This special teen faces a serious health issue, yet he’s concerned for others, as well.

Cancer…It’s one word that no parent ever wants to hear when talking to their child’s doctor. But in early October of last year, after weeks of treating their 14-year-old son Benjamin’s heavy cough and shortness of breath, thought to be pneumonia, Barry and Becky Watson had to rush him to the emergency room when he began experiencing serious pain, an inability to swallow, and difficulty breathing. They stood in stunned disbelief when the physician told them that tests had shown a large mass in their son’s chest and that she suspected it was cancer.  “I remember the moment we heard the word,” says Barry. “I started to cry and Becky just crumpled to the floor. It was devastating.”

When they broke the news to Ben, the first thing he remembers thinking was, “I am going to be a cancer survivor.” It’s this courage and determination that is seeing him through the roller coaster of painful and energy draining treatments that began last fall.

His mom says it was difficult for the entire family. “The first 4-5 days in the hospital were filled with biopsies and procedures trying to put a name to the type of cancer he was dealing with,” Becky recalls. “Then there were several surgical procedures to establish the intravenous catheter needed to deliver his lengthy chemotherapy treatments… Very painful for Ben and, as parents, excruciating for us.”  Ben was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins B-cell lymphoma and remained in the hospital for three weeks until stabilized. Just before he came home, he received his first round of chemo. Since then, Ben has received chemotherapy on a 21-day cycle, with his last treatment at the end of January. The only aggressive treatment remaining is a 5 ½ week course of radiation therapy to begin at the end of February.

His sister, Hillary, learned of her brother’s diagnosis while away at college. “I just broke down,” she says, choking up at the memory. “Until they let him come home, I practically lived with him in the hospital room when I was able to come back from school.”

Everyone Rallies to Lend Encouragement
The support the family received from relatives, friends, and Lake Highland Prep classmates has been astounding. The hospital staff had never seen anything like it before. Large groups of students showed up nearly every day at the children’s cancer center to keep Ben company and pray with the family for his recovery. When asked what his biggest challenge has been, Ben is quick to say that he misses his favorite foods, such as salad bars and sub sandwiches. He has to avoid everything but prepackaged bacteria-free food because the chemo has weakened his immune system.

To keep Benji amused, his mischievous friends showed up at the hospital one day armed with super soakers. “I was hooked up to my IV pole and hiding from them  wasn’t easy,” laughs Benji. “One of the nurses gave me a huge syringe filled with saline so I could return fire.”

“If there was any doubt about how Benji’s friends felt about him, those doubts evaporated when eighty boys at Lake Highland got their hair cut in a Benji Buzz to show their friendship and solidarity as he went through chemo and radiation,” says Mr. Hudson, Lake Highland Prep’s school principal. “He is a very brave young man who is blessed to be surrounded by a loving family and a legion of friends at Lake Highland.”

Benji Looks Beyond Himself
During his initial 3-week stay in the hospital trying to get his symptoms under control, and while coping with the effects of his cancer treatments, Benji noticed that many of his fellow patients didn’t have anyone visiting them. They spent much of their day alone.  Barry says they were amazed that there were up to 200 kids on the pediatric floor at any given time. “We would see families literally sleeping in the hallway because there was no room at the nearby no-cost house for parents of  hospitalized kids who couldn’t afford a hotel,” he notes.

“I felt so bad for them,” Benji says with emotion.  “I asked my Dad if we could do something, so we started the Benji Watson Cancer Foundation.”

Barry’s friends and business partners helped him set up the non-profit organization to lend a helping hand to families of cancer-stricken children struggling to pay for the many incidental costs associated with their kids’ hospitalization. “Benji was so fortunate to have so many visitors that we wanted to help those who weren’t as lucky,” his father comments.

The foundation raises the funds and the pediatric oncologist identifies the families in need. The Benji Buzz haircut event alone raised over $11,000. In addition, his friends designed a colorful wristband in honor of Benji, with proceeds from the sales going to the foundation. To get the word out about Benji’s progress and the work of the foundation, a friend set up the website, www.caringbridge.org/visit/benwatson,   inviting people to send their thoughts, prayers, and best wishes. If you would like to make a donation in Benji’s name to help other kids and families in need, log on to www.bensvoice.org.

Good health and blessings to you, Benji. Your determination and kindness for others is inspiring.