| Location | Walton-on-thames,surrey |
| Age | 3 years |
| Date of Birth | 12/1981 |
| Date of Death | 3/1985 |
| Visitors | 5,971 since 29/08/2007 |
| Creator |
LITTLE Ben Hardwick touched the whole nation’s hearts when his mother appealed on TV for a new liver to save his life.
A donor was found and he became the first child in Britain to receive the organ transplant.
But just over a year later, his body rejected the new liver. Last Saturday was the 17th anniversary of his death.
Ben’s mother Debbie has not spoken in public for 15 years about how she has coped since Ben died.
But now she recalls how she picked up the phone in 1984 to ring Esther Rantzen’s consumer show That’s Life — and uttered a few heartfelt words.
When the director answered, she said: “My name is Debbie Hardwick. I have a two-year-old son called Ben, who is normal in every way — except that next month he will be dead.”
The words did not just fall from her lips. Debbie, from Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, had already scripted and rehearsed them. Her son Ben was born in Kingston Hospital, Surrey, on December 6, 1981, with the rare incurable liver condition biliary atresia.
I didn't know Ben but remembered him recently and thought I would make a site just for him
Sleep Well Baby Boy xxx
you changed my life and many others
I have heard about you lots growing up and recently ready the book written about you.
I was born with Biliary Atresia too and in 1982 had my Kasai operation. I was very lucky and my native liver lived in me until just after I turned 25. On Thursday I celebrate my four year transplant anniversary.
Biliary Atresia remains one of the commonest causes for liver transplantation in babies and young children. Thanks to your life, babies and children who require transplantation today can receive excellent treatment here in the UK. Thanks to your life, when they came to do my transplant, they had gained valuable experience transplanting other patients with Biliary Atresia.
I'm sad you didn't get to grow up so I can't get to meet you, but I'm very happy and grateful that you lived.
tribute to ben
hi i just want to say that i was a nurse who looked after little ben hardwick at kings college hospital in camberwell . i was doing my nurse training and actually loked after him at the childrens hospital at the oval i was doin night duty at the hospital at the time and remember holding ben loking after him all night bless him he was adorable and wont forget him !! bless him ripxx
hard to believe it was all those years ago that little Ben touched out hearts, i was a child then, now i have my own children. I remember as a child being so upset when Ben passed away. as a mother now i can't imagine his parents pain. My 2nd child was born with medical problems, it's been hard but she's now a healthy 14yr old, she will need check ups and tests for the rest of her life, always need medication, but she's expected to live a long and happy life,. sleep tight Ben you will never be forgotten x
hi i was in hospital at the time with another little boy in nottingham called mathew who was very young to this day im sure he is the doner child he was a lovely lttle boy who my dad got very attached to after he had his spinal op he did not recover and his life support was switched off i was 7 at the time and did not understand as i was really sick to but i do remember one minute he was there then he was gone so sad to see its always in my mind what a special little boy they both were rip to both angels in the sky x x
Dear Ben
Ben
I have a son who will be 7 next month, he is a cheeky rascal, same as the image i remember you as....i still remember Esther Rantzen appealing for you..
The whole nation was rooting for you....we all had our hearts for you....children are amazing...my son's heart stopped beating before i was told i had to have an emergency caesarean....i had already lost 3 others...he is a treasure...as you still are little boy,,,you will never be forgotten...
Jacqui Patey, Bucks.
song 4 ben
i still have that wonderfull song ben by john evans and play it every day and hope this candle lights up your life now and 4ever ben'
I SAID A PRAYER FOR YOU TODAY,
I KNOWGOD MUST HAVE HEARD.
I FELT THE ANSWER IN MY HAERT.
ALTHROUGH HE SPOKE NO WORD.
MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH ALL OF THE BEN HARDWICK FANS AND FRIENDS@GTS
God Bless you
Now that Michael Jackson has sadly passed, I have heard the song "Ben" on the radio a lot and it always reminds me of little Ben Hardwick, rest in peace Ban and Michael
♥ღ♥ Hold My Hand In Heaven ♥ღ♥
♥ღ♥ Hold my hand in heaven show me the way,
meet me at the pearly gates
I'll see you there some sweet day.
I don't care about the riches or fame I leave below It'll all mean nothing where were gonna go.
Hold my hand in heaven,
show me the way,
how I've missed you here on earth
I have so much to say.
I'll be the one with the smile on my face,
and I'll greet you with a warm embrace.
We'll walk down the streets of gold,
and stare at the sparkling flowing streams.
Hold my hand in heaven
like I've pictured all those times in my dreams.
Nothing on this earth could possibly compare,
to all the glory you have in heaven up there.
Once I reach my destination,
and I get see your face.
All will go well,
I'll be in my final resting place ♥ღ♥
By Lisa Reed
♥ღ♥ With Love Yvonne ♥ღ♥
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
God Bless You
Hi Ben,
It's been 17 years and I remember very well your mummys plea, I still cry now every time I hear YOUR song.
Sleep tight my little one
i remember ben very well my son andrew was born on the 18/11/1980 with glycogen storage disease the doctors refused to give him a transplant at the time i didnt understsnd why he is now 28 so my heart goes out for ben and his family sleep tite little one
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There have been 243 candles lit for Ben.
