Update -- Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005
We have good news about Ben’s friend, Libby North.
Libby finally returned to the USA along with her parents on Northwest Airlines. Northwest had teams waiting for her in Tokyo, Minneapolis, and Cleveland to help navigate the airports. They seated her in the first row of business class, near the door and restroom. When she arrived in Cleveland, the Cleveland Clinic picked her up in a limo at the airport and settled her in a VIP room at the clinic at no extra charge.
Her hand is better and she has some feeling both on the hand and in several of her fingers. Her leg wound is still partially open and may stay open for up to 6 more weeks. It has not healed enough to close the wound and skin grafts pose their own set of problems. She needs to clean the wound 3 times a day to prevent infections.
Libby and her mom hope to come to Evanston next weekend to attend Ben’s memorial service. They are concerned about the logistics, but really want to make it. If so, we will make sure that she gets all the medical attention she needs while here.
Libby finally returned to the USA along with her parents on Northwest Airlines. Northwest had teams waiting for her in Tokyo, Minneapolis, and Cleveland to help navigate the airports. They seated her in the first row of business class, near the door and restroom. When she arrived in Cleveland, the Cleveland Clinic picked her up in a limo at the airport and settled her in a VIP room at the clinic at no extra charge.
Her hand is better and she has some feeling both on the hand and in several of her fingers. Her leg wound is still partially open and may stay open for up to 6 more weeks. It has not healed enough to close the wound and skin grafts pose their own set of problems. She needs to clean the wound 3 times a day to prevent infections.
Libby and her mom hope to come to Evanston next weekend to attend Ben’s memorial service. They are concerned about the logistics, but really want to make it. If so, we will make sure that she gets all the medical attention she needs while here.
7 Comments:
Dear Abel Family,
I have recently learned about Ben and would like to express my sympathy to your family.
I live on Jen's old street in Oakland and met Ben as he came and went. While I didn't know him well, I recall the excitement that his visits brought and the enjoyment he gave to Jen, Cassidy, Emmett and Alex.
Best Wishes, Prudence, Rika, Jean-Luc and Michael
Taare wrote...
Sorry to hear about Ben. He was a good friend of mine. We stayed in B.A, Argentina together for a few months. He was a good person. I live in Phuket and we would have gone to Phi Phi together but I had to come home to Australia 3 weeks before, for family reasons. I go back to Phuket next month to work as a teacher. I will visit Phi Phi and to make some prayers.
Taare ( Kiwi mate ) know from Hostel Clan, Argentina.
This evening I received a phone call from my good friend Ellen Page in Boulder, CO. Ellen shared with me the sad and shocking news about Ben that she had just learned from the Paula Zahn show. I used to live in Boulder (about 7 years ago) and knew Ben through Ellen and Ryan Christ. Although I did not know Ben very well or for very long, his friendliness and kindness made an impression. Just recently I was telling the story about the first time I ever had sushi. I was out to dinner with Ben and he patiently walked me through the process (which was particularly impressive on his part given my lack of dexterity with chopsticks.) Ben simply smiled and pretended not to notice the total mess I made. I'll always remember Ben with a smile on his face.
To the Abels family, I am deeply saddened to hear of your loss. I hope you find some comfort in the beautiful stories about Ben written by his friends and by knowing he touched so many lives in such a positive way.
Hillary Collyer
Washington, D.C.
Hi. We are one of your neighbors on Payne Street. We met you once, Mr. Abels, when my daughter was selling Girl Scout cookies. When we heard of your heartache with Ben, we were tremendously saddened. Whenever we pass your house, I say a silent prayer for you in the hopes that your miracle will happen. Please know that there are people all around you with good thoughts for you, praying for all of you.
Hi. We are one of your neighbors on Payne Street. We met you once, Mr. Abels, when my daughter was selling Girl Scout cookies. When we heard of your heartache with Ben, we were tremendously saddened. Whenever we pass your house, I say a silent prayer for you in the hopes that your miracle will happen. Please know that there are people all around you with good thoughts for you, praying for all of you.
The Abels family wanted to share with you the following note they received from Jason Suplizio.
I consider myself one of Ben's closest friends as he is certainly one of my dearest friends. We email and speak frequently; at least talking once every 2 weeks for a decade now. In fact, I received several emails from him during his trip (I believe he was in Hong Kong and just left Cambodia). I wrote him back and told him that, considering how my life is so busy right now (pregnancy and kids) that I truly admire his free spiritedness and that he continues to live life exactly on his own terms.
Ben stayed with me in June for a week (we had a party for him) and I remember telling him that more than any individual I know he is amazing at creating and maintaining meaningful and lasting friendships. During that visit, my wife Abby told Ben that he's her favorite of all my friends that she wishes he lived in Seattle so that we can spend much more time together. I've attached some pics of Ben with my son Gabriel and from his visit in Fall 2002 (right before he traveled to Mexico) on a trip we made with him to Mt. Baker, Washington. I got us a cabin up there and we had so much fun.
I will continue to pray for you and your family and for Ben. Please remember that I am sincere in my offer to help you at any time and would be honored to do so.
Much love and respect,
Jason Suplizio
Nano, one of Ben's many friends around the world, sent this note to David, Ben's brother.
Dave,
I'm really sad at the moment. I knew Ben is missing
last friday because Carrie (a friend of Ben) sent me
an e-mail to tell me.
I knew Ben when I was in Europe on 2000. I was traveling for six months and met people from a lot of countries. But I can say that Ben is the only guy that became my friend outside Argentina (I'm from Buenos Aires). He is a really great person and a good friend!!
One or two days after the tsunami I received a post card from Ben when He was in Hong Kong and I had no news until last friday...
My family (my parents, my sister and my brother) and my girlfriend canｴt believe the news about Ben. They know him when he stayed here in Buenos Aires.
For me is imposible to go there for the service but I'm thinking in Ben all the time and I hope he will appear.
Dave, please read this e-mail to your parents and tell
them that all that can I do from here I will do. Just
tell me.
Sincerely,
nano
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