Sunday, August 7, 2011

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

9 comments:

  1. That is a great smile.....thanks for sharing that. It certainly lifts us all. You guys are amazing...ALL of you. Love you. Aunt Lynn

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  2. I hope the limbo will pass soon and things will progress. Love the SMILE! Keep fighting Forrest! You are amazing! So are all of you Team 44!

    May God give you strength each moment. Praying for you!

    love,
    Kelly and Family

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  3. Great photo! Great positive energy going in the right direction! Go, Team 44!!!
    Carina, Kaki and Christina
    from Sweden

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  4. Forrest, it's Grandma Norma Allen. Wow!!What a smile!! You sure turned my smile on. Thanks honey.Amd Thank you Austin. I heard how you orchestrated that. Pretty Smooth! Both you two brothers are pretty unique!!
    I was listening to PBS channel today and Victor Borge was an entertainer - quite good. He commented that "The Shortest Distance Between Two People Is a Smile! I'm sitting here smiling back to you. :) Another singer was John Campbell who sang 'Therell Be A Load of Compromizing on The Way To Our Horizon!! Then Crystal Gayle sang a song your Mom used to like. We were both in the barn at our Missouri horse farm feeding the horses. She started singing "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". She stopped; ask me if I knew it would I please sing it. So I just thought of your family all afternoon listening to the show.
    I was sick this morning so couldn't go to church .. but someone called me and said that three different people said a prayer for you Forrest during church and then she said they also said one for me. Aren't we the lucky ones!! Talk with you later Forrest. Here's hoping you have a wonderful week and find things to smile about. I love that smile. You are so handsome and I love you and your fabulous Team 44. Gramdmom

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  5. Hi Forrest!

    It's so great to see you smiling again!! What a fighter you are!! You just amaze me how you keep bouncing back, no matter what barriers you run into. And Team 44, as always, you are amazing. Keep up the good work!

    Love and Prayers, Joyce & Wilbur Ellis

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  6. Looking forward to seeing that smile and the rest of team 44 working hard back at NRH. We miss you Forrest!! -Sarah OT :)

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  7. Hi Forrest...

    I had a dream about you last night and you were talking to all of us! It was so real I hope it's a sign of what's to come for you! Keep fighting!!

    Lots of love,
    Kelly and Family:)

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  8. Thank you, Kent - very nice post and very nice to see Forrest's beautiful grin. Love Jimmy Cliff - the song has a whole new meaning now - we are with you in keeping the faith as you move on. Herculean efforts have been made by all of you, esp Forrest, these last few months - one can't help but believe eventually they will be rewarded - continuing to pray for that. Hug each other for us and hopefully we will see you in person before too long. Lisa and the Shermans

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  9. What a great photo of Forrest
    Positive thoughts, prayers, hope, and love 24/7
    Stay strong,
    Jim and Gail (Wofford)

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