Prayers For Benny…

BennyFriends of ours, Richard and Jen Castro’s little boy Benny was hit by a car while he was on his trike on the afternoon of Tuesday August 11.  Benny is 4.

Benny was airlifted to Minneapolis and remains there at this time.  These next few days are critical.  To date he has had surgery to remove part of the bone in his skull to make room for swelling of the brain.  Once the swelling goes down they can replace the bone.

Doctors have worked with him daily and Bennys parents Jen and Richard have been by his side every day.  Benny has an older brother AJ.

Benny had a second surgery the week of August 26.  This went well and the doctors are pleased.  Benny has been on ventilation since the accident and they are currently working to take him off this to see how he breathes on his own.  As of August 29, Benny had been breathing with the ventilator.  On September 3rd, Bennie was moved to Gillette Children’s Hospital.

Update as of:

December 3, 2009

I added a few new photos today.  Click on the link to the second web site for Ben in the My Story section of this site.

Benny got to work with therapy dog ‘Cooper’ on Wednesday.  Unfortunate

ly, Cooper was tuckered out from the session before Benny, but he did manage to walk on the leash with Benny.

Benny was to have his opthamologist appointment today but we had to cancel since Rich and I are both sick.  We rescheduled for the end of December.

Benny’s speech is slowly coming along.  We’ve noticed him quietly using his ’s’ and his ‘f’s.  It’s still difficult at times to understand what Ben is trying to say.  His speech therapist recommended that we have Ben see and Ear, Nose and Throat doctor to see why he can’t stop air from going out of his nose when he speaks and when he blows air through his lips.

God is still at work in Benny!  It’s going to be a long road but we have complete faith that Ben will be restored.


I will update here as I know more.  Thank you.

Sheila

53 Responses

  1. Vicki, on August 12th, 2009 at 2:21 pm Said:

    How awful! My thoughts and prayers are with Benny and his family!

    Reply
  2. Zia, on August 12th, 2009 at 3:10 pm Said:

    How terrible. Good thoughts heading their way.

    Reply
  3. Ryan, on August 12th, 2009 at 3:23 pm Said:

    Mine and my son’s thoughts and prayers are with him

    Reply
  4. Maryrose (MyBookBuds), on August 12th, 2009 at 4:22 pm Said:

    My thoughts and prayers are with Benny and his family. Please keep us updated!

    Reply
  5. Alison Rotich, on August 12th, 2009 at 7:25 pm Said:

    Sheila,

    I passed this on to my church prayer group and other friends. We will continue to pray for Benny and his family. What a scary time! Wish I lived closer so I could do more.

    Alison

    Reply
  6. Esme, on August 12th, 2009 at 8:06 pm Said:

    Awww-this stinks and just breaks my heart-poor child-I will say a prayer.

    xoxo

    Reply
  7. Jill, on August 14th, 2009 at 1:15 am Said:

    Both Benny and his family are in my thoughts and prayers.

    Reply
  9. Ryan, on August 14th, 2009 at 3:43 am Said:

    Thank you for the update and know we will continue praying and thinking of him

    Reply
  10. Virginie Barbeau, on August 14th, 2009 at 3:44 am Said:

    Praying hard for this lil guy and his family.

    Reply
  11. Maryrose, on August 14th, 2009 at 4:09 am Said:

    My heart just goes out to this strong little man. My prayers and thoughts continue to be with him and his family. Thank you for the updates!

    Reply
  12. tea, on August 14th, 2009 at 12:18 pm Said:

    I will definitely pray for little Ben and his family. I hope the person driving the car stopped. A child was hit in our town. The driver left the scene.

    Reply
    • Bookjourney, on August 14th, 2009 at 6:51 pm Said:

      Hi Tea, Yes not only did the driver stop, he is a neighbor and this was truly an accident. Benny’s family has communicated with him (the driver) to keep him informed of what is happening.

      Reply
  13. Julie, on August 14th, 2009 at 1:55 pm Said:

    Ugh. As a mother of a 4 year old daughter this is the stuff that hits home. I hope that Benny makes a full recovery!

    Reply
  14. Grad School Mommy, on August 15th, 2009 at 7:36 am Said:

    oh, my heart really aches for this family. i hope little Benny finds reservoirs of strength to pull through, and that his parent’s prayers are answered with no long-term damage to his precious head and being.

    my heart also goes out to the neighbor involved in this terrible accident. i can’t what person is feeling either, and i will pray for all of their sakes that Benny gets well quickly.

    Reply
  15. Julie J, on August 18th, 2009 at 3:33 am Said:

    Praying for this family and this precious little boy. Please keep us posted on Benny’s progress!

    Reply
  16. rhapsodyinbooks, on August 26th, 2009 at 11:42 pm Said:

    How awful! Please let us know what happens!

    Reply
  17. Natalie, on August 27th, 2009 at 3:16 pm Said:

    OH that just breaks my heart!!!!!!! I will be praying for that sweet little boy. ((teary))

    Reply
  18. Ryan, on August 27th, 2009 at 3:20 pm Said:

    My prayers are with him as he enters his surgery and I hope he will come through ok.

