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Tuesday, January 3, 2012

"This Is My Story" - Ben Breedlove Flash Card Video

by Michael




After cheating death three times, Ben Breedlove, 18, finally lost his life on Christmas night after suffering from a heart attack.

But not before he recorded videos of his life and near-death experiences and how at peace he felt when he believed he was leaving the world.

The Austin teenager had a life-threatening heart condition he fought every day as he was growing up.

He had a near death experience when he was four, fourteen and then less than a month ago.

In the video, he shares these experiences, including the bright light that brought him peace the first time around.

Talking about the white light he saw in the hospital when he was four he wrote: 'I couldn't take my eyes off it, and I couldn't help but smile. I had no worries at all, like nothing else in the world mattered.'

It was in his last YouTube video, uploaded on December 18, that he made the heartbreaking video, using a series of flash cards to talk about growing up with the heart problem.


He revealed he regrets not being like everyone else: 'I was never allowed to play sports that my friends did. It kinda sucks that I missed out on that part of my life.'

Death drifted close during a routine tonsil surgery this summer. And at school Dec. 6, Breedlove again nearly died.

His vision then was detailed: Dressed in a suit, he stood in a white room with a mirror but no walls. Accompanied only by Kid Cudi, his favorite rapper, Breedlove felt a sense of pride for everything he'd accomplished in his life.

"It was the BEST feeling," he wrote in one of the signs.

Kid Cudi placed a hand on the teen's shoulder, and he heard his favorite track by the rapper, one with the lyrics: "When will the fantasy end? When will heaven begin?"

The rapper posted this message on his blog after hearing of Ben's death: 'I am so sad about Ben Breedlove. I watched the video he left for the world to see, and him seeing me in detail, in his vision really warmed my heart. 

'I broke down... To Ben’s family, you raised a real hero, he’s definitely mine. You have my love.'

That time, Breedlove wrote, he did not want to be revived.

An emergency responder who brought the teen back said he was smiling before he was resuscitated, said John Burke, a pastor at Gateway Church.

Watching the teen's video after his death, Kid Cudi "broke down," the rapper wrote on his blog.
Ally Breedlove, Ben's sister, sought to impart the meaning of her brother's message to hundreds of family and friends gathered at the church.

"Today is a celebration of the joy Ben brought to our lives," she said, "and it's also a chance to find truth in the message that he left for us."

At the end of Breedlove's video, he holds up two final signs. The first asks, "Do you believe in Angels or God?"

The second says, "I Do."

Burke, the pastor, asked mourners to consider the video's impact.

"Just think about the gift that Ben has left millions of people all over the world," he said. "He put thought into that last video."




54 comments:

Tina~in_ut said...

Good Moaning~

Tina~in_ut said...

Michael~ I LOVE this blag!~ been thinking of nothing else since u sent it......thank you~

Dianne/Denver said...

Morning

Dianne/Denver said...

Wow--- that was quite a blog. I watched it before I read it. Inspiring but still sad to lose such a fine young man. Thanks for sending it in , Michael.

Hi Tina--nice to see u this bright morning. I had to take Louis to airport at 4:15 AM so half my day is over. It was kind of pretty that time of day. I don't see it much.

Tinka said...

Good Morning Tina and Dianne.

This morning I woke up to Jack sitting on the edge of the bed with his back to me. He had been up a half hour. He wasn't talking and then I quickly realized he couldn't get his words out. I knew he was having a small stoke (TIA). He had one before Christmas and was in hospital for the day. I phoned 911 and he has gone to the hospital again. I would appreciate prayers this morning please. A TIA is a warning sign that a big one could be coming. I just wish he would slow down. He retired 12 years ago from his job as Principal of a large High School where he had a lot of stress. He still however refuses to slow down at working at our trout farm. He puts in long hours. His body is telling him something but he won't listen to it or to me or our kids. Thanks for listening. I probably would not have said anything except for the nature of the blog today.

Tinka said...

Michael - I was mesmerized by your blog today. Somehow it calmed me down. What a beautiful story. It broke my heart to think that handsome boy is no longer on earth but I am sure he is happy in heaven. I am so glad I believe in heaven. It brings peace when there is sadness. Thanks for sharing. I am going to have a cup of tea now and wait for word from my daughter that Jack is OK. I am sure he will be.

Dianne/Denver said...

Tink: please let us know about Jack as soon as u know anything. I hope he will be fine. I know it is hard to get people to slow down sometimes.

Zona said...

MICHAEL: That was amazing..I really have no words..except that it really touched my heart. Thank you.

