Paul Newman’s Heart :)

Hi! I’m Rebekah, and I am Paul Newman’s niece. My Uncle Harry Newman and I have been working on updating our family and friends on how we can help Uncle Paul. The following is the first update from Uncle Harry:

Dear friends....Many of you already know that Paul Newman suffered a very serious heart attack several weeks ago which resulted in triple bypass open heart surgery. The surgeon at the first hospital where Paul was admitted told us that because of the extent of heart damage he had sustained and the degree of inoperable blockages that were found, he nor the hospital were equipped to take on a surgical procedure with this degree of risk. Alternatives were offered, but in reality, they were not alternatives at all. The situation looked hopeless. We requested a transfer to a different hospital that might be willing to perform the surgery. They agreed to pursue it, but the challenge now was finding a hospital with an available bed. After several days of waiting, a bed finally opened up and Paul was transferred.

We are all profoundly grateful to God that the surgery was a success and Paul is now in recovery. We attribute this to the many prayers offered up on Paul's behalf.

Prior to this event, Paul lost his health coverage and work benefits because his work hours were cut from full time to part time. He enrolled in a medical insurance plan, but it had not become active at the time he entered the emergency room and spent over a week in the hospital undergoing a battery of tests. Yet God was merciful. Paul's insurance coverage became active on November 1st, the day before he was scheduled to have his surgery. Only God could have orchestrated this.

Our concern now is that Paul's stay in the hospital while not being covered by insurance will bring a huge financial burden to him in the very near future. He is a self contractor and does not have the advantage of a salary, compensation or disability benefits. If he is not actively working, then finances are not coming in to cover his insurance, mortgage and overall cost of living expenses. I was very reluctant to post a social media appeal for financial support, but knowing how loved Paul is by so many of you, I felt it was the right thing to do. Anyone who knows Paul would agree that he would never hesitate to come to the aid of anyone in need. Now he is the one in need and I am confident there are many of you who will want to reciprocate his generosity and kindness.

If you are unable to offer any financial assistance at this time, your prayers for Paul's continued recovery and healing is worth it's weigh in gold. Our family covets every prayer.

I'll close this out by repeating what Paul always says at the end of every text he sends - “Blessings! UP!”

This is our hope and comfort - Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not fear for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God”.