    Reply
  19. Mary S, on August 28th, 2009 at 12:09 am Said:

    He continues to be in my prayers. Thanks again for keeping us posted.

    Reply
  20. Ryan, on August 28th, 2009 at 2:33 am Said:

    Thank you for the update I am thanful the surgery went well and hope and pray he has a full and easy recovery.

    Reply
  21. Ryan, on August 28th, 2009 at 8:02 pm Said:

    I’m so relieved to hear he is doing better. I pray that his progress conitnues and that he will have a full recovery.

    Reply
  22. Ryan, on August 30th, 2009 at 4:54 am Said:

    I was happy to read he is going to be taken of the ventilator. He seems to be a strong young man and know he will have a full recovery. My prayers are with him and his family as they continue on the road to that recovery.

    Reply
  23. Lisa, on September 1st, 2009 at 2:07 am Said:

    Fantastic news! He’ll be home before they know it.

    Reply
  24. Esme, on September 1st, 2009 at 2:59 am Said:

    Wow that is amazing news.

    Reply
  25. Ryan, on September 1st, 2009 at 3:08 am Said:

    I started to tear up a little, happy tears. I thank God that he is getting better and responding to outside world. I pray that he continues to get stronger and healthier.

    Reply
  26. Alipet813, on September 1st, 2009 at 3:20 am Said:

    What awesome news!!

    Reply
  27. Ryan, on September 2nd, 2009 at 12:37 am Said:

    He is such a tough little guy. I’m praying he continues to get better and stronger.

    Reply
  28. Ryan, on September 3rd, 2009 at 9:21 pm Said:

    I’m so glad to hear the news. I pray his progress continues!

    Reply
  29. Maryrose, on September 4th, 2009 at 5:20 am Said:

    I am so happy to hear his continued progress. My prayers will continue for his swift recovery. What a tough little man!

    Reply
  30. Yvette @ True Crime Books, on September 8th, 2009 at 4:10 am Said:

    I am so glad he is getting better.Thank God!

    Reply
  31. Ryan, on September 8th, 2009 at 4:14 am Said:

    He is such an amazing little boy! I will continue to pray for a rapid and complete recovery.

    Reply
  32. Esme, on September 8th, 2009 at 4:36 am Said:

    That is fantastic. I am glad to hear all his steps of recovery.

    Reply
  33. Maryrose, on September 9th, 2009 at 5:21 am Said:

    I’m so happy at his continued progress. More prayers for a swift and complete recovery!

    Reply
  34. Ryan, on September 9th, 2009 at 3:04 pm Said:

    I woke up thinking of Benny today and pray he is still on the reoad to recovery. Aidan, my son, told me to tell him hi.

    Reply
  35. Ryan, on September 15th, 2009 at 5:28 am Said:

    I was thinking of Benny tonight and wanted to know how he is doing.

    Reply
  36. Ryan, on September 18th, 2009 at 3:28 am Said:

    I’m so happy that Benny is doing so much better. He will remain in my prayers.

    Reply
  37. Esme, on September 18th, 2009 at 5:34 am Said:

    Glad to hear that he is progressing.

    Reply
  38. Shirley Roos, on September 30th, 2009 at 8:47 pm Said:

    I was hit by a big van and doing great after 2 years. Hang in there!!!!!!!

    Reply
  39. Ryan, on October 3rd, 2009 at 2:39 pm Said:

    I was thinking about Benny today and just wanted to stop by and say I hope you is still getting better and stronger everyday.

    Reply
  40. Ryan, on October 29th, 2009 at 2:26 am Said:

    I was just wanting to check in and see how Benny is doing. I hope he is still getting strong and healthy.

    Reply
  41. Ryan, on October 29th, 2009 at 2:05 pm Said:

    It’s good to see he’s doing so much better :-)

    Reply
  42. Ryan, on December 2nd, 2009 at 5:22 am Said:

    Over Thanksgiving I was thinking of Benny and meant to post a comment asking how he was but my own son distracted me. I hope he is still getting better and stronger and is being watched over by him family and God.

    Reply
  43. Vicki, on December 4th, 2009 at 5:25 am Said:

    Thanks for the update, I’m glad he’s improving!

    Reply
  44. Alexia561, on December 5th, 2009 at 11:11 pm Said:

    Thank you for the update! I’ve been afraid to ask in case things weren’t going well, so glad that he’s still on the road to recovery!

    Reply
  45. Ryan, on December 6th, 2009 at 6:06 am Said:

    Thank you for the update. I’m glad that Benny is still improving and I pray that he continues to do so. What a remarkable little guy.

    Reply
  46. Esme, on December 9th, 2009 at 10:39 pm Said:

    Wow how fantastic-he parents must be proud of seeing their child trying so hard. Cooper the recuperative dog-that is amazing how walking a dog is part of therapy.

    Thanks for the update.

    Reply

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