Update: 3:45pm on 3/31

Forrest has just been blessed with a reprieve from imminent surgery.  He was on the  surgical schedule today to have his prosthetic skull flap removed and was given one last opportunity to weigh in on this agonizing decision. The doctors lightened his sedation and pain medicine to see if he would show any signs of responsiveness.  With much urging, he was unable to raise one finger or thumb, but he was able to wiggle his toes. This is the first response he has shown since Monday. When he began to "buck" or resist the ventilator,  I was standing by his side and saw a tear course down the side of his face. I leaned in closer, kissed the salty tear away and told him to look at me.  For the briefest moment we made eye contact.  I know with all my mother's heart that he is still there and that he knows we are by his side.

Due to the risk involved of multiple surgeries on his already compromised condition, the doctors don't want to go to surgery as long as he is making even the slightest progress each day. The plan now is to maintain him in neurosurgical ICU at Emory University Hospital, under heavy sedation and on the ventilator, in order to let his brain heal and his condition stabilize. He is connected to a room full of monitors and life support equipment and we have a little alcove connected to his room where at least one of us is always present. Each day they will lighten the sedation enough to evaluate his neurological status and his level of awareness. When he shows signs of waking up and is strong enough to breathe on his own, they will begin to wean him off of the ventilator. If at any point his condition starts to deteriorate again, Emory has the ability to rally the surgical team to take him into surgery quickly. We are hoping and praying that won't be necessary. 

We are so grateful for the gift of your collective prayer and positive visioning. Coupled with Forrest's indomitable spirit and the best medical and nursing care we can provide, we will navigate this detour and get him back on course. He has worked so hard and cleared so many seemingly impossible obstacles with grace and dignity beyond his years. He found his way back to us from his first coma. With the love and support of an ever enlarging community of family and friends, he will do it again. And we will do whatever it takes… for as long as it takes to bring him home.

With love,
Mum and Team Forrest

Quote of the day: "Once you choose hope, anything is possible."  Christopher Reeves

Update: 11:45pm on 3/30

Update - 1:00am: We wanted to let everyone know that Forrest will be going back into surgery tomorrow to have the new portion of his skull removed. The doctors think this is the best option right now and feel this is the appropriate course of action. We'll update with additional news when we have more details. Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers. 

A special thanks to all of Forrest’s friends who have written notes of encouragement on the blog… keep them coming!

Forrest has continued to have troubles over the weekend and has become much weaker.  After he endured many tests, including a spinal tap last night, it was agreed upon by the docs at Piedmont and the family that we needed “a fresh set of eyes on this complicated case”. We moved Forrest yesterday afternoon by ambulance from Piedmont Hospital to Emory University Hospital.

We immediately had a team of neurosurgeons, neurologists, and neurointensivists all in the room with Forrest. They examined Forrest and reviewed all the images and agreed upon the best approach. They sedated him and drilled a hole in the top of the resin skull and drained a large pocket of fluid from in front of the brain. He will remain in neurointensive care while they continue to monitor him. The CT scan taken immediately after removal of the fluid was encouraging. Now we will have to wait and see if this stops the pain and tremors.

It's been heartbreaking watching Forrest decline so fast these last days , but Rae & Kent feel that we are finally in the right place. We will update you as we know more… but that may take a few days.  Also…no cell reception in Emory….no phone, text or email on our phones…so bear with us if you don’t hear from us as often.

We’ve had a saying in our family… started by our mother when we were children, “Sisters, sisters”…which morphed into “Who’s gonna love you like your sister?” Rae and I have said this to each other for years and years…. usually followed by giggles and laughter. I have to admit, in these last weeks, sometimes followed by tears. We have all, in our extended family… Stones and Allens, found an even closer bond than we knew we had. I referred to Aunt Lynn ( Kent’s sister) today as my sister-in-law once removed.  She loved it…and we’ve coined a new term!

Forrest has lots of guardian angels watching over him…friends and family. Good night, sweet Forrest…your brother Austin is watching over you in person… but all of us are watching over you in spirit.
Love,  Aunt Lobie and Team 44

Forrest gets a ride to a new location.

