Benjamin Warner was born on a Friday, which, according to the popular nursery rhyme “Monday’s Child", means he came into this world loving and giving, his mom Holly notes. Benjamin, usually called Ben, unless he was in trouble, was exactly that.

“Ben was go, go, go. A force of nature from the time he could walk,” recalls his mom Holly. “He caused chaos all the time as a child, but he was also very thoughtful.”

Ben and his two sisters spent their childhood roaming around outside on the four acres of their backyard in south Aldergrove. They played in the stream and wandered through the forest, usually coming home soaking wet. A visit to the local trout farm when he was four years old started Ben’s lifelong love of fishing. He also played many different sports, several different instruments, and also had an obsession with Hot Wheels cars.  

     

“Ben collected thousands of Hot Wheels cars and at one point his whole bedroom was covered in Hot Wheels,” Holly comments. “I still have his tote bins full of Hot Wheels.”

Toy cars led to a keen interest in muscle cars as Ben got older. As soon as he was able to get a job and save money, he bought his first car, a black late-70s model Buick Regal. He never stopped enjoying the outdoors and took up hiking, as well as every opportunity to fish. He had a special spot on the Chilliwack River where he would fish for salmon, sometimes camping there for a week at a time.

The one thing that made Ben slow down was Christmas.

 Holly remarks, “As soon as the Christmas tree went up, he would sit cross-legged on the floor with all the lights and he would just stare at the tree. I think there was more to it than the presents, the treats, the turkey. I just felt the true Spirit of Christmas dancing around him.”

As a young adult, Ben moved to Vancouver Island and lived there for five years. He had opportunities to fish even more, which one time led to a close encounter with a bear who really wanted his catch - a story he loved to share. Ben met a girl, who was the love of his life, and they had a baby. Holly spent Christmas with them in 2018, which she says was probably the best Christmas Ben ever had.

Things seemed to be going well. However, from his teenage years, Ben struggled with substance use disorder. He went to rehab several times, but the substance use disorder would recur.

In early February 2023, Ben’s family helped him get to Mexico for rehab. The eight months he was there transformed him. He was healthy, happy and planning for his future.

“Ben loved Mexico and learned Spanish. Everyone loved him and people were drawn to him. He thrived there and put together a business plan to start his own heavy equipment company, following in his dad’s footsteps.”

But the closer Ben got to returning home to B.C., the greater his cravings. Within two hours of landing at the airport, he was back on the street.

“We tried to help him as much as we could. He had a home, but he didn’t want to live here. Unbeknownst to me, the months before he passed, he overdosed five times but had always been lucky enough to have someone around to help. When I found out, I burst out crying,” says Holly. 

In August 2024, Holly’s worst nightmare came true with a knock on the door. Ben was in the ICU at Chilliwack General Hospital. There was no chance of meaningful recovery. The family met to discuss organ donation, already confident it was what Ben would want. Then the BC Transplant donation coordinator showed them the form he had filled out to register as an organ donor. None of them were surprised.

Ben was transferred to Abbotsford Regional Hospital for the organ recovery surgery. As he was wheeled into the operating room, the ICU staff lined the hall for an honour walk for him. 

“He always wanted to help people. I think having that as his last act of kindness meant a lot to him. And as a family, although it was hard, we totally respected it.”

At the age of 37, Ben saved three people’s lives. The week before Ben’s memorial service, Holly received a beautiful letter from one of her son’s recipients.

Holly finds comfort by spending as much time as she can with her granddaughter, who is now six years old. She also hopes that by sharing Ben’s story, she can help reduce the stigma around addiction and homelessness.

“The magnitude of these substances…it just overpowers you and you want nothing else. I understand now. It’s just horrible what it does to families. Not long after Ben’s passing, I walked past a panhandler on the street. Then I stopped, turned around and walked back, and spoke with him for a few minutes. We don’t look kindly upon people like that. But I think of my son. That could have been him. He was a good person. ”

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Please take two minutes and register your decision on organ donation at registeryourdecision.ca. All you need is your Personal Health Number. Aren’t sure if you are already registered? Visit checkyourdecision.ca and find out.

As of December 31, 2024, there are 666 British Columbians waiting for their second chance at life.