Onward and Upward! A New Achievement and YouTube Video

Hey Champ, it's Tami.  Yesterday you reached yet another huge milestone on your journey...you climbed the stairs!  It seems like every day - even every minute, we are celebrating your latest achievement with cheers and joy and encouragement.  Oftentimes, it must seem to you that your path to recovery is like a giant mountain, looming over you, waiting to be climbed.  Well Forrest, you could teach something to even the greatest of mountain climbers!  You continue to prove, again and again, that you will never give up on this journey.  You climb onward and upward every minute of every day with such awe-inspiring resilience and courage.  As we often say to you and with you "Never, ever surrender!!!"...and you never do.  So, yesterday, with the help of your new handrails and PT Del (and special guest PT, Mary), you climbed up the stairs, step by step, from the ManCave in the basement all the way up to the main floor of the house.  And then, after only a short break, you decided to tackle the journey back down the stairs!  What a true champion!
Forrest, what makes this story even more amazing are two special things.  First of all, this came to be because of a dream!  Del, your wonderful PT, had a dream a week ago that the two of you walked up the stairs.  Your mum and Del discussed adding ascending parallel bars on either side of the steps to make this dream a reality.  So, inspired by Del's dream, BrightWood Rehab installed new rails and you put them to use right away!  The second special part of the story is that your friend Nick was here to encourage you and be here to celebrate in your achievement!  Nick has been one your many strong and faithful friends throughout your journey.  It was so exciting that he was here with you yesterday!

Forrest, you may not realize this, but the last time you climbed a flight of stairs was in March of 2011.  That is almost two years!  You should be so proud of yourself on reaching this latest milestone.  I know that we all are so proud and blessed to watch you grow stronger every day and witness these miraculous moments.  Keep on climbing!

Here is a quote that makes me think of you.  It is from one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books, "Oh, the Places You'll Go". 

On and on you will hike
and I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3 / 4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

 With love and pride and amazement,
 - Tami

For you awesome blog followers and Forrest supporters, please follow this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjMuxsIW1UQ to see a clip from Forrest's latest achievement and also enjoy the picture below!  

Forrest and Nick celebrating making it all the way up and back down the stairs!  Victory!!!