I apologize for this overdue acknowledgment, but I wanted to thank a young man named Carter Green and his friends for their kind acts for Ben.

Last month, some of Carter’s friends on the Trinity varsity baseball team organized a game at Trinity field for Carter’s birthday. Instead of accepting presents, Carter chose to collect money for Ben. Carter, his mother Julie Green, and some of his friends visited with Ben and delivered the money they collected.

Below is a picture of Carter Green and Ben.

The next photo is Hammond Parsons, Carter Green, Mac Parsons, Ben, and Mary Frances Green.

Kasi Parsons, a friend of Lana’s, sent me an email that I am publishing to be sure everyone is properly recognized for their participation. These are Kasi’s words:

We took Ben the $ that Carter took up at his B’day party in lieu of presents. Some Trinity varsity baseball players organized a baseball game at the Trinity field for the 3rd grade boys for Carter’s b’day.

One of the varsity players that helped is Estes McLemore, Ben’s across the street neighbor. He and Hammond are in Mrs Shelley’s third grade at Trinity and their whole class has been praying for Ben for a long time. Hammond and Mac are neighbors of Bens. I have met you a couple of times. We were so thrilled to see him on Friday. He looks great …

I am so impressed with Carter’s compassion at such a young age. Ben and family greatly appreciate the efforts and kind acts by Carter and his friends.

Got Junk??

I will be happy to take it off your hands!

My name is Ben Grier. I’m 4 years old and I just had a heart transplant. I’m doing much better now! Some people want to help with my medical bills so they’re having a Yard Sale on June 16th. If you would like to donate some items to my sale, I would really appreciate it.

Please call my aunt, Brenda Duos, at 260-8083 or duos@earthlink.net and she’ll make arrangements to pick up your items.

Thanks for your help!

P.S. If you don’t have any junk, you might want to join in on the other fun stuff:

Pricing Parties: June 12th & June 14th
Set up: June 15th 5-8:00 pm & June 16th 5:30 am
Sale day: Sat., June 16th from 7am – 12 noon
Pack up: June 16th 12 noon – 1:00 pm

P.S. Aunt Brenda says clothes have to be on hangers
and you are welcome to pre-price the items if you like!

Ben and family are back home where they belong! What a joyous event and such a huge step in his recovery!

We have had several offers to prepare dinner for the four of them. This is a great idea, very generous and much appreciated!

So, in order not to have too much food on one night or duplicate meals, we would like to organize a “dinner drive.”If you would like to prepare dinner for Ben and family, please email me at duos@earthlink.net  

We have a calendar and can list you on the date you would like to cook!

Right now, Ben doesn’t need too many visitors and he needs to get acclimated to home and a routine (and Lana needs rest…not sure when she’ll get it though) so we’ve designated two drop offs for food:

 __________

Tammy Cone  224-0320 or  356-0570

2620 Ashlawn Drive (Gay Meadows) MAP

An essay by Robert T. Test

The day will come when my body will lie upon a sheet, neatly tucked under four corners of a mattress located in a hospital, busily occupied with the living and the dying.

At a certain moment a doctor will determine that my brain has ceased to function and that, for all intents and purposes, my life has stopped.

When that happens, do not attempt to instill artificial life into my body by the use of a machine. And don’t call this my death-bed. Let it be called the Bed of Life and let my body be taken from it to help others lead fuller lives.

Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby’s face or love in the eyes of a woman.
 
Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain.

Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his car, so that he might live to see his grandchildren play.

Give my kidneys to one who depends on a machine to exist from week to week.

Take my bones, every muscle, every fibre and nerve in my body to find a way to make a crippled child walk.

Explore every corner of my brain.
 
Take my cells, if necessary, and let them grow, so that some day,
a speechless boy will shout at the crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain against her window.

Burn what is left of me and scatter the ashes to the winds to help the flowers grow.

If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses and all prejudice against my fellow man.

Give my sins to the devil. Give my soul to God.

If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you.

If you do all I have asked, I will live forever.

This weekend was Ben’s “break-out” weekend as far as physical activity was concerned. Here are some photos and videos:

Ben jumps down the stairs.

Ben gets tickled at the art show.

Ben is “King of the World“!

Here is Ben on the swing.

Next Ben climbs the ladder, crosses the bridge, and slides down.

Ben shows off his sprinter speed.

Ben and Uncle Vernon play on the see-saw.

Ben and Dada play on the monkey bars.

Everyone gets on the swing.

Click here for all of the pictures from this weekend.

Magnolia Park Elementary School in Ocean Springs, MS held a children’s book drive in memory of Chad Lee, Jr. and in honor of Ben. They collected over 1900 (yes, nearly two-thousand!) books.

Courtney Hubbard, who teaches nine and ten year old children, delivered the books this past Saturday to UAB hospital. Even more impressive, she and many other volunteers, took the time to put a sticker on every book! Jane Love, UAB child life specialist, met us on Saturday (her day off) and helped us unload and move the books to the 5th floor.

Later that day, Courtney and Ben met for the first time. Courtney also brought Ben a nice “beach” themed gift bag.

Lana was happy to pick out a book that Ben needs to read!

We know many children will derive much pleasure from the books for many years to come, and that Chad will be remembered each time a book is opened.

On behalf of UAB Hospital and the Grier family, we appreciate everyone’s efforts from Ocean Springs, MS.

I am a little behind publishing photos and video, so let’s get caught up!

Just before Ben was released from the hospital, he received a visit from Aubie. Here are some additional photos taken by one of his child life therapists (Blair):

Ben sizes up Aubie.

Ben finally gets comfortable and gives Aubie “five”.

Aubie gives Ben an autographed calendar with all of Auburn’s upcoming victories (it was very thick).

Ben and Blair pose for a picture.

Last Saturday, Ben and family attended a picnic at UAB park for organ recipients, living donors, and their families:

Ben and family enjoy some bar-be-que.

Ben makes his handprints for a quilt.

Aunt Tammy, Ben, Lana, and Blake are having a good time.

There were a lot of people there.

Can you find Ben in the crowd?

There was a lot of good music!

Later, back at the apartment:

Ben was hungry again — another chicken bites the dust!

Ben shows off his pajamas. 

The Griers having fun on the couch.

That’s all for now!

Girl Scout troop #149 conducted a very impressive Lemonade Sale on Monday. I was told that they had everything set up so nicely and were ready to sell before school let out.

They raised $330 in 30 minutes!

Thanks go out to to their leaders: Dorothy Walker, Carmen Douglas and Diane Griffin.

Here are some photos of the group:

Lemonade Sale #1

Lemonade Sale #2

Lemonade Sale #3

Lemonade Sale #4

Great job girls!

Holy Comforter Preschool is hosting their annual Art Show tomorrow, April 20.

The time is 11:30 – 1:00.

The preschool children sell their art work to parents, grandparents and anyone else who would like to purchase beautiful art.

This year’s proceeds will be donated to the Ben Grier fund at Regions Bank.

It is rumored that there will be some “Ben Grier Originals” for sale.

Girl Scout Troop 149 invites you to a lemonade sale to benefit a family at Bear. Blake Grier is in Miss Cavanaugh’s class and his 4 year old brother, Ben, recently had a heart transplant.

The Girl Scouts are offering this community service to raise money for the Ben Grier Fund at Regions Bank.

Lemonade will be sold for $1.00 in the car carpool line from 3:30-4:00 on Monday, April 23rd.

We hope to see you then and thanks for your support!