I apologize that I have been absent the last few days. As some of you may know by now - one of Don's soldiers, Benjamin Kopp, died yesterday from injuries he received during combat on 10 July. While I originally started this blog as more of a "craft" site with some other things thrown in - life has a way of redirecting you when it needs to.
I'm still grasping at my own emotions - but am honored to share the thoughts of Ben's mom Jill here with you. Jill started a website for Ben last week and it has been a Godsend for those of us who needed to connect with him somehow - even if only through cyberspace. Today Jill posted this entry and I am humbled by her faith and her courage. In just a few short days she has given hundreds if not thousands of us a glimpse in to true, everlasting, unconditional love - for Ben, for God, for her family, and for all of us mourning him today.
Thank you Jill and Ben - for giving us your most precious gift.
Beth
Hello Prayer Warriors,
Since arriving at Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Tuesday 7/14 to be with Ben, he has not been conscious. This has not kept us from talking to him or holding his hand and feeling his presence. From his initial injury, Ben's condition was very serious. The core issues being loss of blood, which lead to cardiac arrest which deprived his brain of oxygen, making it difficult for the body to maintain and perform to a level of normalcy that all of us know. From point of injury on to Germany and then here at WRAMC, his care has been top notch.
I created this web site on Sunday 7/12 and released it to the masses about 1pm CST. As I write this it's Saturday night 7/18 and I see this site has been visited 5510 times. I am amazed beyond words. It can be shouted from the mountain tops (pick one), that the world is held together by love. If you ever doubted it, please re-read what I just wrote. The messages here of prayer and hope and love and encouragement are all written here for my son, Ben. He started this, not me. Ben made this happen because he has shared his love and friendship with so many and if you knew Ben through me, its because he shared his love with me and I with you because I love him.
Many of these messages have offered prayers of healing and recovery and for a miracle to make happen something
extraordinary. From day one, I have whispered to Ben the number of prayers being said and told him to be strong. He's a fighter and if anyone could overcome odds and claim a miracle he could. I learned some time ago that while God always answers prayers they may not be in the manner we've asked for them. When it became apparent that Ben's condition was as critical as it was, I told him that it was up to him to decide if he wanted the prayers and the miracle for himself or if they should go to someone else. I knew Ben would let me know.
In the middle of that night, his condition grew worse and his body couldn't recover. The doctors began preparing us to make a decision. In their best medical opinion, Ben's brain could not sustain itself to any level of normalcy and if he survived, his qaulity of life would be poor, at best. There would be no walking, no speaking, no talking, in need of 100% care. WE ALL KNOW BEN WOULD NOT WANT THIS. We came to terms with the reality of his fate and began talking about organ donation. As I contemplated this, I realized that there are families out there whose loved ones need new organs and tissue in order to continue living AND THEY PRAY AND ASK GOD EVERYDAY FOR MIRACLES! It was an enlightening moment to say the least. BEN chose to give them away. He chose to give them to people who still have a chance to live their lives with a sense of normalcy because of his very young and healthy organs! The prayers and miracles weve all been asking for were not meant for Ben. There is no question that many of them were used and will continue to be used to hold me and all of you up. The love and support I have received has been phenomenal. I cannot express words powerful enough to say thank you with the deep sincerity I feel towards all of you.
You have probably reasoned by what I have just said that Ben has passed on. I am saddened to say he has.
There will be a service in Minnesota and Ben has also requested to be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetary. I am going to honor those wishes. I have no details about these services yet. I will post them here when they are finalized.
Please continue to say prayers for all of the men and women who so proudly serve our country. Ben had a deep love of country and has just left a legacy of heroism for all of us to cherish. Be as proud of him as I was as his mother. I have been blessed for 21 years with a beautiful young man who came to be loved by thousands. I thank God for sharing him with me and for allowing him to die proud.
Please say a special prayer for the men of Ben's unit who remain somewhere out there. They need us! They need our prayers! They are fighting in Ben's honor and won't give up, just like he never did!
RLTW!!!!
God Bless Ben! God Bless All of you.
Jill
Big hug for you....and prayers for Ben's family.
Posted by: Pam | July 23, 2009 at 03:08 PM