Saturday, March 26, 2011

Update: 8:15pm on 3/26

I hate to be the one to tell you all that Forrest has had a setback that has put him back in the hospital. We had noticed an increase in microtremors (small involuntary movements of the hands and legs) which the last few days have been worsening. Yesterday, he began complaining of pain in his head and the pain was so bad, it was hard to comfort him. As many of you who have followed this blog know, he is a real trooper and never complains about a variety of painful medical procedures. So we knew things were changing for the worse.

We spent most of yesterday trying to get a MRI on a boy that couldn’t hold himself still no matter how hard he tried. In the last 24 hours he has had a battery of tests including a CAT SCAN, contrast MRI and EEG (to measure brain waves). The tremors progressed into seizures last night. He was moved to neuro ICU and started on anti-convulsants.

The most likely problems are fluid accumulation with pressure on the frontal lobes of the brain and seizures from the swelling or the original trauma. We hope and pray he can be managed medically and in a few days will start to improve. The other option is to surgically place a drain in the ventricle in his brain and relieve the pressure that way. This has several potential complicated side effects and assumes the pressure in the front won’t worsen and push the brain backwards. So currently it is a watch, wait and pray situation. The nurses have been great and helpful as well as the Doctors. We have reinstituted all night watches by Team Forrest, with Austin pulling the graveyard shift, so the emotional and physical demands are pressing on all parties. We are grateful for Aunt Lynn's support at all levels and Rae's sisters are scheduled to pick up the baton when she has to return to Colorado.

We are praying that this will turn out to be just another (although big) bump in road and not a major derailment. We are keeping bedside vigil again, watching monitors, tracking numbers and doing our best to will Forrest peaceful dreams of home and friends. The Doctors will continue to assess him neurologically and have warned us that if he doesn't make substantive improvements in the next 24 -36 hours, that could indicate the problem is worsening and we may have to choose one of the more aggressive treatment options.

We have become great believers in the power of collective prayer and the faith and love of all his extended Team Forrest. So we are hoping you will send your prayers and good thoughts his way again. Just when we thought we had cleared the major medical hurdles and this was mostly time and learning, we round the bend in the road and are facing another huge fence we must clear.

It reminds me of the time that Austin was leading the field with Forrest and myself right behind him. We went charging off through a boggy field and jumped a rail fence up into the woods and galloped our horses up this great big hill, weaving through the trees. My old hunt horse Clark Kent was about done in as we approached the top of the seemingly endless hill. Then I saw that at the crest of the hill was a huge stone wall uphill into a open field. I urged Clark on for all he was worth and the three of us made it over that wall, Clark just barely. We then looked back and laughed. Everyone else had looked at where we going and decided there has to be an easier way. They were undoubtedly right. But sometimes you have to go the hard way together and jump that last big fence whether you want to or not. Evidently Forrest has more big fences to jump. We just have to kick on and make sure he knows we are all there riding with him.

Dad and Team Forrest

Quote of the day: "Look to the light. Never look down the dark path. Always look to the light and keep your focus on the future you envision." Forrest's Uncle John Stone

Forrest back in Neuro ICU

38 comments:

  1. Forrest & Family,
    I will continue to pray for Forrest. I know he is strong and can make it over, under, or through any fence.

    All my love,
    Kristen Turco

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  2. Oh, we are so sorry to hear this alarming news. Love, prayers, hugs, luck and strength are being sent your way...may this be a tiny bump on the road.

    Team 44 Cheerleader Elgins

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  3. Oh, dear, dear friends.

    I logged on tonight because Ann Northrup had some trouble sending you a post and thought I'd check to see if it had appeared.

    I never imagined to see such a post. I'll confess that my heart sank initially, but now I am energized to reassure you that Jim and I will COVER Forrest - and all of you - in prayer tonight and in the coming hours.

    My prayer for Forrest:

    Father, God, I pray that you surround Forrest tonight.

    I pray that Kent and Rae be assured that their son is tenderly held in your arms so that they can get some rest.

    I pray that the current medical approach to Forrest's swelling is swiftly successful.

    I pray that Forrest suffers no pain.

    I pray that you guide the minds, hearts and hands of his medical team with great care such that their decisions bring about improvement in the coming hours.

    I pray that all of Team Forrest can get good rest.

    I pray that you remove all anxiety from Kent, Rae, Austin, and their loving family.

    I pray that You fully restore this young man to complete health.

