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When Will the Heaven Begin?: This Is Ben Breedlove's Story
An inspirational and heartrending memoir about Ben Breedlove, whose videos about his near-death experiences and visions of heaven went viral in 2012, written by his sister, Ally Breedlove.
On Christmas Day 2011, Ben Breedlove’s soul went to heaven. But it wasn’t his first time there. Ben suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart condition that posed a constant risk of sudden death. His condition, a thickening of the heart muscle, worsened over time, leaving him weak and fatigued. It also led Ben to some close calls medically, in particular cardiac arrest on four separate occasions, during which he felt the presence of angels and experienced the perfect peace of heaven.
Precocious and warm, Ben was close with his family and two siblings, and forged deep relationships with his friends. He loved to wakeboard and wakesurf, and he had dreams of visiting foreign countries around the world. He created the YouTube channels TotalRandomness512 and BreedloveTV, and cocreated the channel OurAdvice4You, where he posted videos about everything from dating advice for girls to more serious topics like his spirituality and heart condition.
Unbeknownst to his parents and family, Ben created a two-part video called “This Is My Story,” in which he used flash cards to tell the world about his near-death experiences and his beckoning toward heaven.
When he died a short while later at the tender age of eighteen, his family and the rest of the world stumbled upon these videos. The world responded with overwhelming acceptance of the message Ben shared.
Ben’s vision of heaven was his gift to his family, and to the world. And now this is the Breedlove family’s gift to us—an in-depth look at the life and near-deaths of Ben, the strength and faith of a family, and, ultimately, the hope of heaven.
Do you believe in Angels or God? I Do.—Ben Breedlove
On Christmas Day 2011, Ben Breedlove’s soul went to heaven. But it wasn’t his first time there. Ben suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart condition that posed a constant risk of sudden death. His condition, a thickening of the heart muscle, worsened over time, leaving him weak and fatigued. It also led Ben to some close calls medically, in particular cardiac arrest on four separate occasions, during which he felt the presence of angels and experienced the perfect peace of heaven.
Precocious and warm, Ben was close with his family and two siblings, and forged deep relationships with his friends. He loved to wakeboard and wakesurf, and he had dreams of visiting foreign countries around the world. He created the YouTube channels TotalRandomness512 and BreedloveTV, and cocreated the channel OurAdvice4You, where he posted videos about everything from dating advice for girls to more serious topics like his spirituality and heart condition.
Unbeknownst to his parents and family, Ben created a two-part video called “This Is My Story,” in which he used flash cards to tell the world about his near-death experiences and his beckoning toward heaven.
When he died a short while later at the tender age of eighteen, his family and the rest of the world stumbled upon these videos. The world responded with overwhelming acceptance of the message Ben shared.
Ben’s vision of heaven was his gift to his family, and to the world. And now this is the Breedlove family’s gift to us—an in-depth look at the life and near-deaths of Ben, the strength and faith of a family, and, ultimately, the hope of heaven.
Do you believe in Angels or God? I Do.—Ben Breedlove
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2013
35 people are currently reading
548 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
January 26, 2014
To be honest, I might be one of the very few people who have never heard of Ben Breedlove. However when I heard about Ben and this book, I knew I had to read his story. First off let me say well done to Ally Breedlove. I can not imagine writing a book about your sibling who passed away. Ally wrote the story and finished the book with the help from Ken Abraham.
After reading this book, I now know why Ally and the Breedlove family felt the need to share Ben's story. Like I said, my first introduction to Ben is with this book. Although reading this book, I got close to Ben and the Breedlove family. It was like I could feel Ben's infectious humor and kindness and I could not help but smile.
I thought I would cry my eyes out reading this book but this did not happen. The reason is because this book is a celebration of Ben's life. It is not about the difficult situation he found himself facing. This is a book that everyone should read. When Will the Heaven Begin? is a keeper!
