Update: 5/30/2012

The week has been busy with lots of therapy and work. Visits from his friends, which we hope will continue, break up the hard work of healing.

His movements with his hands and arms have continued to progress and he makes them on a more regular basis than we have seen in the last six months.  We have seen just the beginning of movement from his feet and legs but that is still very early.  Certainly none of this is easy for him and it's an effort every time. You can tell how hard he thinks and struggles with each baby step gained. He has started doing fist bumps with his friends and nurses. While that seems like a small step, it is a significant one.  He continues to respond to smiles and funny stories on videos as well.  For his friends if you can't make it by to visit then please send him a video which he enjoys greatly and we play on a regular basis. We also appreciate the emails which we continue to read to him.
We focus on trying to fill his day with music therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy and the occupational therapy, and interesting movies and books, that we all provide him every day.  He works hard at these as you saw the last picture.  We continue to help him with his swallowing and speech which are very important to him.. His emesis episodes continue sporatically which are dangerous because of his risk of airway obstruction and pneumonia.
So nothing comes easy but he continues to make a little progress on a daily basis.
His compassionate and skilled nurses continue to help 24/7 round-the-clock and we could not do it without them. They protect him at night and during the day to make sure his medication is correct and his airway is not in jeopardy.  Team 44 continues to find better ways to take care of him and to keep him moving and healthy.  His friends help keep him inspired from those moments we all go through when we're too tired, too sore, and too depressed to go on.  Thanks for all your support and keeping track of Forrest. We appreciate comments on the blog they help all of us keep going on.  We try to keep the blog updated  as much as possible but it gets busy here as you can appreciate. We do thank you all for watching over and caring for Forrest and helping support the entire Team 44.

Thanks, Dad and Team 44.


PS:  Forrest has just encountered yet another rough spot in the road.  We are hoping it was just a stomach bug.   With Dr. Falkenstein's wonderful support and visits from Tom Sweitzer, Clancy, Alex, Peyton, Mike, Nate, Nick & Whitney,  he is already feeling better.   He is still on IV fluids, but is keeping his medication down now and hasn't had a fever in over 24 hrs.    We are so hoping to avoid returning to the hospital if we can safely care for him at home. He is stonger now than he has been in months.  Not so long ago a little infection could be life threatening.  Now we are hoping and praying, that he will bounce back with his characteristic good cheer in a couple of days.  Brief visits from his friends are the key to keeping his spirits up and his sights on the future,  that together we can help him create.  

 With love and gratitiude,  Mum

Somedays you just have to get through...

Friends make everything better!