Always supported by a rotating cast of "Team Forrest"

Update: 12:30pm on 3/28

First, thank you to so many family and friends who have reached out to us again, sharing our concern, and lifting up prayers on Forrest's behalf -- we can't thank you enough. We want to catch you up on what's been happening over the past few days: Forrest remains in ICU for more tests. He is having another CT scan as I write and they have done more EEGs. They will place a nasal gastric feeding tube in today to help with some nutritional needs since he has eaten very little since Friday morning and has lost weight again. The tremors continue and they are trying to get to the bottom of that issue. Dr. K, his former doctor at Shepherd, came by to assess things and it was great to see him back on the case and helping out. He said indeed this is a hurdle Forrest is making his way over right now, but he is young and strong. The brain sometimes has a tough time readjusting and finding its balance after putting a skull back into place so decisions are being made on how to remedy the increased pressures and fluid. With the determination we know Forrest has, and all the support around him, the Dr. feels this is a hurdle that can be conquered also.

Now, what can you do? Again, the continued messages of hope and prayers are key. But I have a special message for Forrest's high school friends right now. He CAN hear us and is aware of what is happening. He isn't able to respond as much to us right now except for a few thumbs up and hand squeezes, so we need for high school friends to send messages of hope and good cheer to encourage him by one or more of the following ways:  post a message on the blog (we read these to him), post a message on the Friends of Forrest Facebook page (again, we read it to him), or contribute to the VoiceThread (where he can hear your voice) that Aunt Lynn is making for him. To participate, email a picture of yourself (preferably with Forrest at some memorable time) to me (lynnlauterbach@gmail.com). I will send you back the directions for the next step. High school friends, he especially needs to hear from your right now so please do one, two, or all three of the methods above to connect with him!!

We look forward to summer, being back on the farm, reuniting with family and friends and building new memories. We will tell stories of how everyone joined together to make down a long and winding path back home. But we will make it. And we are looking ahead to that goal. There is such power and strength in love and that is holding us all together now. Thank you friends and family.

It has been my honor to be here by your side, Forrest. You and your family are an inspiration to me. I am leaving today, but my prayers continue always....  Aunt Lynn

Mum reassuring Forrest between tests... telling him tales of diving adventures yet to come.

Update: 8:15pm on 3/26

I hate to be the one to tell you all that Forrest has had a setback that has put him back in the hospital. We had noticed an increase in microtremors (small involuntary movements of the hands and legs) which the last few days have been worsening. Yesterday, he began complaining of pain in his head and the pain was so bad, it was hard to comfort him. As many of you who have followed this blog know, he is a real trooper and never complains about a variety of painful medical procedures. So we knew things were changing for the worse.

We spent most of yesterday trying to get a MRI on a boy that couldn’t hold himself still no matter how hard he tried. In the last 24 hours he has had a battery of tests including a CAT SCAN, contrast MRI and EEG (to measure brain waves). The tremors progressed into seizures last night. He was moved to neuro ICU and started on anti-convulsants.

The most likely problems are fluid accumulation with pressure on the frontal lobes of the brain and seizures from the swelling or the original trauma. We hope and pray he can be managed medically and in a few days will start to improve. The other option is to surgically place a drain in the ventricle in his brain and relieve the pressure that way. This has several potential complicated side effects and assumes the pressure in the front won’t worsen and push the brain backwards. So currently it is a watch, wait and pray situation. The nurses have been great and helpful as well as the Doctors. We have reinstituted all night watches by Team Forrest, with Austin pulling the graveyard shift, so the emotional and physical demands are pressing on all parties. We are grateful for Aunt Lynn's support at all levels and Rae's sisters are scheduled to pick up the baton when she has to return to Colorado.

We are praying that this will turn out to be just another (although big) bump in road and not a major derailment. We are keeping bedside vigil again, watching monitors, tracking numbers and doing our best to will Forrest peaceful dreams of home and friends. The Doctors will continue to assess him neurologically and have warned us that if he doesn't make substantive improvements in the next 24 -36 hours, that could indicate the problem is worsening and we may have to choose one of the more aggressive treatment options.

We have become great believers in the power of collective prayer and the faith and love of all his extended Team Forrest. So we are hoping you will send your prayers and good thoughts his way again. Just when we thought we had cleared the major medical hurdles and this was mostly time and learning, we round the bend in the road and are facing another huge fence we must clear.