TINKA: I will be praying for Jack. I sure wish I could come up with something for you to say to him that would make him see that he needs to slow down..something that he wouldn't and couldn't argue with..I really do.

And my dear friend..make sure you get some rest too..ok? Love you.

Good Morning..for 12 more minutes..TINA and DI and then good afternoon :)

Just_Lin said...

Tina Remember that old commercial where the woman said, "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful"? You must feel that way, being first and most beautiful so often.

Just_Lin said...

Michael Thank you for that moving and inspiring blog. I did see a story on this young man recently on a news program. I had only seen part of the video, though. I'm glad he was convinced that he would be in heaven. He seems to have good reason for that. Perhaps this young man's experience might help give you a teensy bit of faith, too.

Unknown said...

well...

this touched me deeply too...and typically...I started googling and reading as much as I could about Ben and his family...

the most touching thing isn't posted here...at the request of Bens family the church did a live feed of his funeral on the internet so that people around the world who had become friends of Ben thru his YouTube channel could be there...

I watched his funeral and his sister spoke at the beginning...you should hear it....it is still on the church website and here is the link...

http://www.gatewaychurch.com/2011/12/31/ben-breedlove-memorial/

Bens story has made me rethink my own beliefs and my own acceptance of many things...

I know it has had a profound effect on people around the world...

Just_Lin said...

Tinka I will be praying for Jack. My friend and former fiance, Tate, had a small stroke a few years ago. They discovered a blockage and put a stint in and he has had no problems since then. Sending you hugs and keeping you in my prayers, too.

Just_Lin said...

Michael I'm smiling broadly at you. :D

Just_Lin said...

Dianne You and I are such late night people. It really is like a different world to be up and outside really early isn't it?

Just_Lin said...

Zona 32 more minutes to afternoon here. Wonder if I'll be out of my robe by then. LOL

Unknown said...

Tinka!

Sorry to hear about Jack!

You may remember my friends...Anna and Doug...that I help with stuff...

Doug has has several strokes....I found him once during a bad one. He has serious balance problems among other things...but...for all the fear and worry he has had...that I have had over his health...and that his wife has had...

he won't slow down...won't eat right...continues to smoke...he just recently used his bulldozer to clear and clean a large pond for his son...(during the drought while the water was very low)

I truly love Doug and Anne and I don't want to see Doug's quality of life diminish any more than it has....

But I just don't think he would be happy if he had to stay in the house and be too sedimentary...

It simply isn't his style...he is very sweet to listen to reason and not argue...and as soon as I finish he will go outside and haul branches and large tree limbs that have fallen until the pile is big enough and start himself a bonfire and stay with it till it burns...and if its still light out he might mow the yard or wash a car or truck....

At least he finally uses his scooter to get around outside...

If you figure out a way to get Jack to slow down maybe it will work for Doug...

Unknown said...

J/L....

if I could let the logic go and just follow my heart I think my struggle would be over...

its like I have a little devil on one shoulder and a little angel on the other...I think the little devil is a democrat... :/

Just_Lin said...

Michael Your heart knows.

Tinka said...

Dianne - I don't know anything yet. Someone got him a phone and he called me but he didn't make any sense. His words are jumbled. Cara is with him now and she called and said they are doing more C.T. scans and other tests. She doesn't know anything yet. Thanks for your concern.

Tinka said...

Zona - Maybe your prayers will help him slow down. Lighting a candle wouldn't hurt either. I will now listen to you and go and have my nap. I won't hear anything for at least a couple of hours. Love you. Tink

Tinka said...

Michael - Your friend Doug sounds just like Jack. I know he would not survive just sitting around the house. My daughter is trying to talk him into keeping it as a small hobby farm and never mind wanting to stay the biggest farm on the Island. There is such a demand for trout and he hates to disappoint anyone especially the rest homes. They love his weekly visit with his trout.

Tinka said...

Just_Lin - Thank you for your encouraging words. Hopefully they will do something that will reduce the chances of a big stroke. He is already on medicine for it but maybe a stent would help.

Tinka said...

I am off for my nap. See you later. I will say a prayer for Ben's family. What a great loss.

Maureen said...

MICHAEL...I can't watch the vid, but anytime a child is taken before really having a chance to live just breaks my heart. And it sounds like this young man could have made a difference in this world. I will watch it next time I go to the library.

TINKA...I will keep Jack and YOU in my thoughts and prayers.

Just_Lin said...

My local Curves has re-opened with a new owner. Yay! I am very glad and just returned from my exercise session. Afterward, I went out to the parking lot and tried to get into the wrong car! LOL

Dianne/Denver said...

