Having the HOPE to look AHEAD
December 15, 1992
Forrest Stone Allen is born at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, AZ
1996
Forrest moves to Middleburg, Virginia with his parents and older brother Austin four years later. Adventurous at heart, he developed interests in horseback riding, scuba diving, snowboarding, video games and outdoor sports.
January 14, 2011
Forrest suffers a catastrophic traumatic brain injury while snowboarding in Virginia. He is air evacuated to UVA Trauma Center and is in a coma. Doctors remove a large portion of his skull to allow for brain swelling and tell his parents that it is likely he will not wake up
June 2011
Forrest’s former drama teacher, turned Music Therapist, Tom Sweitzer visits Forrest and his family at National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, DC. Music Therapy will soon become a vital part of Forrest’s recovery therapies.
December 22, 2011
After more than 11 months in six hospitals and a dozen major surgeries, Forrest finally returns home. He is unable to speak or move independently and requires 24/7 nursing care. He begins a variety of at- home therapies including Physical, Occupational, Speech and Music Therapy
December 12, 2012
During a Music Therapy session, Forrest speaks his first words in almost 2 years.
November 8, 2013
Forrest is accepted into Canine Companions for Independence and matched with Service Dog Toliver. Toliver will soon become Forrest's most constant companion and best friend.
December 25, 2013
In a devastating setback, Forrest's 3rd prosthetic, which allowed leaps and bounds of healing and progress, becomes infected and is removed. Forrest returns home from the hospital a few weeks later, requiring a helmet to protect his brain.
June 6, 2014
Forrest graduates from Kettle Run High School. Forrest (along with Toliver) walks steadily across the stage to receive his diploma.
August 27, 2014
After 14 surgeries and 3 failed prosthetics, Forrest has the first of many major surgeries to reconstruct his skull using his own tissue, existing areas of skull and ribs. This first surgery lasts 15 hours.
May 10, 2015
After a friend fundraises and runs the Boston Marathon in Forrest's honor, the money is used to launch the Forrest Stone Allen Financial Aid Fund (FAFA) at A Place to Be, the music therapy center that has been instrumental in Forrest's recovery. This new fund will provide financial assistance for those that would not otherwise be able to afford music therapy
November 16, 2015
Forrest has his 25th surgery. He now has a 90% complete skull, made up of his own tissue and bones. One year and one day later, on November 17, 2016, Forrest will return home after yet another surgery - but this time with a completely reconstructed skull.
October 21, 2017
"Music Got Me Here", a documentary featuring Forrest and his music therapist, Tom Sweitzer, premieres at the Middleburg Film Festival in 2 sold-out screenings. “Music Got Me Here” follows Forrest’s journey to regain his voice following his accident and the impact of music and hope in the life of both Forrest and Tom. It goes on to screen for more than 1,200 music therapists at the American Music Therapy Conference in St. Louis and is shown at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC.
August 2018
Forrest begins college at George Mason University as part of their Mason Life Program. He continues in this program until September 2020, when he elects to take a gap year due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Dec 15, 2020
Forrest’s celebrates his birthday in addition to the release of Music Got Me Here