Ben's initial treatments included four brain surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. During this treatment period, Ben Bowen picked up the nickname "Big Ben" because of his "big" demeanor, bravery and smile.[citation needed] The tumor reoccurred by November 2004, and no known medicines or treatments were left to help him.
With assistance from Federal Express, and the family of a victim in the September 11 attacks (whom Tom assisted in the recovery of), the Bowen family took Ben Bowen on a special two-week trip to Disney World, where they celebrated his second birthday.[4]
The Bowens wanted to create a legacy in their son's name and thank Saint Jude Hospital for caring for Bowen and providing family housing. The Bowens started a fund raising program selling "Big Ben" awareness bracelets for Valentine's Day.[5][6] The wristband project ended up raising over US$120,000[2]
The 2007 fundraising drive was a raffle for a house (called The House that Ben Built) located in Putnam County, West Virginia, which brought in $808,000.[7][8] Governor Joe Manchin changed WV state law to make this raffle possible. As a result, St. Jude launched a WV field office that organizes all state fundraising for the hospital. In 2008 the Bowen family organized a second St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway raffle in Hurricane, WVA and raised over $1,000,000.[9] The third annual WV St. Jude Dream Home was scheduled to expand to two locations, Milton and Morgantown, WV, in 2009.[needs update]
Ben Bowen's last months were physically painful. Morphine did not manage his pain adequately, his body tripled in size, and he would regurgitate fecal matter. The neuropathic pain became so severe, his parents could not hold him.[10] The Bowen family are ProtestantChristians and relied on their belief that God has a plan for each life and that faith requires believing God's good promises.[3] Ben died on February 25, 2005.
Ben Bowen and his family were featured in the 2004 Autumn issue of Saint Jude's Promise, a magazine published by the hospital. It described how the 9/11 families that firefighter Tom Bowen helped, in turn helped Ben Bowen.[3]
St. Jude's Children's Hospital produced one-hour special TV show, Fighting for Life that featured Ben Bowen as one of six patients being treated for childhood cancer at Saint Jude.[17]Alan Alda narrated Bowen's story. This special has been broadcast a number of times since its first airing in 2005 and has raised substantial funds for cancer research at St. Jude Children's Hospital.
In 2007, WCHS Eyewitness News and Fox 11 produced a seven-part series on Ben Bowen's life and St. Jude Children's Hospital to help raise funds for Saint Jude's via a raffle for the "House That Ben Built."[18] It raised over $800,000.[8][10][19]
^ abStein, Deanne (February 27, 2005). "'Big Ben" Bowen Dies". WOWK-TV, Channel 13, Charleston & Huntington, WV. Archived from the original on November 17, 2006.
^ abc"Big Ben Bowen". Saint Jude Promise Magazine & Web Site. September 2004. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
