Monday, November 9, 2009

Jim Resigns


As of November 8, 2009 Jim resigned from his full-time position at Philadelphia church of Christ. Due to his increased symptoms he can no longer fulfill his requirements. Jim plans to continue to help the congregation when he is able to and when they ask for his assistance. The elders have graciously decided to allow us to live in the preacher’s house until further arrangements can be made. We ask that you continue to pray for the work at Philadelphia, her elders, members and for our family. We pray that God will allow this place to grow in faith.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Camo Has Autism & A Hard Heart


Jim and I went to the doctor yesterday, Oct. 29, 2009. We saw the advanced heart failure group and the ICD doctors. Jim's fatigue has increased significantly since the end of September. This has been concerning us and we called the doctors about this. They could not do anything for us, so we waited until it was time for our appointment. Both the AHF group and the ICD doc believe that his heart is hardening (stiffening) more. When this happens blood is not able to come into the heart adequately. The heart is supposed to relax and pull blood in. If it is stiff or hard it lacks the ability to do that. The doctors stated that they need to do another cath. They would have scheduled it but our insurance expired last month. We can't get anyone to offer us insurance because of our pre-existing conditions. We have applied for financial assistance through UAB and hope to hear from them in about a week. Once we receive word from them (that we will get help) they will schedule the cath. This will allow them to determine what exactly has changed since April. This will allow them to make a game plan. Once your heart becomes stiff or hard there is nothing they can do but transplant. We spoke with a social worker for the first time yesterday. She was very nice. The doctors have told Jim to get disability. The doctors believe he won't have a problem being approved, but Jim said he is going to keep on working/preaching as long as he can.

Among other news, Cameron our 3 year old son was diagnosed with a mild form of autism last Friday. He has been having some difficulties for some time. We have been working with his doctor and special services since May 2009. He will start special education this coming Monday. He is very slow and doesn't understand much. He has been taking speech for about 5 weeks and has done great so far. Special services believe they can intervene early and help him to have a more "normal" life.

We ask for all of your prayers daily. We ask you to never cease to lift us up before the throne of God. We are still faithful to the Lord. Through all of what we have been going through, God has never left us, nor forsaken us, he pours his blessings upon us daily. God is soooo good. We often has time that we feel like we can complain or say why me. But we say why not me. God is working on our whole family. We are becoming stronger with each passing day. We know that with God all things are possible and He is our rock and shelter from the storms of this life. May God help us all to do what he has asked us to do. We love you all and thank you for your continued support and friendship.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Not So Good News


Well, we did not receive good news at the doctor's office. They believe his heart is hardening even more. This is the cause for the onset of more symptoms and why his fatigue has increased. They want to do another cath. This will help them to see how much of the heart has stiffened. That way that can make a game plan. The next step will be transplant. We don't have insurance anymore. Our COBRA time has ended and we cannot be approved for insurance anymore (too many pre-existing conditions). The only thing we could get was called risk-pool insurance and we can't afford to pay the premiums nor the out-of-pocket costs. We have applied for financial assistance at UAB. They will let us know within a week if we will receive help. The doctors are waiting on that to schedule the cath. We pray that all will go through because it will be devastating to be denied and not get Jim the help he needs.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

It's Been 34 Years


Jim celebrated an important milestone today. 34 years ago today is when he had his heart surgery (1975). Imagine how the Murrells must have felt when that saw their 9 lb,  6 month old leave for surgery with only a 10% survival rate. God has been so good. We are truly thankful for all that He has done for us and allowed us to do. Jim's fatigue has increased especially since this past Saturday. I keep trying to get him to rest more but he has 3 bible studies going and he has been visiting a lot of our sick people.

Julianna got to go on the football field this Friday night. She got to see the football players come through the sign and cheer with the band and cheerleaders. She was chosen as a Terrific Tornado because of meeting her Accelerated Reading goal and she has surpassed her Accelerated Math goal. She was also chosen because of her model behavior.

Cameron is doing well in his speech classes. He has been working hard. I think it is already making a difference. He may get into another class to help some more. We are waiting to hear about that. He is getting so big. I had to buy him size 6/7 in shirts and size 5 in pants yesterday. He still loves to play with the match box cars and Thomas the Train.

Hope all is well with you all. I think about you every day. I wish I had more time in the day to call people. I have to take care of the children so much to give Jim time to rest; I hate to be on the phone when I am with them (especially because they have a habit of screaming while I am talking on the phone).

I love you all so much and thanks for your continued support and prayers. Love---Jenn

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Julianna's Almost 8


Sorry that I am just now getting back to you. It has been a weird week. A lot of mountains and valleys, if you know what I mean. Jim is having a severe migraine right now and me and Camo are trying to be really quite. We were outside playing but it started to storm.