February 9, 2018
When Will the Heaven Begin?: This Is Ben Breedlove's Story by Ally Breedlove and Ken Abraham. Paperback © The Ben Breedlove Trust, 2013. 301 pages. Ben Breedlove lived all his life with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a usually genetic condition of the heart. This book was written by Ben’s elder sister. Ben seems to have lived life fully and during NDEs, experienced the light, finally leaving this world for the next on Christmas Day, December 25th, 2011. Ben was a prolific videographer and his last video, recorded shortly before his death, can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUUjN...
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
March 2, 2014
I never knew about Ben Breedlove until right before this book was published. He obviously was put on this earth to tell his story as well as his belief and trust in God and to relay the message that Heaven exists. What an amazing young man! He really knew how to live life to its fullest even though he had a critical heart condition. He was a stronger individual than I am and I think he would have been someone I would like to have known. It seems that he touched so many lives in his brief life and everyone was better off for knowing him.
I have to say that his family was extremely brave, supportive and courageous as they let him go about his life while still being in tune with his physical abilities and well-being. The closeness they all maintained as Ben took them on his life's journey along with Ben's confession to them that he wasn't afraid to die was amazing. His parents ability to support him in all his activities and giving him the tools he needed to fulfill his dream of having a You Tube channel was all in God's plan to get his final message out.
I have to also say that I think Ally Breedlove is an amazing young woman in the fact that she was able to see her brother's videos and realized how important it was to him to get his message out. The torch was passed to her when her brother died, and I'm sure it was very hard yet cathartic for her to tell their story. I was unable to put this book down until it neared the day of Ben's death; I held off finishing it because I wasn't ready for his story to end. Once I picked it back up after a few days to finally finish it, I felt the pain and loss that his family and friends did. Thank you Ally for telling your brother's story. I take great comfort in his message and wish I had the opportunity to know him.
Such a great read. I highly recommend it to all!
I have to say that his family was extremely brave, supportive and courageous as they let him go about his life while still being in tune with his physical abilities and well-being. The closeness they all maintained as Ben took them on his life's journey along with Ben's confession to them that he wasn't afraid to die was amazing. His parents ability to support him in all his activities and giving him the tools he needed to fulfill his dream of having a You Tube channel was all in God's plan to get his final message out.
I have to also say that I think Ally Breedlove is an amazing young woman in the fact that she was able to see her brother's videos and realized how important it was to him to get his message out. The torch was passed to her when her brother died, and I'm sure it was very hard yet cathartic for her to tell their story. I was unable to put this book down until it neared the day of Ben's death; I held off finishing it because I wasn't ready for his story to end. Once I picked it back up after a few days to finally finish it, I felt the pain and loss that his family and friends did. Thank you Ally for telling your brother's story. I take great comfort in his message and wish I had the opportunity to know him.
Such a great read. I highly recommend it to all!
May 12, 2015
If I could have given this book more stars, I would have. This is one of very few books that has made me cry. I have known about Ben since he first started making YouTube videos. Religiously watching all of his videos brought so much happiness to my day. When Ben passed, I followed the news stories, watched his final 2 part video, and watched his memorial service. I was so inspired by not only Ben, but his family and friends as well. I loved reading this book. I thought Ally did an amazing job writing it. Not only was it nice to get to know more about Ben's life, but it was so much more inspiring than I thought it would be. Since Ben passed I often think about him and his consistent faith in God. After reading this story I am finally open to letting God into my life and releasing my faith to him. What a beautiful person Ben was. Breedlove is so fitting for this family because of how loving, kind, and faithful they are! I wish nothing but the best for Deanne, Shawn, Ally, and Jake as they continue their lives without Ben.
April 17, 2014
I picked up this book as a NDE book. It wasn't what I was expecting. It was a good story about the life of a good young man who died young. I was impressed by how many lives he touches and the large influence his youtube video made on others to ask personal questions about God and afterlife. I really didn't like the voice used to tell the story. It seemed distant and you knew that the sister wrote the book. Instead of the third person I would have appreciated her telling it as a first person and as herself. I wanted more of the spiritual discussion which really only came into play the last 50 pages or so. Not sure there was more to tell, but I wish there had been.
