What can you say about a high school senior born to breed love, as his name aptly implies.
I had wanted to help spread his Christmas message during the holidays, but end of the year stuff had me in its clutches.
Of course, it’s never too late to pass on an inspired message when you receive one, so here’s my gift to all of you 2012 doom and gloom naysayers.
Ben Breedlove was born 18 years ago with a serious heart disease (HCM), which made it difficult for his heart to pump blood. Somehow, he was able to cheat death 3 times, but on the fourth occasion, death dealt his family a heavy blow I’m sure they’re still reeling from.
Ben, on the other hand, was not afraid to meet his maker. That’s because he already met her 3 times before.
‘Look at the bright light,’ he said, and pointed up [to his mom} She said she didn’t see anything.” ~ Ben Breedlove
The first time, he was four when he suffered a life-threatening seizure. He was being wheeled on a gurney through the hospital hallway with his mother and 2 nurses beside him, when he observed this amazing bright light above him. I told my mom, ‘Look at the bright light’ and pointed up. She said she didn’t see anything.” Ben saw it, though, and he smiled because it filled him with joy. He never forgot that light.
In 2009, doctors decided to put a pacemaker in and the handsome young lad in the youtube video lifted his shirt to show his audience the impressive scar it left.
On the second occasion he cheated death, his heart gave out during a routine tonsillectomy, this past summer. But once more Ben came back to life and he felt quite happy about it and smiled.
“Do you believe in angels…Do you believe in God? I do.” ~ Ben Breedlove
Later this year, Ben passed out in the hallway and could hear the EMT’s applying the paddles AFTER his heart gave out. While Ben’s body ceased to beat, Ben’s soul journeyed fourth to a white room without walls. He was dressed in a handsome white suit and his favorite rapper, Kid Cudi, appeared beside him in similar fashion. Ben gazed into a mirror and was pleased with their appearance. He then had a life review and felt he passed with flying colors. He was proud of the life he led and this feeling filled him with the same joy he once felt while gazing at the light at the age of 4.
In his head he heard the lyrics to a particular tune Kid Cudi once wrote: “When is the fantasy going to end, and heaven begin?” it went. Without warning, the rapper loudly ordered him back into his body and with a whoosh, back he went.
Ben wasn’t pleased to be among the living once more. He’d gotten a glimpse of the other side and liked all he felt. He knew the struggles that lay ahead with this disease and experienced death as a far better alternative.
On Christmas Day, that evening, an ambulance came for Ben. He’d suffered another heart attack and was never to return to his body again.
One week before his passing, Ben recorded a youtube video in which he told his entire story on notecards. It was such an impressively artistic way he chose to share his story, you couldn’t help but be moved by it.
The last card he held up asked the question: “Do you believe in angels…Do you believe in God? I do,” he wrote.
After Ben’s passing, his video went viral and his story reached millions.
With the New Year now upon us and all it entails…Mayan predictions…Pluto Squaring Uranus…Revolutions everywhere, gases in the ice caps, etc… what better time could there be for Ben to Breed Love to the masses? I can only hope it starts an epidemic that will infect us all in the year 2012.
Happy New Year to all of my wonderful readers!
May you experience love, joy and order many good books (hint..hint) on your Kindles and Nooks!
Incidentally, Time Warped was just nominated in a reader’s poll in the Young Adult Category. Votes will be tallied on Jan 10, if anyone would like to kindly cast their vote, here’s the link: Vote here