Julianna will be 8 in December. I can't believe it. I am taking her to see a movie this afternoon after school. We are going to have girl’s night out just the two of us. We are planning on seeing a movie. I hope Jim feels good enough to keep Camo while we're out.

We are living in Philadelphia, MS. We have been here for over 3 years. We work with the Philadelphia church of Christ.

I honestly don't know what to tell you about helping us. I do petition your constant prayers and a promise from you that if anything happens you will come to see me. I know we haven't spent much time together but I look at your picture every day and I am thankful for how you and Trey touched our lives. A day seldom goes by that we don't talk about you all.

Keep emailing me and that will keep me smiling. I love to read your emails. Keep sending the pics. I love you girl. Take care and May God richly bless your beautiful family. -----Jenn

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

ICD Follow-up


The doctor's appointment @ 12:30 Thursday lasted until after 5p.m. They adjusted his ICD and upon hearing his concerns and problems over the past few days, they sent him for blood work, chest x-ray, and echo. When they did the echo, they saw one of his narrow places was narrower. Then they saw how weak his heart was. They said the muscle is becoming hard because it has been overworked for so long. So when the heart squeezes in to push blood out it is not doing a good job. Now when the heart is supposed to be relaxing to take in blood, it is not doing it because it has lost a lot of its elasticity and has become rigid. The doctor stated that he would have to stay on his current medications because the benefits outweigh the side effects. The doctor also talked to us about making some hard choices sooner rather than later concerning surgery. At this time they believe that out of three options that Jim could only survive one. That would be heart transplant. The risks are numerous and the doctor stated that you have to take a "boat load" of medicine. He is not on the list as of right now and only time will tell when this will take place. The doctor thinks Jim can make it a little while longer but also reminded us that he cannot predict what will happen. The risk of something sudden happening has decreased thanks to the ICD but there still is a possibility of that.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

I Cry At Times

Well, it has been a week since our last doctor's visit and we are just now updating everyone. We were extremely tired being in Birmingham all day and on the road. We have been getting Julianna ready for the second grade.

The advanced heart failure group stated that they were going to try and adjust his medicine because he has been having some bad side effects from the meds. The medicine that he is on is the best for his heart and they do not want to take him off of it. He has no energy most of the time and struggles to sleep at night. He falls asleep fast but it is hard for him to stay asleep. He has become more absent minded. He doesn't know what he is saying some times in mid conversation. He has increased in his grey spells and has become more irritable at times. I know the irritability is due to not feeling as good as he wants to. The doctor told him to get on disability but he can't as long as he is preaching. At times he struggles to preach but is doing the best he can to support his family. The ICD doctor stated that he was doing okay. He could not tell us that Jim was doing good or bad. Jim is just maintaining. The ICD is helping his heart do its job 23% of the time. This means that 23% of the time his heart is not functioning the way that it should. It could be a lot worse but it could be a lot better. You don't want the ICD to have to do too much because the battery will wear out sooner.

We all have good days and bad. At times I cry and at times I am able to laugh. I know he has good days and other days could be better. It fluctuates so that you don't really know what to expect from one day to another. I have gotten some really good books to read in addition to the Bible. These encourage me and give me more scripture to take hold of. I have also started working out at the local gym. I try to go 3 times a week. With each flare up I feel myself getting weaker and weaker. I have actually gained 3 lbs. this week. I feel stronger than I have in a long time. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Julianna broke down the other day because she noticed how her dad has changed. I know she gets frustrated and she doesn't understand. I just cried with her and told her we have to be thankful for the time that we have had. Every day we try to make it the best we can. We love you all and thank you for what you do. Please continue to pray. ----Jenn

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Taking A Break for Jim's Sake

I have been praying and thinking about this decision for the past several weeks. I will not be able to teach my classes this fall (ACC1223 and ECO 2123). My husband, Jim Murrell, who is 34 years old is in Advanced Heart Failure. He has three blockages due to scar tissue from the corrective heart surgery he had in 1975 when he was 6 months old. We have been frequent quests at UAB hospital in Birmingham, AL. This is where his first heart surgery took place and they know his heart. He has transposition of the great vessels and his hearts main function comes out of the right ventricle side. His heart has become extremely weak, he has been going into v-tach often, and recently he had an ICD implanted. The doctors don't give us much to go on. He is one of the first ones to make it to adulthood. He was never supposed to live past 18 years old. He only has a few good hours a day. We have two children Julianna 7 and Cameron 3. We ask for your prayers that the Lord will bless him with many good days. He is the preacher at the Philadelphia church of Christ. We count it a huge success when he is able to preach.

