you would wike. When I bring it into the house it makes things fall from the sky and I put them all in my mouwth. I am not allowed to bring that stick in the house anymore. I have a skunk and raccoon, they are soft and fwuffy and I wuv them. (I don’t think they are awive anymore….shhh down’t tell Ms. Wobyn). Did I tell you I hunted an Elk Antler, it is fabulous, you have to try it. I chew on it day and night – it has a filling that is sooooooo yummy. Yummy Yummy Yummy.
Wowking in the bawn is hard, Weon and I help by picking up as many poopsickles as possible. This makes Ms. Wobyn call me by several of my nicknames, I think she may want some too. If not she is weally missing out. I help feed too, is there anyway that you could tawk to Ms. Wobyn about letting me eat the big dogs food? I would appweciate youwr help on this matter. Did I tell you I hunted an Elk Antler – you would be so pwoud of me. I hunted it down aftewr Ms. Wobyn took it out of a brown thing howlding ofer stuff.
I love the small fuzzy dog even thought he hits me in the face everyday. Not sure why his bawk is so weird – doesn’t sound wike mine. Sounds like mmmeeowww – with a deep grrrr. But I wuv him.
If I was with you I would sit by your bed (Like I do to Ms. Wobyn) with my head westing on the bed stawting three howrs before sunrise. It is vewy hawd work. And I have to take small bweaks, but the second she moves I am up and in position. My tail is so powerful in the mowning- I move it fast and it makes so much noise. I just want to be suwre she does not oversleep and miss feeding me. I eat fast so that I don’t miss a chance at a poopsickle, stick, skunk, big dogs, or anyother food or toy. I will be sure to pack a bag of antlers and poopsickles for you when I visit.
I am holding down the fowrt. I chase all fox and deer away because I can be mean and scawry. Weon hewps, he can be vewry mean and scawry too. We awre a vewy good team. Did I tell you I hunted an Elk Antler – you would be so pwoud of me.
Ms Wobyn towld me wast night that I get to see you soon. I will stawrt collecting and packing now. I wonder is Ms. Wobyn would help me make a poopsickle pie? Please help me on this matter as well.
All the big dawgs say hi. The Red one put his pointy eawrs back and twied to bite at me….but his box he sleeps in stopped him. (Fank goodness- he is a wittle scawry.) - So I fink he says a BIG HI.
Wuv You 44 – SUNDANCE
Ps. Did I tell you I hunted an Elk Antler – you would be so pwoud of me.
Pps. Don’t fowrget about hewping me on the big dogs food – I just WUV that stuff.
Ppps. I weally want to make a poopsickle pie for you. You will just WUV IT.
Forrest and company: Greetings from the frozen midwest. It was below zero here last night and is supposed to reach a high temp of only 8-10 degrees today. Gotta love that. Global warming, really?
ReplyDeleteForrest, leave it to that "early adopter of technology" father of yours to be sitting in the hospital reading to you from an iPad. I would still be trying to figure out how to convince a nurse to let me use one of the hospital's computers, much less blogging and reading from an iPad.
Kent and Rae and Austin and family, when I got dangerously ill a few years ago I got exhausted consoling others (I was more OK with a cancer diagnosis than they were), so make sure you take care of yourselves appropriately through all of this. You are all in it for the long haul, so take care. Your first blog is correct, you are in one of the great medical and trauma centers in the world, as much as it pains a William and Mary grad to admit that about UVA.
What none of you knows is that I have an older brother named Forrest who used to beat the snot out of me when we were growing up. My revenge was to grow up eventually and get bigger and stronger than he ever was, but by then, of course, we were supposed to be “mature” enough to forego all that juvenile physical brotherly violence...I ask you, as the eternally "little brother," where is the fairness in that?
Hang in there everybody. Things will come right. The alternative is unacceptable.
Jon Foreman
Forrest, Kent, Rae, and Austin,
ReplyDeletePraying for healing, for comfort and patience during the healing, and that the peace (that passes all understanding) will guard your hearts and minds (Philippians 4:6-7). Forrest, I've only met you once, when I had dinner with your family in your home in March of 2007. But from that short interaction I know that yours is a home filled with love! May this love and support surround you as you heal. You ALL are in my prayers, along with the physicians.
FORREST!!! Better get better soon - who is going to keep Karen and David on their toes...
ReplyDeleteWe were laughing about the time you were standing next to the ring at Rocking Horse spooking Karen's horse and she couldn't figure out it was you as you had your sweatshirt hood pulled up - you were chatting with the judges and Karen asked for them to "get that kid to move" the judges said "he says he knows you..." - " Forrest... would you move! NOW!"
Anyway - hoping for speedy recovery...
Max and the OCET staff
Kent, Rae, Austin,
Thinking about you guys and sending healing heathy thoughts - Stay strong! BIG HUGS,
Max
Good Morning Forrest,
ReplyDeleteI sitting in a hotel at Sewanee and thinking about you and lacrosse last season. I remember so vividly you scoring a sweet goal and after the game you ran to the fence and said to your dad, "Did you see that!!" Your dad laughed and said "Yes I did!!" It is that unbridled enthusiasm that is infectious! You are always so polite and very, very comfortable with adults. We always enjoyed your morning arrivals, those mornings Chris drove you to school. We were all in our jams and you walked right in, petting the dogs and always coming into the kitchen and saying "Good Morning!" Wake up little one, there is much to do...Much love, Barbara Riddleberger
Dear Forrest,
ReplyDeleteI think of you everyday and am sending you good karma at all times. I am pretty sure the entire Middleburg community is sending good karma your way. I think there is so much good karma flashing around that there soon will be an explosion of goodness that's going to result in your waking up and enjoying a speedy recovery. Your recovery will be blessed with, guess what, GOOD KARMA, family,friends and a community that truly loves you.... Much love, The Stephens
Forest,
ReplyDeleteIf I have any good Karma left...it is most definitely yours to have. Hang tough and know that many, many people are thinking of you and want nothing more than to see you up and about quickly!
Peace,
Rick Conway
Sending you good thoughts, hoping that no new posts or updates means no news is good news.
ReplyDelete