Thank you both for your kind words, I am Ben's mom and thought I would share a brief update on where Ben is today.
I can tell you we had no idea when we did that show just how far reaching it would be. We could tell at the end of the day something amazing had happened but couldn't have imagined the people we would help. The really incredible thing was how much I learned while we were preparing for the show. Ben had explained some things to me that even I didn't realize, I couldn't understand the 3-D issue at all until I heard him explain it on the show. He still watches 3D movies without the glasses!
Ben is now almost 17, he is finishing grade 11 and getting ready for his last year of high school. High School has been a great way for him to explore who he is and start to find out what direction he wants life to take. He played football this past season with the seniors and again I was floored by how much he learned from this experience, but mostly just how accepting his team mates were. He tells me no football next year as it will take away from other plans he has. Ben has developed an interest in tv and film, and this year is working at a local TV station as part of a high school course. He works on the production team of 2 local programs and I can't tell you how excited we were the first time we saw his name in the credits!!! He is operating cameras, sound and video editing and preparing graphics. A lot of his work is being done during a live show and his supervisor has given him rave reviews.
Ben is taking the bus (3 in fact!) to and from the studio from school each day and has even gone into work on school holidays and spring break. He is working towards continuing his studies in tv and film in college after high school.
Believe me it is not all rainbows and Pixie Dust, we still have day to day struggles and Ben is still trying to navigate the social aspects of high school and the world in general.
As always I am in awe of my son and the dignified way he finds his way in the world. He faces many challenges during the course of what many of us consider day to day life, and somehow finds his way. He has gotten knocked down more times in his short life than any one person should in 2 lifetimes, but each time he gets up, dusts himself off and faces the next hurdle.
We are so humbled by how many people we continue to touch with this show and appreciate all of the kind words and feedback. Doing this show helped Ben walk a little taller and gave his self confidence a much needed boost. As always we remain so proud of the boy he is and the man he is becoming!