I hope that you all understand my decision. Thank you for the opportunity to teach at EC. I think I made a difference at least in some of my students. Lord willing, I will be able to return soon. Thank you and please remember us in your daily prayers.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

A Good Week Ends Badly

I am soooooo sorry that I didn't let you know what was going on. Our lives have been so busy this month. Jim had a gospel meeting in Tuscumbia, AL the 7th through the 12th. It had been planned for 3 years and he hated to cancel it. He got really really bad that week. He was probably doing too much. By the end of that week his resting heart rate was 95 to 100 bpm. Whenever he got up his heart rate would go up to 120 to 140 bpm. We came home to Philly for 2 1/2 days. He didn't even go to church Sunday because he would get out of breath and feel like he was going to pass out. I stayed on the phone all weekend and on Monday morning with his doctors. We had a nurse at the house and then they said Monday around lunch time to come on to Bham. So we went. He had surgery on the 16th and had an ICD implanted. It is helping him a lot. Everything was very successful with the surgery but he developed a high fever and we had to stay until Saturday. We got home late Saturday and then our VBS started on Sunday the 22nd. This was the first VBS for our congregation in many many years. I taught the 1 to 3 year olds and Jim lead the singing. We got home every night exhausted and we didn't get home until 9:30 to 10 pm. I am taking care of Jim the best I can and trying to keep the little ones out of the house so he can rest. He is getting stronger but still has his bad days. I am sooooo sorry that I have not emailed in while. I miss you all and wish we all lived closer to one another. The Lord knows I need some good friends. The closest family we have is 4 hours away. We also don't know where we are going to be from one day to another. We are staying in Birmingham a lot these days. I love you all. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Being a Christian, a wife, a mother, a caregiver, a preacher's wife, a person of chronic illness and so on is trying to get the best of me. The devil doesn't know how hard headed I am. I plan to fight him to the end. Keep the faith and love you all-----Jennifer Murrell

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Jim Needs An ICD

Sorry that we haven't called. We have been awaiting some news. We received a phone call last Thursday that he needed an ICD. He keeps going in v-tach which can cause sudden death. They told us that they would schedule that as soon as possible. We received a phone call this afternoon, they said the earliest time they had was June 23rd. This will be at UAB. This will be very risky due to the wires having to go through the narrow places in his heart. The doctors do not want to do this but due to the v-tach they don't have much choice. We are on the cancellation list. If any one cancels they will let us know. He will have at least a 3 to 4 day hospital stay and a 2 week recovery period. This is if they can do everything through the caths. If not they will have to open him up which will bring about additional risks and a longer recovery. He has had 3 really good days this week. He doesn't have much energy so he has been tiring really easy. He wants to go and do but gets exhausted once we try to go somewhere and do something.

As of right now, we will just have to wait. I pray that he will make it to the date and all will go well. I am confident that the surgery will take place when he needs it. God is in charge and I am trying to hurry Him up. I am praying that I will trust Him and His will. Each day I have to let go and let God be in charge. Love you all----Jenn

Saturday, April 18, 2009

The Cath Results

Just wanted to update everyone to this point in time. We are still in Alabama but we are staying with Jim’s parents. When we arrived Tuesday afternoon in Birmingham we were soon reunited with Randall and Cammie Evans and Kelly Coldwater. We shared a wonderful supper together and then read scriptures and prayed. We are so grateful for your words Randall they will stick with us forever. We arose Wednesday morning with little sleep due to time spent in prayer. He was supposed to have his surgery early that morning but a 2 year old arrived after us. Jim gladly told the doctors that we would wait. We were overwhelmed by all the family and friends that came to show their love and support. Thank you for all those who were there. It was a mini MSOP reunion. He went into surgery at 1 pm. We were updated about two hours in that there were 3 blockages due to scar tissue from his surgery in 1975.  At 4:30 pm the nurse told us that he was going to recovery. She told me that I could go and see him. So I went accompanied by his parents and mine. I was not allowed to go back and the doctor called me on the phone. The doctor stated that they were not able to do the entire procedures that they had planned due to his heart being substantially weaker than they had thought. They tried to balloon the blockages but could not stint them due to the areas being curved. There was also an increased risk if the stints were put into place. The doctor kept acting strange and I just asked him “Is he in heart failure?” He said “Yes.” He stated that the only thing they could do for him was to give him medicine to make it easier for his heart to work. He is not a good candidate for a pacemaker, ICD, heart transplant….. The only thing they have to offer is medication therapy. To say the least I was devastated. Jim just turned 34 years old a month ago. Everyone was shocked and tried to be strong for his return to the room at 6:30 pm. Jim was joking and having a good time when he got back and the doctor soon came around to tell him and all of us the news again. Then we meet the Advance Heart Failure team. They will be keeping track of us from now on. He could hardly breath because he was in so much pain. He would hardly eat or talk because it hurt. Thursday was a long day because we kept being reminded about what all they could not do for us. I wanted to scream I KNOW, I KNOW. The nurse was out to lunch all day it seemed because he didn’t get his pain medicine and didn’t even get breakfast or lunch. Of course, I got him food from the food court. Everyone went home by Thursday because we were supposed to go since they couldn’t help us anymore. Jim felt so bad that they did a chest x-ray and an EKG. Both came back good and we spent the night at the hospital. Friday he woke up feeling pretty good but not for long. His heart went into a dangerous V teach rhythm and he started coughing more frequently.  They did an ECHO and found fluid around his heart but not a substantial amount. They let us go around 12 pm and we went to his parents’ home. Within a few hours he was running a fever of 102.5 and coughing more. I called the doctor and he thought he might be getting pneumonia. He told us to go to the ER on Saturday if it wasn’t any better. Well it wasn’t better so I took him to a clinic that was open and he has bronchitis. He is extremely fatigued and just feels terrible. It makes me regret taking him to the doctor and the hospital and all. I know that whatever happens it will be alright. All he wants to do is preach. We got him a padded bar stool with a back so he can rest while he is preaching. We plan to go to church in Munford tomorrow morning and make it home to Philadelphia, MS by tomorrow afternoon. We are very anxious to see the brethren there and to be home. We ask for your continued prayers and support. Each of us knows that we are not promised tomorrow or the rest of today for that matter. May God continue to use Jim and our family to further his kingdom. We know that we can do everything our hearts desire for God because of His love and strength and because of you and your support and friendship. We love you all and thank you for all that you have done and for your prayers that mean SO MUCH.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Jim's First Cath Is Set

