Monday, November 25, 2013

Back in the hospital 11/25/13

Darlin Forrest, I am sitting by your bed once again in the hauntingly familiar post operative recovery room. The monitors are beeping away , the nurses are bustling in and out, Robin Spielburg's piano music is playing softly on your iPad, and at last the pain medicine is taking affect and your breathing is slow and steady.  

We knew it was a race between the tissue expanders stretching your healthy scalp and the relentless breakdown of the old damaged scar tissue. We couldn't know that this was the day, but the new opening we discovered last night threatened to infect your prosthetic "lid" which would be a catastrophic setback. The surgeons got you in today, conferred and agreed the risk was too great to continue and they rushed you to the OR this evening.  Your family and friends held our collective breath and waited and prayed. And we have been blessed again.  The surgeons believe we caught it just in time and the breakdown had not reached your lid. Dr Armonda said it was a bit like solving a Rubics Cube, moving the expanded scalp and grafts around, but they were able to remove all of the old fragile scar tissue that kept breaking down and threatening your future. 

 I know it's painful now and the lights and beeping hurt your head. The pain medicine comes again now seeping into your veins and bringing welcome relief. Sleep well my Champion.  Know you are deeply loved. With a little more luck we will make it home for Thanksgiving.

Mum

13 comments:

  1. Bless your heart.....and your head. And may the healing come quickly. And may you all be home for a Thanksgiving together! Much Love.

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  2. Speedy recovery to you, Forrest! I know you will be up and at 'em in no time.

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  3. You got this Forrest! Eagerly awaiting your next recording of "To Dream."
    xo
    The Weedens

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  4. Thinking of you Forrest. Sending you all our good thoughts and energy. You have so many by your side awaiting that wonderful smile and great sense of humor. Lots of love,
    Colleen and Richard

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  5. Forrest, God has blessed you with wonderful parents, siblings, family, friends and Doctors!!!! He will continue to bless you each and every day. Keep your faith and may you recover quickley! Toliver is waiting for your love and companionship.....
    Many hugs and prayers......
    Mrs. Cubes

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  6. Dear Forrest,
    I met you last Tuesday at the CCI reception at the Middleburg Community Center. I loved hearing you speak about Toliver and how he helps you to get out of bed in the morning. As an early riser myself, I say "yay for Toliver!" No sleeping in!

    I wish you a speedy recovery, so that you can go back out into the world and bless it with your increible spirit. Fight the good fight! And get home to Toliver quickly. He needs chores and nose kisses!
    --Catherine Burnett

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  7. Forrest, you bless all of us each day with your gentleness and kindness and humor. We are so thankful to have you in our lives! And we are by your side now, praying and wishing and giving you strength when you need it from us! SEE YOU SOON!!!! Love, Miss Kim

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  8. Forrest, I've been reading your blog and sending you prayers since January of 2011. If you want some perspective on how far you've come, go back to January 2011 when you were first visited by a therapy dog named Corey. Your caregivers in the hospital had never seen a therapy dog before. Now you are the proud papa of your very own therapy dog,Toliver and you are spreading your good will…and Toliver's everywhere. You will recover from this latest visit to the and but this time you will have Toliver by your side. He will give you extra strength and love in addition to all the love and support you have from your wonderful family and friends.

    -Abby Laughlin

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  9. You are truly a champion Forrest - as is all of Team 44 - and we are praying for a quick recovery so you can return to your great new companion in Toliver and all the amazing things you have been doing! 2014 has to be the year that actual visits replace all of our blog visits!...We are very grateful and feel blessed to be a part of your journey. With love and thanksgiving for your amazing determination and spirit, The Shermans

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  10. Hi Forrest, I'm so sorry to hear that you are back in the hospital again. May God be with you and your team and bring you out of this setback very quickly. We all know how much of a fighter you are, and that you can bounce back from this surgery as you have done in the past. We're all pulling for you and praying for a very fast recovery so you can get back home with Toliver again.

    Love and Prayers, Joyce and Wilbur Ellis in Missouri.

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  11. Hi Forrest...Hundreds of best wishes for a speedy recovery and return to Brightwood...All your friends and teachers from Fauquier are rooting for you...Your positive energy, strength and determination will guide you through the healing process along with all your team caring for you...I always told you "No cute doctors!!"Hurry home to Brightwood where your family, friends, and Team 44 can nurse you back to good health in speedy time...love you, Sharon Benson

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  12. Kent, and Rae, I must live under a rock. I had no idea your family was dealing with such a test of the human spirit. John, Juliette, and I send you our love. If our will can help, you have it, daily. Dorothy

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  13. Kent, and Rae, I must live under a rock. I had no idea your family was dealing with such a test of the human spirit. John, Juliette, and I send you our love. If our will can help, you have it, daily. Dorothy

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