It reminds me of the time that Austin was leading the field with Forrest and myself right behind him. We went charging off through a boggy field and jumped a rail fence up into the woods and galloped our horses up this great big hill, weaving through the trees. My old hunt horse Clark Kent was about done in as we approached the top of the seemingly endless hill. Then I saw that at the crest of the hill was a huge stone wall uphill into a open field. I urged Clark on for all he was worth and the three of us made it over that wall, Clark just barely. We then looked back and laughed. Everyone else had looked at where we going and decided there has to be an easier way. They were undoubtedly right. But sometimes you have to go the hard way together and jump that last big fence whether you want to or not. Evidently Forrest has more big fences to jump. We just have to kick on and make sure he knows we are all there riding with him.

Dad and Team Forrest

Quote of the day: "Look to the light. Never look down the dark path. Always look to the light and keep your focus on the future you envision." Forrest's Uncle John Stone

Forrest back in Neuro ICU

Update: 11:45pm on 3/24

Forrest has made the move to Pathways the outpatient facility. He is now on a different schedule and basically everything has changed. His routine is now waking up in the morning later and getting dressed and eating breakfast. Then he is going to the car for the ½ hour ride to Shepherd Pathways. We have been staying with him for lunch after he does his first hour of orientation. He takes his lunch which we make up for him. He then continues on for another 4 hours after lunch in various types of therapy. We then pick him up and bring him back to the residence apartments at Shepherd. He is generally tired and needs a nap. We try to get a snack in him beforehand (he has lost 40 lbs) and then give him a nap and then wake him up for some activity. Last night it was lacrosse in the park, with mini-sticks and short distances. Tonight it was a friend from Hill School, Montana who came to visit him as she was traveling in the area.

After that it is back to eating dinner and some entertainment, reading or TV or a game. Then a shower and dressed for bed. Night meds and bed are next. Forrest is sleeping in a hospital bed with his brother in a bed pushed up against his so if he needs to get up in the middle of the night he has help. Meals tend to be long drawn out affairs as he eats very slow now and is easily distracted or forgets what he is doing. We commonly remind him to finish eating and encouraging him to take all of his meds can be challenging.

In between times, Austin, Rae and Aunt Lynn (who has been here the last week) and Dad when he is there have to restock, cook, do the washing and cleaning and pick up meds and drive him back and forth (which is a two person job).

He is still wearing the brace for his L-1 fracture which is still healing. His incision for the cranioplasty is healing well but he does seem to have problems with initiating or starting activities since the procedure. We are trying to get the Dr.s to authorize another MRI to make sure his brain is handling the new lid put on it. We hope to have that scheduled tomorrow.

His physical progress continues to be nothing short of amazing with him being one of the most mobile guys in his group. He has troubles with micro-tremors still and they have slightly worsened since the procedure.

So here is where we are. He has made monster progress since this traumatic brain accident almost 10 weeks ago. He has made it from the dire prediction that he might never wake up to walking around an outpatient facility in just 10 weeks. He has made cognitive progress and has his language and his voice, however quiet it is at the moment.

On the reality side he has suffered a major brain injury and has and will continue to have lasting effects from it. As the Doctors and nurses who have worked tirelessly to help him have warned us that the hard part for us is when they turn his care back over to us. They were right, this is much harder and time consuming and you can’t turn your back on him for a second since he is so mobile. So if you have noticed some gaps in the frequency of the blog, you are likely to notice more. Mom, Dad and Austin will have a discussion as what to do about the blog in the future this weekend and decide how we can go forward. In the meantime we will continue on as best we can with our efforts obviously devoted to Forrest’s care.

Some people have commented that we have sugar coated the blog on occasion and they would be correct. Some of the ugliest, scariest and worse and depressing moments and discussions have never made it to the blog. That is because the blog was never meant and is not a clinical medical record. The blog was always meant to keep people informed of Forrest’s struggle for life and then surviving his various medical complications and also his victories and triumphs. He may read this one day and we want to let him know how many people were pulling for him. He will be impaired from his injury we know but he will continue to struggle and get better over time. We don’t know how much help he will need in the future but we will give him whatever help he needs to reach whatever goals he can. We appreciate your reading, support and comments in the blog. Many of you may not know or ever meet Forrest, but know that he is a remarkable young man. Through a lot of struggle and perseverance he will continue to be a remarkable young man, just different than before, but with a lifetime of relearning ahead of him. While it breaks our hearts to see him go through it, it makes us admire him that much more that he continues to try.

