Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Faith & Friends. Prayer & Laughter.

Oh Forrest, you have shown such courage and character throughout the triumphs and tragedies of this journey. I can't begin to comprehend how or why we are here again. But once here, the delays are so difficult. We had hoped to tackle the surgery Monday, to quickly repair the breakdown in your scalp incision before infection spread further. But we must wait until the team is assembled and the right plastics and neurosurgeons are available to make sure they are able to handle whatever needs to be done. Our hope and prayer is that when you go to surgery Tuesday afternoon the surgeons will find the infection has not involved the prosthetic. If it is not affected, they can remove just the devitalized skin and cover the defect with flaps of healthy scalp or skin grafts. And we could be home again this week-end, Your father and I hold hands and through our fear pray that God will shine his light on you through the coming hours, days and months. That your third prosthetic will be spared and your recovery will be swift and uncomplicated.

The waiting, the unknowable, the fear of you slipping away from us in spite of all you have overcome is terrifying. And yet you continue to inspire and charm all of us, including your doctors and nurses. Many of these generous souls spent months taking care of you when you could barely wiggle your toes or lift your head. They thrill now at your smile, your voice, your proffered handshake. They stop by to see you, to speak of miracles, and God's love, and to ask about your wonderful brother. We are grateful for their care and encouragement and for the focus on how far you have come.

We spent Monday in endless consultations while your brother and pals encircle you with their love and faith. With Tami facilitating, they cheer you with an avalanche of texts, phone calls and Skypes. Nick has you making funny faces, laughing about your childhood escapades, and plotting how he is going to break you out of the hospital and run off to join Austin in Hawaii.

You are blessed with amazing friends Forrest. We are grateful for the joy and laughter they bring to you and your team. And you will get through this, we will get back on your amazing trajectory, taking you all the way to Hawaii and beyond! You said it yourself when asked if you were tired and ready to go back to bed. You looked out the hospital window and said, "I have a lot of important stuff to do." You will heal Forrest, and have fun doing all that important stuff!

With hope, faith, and love, Mum

9 comments:

  1. Lots of prayers, positive energy,and love coming your way! This is just a hiccough in the process.
    Fingers crossed!
    Pat

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  2. Sharon, Cara, Jen, and AnnieFebruary 19, 2013 at 9:35 AM

    Forrest, your school team is cheering you on all the way!!! We are all thinking about you today and with all that positive energy, you are sure to fly through this bump in the road and be back to Brightwood, school work, and Sheltering Arms in no time....Heal well...and we'll see you soon

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  3. Forrest, my prayers are with you and your family today. Love the picture of you making faces--what a clown you are! It's so good to see you are "feeling your oats"!! Praying for you to zip right through this surgery, get rid of ALL infection and be back home in no time! Keep your doctors on their toes!!

    Love,

    Joyce and Wilbur

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  4. Forrest, we are pulling for you to have a speedy recovery and quickly overcome this newest hurdle. You are amazing and your positive, enthusiastic spirit will get you and your team through this. You are an inspiration to us all! Get well soon and get back on that track to success!
    Love and Hugs,
    The Rafferty Family

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  5. Bless you all.....and our prayers will be with you today as always. We love you guys and you inspire us as always. Uncle Ron and Aunt Lynn

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  6. Praying for all of you today! May this setback be brief and may Forrest overcome it with his usual tenacity.

    Love,
    Lee, Lisa, & Brooks

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  7. Forrest, You have so many wonderful followers and fans and I count myself and my family privileged to be among them. Please know you are being lifted in prayer every day, but a bit more fervently today. I pray that all the right people will come together this afternoon and your surgery will be a swift and precise one and your recovery will be exactly that - one of amazing recovery and that you will pick up right where you left off. I'm so hopeful that one day soon we can get to Brightwood for a visit - the next time Owen is home from New Hampshire we must make it happen. God bless you and your team today Forrest and in the days ahead. With love, Donna

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  8. Forrest and Team 44,
    We are sending you all our love and prayers. May the surgery be a great success today and your return to home to Brightwood and physical therapy be swift!
    Love,
    The Selfes

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  9. Forrest - all this love and smiles for you and the great ones from you is so heartwarming. so glad your folks could be right there. Such great smiles from you Forrest. Makes me want to blow kisses your way as I sit here smiling right back at you. Too bad about the extra ouchy you have this time. Bet that graft will be just the perfect skin you needed. Keep them all in line when they move you around. :) :) Love you Forrest Grandma Norma

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