Dear loved ones:
We realize that John is normally the one to give this update, however, he is unable to for awhile.
John had a heart attack Tuesday morning. Thankfully, Ethel was home when it happened and was able to call an ambulance. His heart was stopped for a lengthy period of time but managed to start up again. He is currently in an induced coma at OHSU on the floor that Ben is on. John is stable, and they plan to do a CAT scan today, an EEG tonight or tomorrow and maybe a couple other tests before bringing him out of the induced coma.
Ethel has many people with her there and she is standing strong in God's grace. Meaghan is as well. Please pray that she can get rest when she tries. She does need sleep and God's peace.
BEN: has had a great last couple days health wise. Obviously he still needs a new heart as soon as possible, but with medication, they've been able to get his resting pulse under 100 which is much better than it had been before. He is still tired but in good spirits.
LOGAN: Logan's doctors have met with Ben and Meaghan to discuss Logan's results and the plan for him. The kids are still with Ben and Meaghan's friend, Christina, indefinitely.
It may seem like everything is going wrong that can go wrong right now, but if John were able to write now, we know that he would say GOD IS GOOD. Just go back and reread his last couple emails and know that no matter what happens John has served the Lord with his life and still lays all of his burdens at His feet.
We'll keep you posted as we find out more.
Jordan and Haley Lambert
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Ben is on the Transplant List
After the OHSU transplant committee reviewed Ben's case he was approved to be listed for a heart transplant. Since he is in Cardiac ICU, on life sustaining IV medications and is the only person of his blood type listed in the North West (Oregon/Washington/Idaho/ Western Montana and Northern California) he goes to the top tier of the list (for his blood type). This is a real answer to prayer. Now "waiting on the Lord" begins.
While we believe as Scripture teaches, "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away" life is a precious gift from God. As you pray for Ben's life to be spared please consider praying for comfort for the families of those who lose loved ones and are sensitive enough to to offer life through being organ donors.
While we believe as Scripture teaches, "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away" life is a precious gift from God. As you pray for Ben's life to be spared please consider praying for comfort for the families of those who lose loved ones and are sensitive enough to to offer life through being organ donors.
John Newell
PRAYER UPDATE for Ben & Logan Newell
*BEN* - The heart transplant committee from OHSU usually meets on Tuesdays but they scheduled a special meeting for today (Friday) just so they could evaluate placing Ben on the transplant list. This tells us that they realize the urgency of his declining heart condition. The doctors have him on a powerful new IV vasodilator to help take some stress off of his heart. He remains in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Please pray for a positive decision on their part and continue to pray for Ben's heart to hold on until God provides a donor heart.
*LOGAN* - He underwent his MRI yesterday (Thursday) and they put him under general anesthetic They scanned his brain stem tumor and upper spine. He is still a bit dizzy from the anesthetic but came through it fine. No report yet on what the MRI showed. He will probably begin chemotherapy next week.
Thank you for all your prayers, emails and phone calls. Your encouragement to us makes all the difference for our entire family. We are truly blessed.
John Newell
*LOGAN* - He underwent his MRI yesterday (Thursday) and they put him under general anesthetic They scanned his brain stem tumor and upper spine. He is still a bit dizzy from the anesthetic but came through it fine. No report yet on what the MRI showed. He will probably begin chemotherapy next week.
Thank you for all your prayers, emails and phone calls. Your encouragement to us makes all the difference for our entire family. We are truly blessed.
John Newell
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Please Pray for Ben and Logan
Dear Friends and Family,
Ben had a Right Heart Cath yesterday and the doctors decided to leave it in and move him to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at OHSU in Portland, Oregon so they could monitor his heart pressures as they continue to attempt to draw down the fluid levels in his lungs and liver. He is feeling slightly better due to good meds but his heart function is poor and they are going to list him for a heart transplant soon. Pray that he will get a good donor heart without a long wait.
Logan Ben's 28 month old son is going to OHSU tomorrow for another MRI on his brain stem tumor to see whether it has grown or not. Ethel and I have been watching both Logan and Emma this week while Meaghan has been staying at the hospital with Ben. Ethel will be driving Logan up to Portland for the MRI. They will be probably starting chemotherapy on him within the next couple weeks. Pray that the tumor will stop growing and begin shrinking. He is still unable to walk more than a few steps at a time but he is smart at a whip. Today he was sitting in our living room with some of his toys and singing "Jesus Loves Me" at the top of his lungs.
