Back to School 8/19/13

It's been an incredible summer, Forrest. One filled with good friends, long sunny days, and many hard won battles. This weekend you celebrated In great style at Jim and Shannon's sendoff back to school pool party for you and your friends. It's hard for you and your family to say goodbye to your awesome friends as they head back to colleges across the country. It's been fantastic having many of them here this summer. Creating fun games in the gym or outside, while getting the hard work of physical therapy done, sharing their laughter and optimism with all of us, and celebrating each of your milestones.
We're counting on FaceTime, phone calls, and messages until they are home from school again.

And today you also started back to school at Kettle Run High School, to complete the two remaining credits you need to graduate from high school . After two years and seven months of grueling work, you are strong enough, you are ready. Your enthusiasm was palpable this morning. What others might take for granted; the opportunity to attend school, to grow, to learn, to make new friends, is an extraordinary victory for you...opening new doors and a whole world of possibilities.

It will be hard, Forrest. You still struggle daily with your short-term memory, tire easily, and get understandably frustrated when the simplest things seem so impossibly difficult. But you always find your sense of humor, crack a joke, and manage to have us all laughing before we even realize what has happened.

We are eternally grateful for your unsinkable spirit and for the family, friends, teachers, mentors, nurses, aides, therapists, doctors, prayer warriors, and pets, who have all helped make this miraculous day possible. Now the real work begins… Homework!

With Love, Faith & Joy,

Mum

There's nothing better than chill'n in the pool with great friends!

Celebrating my last night of summer with Liza, Shayna, and Giovanni!