Sad Postscript

It is with a heavy heart that I make this last posting to Ben's Blog. Since the last posting on September 7, 2008, Ben continued to make progress. He left the rehab center at Salt Lake Regional Hospital and moved into our home where he continued his extensive therapy. He gained strength and progressed from wheelchair to crutches to cane to assist his walking. Through it all, Ben kept a positive attitude and expressed his thanks for the prayers and loving support of friends and family. By the end of October, he had finished with the in-home therapy and in early November, he was able to resume work at ARUP in the job he truly loved.

Ben continued to gain strength but he was often frustated by his physical limitations and inability to do the things he used to do. However, he was able to get to work by taking the bus and from all reports was performing adequately in his job. The new-found freedom took its toll with Ben as he started back with some of the addictive behaviors from his past. He continued to be seen by various doctors. Because of his constaint pain, he was prescribed oxycodone which he kept hidden from his family.

We had a great Christmas with Ben and the entire family as we celebrated his miracle. After Christmas, Ben had progressed to the point that he was able to move out of the family home. He moved in with his Brother, Joshua to share a small Condo where he was able to find the independence he was seeking. Ben continued to have his struggles, but he was looking forward to taking another step forward by getting his driver's license and purchasing a car. Last week (February 3), his oxycodone prescription was renewed and Ben, while sucessfully hiding it from the family, self adjusted his medication. In the early morning hours of February 8, Ben passed away.

As Ben's family, we express our gratitude to all of Ben's friends who cheered him on as we witnessed a miracle in his life which provided him with a second chance. However, his weakened body was no match for a second assault from the drugs he took to ease his pain. We take comfort in our secure knowledge that Ben has moved on to another sphere where he is with beloved family members who have gone before him. Our family has been strengthened by the miracle we witnessed in Ben's life and the loving support from friends and family. In one of the many blessings Ben was given while he was in the coma last summer, was that he would recover and be able to serve a mission to teach others about our Father in Heaven. We just did not know that his mission would be so short.

Thank you for the love and concern you had for our son.

Ben's Dad