June 27, 2014
This story was moving, but the writing was amateur (which is to be expected in a story written by someone who has never written a book). I found it odd that the author, Ben's sister, spoke about their parents using their first names or saying Ben's parents, rather than saying our parents. She also refers to herself in 3rd person. It was difficult to read at times, but overall, the memories of Ben and how full of life he was shine through.
November 27, 2013
This is a moving inspirational story. You can see the videos Ben Breedlove made on YouTube. The lesson is to enjoy your life while you can and appreciate the people in your life.
December 12, 2019
I'm not sure where to start with my review. After completing the book I'm feeling emotional, and other things I can't explain. I had to sit with my thoughts and emotions for a bit after reading Ben's story, told by his sister Ally.
I watched his video on YouTube while I read the book, if you read the book you should check out the videos if you've never watched them before, which i hadn't.
I've read a few "near death experience" "seeing heaven" type books in the past, it bothered me when I found out that maybe not all of those stories were true. Ben's story is nothing like those books, I believe his story without any doubt, there's no embelishing and fairy tale in what he saw before he left this earth. His story gave me peace and hope and answered a question I asked God for a few days before discovering this book and Ben's story. I believe God put this young man's story in my hands as an answer to the question and prayer I had.
Yes, Ben, I believe in God and Angel's! Thank you for sharing your story. God blessed you during your time on earth.
I watched his video on YouTube while I read the book, if you read the book you should check out the videos if you've never watched them before, which i hadn't.
I've read a few "near death experience" "seeing heaven" type books in the past, it bothered me when I found out that maybe not all of those stories were true. Ben's story is nothing like those books, I believe his story without any doubt, there's no embelishing and fairy tale in what he saw before he left this earth. His story gave me peace and hope and answered a question I asked God for a few days before discovering this book and Ben's story. I believe God put this young man's story in my hands as an answer to the question and prayer I had.
Yes, Ben, I believe in God and Angel's! Thank you for sharing your story. God blessed you during your time on earth.
June 4, 2019
My tears could not stop flowing on finishing this book! My answer is yes I do believe in God! I know he is standing next to JESUS! I’m so happy I read this book!
Why are we here? I have a purpose and I constantly wonder am I doing what I’m places in this life to do?
LORD show us our path! Amen
Why are we here? I have a purpose and I constantly wonder am I doing what I’m places in this life to do?
LORD show us our path! Amen
December 30, 2020
Ally, Ben’s sister writes an amazing account of their family’s journey with her brother Ben’s hypertrophic cardiomyopathy diagnosed at 3 months old. The joys and the heartaches draw you in. I had a hard time putting the book down. The love the family has for each other, friends and family, allows you to see their impact on others. Their story helps you see the world of someone living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the struggles they encounter, the choices they have to make, and the faith that helps lead them along this road.
May 10, 2022
Uplifting and touching
I knew about Ben a year ago but decided to read his book after recently losing my brother to cancer 3 weeks ago. I hope they meet in heaven because just like Ben, my brother was a great guy and he believed in God. Thank you Ally for sharing your story with the public.
I knew about Ben a year ago but decided to read his book after recently losing my brother to cancer 3 weeks ago. I hope they meet in heaven because just like Ben, my brother was a great guy and he believed in God. Thank you Ally for sharing your story with the public.
July 2, 2023
While I may not agree with 100% of the theology promoted in the book, it was a really touching read of Ben's life, his faith, and a reminder that God is with us and working his will despite our suffering and trials.
Ben's story was really captivating and inspiring, and like any good Christian read, drew me closer to God.
Ben's story was really captivating and inspiring, and like any good Christian read, drew me closer to God.
September 12, 2017
The story of Ben Breedlove, written by his sister. Ben had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, for which there is no cure. This is a story of his struggles, and how he managed to live boldly, despite his limitations.
