Forrest has had a mixed bag weekend and Monday. He is having serious storming and tremors that look like a body wide charley horse that he has to agonize though for hours on end. The good news is that he is being more cognitive every day. He has changed even from the weekend when I was there. On Saturday the best he could do was track with his eye and blink. By today he can indicate on cards what he means and can pick up balls and is trying his best to fist bump.
So he is trying so hard to communicate with us and he is doing his best to survive the storming/tremors and come back to us. It is obviously hard for him and he has lost a lot of weight over the last several weeks. But for him to rally so quickly after his few days at Shepherd is impressive. He is trying so hard and Shepherd is obviously a great place for him to be.
Austin is a superstar as Brian Selfe so aptly pointed out yesterday. Mrs. Sharples pointed out that Forrest is indeed a Jedi and I can tell you he is the toughest guy I have ever met struggling thru this pain and issues. I can tell you further that Forrest is made out of Awesome! He is making progress every day.
The other star in this whole situation is Mom. She hasn’t been home since this started. She steadfastly has stayed by her boys and is there every day making sure everything that can be done for him is being done. She is there with him night and day representing his situation to the Doctors, nurses and therapists. She runs her business from wherever he is and she is his Florence Nightingale. She is amazing and will never give up on her boys, the most amazing Mom I have ever met (excluding mine) and is also made out of Awesome.
So that is our update as of Monday night, like I say it is a mixed bag but much better that we were a week ago. Team 44 is going strong and Forrest is doing his best to come back.
Dad and team 44
WOW! I DECIDED TO CHECK FOR A NEW BLOG ONE MORE TIME BEFORE GOING TO BED, AND THERE IT WAS! I AM THRILLED BEYOND WORDS THAT FORREST IS ONCE AGAIN RESPONDING LIKE HE IS. THOSE STORMS SOUND AWFUL, BUT HE IS OBVIOUSLY DETERMINED TO GET PAST THEM AND COME BACK TO YOU! I'M SO HAPPY FOR ALL OF YOU.
ReplyDeleteKEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
lOVE, JOYCE AND WILBUR ELLIS
Woo hoo!!!! What a change in just a couple of days. So glad to hear it.
ReplyDeleteChristie Jones
'So glad to hear there is a breakthrough in communication! It's wonderful that Forrest can indicate his meaning through the cards. I hope he'll be asking for pizza and ice cream very soon so he can get some meat back on those bones.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Kent, Austin and Rae are Superstars and so are YOU! The three of you and your sisters and brothers have circled the wagons around Forrest for the long haul. Not only are you managing the physical demands, but also, you are shoring up one another emotionally. Good work! It takes a village to raise a child and, in this case, to guide and support him through this crisis. We're proud of all of you.
Love,
Diane and Jay
Way to go Forrest!!! We cant wait for you to be fist bumping again!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the Selfes
You are ALL made of awesome, Kent!
ReplyDeleteHearing of the communications breakthroughs is fantastic, fantastic news! The storms will pass, and 44 will return in a big way!!! GO FORREST!!
your dedicated cheerleaders
Carina, Caroline and Sajen
I am praying for the day when these horrible storms stop once and for all. You are all awesome Kent and that is why Forrest will come back to you all. Hugs and prayers, Barbara Riddleberger and the gang at Rabbit Hill XXOO
ReplyDeleteSoon these storms will be just a horrid memory, I just feel it. But I'm so sorry Forrest, that you're having to experience them.
ReplyDeleteYou all amaze me!
Team Forrest is AWESOME, you are bringing Forrest back. Your love, dedication, perseverance, humor are awe inspiring for your blog reader friends!
ReplyDeleteForrest, everyone is so proud of you, keep up the good work, one blink at a time. Soon your voice will be echoing down the halls of Sheperd and those storms will belong to the past.
All our love the Stanfields
Aloha Kent and family,
ReplyDeleteWhat a strong young man. He's fighting and has the best team backing him. Every Ironman needs a support crew and wow does he ever have the best beside him. Maybe some Jimmy Buffett will get him fist bumping soon!!
Thanks for the updates. Prayers are with all of you.
Patrick McLain
Kona HI.
Dear Forrest and your wonderful family,
ReplyDeleteI think and pray for you every day and something keeps popping up in my mind. It's an old English expression .....
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going" and that is exactly what you are doing every minute of every day Forrest. We are all so proud of you and we also know that the love that surrounds you is getting you through this.
All our love, Chryssi, Corina, Atalanta and Nico
Hi Forrest!
ReplyDeleteI went to the Spring Races in Middleburg this weekend and you won't believe it! I was betting on a horse because of your AWESOME name - it's name was Forrest Bell! It ran a great race just like you Forrest! The horse was very strong at the whole race just like you are! I hope you are feeling better!
Love,
Olivia Simmons 2nd grade at Hill School
We send you all much love and think of you every day! You are always in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteDavid and Naomi
Dear Team 44,
ReplyDeleteYou are all awesome!! Having a family who all have your back must be such a strength and comfort. Forrest- Keep on keepin on and find your way back to your family. They need you!
Take Care and remember to find something to laugh about everyday. The soul needs laughter to heal all the pain.
Paula horne
All of us at Fairfield Equine Associates are with your family in thoughts and prayers!
ReplyDeleteRyland
Nice to have a note from Dad. We continue to lift you up in prayer and are so encouraged by your hard work and determination and your progress! Looking forward to reading about your upcoming fist bumping!
ReplyDeleteDonna and Owen
We continue to send love and prayers to all of you! You continue to inspire us with your constant strength and calmness. I wish I could give each of you a hug to let you know how much we care and are with you in this journey. I also believe that good times come from bad. I'm not sure how and why, but there always seems to be a reason....... it may not be immediate, but on the horizon...... down the road. I know all of you are "heading down that road" and will soon be at your destination. We are with you all the way on this journey. Godspeed!
ReplyDeleteWith love, Betsy Davis and family
So sorry those storms are still raging - surely it is taking a toll on him as well as you, his incredible family - but how great that, even in the midst of them, he is reaching out to you and his caregivers at Shepherd. That is really encouraging news. Hoping that as two-way communication and accomplishments increase those storms soon turn into rain, then drizzle, then bright sunshine for Forrest! No one deserves that more. We are grateful for the updates and send our love and encouragement to each of you, The Shermans
ReplyDeleteI was able to read, but not respond to your two last posts (out of town), but please know that my prayers continue daily.
ReplyDeleteRae, your "voice" always tugs my heartstrings. I hear the yearning in your post to hear your boy. I pray that you will soon be given this gift of encouragement. Since you asked for it, I will also pray for your patience. I know very well, for different reasons, how hard it is for mothers to wait for their children to come back to them. But, God hears the plaintive prayers of parents and will answer them. It's relinquishing the timing and the process to his big picture that is so hard.
Storms. What an appropriate word. I'm thinking about the terrible devastation of the spring storms down south last night. Forrest's storms. What is the purpose behind both? It's for those that directly suffer to answer this question and for the rest of us to witness and learn in awe.
I pray that Forrest's storms cease very soon. I pray that his body can rest and recover between them sufficiently until this happy day.
The love you have for one another...the respect, the gratitude. It comes leaping off the screen as I read what you and Kent have both written about each other. The strength of your marriage, your love for one another, your appreciation of your awesome, awesome oldest son. What gifts...constant gifts you give us all.
Lifting you in prayer tonight.
Much love,
Shannon