An Inspirational Story

Every once and awhile a story comes along that touches your heart and makes you think. The boy below was Ben Breedlove. Notice the past tense. Ben died on Christmas day from a long time heart condition. Just days before he died, he made two videos chronicling the times he cheated death. Ben was 18 and in his senior year of high school. He had his whole life ahead of him. Instead, he perished on what is supposed to be a day of celebration and love. It really makes you think about life and death and the events that lead up to the moment where your heart no longer beats for you and you pass on. Death is one of the most accepting things on this earth. It cares not for age, beauty, gender, race, religion or love. It will take you in any way it chooses and sometimes, it can be unfair. I could confidently say I am not afraid of death. I am more afraid of what I'll miss when I am gone. So for now, I live my life and hope I get the chance to see it through. Not everyone is so lucky. Ben was not lucky. But what he did with the life he had was enough for him. He is proud of what he has accomplished. And even though he wasn't able to play sports with his friends, he made it work. He was not afraid of death. And in making these videos, he gave his parents of semblance of peace in knowing that he was not afraid. Note the smile and the slight chuckles at some of what he says. He knew of the fate that would eventually come to collect. And he accepted. Watch these videos, laugh, cry or think. And the next time something doesn't go your way, think of Ben and he turned a diagnosis that wasn't in his favor into something great.