While Forrest is holding his own and gathering his strength for his next comeback, we have great news to share!
Forrest and Austin have both been blessed with incredible teachers who have played a fundamental role in shaping their character and their values. Since Forrest was very young, Tom Sweitzer has been a mentor, coach and in many ways a pivotal life line for Forrest. On more than one occasion, Tom helped Forrest find his way when he was lost and confused. Now at this most critical time in Forrest's recovery, Tom is reaching out to Forrest again. Through his Music Therapy and his belief in Forrest, Tom is offering Forrest a beacon of light, a way to reconnect with his past and a way to create a bright future.
Through his work with Forrest, Tom was inspired to establish "The Team Forrest Music Therapy Fund" in Forrest's honor to provide Music Therapy to those who otherwise would not be able to afford it. We are dedicating the Team Forrest baseball caps to this fund. (The article will be on his website below on Monday). The hats will be available at A Place to Be, The Hill School, and Virginia Equine Imaging. We hope you will join us in thanking Tom for his crucial work with Forrest. And support his efforts to provide Music Therapy with others in need.
You can check out Tom's blog posting on October 4th to read about his work with Forrest or visit his web site (http://www.aplacetobefoundation.org) to learn more about Music Therapy and A Place to Be.
We are eternally grateful for the love, support and prayers we receive every day from friends like Tom,
Mum and
Team Forrest
How exciting! So glad I signed on one more time before calling it a night! Great pic of the brothers in their Team Forrest caps! Thanks Tom for being an inspiration to Austin and Forrest and for setting up this fund in his honor while helping Forrest connect with his past and create a bright future for himself and others! I stand in awe at the ways God continues to touch others lives through sharing Forrest's journey. Forrest, I know you will one day look back at this blog journal and be amazed and overwhelmed by the ripples you have created in the world around you. Continue to keep on keeping on...one day at a time...the healing journey continues! God bless you as you remain in our thoughts and prayers, Tina
ReplyDeleteFantastic news! Thomas and I will be purchasing our caps next week and proudly wearing them around town. Thank you Tom Sweitzer for such a touching blog post back in October with the reminder that sometimes it is the simplest things in life that are the most beautiful to inspire and connect us all.
ReplyDeleteFull steam ahead Team Forrest!
-Berkeley and Thomas Gunnell
I'll be calling the office tomorrow bright and early to order my cap to proudly wear in Florida. My thoughts and prayers are with you daily.........What a fighter Forrest is and what an inspiration you all are to the rest of us!
ReplyDeleteRae, I still cherish the photo of us at Cassanova displayed in my living room , and look forward to hunting together on our pinto's again one day!!...
Love to you all.....Forrest, I look forward to seeing you again with that wonderful sparkle in your eyes!!!
God Bless Team Forrest!!
Patti Brantley
I just saw the Diane Sawyer interview with Kathy Gifford and the video documentary of her traumatic brain injury recovery and it made me think of you guys. They showed how they used music in her therapy sessions and what a positive impact it has had on her recovery. It also showed how much she understands and one of the many challenges being able to express and articulate her thoughts and feelings. You are all so brave and its only a matter of time until Forrest is moving on with his life and this will all be a thing of the past.
ReplyDeleteChristie Jones
I'm calling Tom/and or Rebekah TODAY! I know what everyone on my Christmas list is getting this year. Seriously, I hope that I can get a bunch of them. I have an idea. :)
ReplyDeleteGod bless Tom and his outreach to Forrest and kids in need.
My prayer today is that Forrest gain the necessary strength to come home to continue his recovery before his next surgery. This way, Tom can readily spend more time with Forrest, and well, selfishly, we can, too, as his schedule allows.
Now, I gotta make some calls to get me some hats. :)
Love you all so much,
Shannon & family
PS - You all know a lot of this information, but I have had fun researching the benefits of music on the Internet this morning! :) XO
"Research has shown that music with a strong beat can stimulate brainwaves to resonate in sync with the beat, with faster beats bringing sharper concentration and more alert thinking, and a slower tempo promoting a calm, meditative state. Also, research has found that the change in brainwave activity levels that music can bring can also enable the brain to shift speeds more easily on its own as needed, which means that music can bring lasting benefits to your state of mind, even after you’ve stopped listening. Music has also been found to boost immunity, ease muscle tension, and more. With so many benefits and such profound physical effects, it’s no surprise that so many are seeing music as an important tool to help the body in becoming healthy. " About.com