Our world shattered on Tuesday, September 22, 2025. My son Forrest was shot in the place where he should have felt the safest, his own home, after an altercation involving his daughter's boyfriend tragically escalated. This horrific event has completely derailed Forrest's life and devastated our entire family.

I must tell you about the strength and grace of his youngest daughter. She witnessed this horrifying act of violence but showed extraordinary, life-saving bravery. While applying necessary pressure to his severe wounds, she dialed 911 and communicated with the operator until paramedics could arrive. She is a hero, and we owe her everything. The damage to Forrest was critical. He was immediately airlifted to Memorial Hermann, Texas Trauma Center, where he began the agonizing fight for his life. After being examined, it was determined Forrest had sustained three gunshot wounds: one to his left anterior chest, one to the left lateral chest, and one to his right buttocks. He was rushed into the first trauma surgery, undergoing an ex-lap, gastric repair, small bowel and transverse colon resection, splenectomy, and bladder and left diaphragm repair. Due to critically low blood pressure, the trauma team had to halt the procedure. He was put on a ventilator and kept intubated. Twenty-four agonizing hours later, the trauma surgeons returned to perform a small bowel anastomosis, colostomy, and abdominal closure. The second surgery was a success, but the long, expensive road to recovery has just begun.

At 43 years old, Forrest is a loving son, a devoted father of three, a proud grandfather of one, a dedicated uncle, and a supportive brother. He has a great sense of humor and is truly loved by everyone he meets. Even now, recovering from this horrific trauma, he refers to himself as "Batman"—a symbol of the strength and courage he shows every single day.

He is home now, which is a miracle, but the surgical team has confirmed he will need another procedure, the ostomy reversal, in the near future to fully address the complex damage and start his long-term recovery. The road ahead for Forrest is long and expensive, impacting every aspect of his life and his ability to support his family. The shooting occurred right as Forrest was set to begin a new profession installing solar panels in early November, but his severe injuries mean he will be unable to work for many months, losing a critical source of income at the very moment he was starting a new chapter. We are humbly asking for your help to reach our $30,000 goal to ensure my son can focus entirely on healing without the crushing burden of debt and lost income threatening his family's stability.

The funds raised will be used directly for:

1. Covering the bills from the air-flight transport, two intensive surgeries, and the hospital stay, including deductibles and co-pays.

2. Funding the ostomy reversal surgery, ongoing physical therapy, and most importantly, trauma counseling for Forrest and his daughter to cope with the immense physical and emotional wounds they suffered.

3. These donations will cover his basic necessities including rent, utilities, food, and essential home health supplies, to keep him and his family stable while he is out of work.

Every dollar ensures we can afford the necessary medical treatments and provide a stable, safe environment for his recovery and his children's stability. I’m so incredibly grateful that Forrest is home, and now I humbly ask for your help in bringing this wonderful father and our "Batman" back to full health.

Please consider donating, and if you cannot, please share his story far and wide. Thank you for your kindness and support during the most challenging time of our lives.

With love and gratitude,

Yvette