For those of you I have not spoken with, Jim will have a heart catch on April 29,2009 to correct two places in his heart that have narrowed due to scar tissue. We request your prayers because the doctor has stated that there are a lot of risks involved. If you have any questions, please email them to me. We have had numerous calls and would prefer emails at this time if possible.
 
Just wanted to let you all know that Jim has gotten worse over the past few days. I called his doctor and they moved his catch to April 15th, this coming Wednesday. It will be at UAB in Birmingham AL. He will have three different teams working on him. His fatigue has increased dramatically, retaining fluid, difficulty in breathing. It has been extremely hard seeing him like this. Please lift him and our family up in prayer not only on the 15th but every day. I have been trying to do everything and I am not physically able to do my duties and his. I am having to let some things go. We appreciate all those who have emailed and called. Your support and encouragement will never be forgotten. In Him----Jennifer

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Where It All Began

James Edward Murrell was born March 12, 1975. He was born with a rare heart condition called transposition of the great vessels. He also had two holes in his heart. The doctors performed open heart surgery on him when he was 6 months old and only weighed 9 lbs. His parents were told that his chances of survival were only 10%. Well, he survived. Dr. Pacifico later told us that he operated on 8 patients that day and Jim was the only one who made it through. Dr. Pacifico was the only one with the nerve to do this surgery on such a little baby. Jim has always beaten the odds. The doctors then told his parents that he would not make it to adulthood. Well, Jim thrived and grew and became like most little boys. He had to restrict his physical activity but other than that he was free to go and do.
   
Through the years, Jim accompanied by his parents would have checkups. All seemed great. He was doing wonderful. One of the original doctors from the surgery even called on his 18th birthday to see if he was still alive. Of course, he was and he was doing great.
 
Well, then he met me shortly thereafter on May 15, 1994. He was 19 years old. He looked healthy and was working a full-time job. We fell in love quickly. It was meant to be. He only told me about his heart after I had already fallen for him. I thought nothing of it. Jim looked great and he did anything he wanted to. He was working for Legacy Cabinets.
 
Fast forward several years to 2006. Jim was the new full-time preacher for the Philadelphia church of Christ in Philadelphia, MS. By now we had Julianna who was four years old. She is a daddy’s girl in every since of the word. We also had a wonderful surprise, James Cameron who was almost 6 months old. In October, we were cleaning up the yard and preparing for a cook out. We were going to have the Tingles over (elder from church). Jim started looking funny. He became white as a ghost. I saw him but thought he would tell me if anything was going on. Then I saw him grab his neck. I asked him what was going on. He said that his heart was stopping. I immediately started to cry. We rushed to the local hospital and soon to UAB. He was right. He kept flat lining. He was so calm. He would be sitting there talking and then the machine would sound off that his heart wasn’t beating anymore. He would look over at it and then his heart would kick real hard and start beating again. He went through several tests and eventually we were sent home. The doctors stated that they wasn’t anything they could really do it was really just PVCs.
 
From then on, I started noticing little things which eventually became normal and then scary. He would turn grey, he would tire out easy, he would be dizzy, he had to take a lot of extra breaths…etc. I tried to get him to go to the doctor but he dismissed it time and time again. Then in Feb 2009 he told me that he wanted to go to the doctor. We had an appointment made in March with his doctor.
 
The following is email updates that I sent to our family and friends to let them know what was happening.