January 26, 2022
good read
I always enjoy books that follow journeys of grief and loss especially when people talk about glimpses of heaven….it helps to know we are all connected and restores your faith.
I always enjoy books that follow journeys of grief and loss especially when people talk about glimpses of heaven….it helps to know we are all connected and restores your faith.
May 5, 2022
An amazing journey of faith, hardships, love, and acceptance.
January 15, 2023
So inspiring and heartbreaking 💔
October 26, 2023
Real life, this story really brought it home to me.
April 10, 2025
Beautiful story and a great view on life, heaven and earth. What is your purpose?
April 10, 2025
Biography of Ben Breedlove, a young man who died from a heart condition. Unshakable belief in God.
November 10, 2025
WOW, what an amazing young man! if you question your faith, read this, listen to his message.
November 22, 2025
What a wonderful and inspiring book!!!!
I cried.
I cried.
November 13, 2013
Ben Breedlove just wanted to be an ordinary person but that was impossible as he was born with HCM or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This condition meant that Ben’s heart could stop at any moment. While certain strenuous activities or foods could send Ben into atrial fibrillation and eventual HCM, heart failure could also happen at any time, including while he was sleeping. This was an amazing burden for his parents to bear; yet like so many parents with children with special physical needs, they lived with this reality, in fact lived as normal life as one could live under their unique circumstances. The story of Ben is not about illness but about living with the knowledge that one is blessed with what one has and that eventually passing to another life is okay, in fact, more than okay. For Ben that faithful knowledge was a product of experience.
Before that special event occurred, however, Ben had to deal with numerous medical tests and curtailment of his eating and play habits as a child. His parents were shocked to learn of this condition, a thickening of the heart muscle which would worsen over time, and the fact that there was no surgery or medicine that could cure it or even ease. While he was given medications which could ease the symptoms, he had to learn to live with it. Ben is depicted as a pleasant child and teen who loved to play tricks on his family, enjoy his friends, and developed a special love for making videos. Close to his parents and sisters, he was a normal person whose condition kept everyone on alert as to the slightest changes in his physical appearance. He even tried some less strenuous sports such as wake surfing but after one particular experience of a fractured ankle was unable to continue what he loved.
As Ben grew older, he began making videos for YouTube on just about every topic of interest to teens such as dating, spirituality, etc. Eventually he made a video about his own heart condition and the experience he had in which he clearly knew he was on his way to heaven. He knew from that point on that death wasn’t to be feared; instead he actually welcomed it, very aware that he even longed for it as he knew his heart couldn’t hold out much longer. The video was called, “This is My Story,” Ben’s account of his near death experience told through the use of flash cards. The questions he ultimately asked on these flash cards, before his untimely death at the age of 18 years old, concerned whether the reader believed in God, as well as asking what “you” are doing with the life you are living. Potent words from a teen in a poignant condition.
When it comes to a person’s demise coming at a young age, with the consciousness of its looming presence, each person almost always concentrates on the special qualities of everyday living in this earthly environment. But Ben’s life laced with compassion and humor is about what each person is doing in this life that has value and purpose and how important it is to consider the afterlife of heaven. No, there’s no fear here at all. Heaven is described in a highly appealing way and depicted as an appealing experience that should be welcome. It seems that it can’t be anything other than ‘heavenly.”
Words cannot fully capture the unique quality of this story about Ben Breedlove. Only the hardest of hearts could read this book and not be deeply moved. It is a tribute to the passionate love of life and God that was Ben’s primary concern and his legacy to the world he left, which is awaiting a reunion with Ben in the heaven he so lovingly describes! Ally Breedlove has written a fitting tribute that is more about her brother’s message of love to a hopefully wide audience! Nicely done, indeed, Ally Breedlove!
