Ben Bowen
Ben Bowen | |
|---|---|
Brain cancer (ATRT) | |
| Resting place | Ridgelawn Memorial Park |
| Other names | "Big Ben" |
| Website | http://www.bens-story.com |
Benjamin David "Ben" Bowen (November 14, 2002 – February 25, 2005),raise awareness of childhood cancer and to raise almost $4 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Bowen's life
On November 14, 2002, Ben Bowen was born to Tom and Jennifer Bowen. Ben had a normal infancy until age 16 months, when he was diagnosed with a golf-ball–sized
brain surgery.[citation needed] The tumor proved to be a very aggressive, rare, and fast-growing atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT). The Bowens transferred to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in March 2004.[3]
Ben's initial treatments included four
brain surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. During this treatment period, Ben Bowen picked up the nickname "Big Ben" because of his "big" demeanor, bravery and smile.[citation needed
] The tumor reoccurred by November 2004, and no known medicines or treatments were left to help him.
With assistance from
Disney World, where they celebrated his second birthday.[4]
Fundraising
The Bowens wanted to create a legacy in their son's name and thank Saint Jude Hospital for caring for Bowen and providing family housing. The Bowens started a fund raising program selling "Big Ben"
US$120,000[2]
The 2007 fundraising drive was a raffle for a house (called The House that Ben Built) located in Putnam County, West Virginia, which brought in $808,000.[7][8] Governor Joe Manchin changed WV state law to make this raffle possible. As a result, St. Jude launched a WV field office that organizes all state fundraising for the hospital. In 2008 the Bowen family organized a second St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway raffle in Hurricane, WVA and raised over $1,000,000.[9] The third annual WV St. Jude Dream Home was scheduled to expand to two locations, Milton and Morgantown, WV, in 2009.[needs update]
Death
Ben Bowen's last months were
Protestant Christians and relied on their belief that God has a plan for each life and that faith requires believing God's good promises.[3]
Ben died on February 25, 2005.
as Ben Bowen's legacy.
Honors
- Ben Bowen was the St. Jude Children's Hospital Patient of the Month for September 2004.[12]
- Shelby County, Tennessee Sheriff Mark Luttrell declared December 6, 2004, to be Benjamin Bowen Day.[13]
- West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin honored Bowen's life with a special citation on February 13, 2005.[1][14]
- The State Journal honored Bowen and his family as one of 55 Good Things about West Virginia in May, 2005[15] This honor was published in a 2005 State Journal special issue. This story was also featured in an associated TV program, which was broadcast on a number of West Virginia Media Holdings stations.
- St. Jude Children's Hospital as well as families with sick children.[10]
- A new four-lane bypass, West Virginia Route 193, near Huntington, West Virginia was named the "Big Ben" Bowen Highway in September, 2006.[16]
Ben Bowen's influence
- Ben Bowen's story has raised almost $4 million for St. Jude Children's Hospital.
- Ben Bowen and his family were featured in the 2004 Autumn issue of Saint Jude's Promise, a magazine published by the hospital. It described how the 9/11 families that firefighter Tom Bowen helped, in turn helped Ben Bowen.[3]
- St. Jude's Children's Hospital produced one-hour special TV show, Fighting for Life that featured Ben Bowen as one of six patients being treated for childhood cancer at Saint Jude.[17] Alan Alda narrated Bowen's story. This special has been broadcast a number of times since its first airing in 2005 and has raised substantial funds for cancer research at St. Jude Children's Hospital.
- In 2007, WCHS Eyewitness News and Fox 11 produced a seven-part series on Ben Bowen's life and St. Jude Children's Hospital to help raise funds for Saint Jude's via a raffle for the "House That Ben Built."[18] It raised over $800,000.[8][10][19]
See also
- List of notable brain tumor patients
References
- ^ a b Stein, Deanne (February 27, 2005). "'Big Ben" Bowen Dies". WOWK-TV, Channel 13, Charleston & Huntington, WV. Archived from the original on November 17, 2006.
- ^ a b c Stein, Deanne (March 1, 2005). "'Big Ben's' Life Celebrated". WOWK-TV, Channel 13, Charleston & Huntington, WV. Archived from the original on November 17, 2006.
- ^ a b c "Big Ben Bowen". Saint Jude Promise Magazine & Web Site. September 2004. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
- ^ "Charity of the Month: Ben Bowen". Kathie Lee Gifford Charities. 2004. Archived from the original on April 16, 2007. Retrieved April 14, 2007.
- ^ Stein, Deanne (February 15, 2005). "When Love is a Band of Blue". WOWK-TV, Channel 13, Charleston & Huntington, WV. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011.
- ^ Withum, John (February 15, 2005). "Big Ben brings big changes: Words from Withum". Parthanon Online: Student Newspaper of Marshall University. Archived from the original on May 15, 2007.
- ^ "The House That Ben Built: You Can Help". WCHS ABC Eyewitness News, Channel 8, Charleston, Huntington, WV. 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2007.
- ^ a b Chambers, Brian (June 17, 2007). "Winner 'can't believe' St. Jude dream house is his". Herald Dispatch. Retrieved June 20, 2007.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Cline, Carrie (June 23, 2008). "Ben Bowen's Legacy Still Giving". WSAZ Channel 3, Charleston, Huntington, WV. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b c d "Ben's Story Updates - 2/19/2007 Post by Tom Bowen". Ben's Story Website. 2007. Archived from the original on April 27, 2007. Retrieved April 14, 2007.
- ^ Tarkett, Jean (March 2, 2005). "Family, friends bid farewell to Ben Bowen: 2-year-old who struggled against cancer honored with balloons". Herald Dispatch.
- ^ "Patient of the Month - September 2004 Ben Bowen". Saint Jude Web Site. September 2004. Archived from the original on October 5, 2008. Retrieved April 10, 2007.
- ^ "Two-Year-Old Cancer Patient Deputized". WREG-TV, News Channel 3, Memphis, TN. December 6, 2004. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved April 10, 2007.
- ^ "Special Citation from West Virginia Governor - Ben in the News". Ben's Story Website. 2005. Archived from the original on April 25, 2007. Retrieved April 12, 2007.
- ^ "For the 20th Year, 55 Good Things to Cheer". State Journal. May 2, 2005. Archived from the original on November 25, 2006. Retrieved April 10, 2007.
- ^ "Big Ben Bowen Highway Named, Sept, 2006 - Ben in the News". Ben's Story Website. September 2006. Archived from the original on April 25, 2007. Retrieved April 12, 2007.
- ^ "Show Buz". CBS News. December 1, 2005. Retrieved April 11, 2007.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Saint Jude Dream Home: The House That Ben Built". WCHS ABC Eyewitness News, Channel 8, Charleston, Huntington, WV. March 2007. Archived from the original on May 12, 2007. Retrieved April 14, 2007.
- ^ Rahall, Nick (June 18, 2007). "Rahall Report: West Virginians Unite Behind Big Ben, St. Jude's". Rahall Report (D-WV) represents WV's Third District. Archived from the original on May 30, 2007. Retrieved April 14, 2007.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help)