Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Encouraging News

Under Nurse Gayle 's watchful eye, with Pop's careful driving through stormy weather, and Tami's expert logistical support, you traveled to Richmond today to see a TBI specialist. Your list of medical concerns may be daunting, but you still managed to charm the doctor and his nurse with your determination and sense of humor.

While we wait for test results and further consults, we are thrilled by the doctor's initial impression that, "despite all you have been through, somehow your cognition has been preserved". We have believed in you all along Forrest, but even so, it is still breathtaking to hear the specialist recognize you and your potential.

Once you made it safely back to BrightWood tonight, you and our parrot, Carmen, celebrated with Corina on FaceTime!

With a grateful heart, Mum

Quote of the day: "Everything is Possible". Forrest Allen

6 comments:

  1. Love the picture of Carmen on Forrest's bed!! Great work yesterday! Keep on being awesome bro!

    -Austin

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  2. Congratulations Forrest and team 44 on the great news! You look so strong Forrest.
    Fraley Coles

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  3. That is great to hear Forrest. So happy things are going so well for you AND that you got over that flu bug, too! Love your picture with Carmen. What a beauty!

    -Joyce and Wilbur from Missouri

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  4. That's a long trip, Forrest, and can make for a tiring day. It once took us an entire day to negotiate that drive in ery heavy traffic. I'm glad all went well for you, and especially that the doctor confirms our optimism.

    I cracked my head on a hanging pot in our garden a few days ago and have a bit of a concussion, at the moment. CT scans reassured us that nothing really serious is going on. Nevertheless, I have been thinking a lot about all that your head has been through, especially when lying awake in the night with the feeling that my head is being squeezed. I know you have endured many, many hours lying in a bed, feeling strange sensations. I am experiencing a micro-glimpse of your world for the past two years and it makes me SO grateful that you are on such a strong upward path,, now.

    I love the video of you dancing with your beautiful partner. What gorgeous hair! I loved that your body was swaying, your knees rocking - your whole body was engaged in the rhythm of the dance. You're doing great, Forrest! Keep up the good work.

    Love from all of us in San Diego,

    Diane & Jay

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  5. HI FORREST! I HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE LOOKING AT SEVERAL OF YOUR RECENT BLOG PICTURES. IT DOES OUR HEARTS SO MUCH GOOD TO ALWAYS SEE A SMILE ON YOUR THAT HANDSOME FACE OF YOURS. LOOKS AS THOUGH YOUR BIRD CARMEN WAS ENJOYING IT ALSO :). THANK YOU SO MUCH. . . AS YOU HEAD TO HARTFORD THIS WEEK TO BEGIN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE OF THERAPY I AM QUITE SURE WE WILL AGAIN BE AMAZED BY MANY MORE ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I LOVE YOU AND WILL BE CHECKING MY I-PAD FOR NEWS OF NEW HURDLES YOU JUMP! GO AMAZE THEM. I LIKE YOUR 'AMAZING'SHIRT -:) SEE YOU. GRANDMOM

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  6. Every now and then, I look back at older blog posts. I did so just now....all the way back to Feb 17 2011. I'm guessing some of these are hard or frustrating to read. Honestly, they are for me and Forrest, you are not even my child!

    But, more importantly, they serve as an extraordinary reminder of all that you have survived and how incredibly far that you have come.

    Your hard work....gosh, that sounds so bloody WEAK given the WORK of your recovery. I need better adjectives to describe how how hard you've worked, how hard your parents have worked, planned, plotted and organized, how hard Austin worked planning, plotting and organizing and at encouraging you and comforting your folks, how hard your A Team of Super Star docs, nurses, therapists has worked, and how many prayers your prayer warriors (yep, you have those, too...I'm one of them) have offered on your behalf to a loving God that has walked by your side every single waking and sleeping moment.

    Buddy, this is AWESOME news. This is groundbreaking news. Who could have predicted that you would become your own incredible statistic??

    You will be one for the medical journals, dear boy. You already are one for the medical journals.

    I pray that your healing continues. That you battle every flu bug and navigate around every boulder - large or small - between you and full recovery. I pray that your voice strengthens, your muscles grow stronger, that walking becomes easier, that you get to enjoy eating and drinking to your heart's content, that this will be the strongest spring of your recovery. Amen.

    It's been a heartache, a joy, a testament to faith to watch you and your family the last two years. Thank you for letting us cheer you from the sidelines of the "race marked out" for you.

    We are so stoked by this good news!

    Shannon, Jim, Meg, Kara and Charlotte xoxo

    Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1





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