Update: 11:00pm on 8/7

Forrest is in the intermediate care ward at the Washington Hospital Center. We wait to see if his fluid in his brain equilibrates with the fluid shunt placed between his lateral ventricles in his brain and his abdomen. When he can sit upright and participate in 3 hours of therapy we can return to National Rehabilitation Center. The plan is to do the cranioplasty (replace the lid) in 2 or 3 weeks if the equilibration is working. We hope at that point a number of the pressure variables that have been negatively affecting his brain will be resolved and he can make further progress with his rehabilitation.

He is very definitely in there and continues to communicate in a limited way such as blinks. He listens intently when friends like Nick Weeden (yesterday) and family like Cousin Lisa come by and visit and talk with him. Last night Austin was watching the movie Rush Hour with him on computer and a scene came up where Chris Rock says bring it on and the villain promptly kicks him. Forrest laughed and smiled and Austin being the great son he is captured the moment with his cell phone camera. We have included the picture below and hope it cheers the rest of you up the way it did us. If Forrest can suffer through six plus months of surgeries, heartbreaking setbacks and major complications and still find humor in Jackie Chan movies, the rest of us can  make sure we continue to support him every way we can. That includes some of his friends who haven’t made into D.C. yet,  please come visit before you go off  to school and he goes for his fifth surgery. He’s still there and trying, let him know you support and miss him. 

Mom and brother continue to be amazing in their care and caring. The Neurosurgeon and the Neurology P.A.’s and nursing staff continue to be amazing in looking out for Forrest on the Neuroscience floor. Whitney Weeden has been great in helping us stay organized and focused on 44, we are sorry to lose her but wish her luck in school. Hopefully we will find someone as good to replace her. Having her help has allowed me to work during the week and come in on Friday and give Austin and Rae some breaks on the weekend. Being on Team 44 is incredibly rewarding and has phenomenal ups and disappointing downs. You cry sometimes just listening to a song but if you just get a glimpse of his smile it makes it all worthwhile. You learn to take one day at time and keep looking forward and keep believing!     

Example a song by Jimmy Cliff
Sitting here in Limbo
 Waiting for the tide to turn.
 Yeah, now, sitting here in Limbo,
 So many things I've got to learn.
 Meanwhile, they're putting up a resistance,
 But I know that my faith will lead me on.

Sitting here in Limbo
 Waiting for the dice to roll.
 Yeah, now, sitting here in Limbo,
 Still got some time to search my soul.
 Meanwhile, they're putting up a resistance,
 But I know that my faith will lead me on.

I don't know where life will take me,
 But I know where I have been.
 I don't know what life will show me,
 But I know what I have seen.

Sitting here in Limbo
 Like a bird ain't got a song.
 Yeah, I'm sitting here in Limbo
 And I know it won't be long
 'Til I make my getaway, now.
 Meanwhile, they're putting up a resistance,
 But I know that my faith will lead me on.

I don't know where life will take me,
 But I know where I have been.
 I don't know what life will show me,
 But I know what I have seen.

Gonna lead me on now.
 Meanwhile, they're putting up resistance,
 But I know that my faith will lead me on.
 Sitting in Limbo, Limbo, Limbo.
  Meanwhile, they're putting up a resistance,
 But I know that my faith will lead me on.

Dad and Team 44