    Amen.

    So much love to your GREAT, GREAT family.

    Shannon et al. XOXO

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  4. We send all our love and prayers your way.

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  5. Jeanne, Michael, Rita and Matthew send all of you love and our most profound wishes that this setback is short lived and Forrest is up and recovering soon.

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  6. Dear Forrest & Family,
    I am so sorry to hear about the unexpected hurdle you are facing today and will in the days to come. I follow your blog daily and I'm truly inspired by the strength and courage Forrest and you as a family show. I greatly admire you all. You're in my thoughts and prayers every day.
    I'll be sending you a "field" full of positive energy.

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  7. I am a strong believer in the power of positive thinking, positive prayer, and keeping joyful memories alive. In the next few days while all of you are in my thoughts and prayers, I will choose to remember those times when that little boy made me laugh and feel joyful. I will concentrate on a time when I can once again visit the farm and repeat some of those wonderful times with all of you. That is my dream and my prayer. If thoughts, prayers, and dreams have the power I think they have, then Forrest and his Team will come through this set back and once again begin to move forward.
    Love,
    Jessiann

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  8. Joan Marie StetsonMarch 26, 2011 at 9:49 PM

    Dear Forrest and family,
    I fell off our 16 hand horse named Mustang Sally. I stopped breathing and got a concussion. I actually felt like I died, then came back to life. It was a miracle!!!! And I thought my injury was really bad. I can't imagine how it feels for you. I hope he feels a bit better.
    I am a third grade student at the Hill School.

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  9. I am praying for you all as well. As Andrew Popiel would say, "Just like religion...you have to believe." I will send nothing but positive thoughts your way. Make sure to take care of yourselves.

    Christie Jones

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  10. Ms. Allen,
    This post really reaffirmed that you are such a courageous person to be dealing this as bravely as you are! I really think you all are great. Best of luck to you and Forrest!!!
    Y'all are in my heart and prayers that's for sure!

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  11. Amen to Shannon's beautiful prayer. We think about you daily! Love,
    Betsy Davis

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  12. I found myself unable to sleep so I decided I would spend some time in prayer for Forrest and now just wanted to post a note to let you know you are being covered by so many in prayers. Rest assured that the great physician is at work in Forrest right now and he has a band of angels surrounding him and wrapping him in love.


    Found this in Streams in the Desert....
    The most comforting of David's psalms was pressed out during suffering; and if Paul had not had this thorn in his flesh we'd have missed much of that tenderness which quivers in so many of his letters. The present circumstance which presses hard against you (if surrendered to Christ), is the best shaped tool in the Father's hand to chiesel you for eternity. Trust him, then. Do not push away the instrument lest you lose its work.

    Strange and difficult indeed, we may find it, but the blessing that we need is behind it. The school of suffering graduates rare scholars.

    Peace and Healing to Forrest. And peace and rest to Team 44.

    love,
    Donna

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  13. I believe in the power of prayer. Amen to Shannon's prayer. Thinking and praying for you all. Barbara Riddleberger, Claudia, Kendra and Chris XXOO

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  14. May God give you strength and peace.
    Your family is surrounded in love and prayer
    by many.
    Laura G

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  15. Forrest and family, my thoughts are with you!

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  16. I miss you guys and pray that this is just a case of two steps forward, one step back. I'll be sending healing energy at the beginning of every session, envisioning a healing bubble surrounding Forrest and you guys. You are an amazing family. Love you guys.

    Sherri

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  17. Dear Team

    Prayers are already wending your way from so many of us. May God keep you .

    Look after yourselves Forrest is in the best hands, you need to take care of all of the wonderful team that supports him. You need to eat and sleep as well.

    Sally

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  18. We are thinking of all of you and sending our strongest healing thoughts to Forrest
    Xxox
    Stofan/Dunn family

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  19. Sending positive thoughts, love and prayers your way. Love you guys!

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  20. Dear Forrest and Family--Tom and I send you our love and hope and prayers. The courage of each of you during the long past months has been an insipiration for our entire community, and has shown us how to live in the face of inexpresssible challenge. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your lives. Ann Northrup

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  21. Forrest and Team,

    Sue, Christian, and I are all thinking of you and sending our love and support. This sounds like a scary bump in the road, and we are hoping as hard as we can that Forrest will be soon back on track. He could not have a better team of family and friends pulling for him.

