4:14PM - PRAYERS FOR BENTON

"... And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

(Esther 4:14)

While I may delve into the above verse in a later post for 'In the Word', today I write to you with a request for prayer.

I believe in a BIG God. I believe in a GOOD God. I believe in a Healer God. I believe in a God outside of my realm of time and understanding.

So when something difficult happens, that I cannot comprehend, my human instinct is to doubt God's goodness. To doubt His provision, protection and His plan. But I have been called by the Spirit into obedience and to TRUST that when my God says, 'I love you, I've got you', that He does.

Yesterday I was told some heavy news about my friend Benton Munro. He and I go way back to high school days, but his wife Holly and I are friends now, raising our babies and supporting each other by distance (they in rural Victoria, we in Tasmania, along with a third family in Melbourne).

On Sunday 21st November, Benton (28) was riding his dirt bike when he collided with another rider. A third, uninjured rider called an ambulance and Benton was airlifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Holly and her parents travelled from their home to be near Benton, leaving their children with trusted family and friends. Thankfully they have an incredible network of people in their community and Melbourne they can fall back on at this time.

Benton's injuries are severe. I will share updates on this post as I see them (or you can find them on the Mildura Seventh-Day Adventist Church facebook page - mine are copy and pasted from there).

We had a virtual prayer meeting last night to uplift the family to the Lord. But we will continue to steadfastly pray over Benton, his condition, his healing, recovery, his medical team, Holly, the children. Inspired by the verse at the beginning of this post, every day at 4:14PM, their church family have taken up a challenge to pray and invite us to join alongside to pray for Benton. Please, if you see the time (or set an alarm), please PLEASE pray for miracles for this man and his family. May God work in His mysterious and miraculous way to do a good work and give this family an opportunity to declare the gracious goodness of God's hand PHYSICALLY and miraculously in their lives!

N.

You can also financially support the family if you feel moved to here

LATEST POSTS

22nd November (morning):

You may be aware by now that Benton had a serious bike accident yesterday, Sunday 21 Nov, and that he was flown last night to Melbourne. Holly went with her parents to Melbourne to be with him.

We will post updates as Holly releases them to us. As Benton is in a critical condition we ask for your continual prayers over him and the hospital staff, as well as over Holly and their families. We also ask for understanding and respecting their privacy. Phone calls would be very draining right now, but short encouraging messages (without asking for a reply) would be appropriate I feel.

Here is Holly’s latest update:

‘Benton is in Melbourne, his medical team took the night to ensure Benton was stabilised and let the surgical team be well rested for today. He will be having surgery on his neck/spine this morning to access damage and try to stabilise, for best long term outcomes.

Pray for Benton, and his surgical team to make the right calls, and have steady hands.

Holly was able to see him overnight, but due to restrictions it is unsure how long it will be before she is allowed back into the hospital again.’

Thank you for keeping them in prayers.

22nd November (afternoon): Benton is out of spinal surgery is stable and in ICU. Having more testing/scans done to check the success of today’s surgery. May require more surgery’s in the days to come. Please continuing praying for healing, wisdom and miracles.

24th November (morning)

So news from yesterday and last night.

Had surgery yesterday to remove foreign object. It was bone, but not his bone. He's getting tests for all sorts of stuff with that.

Next they lifted some sedation and he SQUEEZED THE NURSES HAND with his right hand and lifted his left hand a little albeit weaker. They further lifted sedation and the nurse called his name and he responded and gave her full eye contact which is huge.

Last night took a turn and here is that message from the team...

Holly just received some really hard news. Benton was doing well overnight with all his levels stable, but then things took a turn for the worst. His heart rate went up and blood pressure dropped and the oxygen levels to his lungs went dangerously low. They have found he has clots in his lungs. He is going to be having anticoagulant medication today to dissolve the clots. This medication comes with heavy risks of bleeding in the brain or other areas of the body. Along with other adverse risks. The doctor has consulted all Benton's teams working with him and they all feel this is the best route to take today.

Please pray pray that he returns to a stable condition, the clots disappear, there are no side effects from the medication and that all teams working on Benton today are guided by the hand of God.

24th November (late afternoon)

Another update from Holly!

What wonderful news!

Today I was able to visit with Benton!! It was so wonderful. I was smiling the whole time! Today started so low and we’ve had such a high in being able to see Benton! He is responding really well to the medication for the blood clots in his lungs. He has pneumonia as well but they aren’t too concerned about that right now, just focusing on the clots. His dependence on receiving oxygen has improved so much since over night which is really positive. He is still heavily sedated and his levels won’t be decreased until his doctors are confident with his oxygen levels.

I sent a whole heap of our family photos to his team to print and display in his room and his room looks so lovely now. So one day when he wakes he will be able to see his beautiful kids. I asked the chaplain and sit and pray with him and she has today and I know that’s something he would appreciate. When I walked into the room they were playing a Cold Chisel album - Benton’s favourite. Unfortunately the nurse doesn’t think it’s the best music!

Please pray the medication keeps working well and there are no side effects. Thank you for all your prayers and support ❤️

Also the other rider involved in the accident was Pete Jacobsen. He is also a young husband and father. He was airlifted to Alfred Hospital and is also in critical condition.

25th November (morning)

Last night Benton was settled and has since had his oxygen dependency lowered more than yesterday. But is still tubed. He seems to be responding well to the medication for his clots. Until he is scanned they won’t know how clear the clots are. He did receive a unit of blood last night as his haemoglobin levels were a little low. He may also need another unit today as they’ve dipped a little again. She said he coughs every now and again and has been able to move his arms and is still responding to his name by opening his eyes. He still hasn’t moved his legs at all. They are a little concerned about that. Thank you for all your prayers ❤️continue praying for complete healing of our beautiful Benton.

25th November (afternoon)

Holly writes:

'I've just come back from visiting with Benton and I can't wipe the smile off my face. He had just finished a physio appointment where he was able to move his right arm all the way up to his chest, and his left arm half the distance. Still no movement in his legs during his physio. When I walked into the room I went up to him and said 'hey babe' and he opened his eyes and looked at me!! He continued opening his eyes every now and again and could move his head and arms. It was so lovely to see him move in person rather than hearing it from the nurses! He's getting a little distressed with the tube in his mouth but the nurse said it's to be expected. I left just as they were changing over a tube that's draining the fluid around his lungs.

For the next few days they plan to keep him sedated at the same levels just to give his body the best chance to rest.

He's heading in the right direction today. Thank you Jesus!'