Baby Forrest was just like any 1 1/2 year-old toddler: Full of energy, smiles, and laughter, he put a smile on every single face that crossed his path. It's hard to imagine a more innocent well-mannered boy with more going for him. On December 18th, 2018 his life would change forever. I am his father, and I am sharing his story in the name of hope for his future.
It was a typical day for Forrest, until around 3:30 pm he some how managed to get through the back patio and into the lake behind the house.
On the way to the hospital, the paramedics revived him three separate times before they were able to get a continuous pulse. Once he arrived at the hospital, they immediately put him on life support and began doing everything they could to keep him alive. His mother and I were both at work when we got the call. I remember immediately hitting my knees and praying like I have never prayed before. Please God. Please not my baby boy. Please Lord take me instead I beg you, this boy is my world.
I arrived to the hospital around a hour after receiving the call and was greeted by 10-14 police officers and a chaplain. It was the longest 30 min to a hour of my life just waiting to find out if our baby boy was still with us. Finally, we were allowed in and were informed that he was alive but was not breathing on his own. They told us that it seemed he went a very extensive amount of time without oxygen to his brain. One doctor told me, based on a blood test, that maybe 1 out of 1000 babies could survive that long without oxygen to the brain. About 1 hour later they were able to stabilize him enough to transport him to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. Once he arrived, Baby Forrest continued the fight for his life.
I have no words to describe his toughness.
On the third day, after many ups and down his doctor gave him the nickname "The Fighter." In fact, over the next four to five days Baby Forrest battled back to being able to regulate his own body temperature. By the sixth day the doctors were able to take the breathing tube out and he has been completely regulating his own body temperature and breathing with no oxygen help whatsoever.
Baby Forrest has made it out of ICU care and is now placed in Intermediate Care at Joe DiMaggio, but his fight is a a long long way from over. The MRI shows damage to the brain from the lack of oxygen to key parts of his brain, but it does not predict or tell us how much Baby Forrest can and will continue to recover. While he is still not able to see or track, control his muscle movements, within the last 2 days he has started to learn to cry again. He continues to impress the neurologists with his physical recovery and sheer strength and will.
Based on guidance from friends, family and medical professionals, I have been looking into a wide variety of specialized treatments including Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Core Blood Stem Cell Transplant, and a variety of different physical and occupational therapy sessions. Unfortunately, we am not able to afford to be able to get him into the Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments or Core Blood Stem Cell Transplant, as they are not covered by insurance. Several neurologists have assured me that Forrest is healthy and tough enough to do them -- and there is hope if done sooner than later.
He is scheduled to start his first Hyperbaric Oxygen Theropy Session on March 24th thanks to the help of or donors.
Based on rough estimates, I have been able to come up with $30,000 dollars as the target we would need to come up with for him to receive the treatments above and beyond covered care. From the beginning, I promised Little Forest that as long as he continues to fight, his mom and dad will be there alongside him no matter what -- this is the next step in that journey.
We have received so many prayers and positive vibes from so many that have helped us so. At this point, financial support would help us continue Forrest's fight into the future. When it comes to this child, the sky is the limit -- so if there is anyway you can help my son continue his fight to just have a chance, either by a donation (small or large) or just by spreading the word, we will be eternally grateful.
Forrest's Facebook Story Group
Thank you from all of us,
Baby Forrest Love IV, Dad- Forrest Love III (Donny), Mom- Alexandria Padilla, Sister- Aubrie Padilla
It was a typical day for Forrest, until around 3:30 pm he some how managed to get through the back patio and into the lake behind the house.
On the way to the hospital, the paramedics revived him three separate times before they were able to get a continuous pulse. Once he arrived at the hospital, they immediately put him on life support and began doing everything they could to keep him alive. His mother and I were both at work when we got the call. I remember immediately hitting my knees and praying like I have never prayed before. Please God. Please not my baby boy. Please Lord take me instead I beg you, this boy is my world.
I arrived to the hospital around a hour after receiving the call and was greeted by 10-14 police officers and a chaplain. It was the longest 30 min to a hour of my life just waiting to find out if our baby boy was still with us. Finally, we were allowed in and were informed that he was alive but was not breathing on his own. They told us that it seemed he went a very extensive amount of time without oxygen to his brain. One doctor told me, based on a blood test, that maybe 1 out of 1000 babies could survive that long without oxygen to the brain. About 1 hour later they were able to stabilize him enough to transport him to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. Once he arrived, Baby Forrest continued the fight for his life.
I have no words to describe his toughness.
On the third day, after many ups and down his doctor gave him the nickname "The Fighter." In fact, over the next four to five days Baby Forrest battled back to being able to regulate his own body temperature. By the sixth day the doctors were able to take the breathing tube out and he has been completely regulating his own body temperature and breathing with no oxygen help whatsoever.
Baby Forrest has made it out of ICU care and is now placed in Intermediate Care at Joe DiMaggio, but his fight is a a long long way from over. The MRI shows damage to the brain from the lack of oxygen to key parts of his brain, but it does not predict or tell us how much Baby Forrest can and will continue to recover. While he is still not able to see or track, control his muscle movements, within the last 2 days he has started to learn to cry again. He continues to impress the neurologists with his physical recovery and sheer strength and will.
Based on guidance from friends, family and medical professionals, I have been looking into a wide variety of specialized treatments including Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Core Blood Stem Cell Transplant, and a variety of different physical and occupational therapy sessions. Unfortunately, we am not able to afford to be able to get him into the Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments or Core Blood Stem Cell Transplant, as they are not covered by insurance. Several neurologists have assured me that Forrest is healthy and tough enough to do them -- and there is hope if done sooner than later.
He is scheduled to start his first Hyperbaric Oxygen Theropy Session on March 24th thanks to the help of or donors.
Based on rough estimates, I have been able to come up with $30,000 dollars as the target we would need to come up with for him to receive the treatments above and beyond covered care. From the beginning, I promised Little Forest that as long as he continues to fight, his mom and dad will be there alongside him no matter what -- this is the next step in that journey.
We have received so many prayers and positive vibes from so many that have helped us so. At this point, financial support would help us continue Forrest's fight into the future. When it comes to this child, the sky is the limit -- so if there is anyway you can help my son continue his fight to just have a chance, either by a donation (small or large) or just by spreading the word, we will be eternally grateful.
Forrest's Facebook Story Group Thank you from all of us,
Baby Forrest Love IV, Dad- Forrest Love III (Donny), Mom- Alexandria Padilla, Sister- Aubrie Padilla
Organizer
Forrest Love
Organizer
Pompano Beach, FL