If there is anything I will take with me into 2012 it will be 18 year old Ben Breedlove’s message of love in his last YouTube video a week before a heart attack on Christmas Day, December 25, 2011. These peaceful, but heartwrenching two videos were uploaded by Ben (TotalRandomness512) on December 18, 2011. Three near death experiences and seven days from this last video, he passed on. He left us with a treasure to take into 2012 and beyond.
Ben Breedlove, an 18 year old teen from Austin, Texas, cheated death three times. Such a beautiful and wise young man, Ben finally lost his life on Christmas night after suffering from a heart attack. All throughout his short life, Ben had been fighting a life-threatening heart condition called hypertropic cardiomyopathy. He fought this very dangerous and life threatening disease every day as he was growing up.
In one of Ben’s videos he says 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.’ But, Ben’s last YouTube video revealed even more. Describing his experiences with flash cards, you are given another gift from Ben. Notice those smiles at recalling his near-death experiences – the excited smiles of one who has been there and has felt the peace and love of God and Heaven!
He even asks you a question at the end of the video. It brings tears to most who view Ben’s video…and instantly you know this young man has a message for all of us. Carry this message into the 2012 New Year. This was the year Ben would have graduated. You’ll find it will be with you for the rest of your life. It’s a comforting message and within those seven minutes of precious Ben’s video, I feel as if I know him completely and cry each time it plays. There is no doubt that you will fall in love with him – in life and in death.
The Austin teenager had a near death experience when he was four, fourteen and then less than a month ago. 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.’
Ben recorded videos of his life and near-death experiences and how at peace he felt when he believed he was leaving the world.
In his last YouTube video, uploaded on December 18, exactly one week to the day, he made the heartbreaking video, using a series of flash cards to talk about growing up with the heart problem.
In the video, he shares these experiences, including the bright light that brought him peace the first time around and the time he was wearing a suit and standing in a white room in front of a mirror with his favorite rapper Kid Cudi. The flash card he held up he said he thought ‘Damn we look good!’
Of this experience, he wrote: ‘I then looked in the mirror, I was proud of myself of my entire life, everything I have done. It was the BEST feeling.’
The 27 year old rapper, Kid Cudi (real name Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi) has found massive success over the course of the last few years both in music, and television. He’s released two critically acclaimed solo albums (with a third scheduled for 2012) and has also become a breakout star on the HBO hit series, ‘How To Make It In America’. Unfortunately for Cudi, the holidays weren’t simply for celebrating this year as he learned that one of his longtime fans, Ben Breedlove had had a heart-attack and passed away on Christmas day.After hearing of Ben’s death Kid posted this in his blog: ‘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.’
Rest in peace, sweet Ben. You have helped so many and yes, God, the angels you speak of and we who see your video have all our love. My sympathy for your family. It is so tragic to lose a child. Yet, you, Ben, hold a high place among the angels in Heaven and in so many earthbound hearts and memories. We are so proud of you for sharing this with us. I’ll never forget Ben’s beautiful, angelic smiles on this video as he recalls his near death experiences.
Ben had a popular YouTube channel ‘OurAdvice4You’ (this particular video is about Ben.) The channel continued until Ben’s death and has been continued by in which he dealt out relationship advice to his peers.
I also find it comforting and significant that Ben’s videos total seven minutes long; he cheated death three times, and died seven days after his video was produced. Three symbolizes the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.) The number seven is also a holy number throughout the Bible, especially our Lord creating the earth and “on the seventh day He rested.” No more pain. We take comfort in that you are at peace, surrounded by God’s love.
Part Two video continued in following column….
