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Arlington Hts. teen takes gifts to hospitalized children

When children in intensive care smile, it has special meaning for 14-year-old Sam Benson of Arlington Heights.

Four years ago, Sam was very sick and spent four months in intensive care at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, then was in a rehab institution for Christmas.

That's why Sam and his father, Chuck, who is a crew chief in the street department of the Arlington Heights Public Works department, collect toys and take them to youngsters at the hospital.

“I like making the kids smile,” said Sam. “After all they've done for me at Children's, I want to give back.”

For Sam it was an autoimmune disease that led to grand mal seizures. After more than a month in a coma, he had to relearn almost everything from sitting up to talking.

And he believes that these gifts help make hospital stays more bearable for the small patients.

“They all feel happy,” he said. “And it's something they can play with, to do with the time,”

Sam missed his whole fifth grade, but is now in eighth grade at South Middle School.

“He's doing a lot better than I ever did in school,” said his father.

Treatments for Sam's condition have gotten better and better, and his father said doctors have even found something that might result in a cure.

“It's unbelievable what they do for the kids down there,” said a very grateful Chuck Benson.

Staff, too, is amazed by Sam's recovery, said Julie Pesch, hospital spokeswoman.

“The nurses and physicians who treated Sam four years ago just marvel as to how far Sam has come,” she said. “This was a boy who spent months in the intensive care unit and could not walk or talk. So when they see him today greeting and hugging everyone, they are so happy for him and his family.”

The Bensons visit about 20 youngsters in intensive care each year and leave more gifts for volunteers and staff to give children hospitalized over the holidays. Thursday marked the third year the father and son have traveled to the hospital with holiday gifts collected from co-workers in public works and relatives.

“I think about kids all the time now when I see a bald one or a child in a wheelchair,” said Chuck Benson. “We take everything for granted. It only took three days and my life was turned upside down. “

Chuck and Colette Benson remember how the community came together for them, the meals sitting in a cooler on their front steps every day, the Christmas lights put up on their house, the teachers who helped so much the educators received Hearts of Gold awards.

As great as Arlington Heights neighbors were, so were volunteers at Children's Memorial.

“I could not believe all the volunteers and people who didn't have to be there and how they would try to make things better for us. They offered to bring us books or lunch or sit with our son while we went to lunch. It was overwhelming.”

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