Before that special event occurred, however, Ben had to deal with numerous medical tests and curtailment of his eating and play habits as a child. His parents were shocked to learn of this condition, a thickening of the heart muscle which would worsen over time, and the fact that there was no surgery or medicine that could cure it or even ease. While he was given medications which could ease the symptoms, he had to learn to live with it. Ben is depicted as a pleasant child and teen who loved to play tricks on his family, enjoy his friends, and developed a special love for making videos. Close to his parents and sisters, he was a normal person whose condition kept everyone on alert as to the slightest changes in his physical appearance. He even tried some less strenuous sports such as wake surfing but after one particular experience of a fractured ankle was unable to continue what he loved.
As Ben grew older, he began making videos for YouTube on just about every topic of interest to teens such as dating, spirituality, etc. Eventually he made a video about his own heart condition and the experience he had in which he clearly knew he was on his way to heaven. He knew from that point on that death wasn’t to be feared; instead he actually welcomed it, very aware that he even longed for it as he knew his heart couldn’t hold out much longer. The video was called, “This is My Story,” Ben’s account of his near death experience told through the use of flash cards. The questions he ultimately asked on these flash cards, before his untimely death at the age of 18 years old, concerned whether the reader believed in God, as well as asking what “you” are doing with the life you are living. Potent words from a teen in a poignant condition.
When it comes to a person’s demise coming at a young age, with the consciousness of its looming presence, each person almost always concentrates on the special qualities of everyday living in this earthly environment. But Ben’s life laced with compassion and humor is about what each person is doing in this life that has value and purpose and how important it is to consider the afterlife of heaven. No, there’s no fear here at all. Heaven is described in a highly appealing way and depicted as an appealing experience that should be welcome. It seems that it can’t be anything other than ‘heavenly.”
Words cannot fully capture the unique quality of this story about Ben Breedlove. Only the hardest of hearts could read this book and not be deeply moved. It is a tribute to the passionate love of life and God that was Ben’s primary concern and his legacy to the world he left, which is awaiting a reunion with Ben in the heaven he so lovingly describes! Ally Breedlove has written a fitting tribute that is more about her brother’s message of love to a hopefully wide audience! Nicely done, indeed, Ally Breedlove!
February 27, 2015
Ally Breedlove's When Will the Heaven Begin captivated me with her mesmerizing story about her younger brother Ben and his life threatening heart condition. Not too many people knew about Ben and his condition until his fascinating and heartfelt story was revealed to the public back in 2011.
Ally's biography and story about her brother takes you through all the twists and turns life throws at you. Despite the fact that Ben was sick Ally explains how her brother managed to live a normal and quite thrilling life all the way up to the tender age of 18. For Ben dealing with Hypertrophy Cardiomyopathy (a life threatening condition in which the heart muscle becomes thick causing the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body) was never a problem. He took one day at a time and lived it as if it were to be his last. At the age of four Ben claims that he died and came back to life, or as he likes to put it "cheated death" while having a life threatening seizure. He claims he's cheated death over two times until December 24, 2011 when he permanently went to heaven. Throughout Ben's story Ally explains how God and Ben's faith was the single most important thing in his life besides his loving family, she talks about the struggles and heart break her brother and their family faced through out Ben's life and how God was always there to comfort them.
This book is absolutely impeccable and quite amazing, the fact that it was written by Ben's sister really makes you feel the sorrow for her loss and the hope for Ben's life in heaven. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves heartfelt stories and is interested in seeing the miracles God can perform for us. It is truly amazing.
Ally's biography and story about her brother takes you through all the twists and turns life throws at you. Despite the fact that Ben was sick Ally explains how her brother managed to live a normal and quite thrilling life all the way up to the tender age of 18. For Ben dealing with Hypertrophy Cardiomyopathy (a life threatening condition in which the heart muscle becomes thick causing the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body) was never a problem. He took one day at a time and lived it as if it were to be his last. At the age of four Ben claims that he died and came back to life, or as he likes to put it "cheated death" while having a life threatening seizure. He claims he's cheated death over two times until December 24, 2011 when he permanently went to heaven. Throughout Ben's story Ally explains how God and Ben's faith was the single most important thing in his life besides his loving family, she talks about the struggles and heart break her brother and their family faced through out Ben's life and how God was always there to comfort them.
