Encouraged, Humbled, Inspired. These are the three words that come to mind after spending the afternoon with Forrest, Austin, Rae, Kent and Lynn.
Encouraged describes Forrest’s progress. We linked up with him after his morning of rehab and therapy and found him in a family lounge playing catch and cards with Aunt Lynn. Austin introduced a Nerf “dart” gun ( a six shooter) which entertained us all for some time. Alternating between catch and shooting at Austin and Aunt Lynn, we were treated with Forrest’s giant smile and, from time to time, his mischievous grin. This was followed by a trip to the garden where the games continued. With the tracheostomy tube removed, Forrest is beginning to attempt to talk more. As the tube was just removed yesterday, he mostly whispers. At one point when his whisper was difficult to hear, he wrote a message on his white board to “hand me the Wilson card,” a card on the ground he was looking at. Forrest is definitely reading and writing quite well.
Humbled. This best describes my emotion after spending the day with Team 44. I cannot begin to fathom what the past 5 weeks has truly been for this family. Aunt Lynn left her life in Colorado and has spent the last several weeks doing whatever needed to be done for Forrest, Kent and Rae. I do mean whatever needs to be done. Austin, recently graduated from William and Mary, has simply pushed the pause button and is completely devoted to Forrest and his recovery. His patience, kindness and tenderness as he ministers to his brother is amazing. We should all aspire to be the brother or sister to our siblings that Austin is to Forrest. Rae and Kent are rock solid. They are the perfect role models for Forrest as he continues on this journey back. One foot in front of the other, and don’t look back.
Inspired. This is the lasting feeling from the visit. I am inspired by Forrest as he works each day to recover and by Team 44 as they are there to support and encourage him. While the journey ahead is long and there will be ups and downs along the way, this Team will reach the summit and will look back on this time and be proud of both the journey itself and the way that they made it together.
-Brian Selfe and the wonderful Selfe family that visited Forrest today (this part edited by Austin)
Brian and Forrest playing on the garden
Austin, Forrest, and Tyler
The Selfes (minus Tori!) and Forrest chillin
Wonderful photos, esp the Austin Forrest & Tyler shot- a Three Musketeers moment! Here's to reaching "Rancho VII" soon- the progress is inspiring.
ReplyDeleteAs always, thoughts and Prayers to the entire family.
Eric
I haven't posted a "Forrest story" in a while, and I think it is about time for another one. This one involves Forrest and Austin. On one of my visits, Kent was grilling beer chicken. I had cooked chicken with beer poured over it, but I was fascinated by Kent's method of cooking a chicken with the can of beer inside the chicken. I must admit, I was a little taken back with this technique and couldn't understand how it worked. Forrest always ready for some fun, noticed that I was a little dubious about this method of cooking beer chicken. He bagan to tease me about "eating a chicken with a beer can up his butt". This soon became a song with one refrain. Austin in the meantime, noticing my curioustiy, was trying to tell me in intelluctual terms how this worked. As he talked, Forrest's song of one refrain kept getting louder. "You are about to eat a chicken with a beer can up his butt." Kent, the only other adult on the porch, was no help at all. He just stood over there, not saying a word with this sly smile on his face, shaking his head ever once in a while, as he watched me trying to listen to Austin as we were serenaded by Forrest....
ReplyDeleteJust another memory that brings a smile to my face.
We are all encouraged, humbled, and inspired -- and awed!
ReplyDeleteAll of you just amaze me! Keep up the good work!
ReplyDelete