Much love to all,

Dad, Mom, Austin and this week, Aunt Lynn.

Montana comes to see Forrest

Forrest and his bro playing lacrosse

Teaching Aunt Lynn some lax

Update: 10:30pm on 3/22

It's been a busy few days. Forrest had his first full day on his own at Shepherd Pathways, where he is doing a full day of outpatient therapy Monday through Friday. We are all adjusting to the new schedule, new people, and new living situation at the apartment. He is still confused about the new situation, as are we all at times. His cranioplasty scar is healing, we have a checkup with the surgeon tomorrow. We hope to be able to post a longer update soon, we're spending our time with him and figuring out the new schedule and situation. It was great to have Peyton visit over the weekend!!

Love,

Austin and Team Forrest

Forrest working with one of his new therapists at Shepherd Pathways

Mom enjoys reading a book to Forrest at bedtime

Update: 11:30pm on 3/20

From Peyton:

Stepping off the train in Atlanta, Georgia, I honestly had no idea what to expect from the family that has been so close to me for so long, and from my friend who has been through more than anybody I know. I took the train from Union Station, a thirteen-hour ride down to Atlanta, and spent the entire trip thinking about all the times Forrest and I have had together. It is impossible to describe the transformation I have seen from the broken boy who I watched airlifted to the UVA hospital, to the strong, determined individual who pushes every day to improve, to learn, and to remember. Austin and I grabbed breakfast at Starbucks Saturday morning, and then drove over to the Shepherd Hospital to meet Forrest in his room. The minute I walked through the door, I was greeted with a smile that stretched from ear to ear. Forrest and I “dapped it up” like we always would have, and hugged. The room was halfway packed up for the big move of the day. After looking through all the great toys and clothes, balls, and gear that so many people have sent to Forrest, we headed down to the cafeteria where I met Rodney and Jeanne, his nurse and help at Shepherd. After returning to the room, we worked and packed up for the big move, Forrest’s first time living out of the hospital and moving to the family apartment next door. Forrest remarked that the hospital didn’t “look like my room” when everyone’s decorations had been taken down and put away. After a couple trips, we all headed through the double swinging doors of Shepherd, a landmark moment when compared with his first entrance in a gurney.

We spent the first part of the day in the new apartment exploring everything in the building, including the rec room in the basement, complete with carnival basketball hoops, air hockey, foosball, and movies and books. Forrest challenged us to a foosball game – me against Austin and him. I own a foosball table at home, and I have to admit that I’m a pretty great foosball player, some would say champion, but Forrest scored the only three goals of the game, slamming all three shots past my defense. His smile of victory made it worth the loss. After exploring the apartment, getting settled in, and everyone taking a well-needed nap, we decided to head out to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. We spent the next couple hours exploring the Japanese garden and the canopy walks, which Forrest claimed was his favorite. Austin and I remained determined to find the prize of our plant obsessions – the bonsai tree – but despite an hour of searching, could not find one. Afterwards, we took a trip to get Cold Stone Ice Cream but decided the line wasn’t worth the wait and spent the rest of the night watching movies and playing Wii Super Smash Bros.

Sunday, we packed everything up and drove to the Atlanta Zoo, passing the stadium of my favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves. We spent the afternoon exploring all the exhibits and watching Forrest as he intently observed each animal. His favorite were the giraffes, but he loved the tiger, rhinoceros, elephant, bears, and gorillas and monkeys. After returning to the apartment, it will soon be time for goodbyes and hugs as I leave to head back on the train to Virginia. It has been an incredible experience to spend the weekend with my good friend, who triumphs through so much. As I remember him walking into my house on the morning of his accident, excited for our trip snowboarding for the day, I can still remember the goofy clothes and excited grin that always defined Forrest, but it is not only a memory, because the smile and the loving, funny, and perseverant personality of my old friend is still apparent today. He has never lost his sense of humor, and the ‘fist-bumps’ and constant thumbs up let us know that he is doing just fine. Forrest is an inspiration to everyone, and I was lucky to share this experience with him.

quote of the day: "The strongest steel is forged in the hottest fire."

-Chinese proverb from Brian Selfe

Forrest's smile upon seeing Peyton

Forrest winning at foosball

Walking in the Botanical Gardens

Forrest and his entourage at the zoo