Ben Black Chose Hope

Ben Black was only diagnosed this year with Stage 4 lung cancer that had progressed to his bone marrow by the time it was caught. Remembering Ben Black.

Ben Black chose hope after terminal cancer diagnosis: Ben Black, a 38-year-old Placer High School grad and local window-cleaning business owner, died Aug. 5 after a courageous, hope-filled battle with terminal cancer. Black continued to receive visitors at his hospital bedside and then was allowed to return home, to die surrounded by his family and closest friends, his wife, Emily said.

Black was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in January and his attempt to battle back from the disease was the subject of a Journal story in May. The story also delved into his and Emily’s challenges of raising and providing for five children, ages 13 to less than a year. “Always, up until the very end, he chose hope,” Emily said. “He was a fighter to the very end.”

Black would have turned 39 on Aug. 9. His family went ahead with a birthday dinner of what would have been his chosen foods for the occasion – beef stroganoff, broccoli and chocolate peanut butter ice cream.

Now friends and family are readying for a service to remember him at 2 p.m. Aug. 21 at Auburn Grace Community Church. Donations for the family may be made here. Emily said the family is thankful for all the help it has received.

“He had faith in God and where he was going – he was never afraid of dying,” Emily said. The example of hope will continue. “The hope now is to remember him as he was and in the way that we raised the kids, and what he taught them when he was here,” Emily said.

One of the many posters that was made to aid his treatment.