March 9th
Ben’s recovery continues to progress well! The doctors have been very pleased with how his mouth is healing, particularly the area where the bullet impacted the floor of his mouth.
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Ben has been enjoying smoothies, soups, and shakes since Monday. He’s made a chicken and vegetable soup, broccoli cheddar soup, and plenty of smoothies. Ingredients like spinach, Greek yogurt, and protein powder have ensured he gets all the important nutrients.
In more exciting news, Ben had his feeding tube removed on Friday! This was a big relief for him, as his nose and throat feel more comfortable.
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The doctors are hopeful Ben will be able to begin eating normal foods in the beginning of April. In the meantime, he’s exercising his jaw, which opens about half of the way as it did before. With practice, he’ll be able to bite into sandwiches and burgers in due time!
Ben is eyeing a return to work in April, but also understands that it’s important to take his time and not rush the process. He’s excited to slowly return to a normal routine!
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Today, Ben visited his apartment for the first time since the incident. The last time he saw it, it was still a work in progress as he was in the middle of moving in. Thanks to an incredible act of kindness, our dear family friend, C Foltz, took it upon herself to make sure Ben came home to a fully furnished and welcoming space. Through her “C Fit” workout class, she raised thousands of dollars and used the proceeds to transform his apartment into a true home. Ben is deeply thankful to C, the entire Foltz family, Claire Vanderhart, and his sister, who were instrumental in making this happen.
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Ben continues to be overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, support, and encouragement from everyone around him.
March 3rd
Ben’s recovery continues to progress smoothly, with significant improvements in both pain and swelling. He remains incredibly grateful for the overwhelming prayers, thoughts, cards, and support from his wide network of family and friends.
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Today brought some exciting news—given how well the wounds inside his mouth have healed, Ben has been cleared to start eating liquid and puréed foods! While it’s a small step, it’s a meaningful one, and he’s looking forward to enjoying smoothies, soups, and shakes again. Even better, his feeding tube is scheduled to be removed this Friday.
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Ben continues to wear his neck brace around the clock to allow his fractured vertebrae to heal properly. He has a follow-up appointment with the neurosurgery team in two weeks, where an X-ray will determine if he can finally retire the brace. In the meantime, he’s been going for walks around the neighborhood with his parents, which has been a welcome way to get his body moving again.
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Looking ahead, Ben is scheduled for bone grafting surgery in May to replace the missing bone in his jaw. Four to six months after that, he’ll begin the process of receiving dental implants to restore his missing teeth. The finish line is still a ways off, but Ben is staying optimistic and excited to slowly return to normal activities in the coming months.
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We’re also incredibly thankful for CU Football and the CU Equipment team for sending over a care package filled with CU gear. Ben is a huge Buffs fan, and their kindness and support truly meant a lot to him.
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He continues to credit his healing progress to the incredible love and support he’s received throughout this journey.
February 26th
A week out from his jaw reconstruction, Ben’s swelling continues to go down, and his pain is becoming more manageable. His recovery is progressing well, and each day brings small but meaningful improvements.
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This week, he had his stitches removed from both the site of his jaw surgery and where his trach had been. The trach site is healing naturally on its own, without the need for stitches or glue.
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In addition to the four missing teeth, doctors discovered that one of Ben’s molars was cracked from the injury. He visited the dentist for a temporary filling, but that tooth will need to be extracted in the coming weeks. Looking ahead, his medical team will continue monitoring his progress before beginning bone grafting—using bone from his hip—to prepare for future dental implants.
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At his next appointment, doctors will evaluate whether he is ready to start introducing liquid foods like smoothies, soups, and shakes. The feeding tube will remain in place at first, in case he still needs supplemental nutrition.
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Overall, the doctors are very pleased with how his mouth is healing. In addition to his physical recovery, Ben will also be meeting with a trauma therapist this week to focus on his mental well-being.
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And in a small but exciting milestone—Ben was officially cleared to drink most liquids. His first sip of Diet Coke was long overdue!
