Ben Lapp's Unexpected Open Heart Surgery

Hello, my name is Nicole. I have been friends with Kate since we were little girls. I know that you all love her as much as I do. So, I am reaching out to each of you. Our dear friends need help. The Lapp Family is in crisis, and as a community of friends and family, lets help carry them financially, emotionally and spiritually. As we all know, the Lapp family are the very last ones to ask for help but the first to be there for each of us. So, let’s use this time to lavish our love and prayers on them tangibly. We will update everyone via a Caring Bridge link on all the needs we can meet. So, please sign up for the updates. Please know that if you do not get a response from Kate, she will be reading messages, but she will give all her time and energy to her family. So, thank you for all the grace you can show her.

Here is the Lapp Story:

This is so hard; we are not the ones to ask for help. I’m a big believer in the power of Prayer, and we need all the prayers we can get right now…

Ben will be having a 5 bypass open heart surgery this Tuesday, September 13.

His only symptom was chest pain that started in April of 2022, which he went to the doctor for. They sent him home with heartburn medication. However, it persisted, and we didn’t overthink it until it continued. The doctor still didn’t think it was anything, but luckily we pushed the issue as heart problems ran in his family. His arteries were in such bad condition that he wouldn't have made it if he had had a heart attack. Even the doctor was not expecting to find it that bad, as there were no other signs. We are thanking God that we found this in time! Recovery will be long, but My Ben is Strong, and He has a lot to fight for!

Also, Claire was admitted to the hospital 3 times this year. She got pneumonia 4 times in 5 months, and we were at Children’s in Milwaukee several times. Claire had a lung scope done in Milwaukee in July, and 4 days later, was back in the hospital for severe leg pain. They thought a virus in her hip was causing it, but she was hospitalized for 3 days.

She had a breathing test the same day we learned about Ben. They said her breathing test didn’t go well, and if she gets sick for longer than a week, she needs a chest X-ray and antibiotics. They told us the probability of her getting pneumonia is high, so we need her to stay out of the hospital. But today, 9/12, we took her back to the doctor, and Claire has pneumonia again! This is the 5th time this year! Hopefully, we got it in time, and the steroids and antibiotics kick in so she can stay out of the hospital.

Please keep our family in your prayers as Ben undergoes surgery and heals. Ben will be out of work until approximately November 25 if everything goes well. 

This has been the most challenging year ever, and we need your help. We will keep you updated via https://www.caringbridge.org/public/benlapp