Updated: 12:15am on 2/3

Forrest has had a busy day but with much lighter meds and had Valerie Lee sitting with him all day since we ran home to pack for Atlanta. She noticed that when the meds were getting lighter and before he became agitated he would have some of the most wakeful moments he has had so far. Responding to requests he fist bumped a nurse, he squeezed hands and eye tracked very well. So some more progress today. He seems to be well stabilized medically just in time for the transport.

Tomorrow for the the jet flight to Atlanta he will be more sedated but then Shepherd's is famous for their work on adjusting meds and neurotransmitters and neurostimulants to help him be aware so he can get the most out of his therapy sessions. We have heard amazing stories from a variety of people about the successes that Shepherd has had with acquired brain injury (ABI) patients. We are very excited to be down there and start the next chapter of Forrest's recovery.

In what seems a little like a alternate universe now, we were told Forrest received a large round of applause when he was awarded his High Honors certificate at his High School at Highland in Warrenton Va. He had worked hard to earn the 3.8 GPA (which included his AP classes) this semester and will be thrilled when we tell him his friend Peyton accepted his certificate on his behalf and his classmates have been great about sending cards, blogs and posters to him. We hope he can return next year and graduate. He will miss Lacrosse this season and was really looking forward to playing this year.

After being away from the farm for 18 days it was strangely quiet at the house. Packing Forrest's clothes was probably the hardest thing we have done in a while since we know he won't be home for months. Sundance, our yellow lab, was on his best behavior trying to prove he will be a great service dog. I dropped a vitamin bottle and he went and picked it up and brought it back to me and dropped it in my hand. He was great help and on his best behavior when I was struggling packing 44's stuff.

So we left Forrest tonight with his brother Austin to watch him and with Aunt Trish tonight to prepare him for his journey tomorrow. We are packing things up and getting ready to fly and drive to Atlanta. We leave with many thanks to the many great people in Charlottesville, from the great staff at UVA, who saved his life and gave him a chance at recovery. From the Docs and Nurses who told us hard things and then were as excited as we were when Forrest started to recover better and faster than anyone thought. They included us in his discussions and treated us as part of their team in caring for 44. We can't thank them enough! We have to thank the random acts of kindness from the local community. The staff at the hotel asking almost everyday how Forrest is doing to being amazed at the volume of mail that comes in for him. To the staff at various restaurants around town when we would show up emotionally and physically exhausted and they would either laugh at 44 stories or cry with us or ask us for his blog address or catch us on the way out and tell us they know it's going to be ok.

Thank you for the cards, the blog followings and posts, all the offers of help and assistance, we of Team Forrest thank you and salute you for caring with us about one of the nicest young men we hope you will have to opportunity to converse with someday. Thanks for keeping us sane and staying positive to coming out the other side. The quote of the day that came to us from a good friend is a good reality check, "sometimes life sucks, but then it gets better." So as REO Speedwagon sang "we're riding the storm out," or as my eventing friends say, just kick on, Forrest.
Dad

Aunt Trish blogging in Forrest's favorite hat.