So I'm "single" for a few days and now I feel like I'm getting sick--- yuck, bad deal!!!

Unknown said...

Maureen...

its heavy...use the link (funeral) I posted to watch what his sister said about her talk with him when she found him on the dock late one night before he died...

He was a board rider on Lake Austin where his family lives...Ben had a pretty neat life...yet he so wanted to go back to that peaceful place...

I am thankful that he shared so much on his youtube channel...and that people like me got to know a little piece of him...

Unknown said...

I wish Tinka would post something about Jack....

Unknown said...

thats funny J/L...

You were just excited!!

Maureen said...

JUST LIN...I think we are kindred spirits!!

Maureen said...

DIANNE...no getting sick...no getting sick...no getting sick

Lynn D said...

Eveni ng all,

Tinka thinking about you and jack,hoping he will be okay.

Michael i have been amazed by this young mans story.

Tinka said...

Michael - Thanks for asking. I haven't posted anything because I really didn't have any news. They are continuing to test him and watch him. He seems quite well when he is lying down. When they helped him up to phone me he was fine for a few sentences and then I could no longer understand him. They then began doing different tests. He is being kept all night so it is lonely here in this big house. I hope to know more tomorrow.

Tinka said...

Dianne - I hope you are feeling well soon. There seems to be a lot of flu in this city. Is it the same where you live? Many of our family members have been sick for a day or two over the holidays. Usually flu starts here in January.

Tinka said...

Maureen and Lynn - Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. I know they are going to help.

Just_Lin said...

MO Waving a wing at you. I missed seeing you earlier. I'm so sorry.

Just_Lin said...

LynnD Waving my wing at you, too. Wouldn't it be neat if Richard grew up to be a weatherman?

Just_Lin said...

Dianne Well, that's no fun at all. You should spend your bachelorette time doing something fun with girlfriends, not staying home being sick. Btw, did you watch Bachelor last night?

Just_Lin said...

Tinka I'll be keeping you and Jack in my prayers. I hope they have answers soon.

Maureen said...

JUST LIN...no problem! I am so slight and petite it is easy to miss me :)

Maureen said...

I'm watching old episodes of CHiPS! Who is your favorite chippy...Ponch or Baker?

Mine is Baker...Jon Wilcox.

Maureen said...

DUH...LARRY Wilcox! OY

Tinka said...

Michael - I just watched the memorial they had for Ben. It was truly inspiring. I think it will make a lot of people around the world re-consider their ideas of life after death. I thought it was beautiful.

I am off to bed. I have wondered around the house enough today.

I am going to watch one of the episodes of "Touched by An Angel". Thanks for sending the series to me Zona. I couldn't find it here and I love that show.

Thanks again Friend Owls for the prayers. I will check in tomorrow.

Good Night and God Bless. Tink

Just_Lin said...

MO At the time the show was on, I think I liked Ponch best but that changed later.

I think you had a pencil in your hand and I couldn't see you behind it. ;)

Just_Lin said...

Tinka And God bless you. I'll pray that you hear good news in the morning.

sacBarb said...

Michael, this is a very inspiring story. I had not heard of this young man.

Mo, I met Erick Estrada a few years ago when I was chairing an exam for the CHP. He was here to make some public announcement spots for the CHP. I was NOT impressed AT ALL! He was very pompous and was fishing for complements and praise about his acting in the spots. He didn't get it from me. I did like him when the show was on, however.

sacBarb said...

Dianne, I hope you are not sick the whole time your Hubby is gone. That would really suck, with no one there to wait on you.

sacBarb said...

Tina, How lovely you are today. I know I don't say this much, but thanks for keeping the blog going. Even though I'm not here every day, I would miss it terribly if it were gone altogether.

sacBarb said...

Tinka, I'm so sorry to hear about Jack. I will keep him and you in my prayers.

sacBarb said...

Zona, are your Christmas decorations still up? I got my son to help me get my tree down the other day, but I still have boxes of decorations to put away.

sacBarb said...

J/L, The Curves near me has closed but we have another exercise place a little farther away that most of the women have joined. I hope to be able to join it also when I get the OK from my Doc.

sacBarb said...

Waving to all the Owls and a good night and sweet dreams to everyone. Have a good hump day.

Just_Lin said...

SacBarb I hope you have a good hump day, too.

I celebrated my return to exercising by having a hot fudge sundae tonight. LOL

Maureen said...

SAC BARB...a few years ago some friends and I were going to a stamping show and went for breakfast at Bob Evans and Erik Estrada was there. He was friendly to everyone and shaking hands, like he was the king of the world!