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  22. Forrest, Rae, Kent and Austin

    We too send our love. All of our thoughts and prayers are with you and we will choose to believe this is going to be a minor set back -- just Forrest adjusting to the new lid.

    We are reminded of one of the earlier blogs when Forrest was still at UVA and Austin posted the conversation between Rae and Kent where Rae referred to a bump in the road and Kent quipped something like "when are we going to get the damn road paved".

    We believe the pavers are on the way!!

    Love the Selfes

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  23. My prayers are continuing for all of you. I know you have got to be SO worn out with all that's gone on in the last few weeks. It was announced again at Church this morning, so I'm sure more prayers are coming your way.

    Norma Lou had lunch with us at El Rodeo again today, and we all enjoyed ourselves. Naoma Hicks, another good friend, was with us, too. We have to watch those two pretty close to keep them out of trouble. Kent, Norma was telling us of the time she was asking you where she could find the ammo for your 22 rifle so she could shoot a possum. She said you told her that was NOT a good idea since 22's ricochet as bad as they do, so she gave up that idea. I don't know what she ever did about the possum eating her cat food, but knowing her, I'm sure she thought of something very inventive!

    You guys take care and just know that there are a lot of us out here praying for a GOOD outcome.

    Love, Joyce and Wilbur Ellis

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  24. My prayers and heart are with the team led by Forrest. May this just be a small bump in the road. Xxxxxxxx Bundles

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  26. Hi Team 44, my name is Elizabeth, I'm friends of the Davis' in M'burg. I saw Shannon's post and am praying her prayer for your incredible family. May God continue to cover your son and your family with His unfailing Love, may Jesus be your Comforter at this time and and may the Holy Spirit do miracles within Forrest's body and the within the minds and skills of his medical team.
    God Speed,
    Elizabeth Verna

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  27. My family asked me to pass along their love and wishes for a successful recovery from this setback. Forrest is lucky to have such a strong and loving family around him - and I'm not sure any amount of brain trauma could cloud his vision of that. I'm always thinking about you all and will say an extra prayer tonight for Forrest.

    - Jonny C

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  28. Oh Forrest......be S T R O N G... Put on your boxing gloves and fight! Keep a positive attitude, God has bigger plans for you...Prayers have been sent your way. Love you!

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  29. So sad to hear about this setback. It will be a happy day when you all can look back on this anxious time, and reflect upon how Forrest and each one of team 44 performed at almost super human capacity for a LONG time. You are the most inspiring, tenacious, and loving family imaginable and your courage is extraordinary-- stay strong--you are in our thoughts and prayers daily.

    With much love,

    Gail

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  30. Praying for you all

    Sending loads of best fishes your way from the dolphins as well

    Take care
    Robyn

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  31. Dear Forrest and Team,

    I've been checking the site daily for updates. I was sorry to ready of the big setback yesterday. Stay strong, Forrest! You'll pull through this one. I just know it!

    My thoughts and prayers are with you.
    With love,
    Dan

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  32. Praying for you ALL! Sending positive vibes your way and hoping this bump will be paved soon. xoxo Mary, Gregg, Owen, Chloe, Andrew and Henry Looney

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  33. We are visualizing the positive, heathy life that we all want to see for Forrest, with him laughing, joking, debating, thinking creatively, playing sports, and living a full life in every way. He is strong, smart, loving, and happy. He is fully recovered and able to help and inspire others who journey through the shadow of such serious injuries and medical crises.

    ALL of you are in our constant thoughts and prayers.

    Love,

    Diane and Jay

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  34. My heart and thoughts are with you as you support Forrest. pam Chauvin

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  35. I read this morning in my devotional, Streams in the desert,
    that God likes Stubborn Faith - he must be smiling right now at Team 44! Hoping this morning brings new hope and great strides towards continued recovery for Forrest.

    With love,
    Donna

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  36. Dear Rae, Kent, and Austin,
    Our prayers are with you all - praying for strength and guidance to help you through this new challenge. Forrest is an amazing young man and we are pulling for him to quickly recover from this setback and be back on the road to healing! Take care of yourselves so you can continue to take care of Forrest!
    Love and Hugs,
    The Rafferty Family

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  37. Forrest and team 44
    This morning I was reading a book of road side church signs and this one made me think of all of you.
    "People are like tea bags- you have to put them in hot water before you know how strong they are"
    You have proven to be extraordinarily strong. Keep hanging in there.
    You are in our thought and prayers.
    Love,
    The Selfes

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