Perseverance, Hard Work Help Him Cope
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| (L-R) Christie and Ed Forrest |
In a single day — on September 29, 2007 — life as Ed Forrest knew it changed, testing him in ways he could never have imagined.
Forrest, 54, collapsed in the bathroom of his home. His wife, Christie, called 911 and he was rushed to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
They soon learned what caused his collapse – he had a severe case of
spinal stenosis that had gone undiagnosed. Four bone spurs injured his cervical spine and went into his spinal chord affecting vertebrae C2 through C7 and causing paralysis from the neck down. The prognosis wasn’t good.
Dark Days Extensive rehab followed as well as surgery by a Sentara neurosurgeon who used a combination of bone grafts, bolts and plates to repair the damage.
Progress came in baby steps.
“I couldn’t move a whole lot at first,” recalled Forrest. “I could move my hands and feet, but I had no feeling in them. While I was in rehab at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, I got to a point where I could stand, but two or three people were holding onto me.”
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| (L-R) Ed Forrest reviews his treatment plan with Betty Bourne, case manager, Optima Health. |
Case Manager and Advocate
To help coordinate and facilitate his complex care needs, Forrest was assigned Betty Bourne, a Case Manager in the Health Care Services Unit at
Optima Health. “To go from being independent and self sufficient to being disabled — initially not able to feed himself — was overwhelming,” said Bourne. “And to be dependent on your family for just about everything is really hard. When you’re faced with something that huge, it’s important to feel like somebody is on your side,” she added.
After an extensive stay at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Forrest spent a few months at a nursing and rehab center before being released to receive
Sentara Home Care Services and
Outpatient Rehab through Sentara Obici Hospital.
Making Strides Thanks to occupational therapy, Forrest learned to eat independently using special utensils and manipulatives and has benefited from various grooming suggestions. He also learned to walk again.
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| (L-R) Christie Forrest, Ed Forrest and Betty Bourne |
“He’s progressed a lot further than the medical team anticipated,” Bourne noted. “He can now ambulate with a rolling walker. He’s very motivated and he sets high goals for himself. The therapist sets certain goals for him and he’ll go a step or two above what they suggest. He’s done very well and he remains optimistic.”
“Right now I’m just concentrating on still trying to get better,” said Forrest.
Ed said he got off his walker briefly to do the twist to Chubby Checker at a birthday party for his mother-in-law and for a slow dance with his wife, who has stood by him throughout the ordeal.
“My wife has been my biggest supporter and my greatest help. I couldn’t have made it without her and her family,” said Forrest, adding, “Optima Health and especially Betty Bourne have just been phenomenal. She has been like a bright shining light to us.”
Learn more about Sentara Neuroscience services.
Watch Ed Forrest video testimonial on OptimaHealth.com
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