Forrest is currently taking English 12 and has been learning
about Epic Heroes. These heroes are described as having many characteristics…They
have strength and courage. They have a
guide or a sidekick. They face demons, monsters
and darkness. They are people of
action. They accept challenges. They achieve their goals. Beowulf, Gilgamesh, Achilles,
Odysseus....and of course, Forrest Stone Allen.
Here is a little update on our Epic Hero.
A big challenge for Forrest right
now is fighting serious iron deficiency anemia from the multiple surgeries,
infections and hospital stays. This can
cause a variety of symptoms, but the big one for Forrest is fatigue. He is taking an iron supplement and has had weekly
blood draws to monitor for any issues.
He still has the PICC line, although we are hoping it comes out this
week (fingers crossed!). We are trying to get his weight up as his appetite is low and the pounds have been
dropping – finding creative ways to get extra calories, iron and protein into
his daily meals is a unique challenge for chef Pops. Forrest is also working on improving the clarity and volume of his speech - an area that is noticeably affected by the fatigue he battles each day. He continues with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy five days a week, Physical Therapy, Music Therapy and has now added Movement Therapy! In Music Therapy he has been busy writing a series of new songs about his journey and shows off some sweet dance moves and vocalization in Movement Therapy. As mentioned before, he is taking English 12 (currently at home with support from Fauquier County School staff) and every week has multiple vocabulary terms to learn in addition to reading and writing assignments.
The Same Sky Project made a return
appearance last month, visiting three schools in one week. For those of you that have not had the
opportunity to attend a Same Sky performance, Forrest delivers a monologue
where he tells his story and at one point mentions how a lot of people thought
he would never walk or talk or sing again.
After delivering that line, he is supposed to stand up to finish his
speech and then sing “The Impossible Dream”.
At the performance at Foxcroft School, Forrest did not stand during the
monologue and he did not stand during his song.
We all looked at each other and thought maybe he was too tired and just
decided to stay in his wheelchair. Then,
at the very end of his song, while people were applauding, Forrest stood up,
stepped forward and bowed. The crowd
erupted. It was a truly special moment -
one that showed Forrest’s spirit and the smile on his face was as if he said “I
may not always do something the way others want or expect, but that’s ok,
because when I do it, it will be better than you ever imagined”. It is a moment that I don’t think anyone will
forget. Later that week, Forrest and the
other performers went to two Loudoun County schools and presented the project
to around 800 seventh graders.
It was so amazing to look out into the audience and see every face glued
to what was happening on stage. The
students were visibly touched by the stories and encouragement to look beyond
labels and to celebrate differences. It
was an exhausting day for Forrest, but he powered through the fatigue to stand
up to deliver his lines, monologue and songs with strength and courage…just
like the hero he is.
Thank you all for the continued encouragement for Forrest on his journey.
- Team 44
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The cast of "Behind the Label" - part of the Same Sky Project |
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