Messages to Ben - Make-A-Wish

You did a great job designing and building this game! I put a link to your site on the site of the Dutch Cancer Society, so children in The Netherlands can learn about your game, and play it, too. My colleagues and I wish you all the best in your battle against leukemia. We hope many of your dreams may come true, and that many people may share them.

Floris
Dutch Cancer Society

I've been meaning to send this email for months, but keep forgetting. I was reminded again tonight as my son, Spencer, was playing Ben's Game, instead of watching TV, for all of his 30 minutes of evening "screen time" tonight. Spencer is five years old now and was diagnosed with pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia on October 22, 2004. We downloaded Ben's Game when I stumbled upon it a while ago. At first we played with the two of us together playing one-person mode. I would drive and Spencer would shoot. Naturally his use of the computer has progressed and now he plays one-person mode all by himself, with occasional kibitzing from his father. We'll probably start playing two player mode this week in order to reduce the unnecessary fatherly advice. He loves talking about the different monsters and how he fights them, both in the game and in real life. That has been great fun, and useful in real life as it helps him keep hand-washing in mind when his counts are low. Over the weekend, he discovered the "super powers" when you get the same weapon three times in a row. He'll stop on a board with 5 stable leukemia cells to collect three weapons just to watch the effect.

Dear Ben,
My grandson and I saw a program on TV here in Japan that told about you and the game that was made up. My grandson asked me to try to find it on the internet, and we did, not only in English (my native language) but also in Japanese. My grandson's favorite game now is yours and especially so because he "knows" you and thinks of you while he plays the game. We thank you and love you.

Two Japanese fans,

Masashi and Grandpa

Hi Ben,

I just read your story on the Make-A-Wish web site, and wanted to personally tell you how happy I am for you. Congratulations on accomplishing your goal of developing a game to help other kids battle their cancer. I am now an adult (mostly), but when I was 16 years old, I was a Wish Kid in Pittsburgh, PA. It would have been great to have had your game at that time to help me through my treatments. It’s a wonderful thing that you’ve done for others, and a fabulous wish.

My wish was for a horse – he was great, and helped me get through a really tough time. I have a lot of happy memories and photos from my time with him. I still ride horses today, and it all started with my wish. Maybe you’ll grow up to be a professional video game designer and entrepreneur? Good luck with whatever you do in life – I’m sure that you’ll be successful.

Tammy

Ben,

I am so happy that your wish was so selfless, thinking of others instead of yourself is such as amazing gift for a boy so small. My son was diagnosed with a very serious brain tumor. We are fighting everyday just like you. Since he is only four yrs old he doesn't understand his illness or what is happening at the hospitals. Hopefully playing your game with help with the unanswered questions he still has. I am very happy to hear you are doing so well. I pray that you continue to have good health and wish you all the happiness and love a lifetime can afford you.

Michele & Andrew

Hi Ben -

What a wonderful idea you had - creating the video game to help visualize the chemo doing it's job.

I was looking for information to support a girl in 8th grade who is having an emotional meltdown because of her cancer diagnosis and all the treatment she had been through - surgery, radiation and now chemo for 6 mos. to a year. She is pretty depressed and her friends are trying to help. I am going to tell them about your video - especially how it is a free download!

You must really care about others to be doing something for them when you are facing your own cancer battle.

I understand what it is like to have cancer - I am surviving breast and ovarian cancer. I know what it feels like to be bald - did you have a friend draw a big smile face on the back of your head??? It makes people laugh!

I wish you well and again I say thank you for creating this video to help others. Your family must be very proud of you! and so am I!! :)

Hi Ben I just want to let you know that you are in my prayers. I was a donor for my brother 12 years ago and he is doing fine. I am also a granmother of 5 and tell everyone that it is so easy to donate and hope everyone will do so Please take care and I wish you well.

The game is awesome. Tell Ben this is has been a blast and don't stop creating games - he has a knack for it. We love it!!!!!!!!!!

Hi my name is avery I am from new mexico. I survived t-cell leukemia a big cancer. I wanted to say thankyou for bens game I really like it I like to be able to fight cancer. I am 8 years old like ben thankyou ben and make a wish from avery

Hi,
My eight year old nephew Dustin has been battling Rhabdomyosarcoma for about 18 months now. After a year of chemo and radiation he had two months of clean tests, and then the cancer came back, which resulted in having his left arm amputated in March and back to chemo. He is an amazing kid with a wisdom like you wouldn't believe. He would get a big kick out of Ben's game I think, and I would like to know if there is a way I can get it for him.
Thank you for all of your wonderful work - I have been a supporter of your organization, long before my nephew's diesese reared its ugly head.
Best regards,
Laura

My name’s Cuc Pham, come from Vietnam. I’ve just downloaded Ben’s game. I would like to send a warmest wish to both of you, Ben and Eric. I hope you will get well soon!

Dear Ben & Eric!
I'm a vietnamese. I've already read about you on the web.It made me cry like a baby. Ben,you're really brave and Eric, you're a good man.. I wish you would win diseases, and that fate will be smiled upon you and you'll seek happiness in the future.
Khanh an

I am fighting cancer myself-a cousin to Leukemia: Multiple Myeloma. I thought this game would be something my grandchildren and children would enjoy but grannie wants to try it first!
Thank you for making Ben's wish come true. I haven't stopped smiling since I found the site. If only cancer were this easy to fight! But a lot can be said for having a fighting attitude-Ben is a fellow wise beyond his years. He will be in my prayers.

Ann

I have just been looking at Ben's Game and I hope that friends and family of those who going through treatment might also learn a little.

My son was diagnosed with T-Cell lymphoma when he was 2 1/2 years old. We have been in remission for almost 10 years. He was too young then to have played it, but I am going to let him do it now so that he might understand a little more about what he went through.

He was also a Make-A-Wish child because not only did he have cancer, but he ended up with aspergillus
that almost cost him his life. The area in which they found it was behind his eye (which they had to remove along with everything around it) and we have been told that it is 98% fatal. We praise God for healing our son and thank the Make-A-Wish foundation for helping our son go to Disney World (he was only 3) to meet Mickey Mouse. However, once he got there, I think his favorite became Pluto.

Thank you for all you do to make children's lives (which are much to often cut short) better.

Cheryl

I went through a rough time when I was in my teens, having many brain surgeries. I never gave up. Because of this episode in my life I can relate to Ben.

Thank you Eric for helping Ben's wish come true, not only for him but for thousands of others who will benefit. I am 48 now and have downloaded it so my sons can play.

Wishing you only the best! Thanks again!
Mary Kay