Ben Breedlove

[WinJStar]

Have you all heard about this kid? Very sweet and sad. His parents saw his youtube videos after he died on Christmas Day.

This was in People Magazine:

By the time Ben Breedlove's parents discovered the videos on Monday, the YouTube recordings of their 18-year-old son talking about his impending death had already gone viral.

But his parents could feel as if he were talking only to them.

"They were brought to tears, seeing their son again. And they too were amazed at the depth he showed in this video," Ben's sister Ally Breedlove tells PEOPLE.

The videos were found the day after Ben died on Christmas Day of a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

"Ben told us he wanted to go back, of the peace he experienced and how he wanted to go back to that place. And that he was ready," says Ally, 19. "And I personally think he left it for us to find. This was his way of leaving us with something that we would need."

The pastor who spoke before 1,500 people at Breedlove's funeral in Austin on Thursday said Breedlove's videos demonstrated a level of insight and compassion that he probably had no idea would comfort and inspire people around the world.

"Talking with the Breedlove family, they fully believe there was a purpose to it all," John Burke, lead pastor of Gateway Church, told the congregation.

"Ben had a compassion for people who struggle," the pastor said as he referred to the song “Mr. Rager” by Kid Cudi, Ben's favorite rapper.

Ally, who spoke first at the service, called the day a celebration. She said she was wearing earrings Ben gave to her and that she chose to wear a blue dress because it was so colorful.

The article made me look and I found the final video.



He seemed like a great kid. This video from his channel was done many months ago. Sad hearing him speak about future plans.

BreedloveTV's Channel - YouTube

Anyway, the comments were interesting. Lots of atheists speaking about the after life, if there is one, etc...

I can imagine this is one viral video the parents were grateful to find.

I didn't really research, but I am guessing due to his last episode and going 3 minutes without oxygen, probably influenced his ability to speak hence the flash cards.

[SuddenMoves]

plenty of food for thought here......

[skyguy2007]

Kewl the way he viewed and handled his life!

[waggie]

Inspiration for us all...

[SuddenMoves]

I don't think there was anything wrong with his voice/speech..I didn't see any evidence of motor skills lacking... I think the flash cards were the only way to get such a story out. I don't know anyone strong enough to deliver such a message without breaking down in tears...I know I couldn't do it- even if it was about someone else...the video is especially gutwrenching when viewed on the channel he set aside for this, where you can hear the piano music from Lady Gaga? he chose to accompany the video.

TotalRandomness512's Channel - YouTube

[WinJStar]

Possibly. Although the second video was done months ago while he felt healthy and had a future. The first video was just after his latest episode when he had lack of oxygen to his brain for 3 minutes. Either way, it was very profound and I can imagine it gave his parents some solace.

[WinJStar]

As a final recap, this was one journalist's take.

Photo courtesy of the Breedlove Family

REMEMBERING BEN

In my more than 20 years as a journalist, I'd never encountered a family as well equipped to cope with a teenager's untimely death as the Breedloves of Austin, whose 18-year-old son Ben died on Christmas. The family drew strength, in part, from a YouTube video Ben made shortly before his death, describing his hopes and dreams and how a life-long heart condition had nearly taken his life three times. The last episode, he explains in the video, which went viral after his passing, was on December 6. He said he had a vision while the doctors worked on him that was so blissful he did not want to come back. Shawn Breedlove, his father, told me Ben also told the family he was praying they might someday find that peace he'd already had a taste of. “If you're going to lose a son,” Shawn told me, “I think it was a blessing to have this video from your child telling you he's okay with everything.” I also called Ben's sister Ally, 19, who answered all of my questions, even as she drove around preparing for Ben's funeral. Each time we got disconnected, she called me right back and picked up where we left off. She explained that each time Ben had a major episode in the past there was no guarantee he could be revived, and the odds of bringing him back were getting slimmer. “It wasn't really different this time,” she said. “We were just blessed to be able to revive him all of those times before. His heart just got to a point where it was too weak.” An hour after our interview, I was able to watch the funeral, which was being streamed live on the Internet. Ally was the opening speaker. Wearing a bright blue dress, she told the 1,500 mourners that Ben's passing was not to be seen as a grim occasion because he was well prepared.

– Howard Breuer