Of course we want the Lord's will and are trusting His Word that "He causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to HIS purpose" Romans 8:28. We know that God's intent for any event in a Believer's life is to make us like Christ. In His Word He didn't promise us prosperity or a problem free life but said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33
I was reminded by Ethel's brother the other day of a passage that God has drawn us back to a number of times in our lives when we were facing one crisis or another, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. (2 Corinthians 4:8-12, NIV) God's Word and God's People will carry anyone through hard times. We can ALWAYS rest in that truth. "And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Ben had a Right Heart Cath yesterday and the doctors decided to leave it in and move him to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at OHSU in Portland, Oregon so they could monitor his heart pressures as they continue to attempt to draw down the fluid levels in his lungs and liver. He is feeling slightly better due to good meds but his heart function is poor and they are going to list him for a heart transplant soon. Pray that he will get a good donor heart without a long wait.
Logan Ben's 28 month old son is going to OHSU tomorrow for another MRI on his brain stem tumor to see whether it has grown or not. Ethel and I have been watching both Logan and Emma this week while Meaghan has been staying at the hospital with Ben. Ethel will be driving Logan up to Portland for the MRI. They will be probably starting chemotherapy on him within the next couple weeks. Pray that the tumor will stop growing and begin shrinking. He is still unable to walk more than a few steps at a time but he is smart at a whip. Today he was sitting in our living room with some of his toys and singing "Jesus Loves Me" at the top of his lungs.
Of course we want the Lord's will and are trusting His Word that "He causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to HIS purpose" Romans 8:28. We know that God's intent for any event in a Believer's life is to make us like Christ. In His Word He didn't promise us prosperity or a problem free life but said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33
I was reminded by Ethel's brother the other day of a passage that God has drawn us back to a number of times in our lives when we were facing one crisis or another, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. (2 Corinthians 4:8-12, NIV) God's Word and God's People will carry anyone through hard times. We can ALWAYS rest in that truth. "And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Please Pray for Ben
Dear Friends and Family,
Our son Ben Newell was admitted to OHSU hospital in Portland last Thursday afternoon for a large buildup of fluids in his lungs and liver. He was diagnosed several years ago with familial dilated cardiomyopathy and had a defibrillator/pacemaker implanted. He has the same hereditary heart problem that John's mother and our youngest son David had, and John also has.
Ben has been struggling with his breathing since before Christmas and despite additional doses of diuretics he wasn't improving. The doctors did an echo cardiogram on Friday and found his heart function was down to 18-22%. When a heart gets near the 15% mark the options get slim and often a heart transplant is the only remedy. This coming Tuesday they plan on doing a right heart catherization to measure the interior heart pressures. Due to Ben's breathing difficulty it makes it hard for him to talk and it tires him out so much that we were asked to limit phone calls and visits to his room.
Please pray that the fluid levels will be reduced and that his heart will improve. Also be praying for wisdom for the doctors that they will be able to find the right balance of medicines to improve Ben's hearts ability to squeeze. Also pray for Ben's wife Meaghan as she stays by his side during this difficult time. Once again we are "casting all our cares on Him (Jesus)" trusting in the wisdom of the Great Physician.
We will try to keep you updated with emails as we have more information.
Resting In God's Grace,
John & Ethel Newell
Our son Ben Newell was admitted to OHSU hospital in Portland last Thursday afternoon for a large buildup of fluids in his lungs and liver. He was diagnosed several years ago with familial dilated cardiomyopathy and had a defibrillator/pacemaker implanted. He has the same hereditary heart problem that John's mother and our youngest son David had, and John also has.
Ben has been struggling with his breathing since before Christmas and despite additional doses of diuretics he wasn't improving. The doctors did an echo cardiogram on Friday and found his heart function was down to 18-22%. When a heart gets near the 15% mark the options get slim and often a heart transplant is the only remedy. This coming Tuesday they plan on doing a right heart catherization to measure the interior heart pressures. Due to Ben's breathing difficulty it makes it hard for him to talk and it tires him out so much that we were asked to limit phone calls and visits to his room.
Please pray that the fluid levels will be reduced and that his heart will improve. Also be praying for wisdom for the doctors that they will be able to find the right balance of medicines to improve Ben's hearts ability to squeeze. Also pray for Ben's wife Meaghan as she stays by his side during this difficult time. Once again we are "casting all our cares on Him (Jesus)" trusting in the wisdom of the Great Physician.
We will try to keep you updated with emails as we have more information.
Resting In God's Grace,
John & Ethel Newell
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