Ben’s Heart Failure Recovery

Benjamin Joseph Wright has lived most of his life as an esteemed leader in education, and dedicated servant to urban communities in America. Working as a coach, teacher, and principal for Seattle Public Schools, Superintendent of Victory Schools and Assistant Superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia, and time spent with Metro Nashville Public Schools, it is safe to say that Ben has impacted many lives.  Growing up in the early 50s in Greenwood, Mississippi, Ben has preserved through many battles. After fighting off the H1N1 virus that plagued the nation in 08/09 Ben was unfortunately diagnosed with congestive heart failure, a disease that usually gives people only up to two years to live. Bouts of pneumonia, gout, stroke episodes, and constant visits to the hospital would follow suit for almost 9 years, placing an immense amount of stress and pressure on his family. Forced to retire in 2016, he made his way back to Nashville, Tennessee with his wife and children only to face more complications. With his two children Wisdom and Winston graduating from college, and his loving wife Sepia having to come out of retirement to support the family, Ben's health issues have continued to persist. 

In the past few months after suffering two concurrent strokes, Ben has been placed into rehabilitation, and is consistently back and forth between home and the hospital. Within the last week, he was unfortunately rushed to the intensive care unit, barely hanging onto life after his congestive heart failure took a turn for the worst. He was suffering from cardiogenic shock, which made his heart hardly able to pump blood and his kidneys fail.

It has been a miracle in the last 24 hours, Ben has began to recover. To the discretion of his doctors his family was told this would be his last battle.  His family is asking for any assistance to help Benjamin once he fully recovers and is able to leave Intensive Care. They are hoping to make their home more disabled friendly and wheelchair accessible. Along with Ben in every step of the way, providing love and guidance, as an educator, entrepreneur, and community organizer in both Seattle, and Philadelphia, his wife Sepia has been a champion in her own right. Ben & Sepia have done nothing more than serve communities with the greatest needs. They are now in need of funds to be raised for Ben’s speedy recovery that will help complete his transition back home, rather than spend time in another rehabilitation facility. We are truly grateful to anyone who is able to help, and as Ben would always say "much love!"