Ben was deeply, deeply loved. Ben was a beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, friend, and someone who touched the lives of people around him in ways that will never be forgotten. There are so many things I want people to know about Ben, because when someone dies by suicide, it can be easy for their death to become the story everyone remembers. 

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Ben was so much more than the way his life ended.

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He had a kind and compassionate heart. He deeply cared about people, and the little moments of kindness he showed often meant more than he realized.

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Ben was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when he was 13 years old.  He spent 6 years living with something that no teenager should have to carry. There were days when it was hard. There were times when he struggled with his health, his emotions, school, relationships and figuring out where he fit in this world. 

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Ben's life was a gift. He brought love, laughter and memories that will stay with his family and friends forever.

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Like so many people who struggle with their mental health, Ben's pain wasn't always visible from the outside. You can love someone with your entire heart and still not know what they are carrying inside. This is one of the hardest things that we have had to accept. 

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I keep going back through everything in my mind. The conversations, the things I noticed. The things I didn't notice. The moments I wish I could go back and change. I wish I could have fixed it. I wish I could have taken whatever pain he was carrying and carried it for him. I wish I could have one more conversation, one more hug, one more kiss on the cheek, one more ordinary day. 

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On May 23, 2026, Ben died by suicide. Nothing prepares a parent for losing a child. Nothing prepares you for the phone call, the shock, the disbelief, or the emptiness that comes afterward. And suicide loss comes with questions that don't have easy answers- or sometimes no answers at all. 

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Why? What did I miss? Could I have done something differently? Did he know how much he was loved? These questions can follow you everywhere. 

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I know that grief after suicide is complicated. It isn't just missing someone. It can be anger, guilt, confusion, sadness, love, regret and a thousand unanswered questions all existing at the same time. And while I am learning how to live with losing Ben, I am also learning how many other families are walking though this same kind of pain. This is why I created Ben's Bridge.

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This page is a place to honor who Ben was-his heart, his memories, the people he loved and cared deeply for and the impact that he left behind.

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Ben's Bridge was created to honor Ben's life and move forward with the compassion he showed to others. We don't want his story to end with his death. We want his story to become a bridge of hope for anybody that is struggling, and a source of support for the families left behind. Through this work, we hope to carry forward his legacy by spreading kindness, support and hope.

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