South Elgin boy dies after 'best day of his life'
A 10-year-old South Elgin boy lost his battle against cancer three days after experiencing the best day of his life, his mother said.
Ben Srdanovich died Wednesday with his parents, Tamara and Mirko, by his side at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma multiforme, a malignant brain tumor, in June and had undergone brain surgery and radiation therapy.
Attending Benapalooza, a fundraiser for the family held Sunday in South Elgin, brought him so much joy, his mother said.
"He was so happy," she said. "It was perfect. He didn't have pain, he was comfortable. He was so happy. It was like a wedding day, just like the bride and groom feel. I'm so thankful he got to have that."
The family had been working to make their home wheelchair accessible, hoping Ben could come home in early October. But he took a turn for the worse Monday night and tests showed the tumor "had just invaded everything," Tamara Srdanovich said.
The medical staff made Ben comfortable so that relatives and friends could come say goodbye. Ben has a twin brother, Zak, and a sister, Hannah, 9.
"I was thankful I got to talk to him about heaven more, and that my mom got to talk to him about not being afraid," his mother said. "I told him, 'God loves you even much more than I could. It's going to be even better in heaven.' I kept telling him how brave he was and how strong he was, and what a good fight he did."
To continue that fight, the family is planning to turn Benapalooza into a yearly event that will help families whose children are fighting cancer, his mother said.
"We are so thankful that we got this time with him, that I was able to have this summer with him," she said. "Of course I feel sorrow and loss, but I also feel such peace. I feel blessed and lucky that I had the opportunity to be with him."
Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 1 at Laird Funeral Home, 310 S. State St., Elgin, and 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 2 at Christ Community Church, 37W100 Bolcum Road, St. Charles. Funeral services begin at 1 p.m. at the church, and interment is at Prairie Cemetery in St. Charles.