February 22nd
Ben has been recovering well at home with the care of his mom, dad, and, of course, the dogs, who have been keeping his spirits up. His face remains swollen and bruised, which was expected, but each day brings small improvements.
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On Friday, he had an appointment at Denver Health where doctors removed both his trach tube and the surgical drain from his jaw—two big steps forward in his recovery. At his next visit, they plan to remove the stitches from his neck, which served as the access point for his reconstruction surgery.
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Ben still has about three more weeks in the C-collar while his vertebrae heal and will likely need to keep the feeding tube for another two weeks. While there is still a long road ahead, with more recovery and future surgeries, these small but meaningful milestones are encouraging signs of progress.
February 18th
Ben had his first jaw reconstruction surgery yesterday, and thankfully, everything went as planned. Surgeons used bone fragments, along with titanium plates and screws, to rebuild the right side of his lower jaw. His recovery will involve regular follow-up appointments with the maxillofacial team to monitor his healing.
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After a successful procedure, Ben was able to return home today. Over the next three months, his jaw and mouth will need time to heal before the next surgery. Once his jaw is fully healed, doctors will begin addressing the dental work needed to replace the teeth that were knocked out. This will involve taking bone grafts from his hip and using dental implants to restore his smile.
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He will also need to continue wearing his neck brace for six more weeks while his C1 and C2 vertebrae heal. Doctors are hopeful that he’ll be able to have his trach tube removed soon, but it looks like the feeding tube will need to stay in place for a while longer.
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In other news, CBS Colorado was so impressed with Ben’s attitude and resilience that they wanted to continue following his journey. They recently did another story, which you can view here.
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February 16th
February 12th
Yesterday, we were grateful to have Channel 4 (link here) and 9News (link here) visit to share Ben’s story. This gave Ben and our family the opportunity to speak about what he’s been through and show our appreciation for all of the love and support that we have received. ​
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Later in the evening, Ben was able to walk to the waiting room and spend time with friends and family over dinner. It was a welcome change to see him surrounded by loved ones outside of his hospital bed.
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Today, Ben had a special visit from members of his work team (People Insights & Analytics) from DaVita. It meant a lot to see them, and their support lifted his spirits. We’re grateful for the kindness and encouragement they’ve shown throughout his recovery.
Ben underwent another washout surgery today, which went as expected. His surgeons also replaced his feeding tube and trach tube with smaller ones, making it more comfortable. He is now off IV medications as he transitions to medications that he can take on his own.
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As of now, the plan is for Ben to be discharged this weekend so he can rest at home before his major jaw reconstruction surgery on Monday. Initially, we thought he would need to stay in the hospital for at least three more weeks, so being able to spend some time at home beforehand is a relief. A medical equipment provider working with Denver Health will be delivering everything necessary to help make the transition as smooth as possible.
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Ben was able to come home this weekend, marking an important step in his recovery. Being in a more comfortable environment, surrounded by family, has made a noticeable difference. His mom has been taking great care of him, and the dogs have been a constant source of joy.
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At home, he has been adjusting to managing his medications, feeding tube, trachea tube, and cervical collar. It’s a lot to navigate, but he is getting more comfortable with the routine each day.
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On Monday, Ben will return to Denver Health for his jaw reconstruction surgery, where he will remain at least through Tuesday as doctors monitor his progress. After this procedure, he will have a break from surgeries to allow his mouth time to heal.
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Looking ahead, the next steps in his recovery will involve bone grafting and dental work, but that is still further down the road. For now, the focus is on getting through this next surgery and taking things one step at a time. The continued support from family, friends, and the community means so much during this time.
February 11th
Ben’s surgery yesterday went well. During the procedure, the surgeons removed dead tissue and assessed which parts of his jaw could be salvaged and reattached. They also replaced his tracheostomy tube with a smaller one, making it more comfortable and marking an important step toward eventually weaning him off of it.
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Ben continues to make incredible strides in his recovery. He is now taking two walks a day around the floor, and today, he worked with a physical therapist to learn how to manage his neck brace, which he will need to wear for at least six weeks while his vertebrae heal.
