Jan 19, 2009 10:55 pm US/Pacific
Remarkable Blind Teen Dies Of Cancer At 16
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
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Ben Underwood has been blind since he was two, but learned to "see with sound" when he was six.
CBS
A blind Sacramento teen, whose talents turned him into a worldwide phenomenon, died Monday morning from the cancer that robbed him of his vision. Ben Underwood was 16.
Ben gained national and world attention after he learned to "see with sound," but his family is celebrating his life and the happiness he brought to those around him.
Ben's room still has his favorite things -- his Nintendo Wii, his music -- and it's hard to believe he couldn't see at all, at least in the way we do. From skating to his bull's-eye pillow-fight skills to his knack for video games, Ben used his other senses to see.
Since he was six years old, Ben "clicked" with his mouth, allowing him to see the world around him with a form of human echolocation. Ben could easily navigate the world around him by listening for the echoes of his clicks.
"Ben would go off jumps on the bike, and all I would say is, 'Go play, watch for cars, look where you're going and you better not come in here crying'," said Ben's mother, Aquanetta Gordon.
Watch for cars -- that's what she would tell her blind son. "Ben's purpose here was something different," Aquanetta said.
She's known that all along, almost ever since cancer caused Ben to go blind when he was two years old, two weeks before his third birthday.
"I went to my aunt and said, 'Bee, Ben's gonna see again,'" Aquanetta said. Her aunt told her she was crazy, but she was adamant. "I said, 'You watch. You watch'."
Aquanetta believes in miracles, and she thinks Ben proved her right.
"If you can just touch one life, you've done a lot," she said. "But he's touched millions."
Ben's story went worldwide, and the world responded with widespread support and admiration for the blind boy who did so many things so many people thought impossible.
An unflinching faith in God guided Ben and Aquanetta these past few months as cancer spread to Ben's brain and spine.
"I said, 'Ben, it's okay, you can let go,'" Aquanetta said. "'You don't have to hold on for mommy. Just remember, when you get there, tell Jesus to have that place right beside you for your momma when my time comes.'"
Ben died peacefully on Monday morning. Family and friends have gathered at his house, but there is one rule: no tears. The gathering is a true celebration of life.
"Rest in peace, Ben," said one well-wisher. "I love you, boy."
It's love for a boy who not only saw, but saw so much more than most of us will ever see. Ben leaves a lasting legacy after living a life full of love and without the fear of death. "Ben had it all figured out," Aquanetta said. "I just thank God for his life."
This is just the beginning of the celebration of Ben's life. His family and friends will be back together next Monday, celebrating what would have been his 17th birthday.
You can send your condolences to Ben's family at his website,
BenUnderwood.com. You can also find past stories on Ben's talents and his journey here and here, as well as in the video player to the right.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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