Thursday, November 24, 2011

Update: Thursday, 11/24/11

Hey Forrest

It's your Aunt Tricia. Today is Thanksgiving and it was a glorious blue sky day in the nation's capitol. As I left the apartment this morning on my way walking to NRH, I glanced down the street to check for traffic and saw the Washington Monument. I was startled at the sight of it. Made me think of all the things I take for granted everyday on a day of thanksgiving.

When it became clear that you wouldn't be able to make it home for Thanksgiving, your aunt Lobie made reservations for us to have Thanksgiving dinner at the Art and Soul restaurant in DC. Your Mom couldn't bear to leave you behind and decided we must bring Thanksgiving Dinner to the hospital so we could be with you. So this restaurant took extra time to create a special dinner for us and packed it to go, including a vegetarian request for me! Then we gathered in the hospital cafeteria surrounded by potted palm trees and atrium over head. We gathered together like most families do and celebrated what we have at this moment. Even though you couldn't enjoy the consuming part of the meal, you clearly enjoyed getting out of your room and spending holiday time with some of your extended family.

The support that surrounds you and Team 44 is astounding. Your community embraces every moment, every blog post. Your friends are steadfast in their commitment and come to see you and send video clips. Strangers follow the blog and post comments of encouragement and prayers. There is a wonderful team of doctors and nurses here who watch over you, like the medical teams did in the previous hospitals. Most importantly, we are thankful you are here with us. Your eyes are tracking us, watching us, soaking in sounds and images.

Your Dad brought his newest, cool gadget. It connects to his I Phone and projects images from his phone up on a wall or even a white paper plate! So he projected the video clip he had shot this morning at Brightwood. It showed all the improvements in the house. The Man Cave is being updated with a great big bathroom in the basement with a roll in shower, and room to move. It has a large open area for your bedroom. Just out the patio door is a large Jacuzzi for you to soak in. This hydrotherapy will loosen those tight places in your body and ease your soul. And just past the Jacuzzi is a impressive circle of stone benches surrounding a stone fire pit. This is where we will gather, dance around flames, and sing to the starry sky above to celebrate your homecoming. Soon you will be home, back on the farm with those large trees swaying in the winter winds, the rolling hills in the distance, the horses neighing in the pasture, brilliant Kentucky Cardinals skirting about. Sundance will be by your side and you will progress forward.

On this Thanksgiving Day, we give thanks for each other. In these many months of heartache and recovery, setbacks and dogged determination for a brighter future. We are thankful for our family, friends, doctors, nurses, and the kindness of strangers.

Love Aunt Tricia And Team 44

Holidays in the hospital can be rough and Forrest and his Team are particularly grateful for the love and support of friends and family during the holiday season. Our Thanksgiving week has been brightened by Forrest's friend Mikk and her mother, Abby Laughlin, who just wrote a beautiful post. And this morning the whole Weeden Clan arrived bringing more laughter, treats, memories and boundless positive energy to our Thanksgiving. And my own siblings all arrive this week for a "Pebble" reunion at BrightWood. The gathering was planned around Forrest's anticipated homecoming, but the Pebbles seemed to know I need them even more after this last setback. So though the Victory Dance will have to wait, we will still gather to count our many blessings and to celebrate the special love between brothers and sisters. The same love that binds Forrest and Austin along every step of this tumultuous journey.

Hug your children, call a friend, share the love. With gratitude,

Mum


Mikk and Forrest catch up














Nick and Whitney Weeden share Hill School memories















A warm and happy Thanksgiving with Forrest and family

6 comments:

  1. Grandma Norma and Aunt LynnNovember 24, 2011 at 11:36 PM

    Hey Forrest and Team 44...We are thankful you got to have a Thanksgiving special meal. It sounded memorable even if it was different than hoped for. Grandma Norma and I (Aunt Lynn) had a different day also since she just had surgery yesterday, but it was just fine too. Sometimes, we find different ways to be thankful, don't we. We wish we could be there to share the love too, but we will just do that across the miles. We hope you can feel our hugs across the miles. It is wonderful that some family is coming in to see you and I know how much you love seeing your high school friends. They are such a nice group and I really enjoyed meeting them during the times I was there. Keep those visits coming friends. It sounds like Brightwood is really ready for you to return and it is all fixed up for you. That is so wonderful (to use Grandma Norma's word!!) So once again, we want to let you know Forrest, and Austin, Rae, and Kent that we think ALL of you are just amazing and inspiring. We look forward to the next steps...they are going to be memorable I know. Love to all

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  2. Grandma Norma and Aunt LynnNovember 24, 2011 at 11:37 PM

    Hey Forrest and Team 44...We are thankful you got to have a Thanksgiving special meal. It sounded memorable even if it was different than hoped for. Grandma Norma and I (Aunt Lynn) had a different day also since she just had surgery yesterday, but it was just fine too. Sometimes, we find different ways to be thankful, don't we. We wish we could be there to share the love too, but we will just do that across the miles. We hope you can feel our hugs across the miles. It is wonderful that some family is coming in to see you and I know how much you love seeing your high school friends. They are such a nice group and I really enjoyed meeting them during the times I was there. Keep those visits coming friends. It sounds like Brightwood is really ready for you to return and it is all fixed up for you. That is so wonderful (to use Grandma Norma's word!!) So once again, we want to let you know Forrest, and Austin, Rae, and Kent that we think ALL of you are just amazing and inspiring. We look forward to the next steps...they are going to be memorable I know. Love to all

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  3. Hi Forrest & Team 44!

    I'm so happy that you had family and friends join you on this beautiful Thanksgiving day. How nice that you all got to be together for a nice meal, plus watching videos of the improvements in the house. That fire pit and the jacuzzi sound wonderful! Makes me want to go find one right now!! I've always loved sitting around a fire at night, maybe roasting marshmallows. YUM! My sister used to eat all of the burnt ones. Wilbur & I loved camping out and sitting around the fire at night. It is just so peaceful watching the fire, the stars, listening to the nightlife in the woods.

    Love and Prayers to you all,

    Joyce and Wilbur

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  4. Well, now I feel I'm REALLY a member of team 44!! I got a team hat at the Hill School 8th grade production of "Annnie", and have been wearing it proudly ever since!!

    Loved the photo of your Thanksgiving dinner-
    what an awesome group!!

    I saw Valerie and Bill tonight, who told me they will be seeing you tomorrow. Valerie said she would give you all a hug from me.

    Can't wait to see you at home, Forrest--it won't be long now--your new digs sound fantastic!!

    Stay strong.

    Lots of love,

    Gail (Wofford)

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  5. Happy Thanksgiving to all of Team 44 and family and friends. We are thinking of you!

    May God bless you and comfort you as you journey toward healing.

    Lots of love,
    The Jensens:)

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  6. Hi Forrest and Team 44,

    I was just thinking of you and wondering how things are going. I hope they are moving along well with no bumps in the road as you work through each day. Our prayers are with you every day, plus also praying that your Grandma Norma is doing well since she had her surgery.

    Still praying,

    Joyce and Wilbur

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