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His next washout surgery is scheduled for Thursday, and his major reconstruction surgery is set for the 17th. His doctors are collaborating with a company that utilizes 3D modeling and custom-designed parts to meticulously plan the reconstruction of his jaw. With this advanced approach, we are hopeful that he will only need one major surgery.
Further down the road, we will need to address Ben’s dental work for his missing teeth, but for now, our focus remains on the upcoming surgeries and his continued progress.
February 9th
Yesterday was an emotional day for everyone as Ben and the family had the chance to meet one of the bystanders who helped save Ben's life. She is a doctor at Denver Health who happened to be in Wash Park during the incident and immediately rushed over to help. She and others used Ben's picnic blanket to wrap his head and neck while applying pressure to his wound, preventing him from bleeding out and providing the critical care he needed before first responders arrived. We are forever grateful for everyone's quick thinking and compassion—they will always hold a special place in our hearts.
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On a physical note, Ben continues to improve each day. Yesterday, he was able to take another short walk around the hospital, and his progress has been so remarkable that he was moved out of the Surgical ICU. He is now recovering in the Medical-Surgical unit, another big step forward in his healing journey.
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Looking ahead, Ben is scheduled for his next surgery tomorrow, followed by another one on Thursday. He has also been able to keep the speaking valve in, which has been great for communication and his overall recovery. Every day brings new progress, and we are so proud of his strength.
February 7th
Ben continues to make progress in his recovery. This morning, the speech therapist worked with him on exercises to test his ability to chew and swallow. He was able to chew two small ice cubes and drink a teaspoon of water. She also installed a speaking valve, which is being evaluated by his respiratory therapist to determine if he can continue using it.
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Later in the day, with the help of the nurses, Ben was able to take a walk around the floor. Getting his heart rate up and moving his legs was a great step in his recovery. Ben also met with a psychologist today to talk about how to take care of himself both physically and mentally during this process.
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As Ben continues his recovery, we have started a GoFundMe to help ease the financial burden of his medical expenses and transition back to daily life. If you’d like to support, the link can be found under the Ways to Help tab or here: GoFundMe
February 6th
Ben underwent his third surgery today. The doctors were very pleased with the outcome. His progress has been remarkable, and the speed of his recovery continues to exceed expectations.
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For now, he will keep his tracheostomy tube in, and fortunately, there are no signs of infection in his throat. Swelling has increased, though this was expected and should subside soon.
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Assuming his recovery stays on this positive trajectory, Ben's first jaw reconstructive surgery is scheduled for the 17th. Before then, he will undergo two additional procedures. That being said, he will remain in the SICU until at least the 17th.
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Ben’s family and close friends also participated in a counseling session today to address their own well-being and better understand how to support Ben as he processes everything.
February 5th
February 4th
Since being admitted to the ICU, he’s been under heavy sedation and pain meds, but the doctors have slowly started easing him off of the sedation.
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Tonight was a big step—we were finally able to get responses from him through hand squeezes and head movements. Because of the tracheostomy tube, he isn’t able to talk yet, but he signaled to us that he’s doing okay.
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And in true Ben fashion, he stayed his humble self and made sure to thank Grace and Danny for supporting him.
February 3rd
Ben is currently in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Denver Health, where he remains fully sedated and under constant monitoring. Earlier today, he underwent a few initial surgeries.
Doctors are assessing his trachea and airways. He currently has a tracheostomy tube to help him breathe and as an overall precautionary measure in case of any complications.
Ben is fully awake today, off sedation, and sitting up. While he’s still processing everything and understandably in shock, he’s handling it well.
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He still has his tracheostomy tube in place but has started breathing exercises to transition off it. Until then, he will remain in the SICU. While he can’t speak with the tube in, he is able to communicate with us by writing on a whiteboard and has expressed his gratitude for all the support.​
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He is scheduled for surgery tomorrow to begin addressing his mouth and jaw.
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Ben definitely has a long road ahead, but today has been a big step in the right direction. He is in great spirits and has even been writing jokes to us.
