Born with hydrocephalus, and a number of other challenges, Benji spent his life, with a smile on his face, constantly beating the odds and rewriting medical books. In March of 2025, Benji took a turn where the complex shunting system could no longer function and he began a slow decline that would ultimately end our time with him the morning of Sept 8, 2026.

Benji was so deeply loved, not only by us, but by the people around the world who followed his story. Benji's life brought joy, and community, to everyone who knew him and had a personality all his own – always cracking jokes and making fart noises, usually while holding or admiring a school bus.

For 18 years, Benji was at the center of so much love and we are struggling to imagine a world without him.

My sister, Becky, and her wife, Jo Anna, are people who have always put everyone else before themselves, especially the five amazing kids that they adopted over the years. They are the people that keep going, no matter how difficult things become, and advocate fiercely to ensure that their family is well cared for.

As a family, we have seen the exhaustion, the tears, the worry that choosing a family like this brings and it has been our privilege to walk this journey with them – surrounding them with love and support to help ease some of the burden they carry.

If you know my sister, you’ll know she would not ask for help easily. So, I am asking on her behalf.

There are costs that come with saying goodbye that no family ever wants to have to think about – funeral expenses, arrangements, travel, time away from work, and all of the unexpected costs that can arise during such an incredibly difficult time.

We are hoping to rais enough to ease some of this financial pressure from my sister and our family so that they can focus on being together rather than worrying about how they’ll afford everything that comes with this heartbreaking situation.

Any contribution, no matter the amount, will help us honor Benji and support our family. If you are unable to donate, sharing this page or leaving a memory of him would mean so much to us.

To everyone who has followed Benji’s journey, loved him, and supported our family over the years: thank you. Your kindness and compassion have meant more than words can express.

We will miss his presence, his joy, and all the little things that made him uniquely Benji. And we hope that whenever you see a yellow school bus, you’ll think of him, too.

Forever loved. Forever our Benji.

With love and gratitude,

Benji’s Family