Mini Golf

Jacob & Jami took Hannah to play mini golf for the first time!! She had so much fun with them. Jake said she played pretty good for the first time.

Ben's Tree

I took my parents today to pick out a tree in honor of Ben. The staff at the day program planted it today!! In the spring it will bloom pink flowers.

Jacob & Jami

I just love this picture of these two!! Jacob is very blessed to have such a sweet, nice Godly Christian girlfriend!! Jami is a sweet heart!! Love you guys!!

Referral Day

Four years ago today we were matched with the most percious child. It is hard to believe that it has been four years. She is amazing! God has truly blessed us & her!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone despite to rough tearful week we all have had. Today we rejoice that our Lord Jesus Christ has RISEN!!
I hope everyone has a wonderful day!!

Ben's Funeral Slideshow

Ben's Memorial Service

Here are some pictures from Ben's Memorial Service!!

Numb

Today is the day before Ben's Memorial service.  I think I am completely numb with the fact he is really gone.  Today at day program we had our traditional egg hunt.  It was really hard watching the clients collect those plastic eggs with candy. For the fact that Ben would get them as fast as he could to open them up to eat the candy inside. I would have to say that I am kinda of jealous that Ben is celebrating Easter with our King of Kings.  He is having the best Easter anyone could ever imagine!!

I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I do know that we are going to celebrate my brothers life the way he would like it. I feel honored to have been his sister for 26 years.  I know that I have taught him a few things, but I think Ben taught me more.   I loved him so much!! I am really going to miss that big smile of his that I got every morning on the way to day program, I am really going to miss those dirty looks he would give me when he was irritated with me. Games of patty cake, high fives, even the pinches and poking. I would have to say that Ben was an AWESOME brother!! I Love you Ben!!! Please give grandpa a hug for me as you two celebrate this Easter season with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!!

Midnight calls

NO ONE ever likes midnight calls! When the phone rang March 30 at 1:12am and I heard the panic in my staff's voice I knew it was bad, but I never dreamed it would be for by brother. When they screamed that he had no pulse and was not breathing I was so shocked.  David ran next door and started helping get the process of CPR going with the staff which they had already started. They were using the AED on him too, but nothing.  The paramedics got there and took over.  They were able to get a faint pulse and heart beat back.  I just knew within my heart that he was already gone. The paramedics rush off to the hospital with Ben. While on the way to the hospital Ben coded two times. We got to the hospital about the same time the ambulance did.  It seemed like forever until we could go back and talk to someone. Finally, Mom & Dad where able to go back. When they came back out they said that the doctors were going to go do a CAT Scan of his brain to seem if he had a bleeder, but the scan showed that his gray matter was much larger than it was suppose to be. His brain also herniated. At this point we knew that this was very BAD. What we learned over the next few days is doctors have to do everything by the book. As they kept telling us it is PROTOCOL. We had to wait for blood tests, scans etc.....At this point I was just not wanting him to suffer anymore. God was showing us through this whole experience to be patience and rely on him. He was about to show us something totally amazing.  On Sunday when the doctors where going to pull the ventilator they realized that Ben was a candidate for organ donation.  How awesome is that I knew I was going to lose my brother, but his organs were going to give someone else a chance at life. I am sad for the fact that I won't be able to see him anymore, but his legacy is going to live on. As I am typing this Ben is in the OR giving life to other people, but we have to rejoice in the fact that Ben is dancing and singing with Jesus!!

Benjamin David Essert

Benjamin David Essert

Born: January 25, 1973 in Fairbanks, Alaska

Died: April 1, 2012 in Bakersfield, California

Benjamin is survived by his parents, Joe and Deanna Essert and his brother, Mark Essert.

He is also survived by his “California family”: Jim and Beverly Cornell, Christine Williams and family, and Clifford Cornell and family.

As a very special autistic child, Ben lived with his parents until the age of 11, after which he attended Musashino Higashi Gakuen, a school for children with autism, in Japan.  After two years of study there, he met and followed his teacher, Cheryl Wernli to her Kern County Superintendent of Schools class located on the campus of the Kern County Autism Center. During this time Ben lived with Jim and Beverly Cornell’s family for 24 years, after which he resided in the Park Home Residential Facility at the Kern County Autism Center.

An individual with autism, Ben touched the lives of many in his extended family and throughout his educational experience. The things that made Ben so special also made those around him special, as compassion, patience and unconditional love were all a part of a relationship with him.

Ben enjoyed his many trips to Disneyland, where the joy of that land could be seen in his eyes. The Christmas season was his favorite and looking through the many books that his mother saw that he had, added enjoyment to his life.

Benjamin’s parents are providing chances of life for individuals needing organ donations through One Legacy.  So in his passing, Ben continues to live, touching others with compassion and love.

Services are scheduled for Friday, April 6, 2012 at 2:00pm at the Calvary Baptist Church in Arvin.

Donations in Ben’s honor may be made to the Kern County Autism Center, 14150 Sunset Blvd., Arvin, California, 93203.