Thursday, August 28, 2014

The Morning After

After ICU, Neurosurgery, and Plastics rounds, we have time now for a brief update, especially to thank all of Forrest's followers for your support, prayers, messages, and blog comments of love and encouragement.  

Considering Forrest was in the OR yesterday for almost 15 hours and underwent 12 hours of surgery, he is doing remarkably well. The surgeons are quite pleased with the outcome.  This morning one of the surgical fellows who assisted Dr. Kumar described the procedure as an "elegant" piece of reconstructive surgery! 

It's difficult to get any rest in ICU, but Forrest made it through the night under the watchful eye of Johns Hopkins' finest nurses and his own personal guardian angel, Nurse Dawn.  His breathing tube came out at 4 AM and his stats are all looking good.  The vessels supplying circulation to the full flap graft are being monitored hourly with Doppler and the perfusion at the critical 12 hour milestone is good.  There's quite a bit of the swelling as would be expected, but Forrest is able to open his eyes partially and acknowledge us. 

He has given his doctors a semblance of his characteristic thumbs up.  We are back to using one finger for yes and two fingers for no for now,  which is fine.  We doubt that he has anything positive to say just yet, but we are all eagerly awaiting  his first words! 

Toliver is clearly telling us how thrilled he is to see Forrest, exuberantly wagging his whole rear end while he gently places his head on Forrest's hospital bed and looks up at him with adoring eyes.  

For now the main objective is for Forrest to rest, give the flap time to settle into it's new home, and  the swelling to subside. 

We will remain at his bedside watching the monitors and reading him your comments and messages.  Many thanks for your love, faith, and support.

Mum 


24 comments:

  1. Wonderful news....thumbs up is a GREAT sign to all!!! I look forward to continuing progress, slow steps at a time along the positive road....

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  2. Forrest, i was up all night thinking how you were doing. I sat outside for over an hour watching the sky just talking and praying for the pain to be managed and bearable, for the flap to take and be home soon. And when you get better I really need not want but need to see that miniature bowling.

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  3. Great news! Will continue to pray. Guac on Forrest!
    All my best, Megan

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    1. You have never left my thoughts, sweet girl. I am praying for you!

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  4. Thanks so much, Rae, for the detailed update. Forrest, if anyone deserves the work on their noggin to be described as "elegant", it's you! Remember to keep good thoughts in your head and good music in the room to help your body heal! Much love to you and your Team!

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  5. That's so awesome!! Can't wait to hear more!

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  6. Hang in there Forrest. You're doing GREAT!

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  7. Dude! You rock! Can't wait to see you up on stage again!!

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  8. So thankful for the good progress....and thanks for the updates! Keep up the healing and masterful support system! Love to all....

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  9. Praying endlessly from Newport Beach (CA) and so happy to hear of the success of this strenuous surgery. I/we are friends of the Davis Family via Joy Molenaar, Brett and Kara. I have been following Forrest's journey for several years now - and am in awe with him and with your amazing family (AND friends)! Blessings and look forward to your updates! - Susan Kenney xo

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  10. Yea! So glad to hear that JHU has included _all_ members of Team 44 in ICU :) xo The Weedens

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  11. Yea!!! So glad to hear all is going as it should right now. Praying for no swelling and no pain. Bless you Forrest...rest sweet boy rest.

    Donna Barkley and the gang!

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  12. Way to go Forrest!!!!! We will continue to keep you in our thoughts.
    Big hugs!!!!!
    Chiara and Cheris Treptow

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  13. You are amazing and such a trooper! Thank you for the update :-) God is good

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  14. Thank you Rae for keeping us connected to Forrest; we are all indebted to you and Kent and Austen as well as our local hero Forrest. It is such a wonderful feeling to hear his progress is good. We send our love to all of you--Ann and Tom Northrup

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  15. Thanks for the update, Rae. He sure has been on my mind! Keeping him and team 44 in my prayers!

    Love & Prayers,

    Wilbur and Joyce Ellis

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  16. Thank you for taking time to keep updates !!!! As Forrest rests and heals his team needs to also..you will need to keep up with he and Toliver when he recovers fully !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is way too much love around and being sent to Forrest for anything less than astounding recovery !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take really good care of yourselves and each other !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love,prayers and positive thoughts going your way !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  17. So glad to get the progress report, that it is all systems go. Hang in there Forrest, your team is out here pulling for you and anxious to see you back home! XOX, Sally Hosta

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  18. Hi Forrest and family-- I hope recovery continues to go well. I enjoyed meeting you at Mentor Camp and look forward to seeing you again. Until then, I will keep you in my prayers. From, Caroline Pennington (and family)

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  19. Prayers for continued recovery!

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  20. Thinking of you all today! Praying for a swift recovery!

    Christie Jones

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  21. You go Forrest! Indomitable spirit in action... <3

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  22. Hey Forrest...you are a Rock Star!! No kidding, you are the bravest, most courageous and best looking of them all! Keep up your Warrior ways, get strong and come home!

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  23. Glad to see Forrest is now home and doing well...........My thoughts and prayers continue.......what an amazing young man, and amazing family you all are!

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