This book is absolutely impeccable and quite amazing, the fact that it was written by Ben's sister really makes you feel the sorrow for her loss and the hope for Ben's life in heaven. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves heartfelt stories and is interested in seeing the miracles God can perform for us. It is truly amazing.
May 17, 2016
When Will Heaven Begin is a true story about a kid from Austin named Ben Breedlove with a failing heart. He has a rare disease where his heart gives out quite frequently and as a result, he will have a cardiac arrest. Ben had a youtube account where he would make vlogs about pranks that he would do to people and had lots of subscribers. As a young kid, Ben had to go to the doctor multiple times a month because of his heart. Since he was young, he would enter a cardiac arrest and his parents would have to perform CPR while calling the ambulance and praying that their son would be okay. At the age of 14, he had a pacemaker put into his heart to help the pumping and help his heart not stop unexpectedly. Unfortunately it would still happen. Ben was cursed with this for his entire life. You may have heard of his youtube video that he released just days before he died called "This Is My Story", which is a video that went viral of Ben sitting down and telling the story of one day where in the middle of his cardiac arrest an angel came down and picked him up to take him to heaven. He got a sneak peek of what heaven is with the angel that day. When Will Heaven Begin is very similar to Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo. I reccomend this book to anybody wanting to read a very cool true story.
October 31, 2013
Ben Breedlove was born with a heart defect called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) a condition that would end his life at the too young age of 18.
When Will Heaven Begin is a celebration of that all too short, exceptional life told by his sister Ally. But Ben was so much more than his disease; he was adventurous, he was a prankster, he was a good and loyal friend.
Readers will meet and fall in love with this courageous young man, we will be in awe of his strength of character in the face of unimaginable odds and we will watch him grow from a baby until he got his ultimate wish of going to heaven at 18.
And we will experience through Ally’s words the family’s discovery of Ben’s last act caught on a YouTube video he made shortly before his death that went viral. This was Ben’s final gift to his family and the world.
This is the story of a brave boy who will make you a believer too.
Watch the video; let Ben inspire you like he inspired millions before you
See my interview with Ally here- http://thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com/...
When Will Heaven Begin is a celebration of that all too short, exceptional life told by his sister Ally. But Ben was so much more than his disease; he was adventurous, he was a prankster, he was a good and loyal friend.
Readers will meet and fall in love with this courageous young man, we will be in awe of his strength of character in the face of unimaginable odds and we will watch him grow from a baby until he got his ultimate wish of going to heaven at 18.
And we will experience through Ally’s words the family’s discovery of Ben’s last act caught on a YouTube video he made shortly before his death that went viral. This was Ben’s final gift to his family and the world.
This is the story of a brave boy who will make you a believer too.
Watch the video; let Ben inspire you like he inspired millions before you
See my interview with Ally here- http://thereadingfrenzy.blogspot.com/...
February 3, 2014
I loved this book. From the bottom of my heart. This book brought out my deepest emotions. It made me laugh, it made me gasp, it made me sigh, it made cry, and it made me sob. I chose to read this book because one day I was listening to my music on Youtube and a video popped up and I thought "Hmmm, I wonder what that is?" I clicked on it and it was Ben Breedlove's story. When I say his picture on the front of book cover on the shelves of walmart, shortly before Christmas I begged my mom to buy the book for me. She actually said no because she didn't believe I would actually read it and I was devastated. I woke up Christmas morning and I was opening gifts and I opened that book and I started crying tears of joy. I was really happy.
The setting of this book is Austin, Texas, and many different hospitals. The main characters are Ben and Ally Breedlove.
The conflicts would be Ben and his heart. They didn't really get along to well.
The overall theme was to not take life for granted, you never know when your day, or the day when someone you love will end.
My overall opinion of the book was that it was probably the best book I have ever read in my life. I loved loved loved it.
The setting of this book is Austin, Texas, and many different hospitals. The main characters are Ben and Ally Breedlove.
The conflicts would be Ben and his heart. They didn't really get along to well.
The overall theme was to not take life for granted, you never know when your day, or the day when someone you love will end.
My overall opinion of the book was that it was probably the best book I have ever read in my life. I loved loved loved it.
January 12, 2015
What an amazing story! Ally Breedlove shares the life of her brother Ben who was born with HCM, a heart condition which can cause death in young people. Though Ben lived with the struggles of HCM, he never allowed that to dictate how he lived his life. He was a happy, typical boy who grew into an amazing, faith-filled young man.
There are just no words to describe how moved I was by this book. I laughed at his teenaged pranks and cried when his struggles with HCM were becoming more than he could bear. Despite all that, Ben lived a full and purposeful life. Many of us ask ourselves why we are put on this earth or what purpose we have here. Ben knew the answers to those questions, or came to know them with the passage of time. He then shared that message with the world through his YouTube videos immortalizing his memory forever.
Thank you, Miss Breedlove, for sharing your wonderful brother with us. Thank you for inviting us into your loving family and letting us know you all. Ben's life truly was a gift in so many ways.
There are just no words to describe how moved I was by this book. I laughed at his teenaged pranks and cried when his struggles with HCM were becoming more than he could bear. Despite all that, Ben lived a full and purposeful life. Many of us ask ourselves why we are put on this earth or what purpose we have here. Ben knew the answers to those questions, or came to know them with the passage of time. He then shared that message with the world through his YouTube videos immortalizing his memory forever.
Thank you, Miss Breedlove, for sharing your wonderful brother with us. Thank you for inviting us into your loving family and letting us know you all. Ben's life truly was a gift in so many ways.
May 9, 2014
The book is about Ben Breedlove and his 18 years of life on earth. He had a heart condition that was detected when he was 1 or so and how he chose to accept it from God and to live life. Having a 2 year old and a 3 month old, I couldn't imagine what his parents went through when his problems occurred. I know I was very tearful reading the beginning of the book and the end of it. The book got more into the Christianity of it towards the end with Ben and his belief that when the time came he was ready and willing to be with Jesus and God. That was a great part of the story. My only issue that I had was she (author) really jumped around in his life and I got a little lost as to when the events were happening. She described things when he was like in 8th grade, then in the same chapter he was in HS. The next chapter he was younger, then the next he was in 11th grade, etc. It just jumped around a bit too much without much flow. It was good otherwise.
January 10, 2015
I was going to weed this book from the library because it hadn't checked out in a long time, but when I saw that it was about a guy with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), I stared reading it myself. My son died of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) and I wanted to know more about what he may have experienced. Ben Breedlove, the subject of this book, experienced SCA three times in his short life before succumbing to it at age 18.
Ben Breedlove's story articulated the assurance of Heaven for those who have given their lives to Jesus Christ. The book is written by Ben's sister and tells of their warm and wonderful family, Ben's impish personality, and their faith through the trials of Ben's condition.
I enjoyed it and I thank Ally Breedlove for making the effort to write what must have been painful as well as cathartic for her.
Ben Breedlove's story articulated the assurance of Heaven for those who have given their lives to Jesus Christ. The book is written by Ben's sister and tells of their warm and wonderful family, Ben's impish personality, and their faith through the trials of Ben's condition.
I enjoyed it and I thank Ally Breedlove for making the effort to write what must have been painful as well as cathartic for her.
January 6, 2014
The story is inspiring and I cried through much of it. What a wonderful, loving family, and young man whose short life meant so much to so many. It would have gotten five stars except for the unfortunate choice to write this story in third person. A writer cannot attribute feelings, emotions and qualities to another person in non-fiction unless they were carefully interviewed about those feelings. I found this disconcerting. How does the writer know that "sweat broke out on the forehead" of one of the young people in the hallway of the school? Perhaps they asked that young person what they were feeling, thinking, seeing? Was it Ally who saw the beads of sweat on the girl's forehead? Then I would have preferred this story to be written from Ally's perspective, and a first-person account.
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