Benjamin Stanley

On July 2, 2025, Ben’s life changed in an instant. A serious car accident left him with a traumatic brain injury, along with multiple fractures to his spine, arm, and leg. For two weeks he lay in the ICU at Huntington Hospital, semi-conscious, while doctors fought to stabilize him. He underwent a tracheostomy, a feeding tube placement, and treatment for brain bleeds.

Against the odds, Ben has shown extraordinary resilience. After more than two months of uncertainty, he has begun to wake up, reclaiming himself one step at a time. When insurance balked at covering neurorehabilitation, his wife, Claire, drew on the family’s savings to get him into Casa Colina, a rehabilitation center near Los Angeles specializing in early-stage traumatic brain injuries. There, Ben has made remarkable progress. In just three weeks, he has gone from near silence to walking, talking, feeding himself, and responding to those around him. Each small step feels like a miracle, and his determination inspires everyone who knows him.

But the truth is, his journey has only begun. Ben will need long months of intensive rehabilitation—physical, occupational, speech, cognitive, and neurobehavioral therapies—to give him the best chance of returning home safely. He will also need skilled caregivers to support him as he relearns the rhythms of everyday life. Through it all, Claire is at his side—visiting daily, advocating for his care, while still keeping her small business afloat.

Ben’s 14-year-old daughter misses her dad fiercely. She longs to share the stories of her first weeks of high school, to show him her dress for Homecoming, to hike the canyon trails with him and their rollicking dog, Bolt. More than anything, she needs her father’s presence—the quiet companionship of reading side by side, the warmth of cooking dinner together, the reassurance that he is there.

Ben’s recovery is not only about mending a body and healing a mind. It is about reuniting a family. He is drawing on remarkable reserves of grit and courage, doing everything in his power to recover. But he cannot do this alone. With your support, Ben can continue receiving the specialized care that will allow him to rebuild his life, return to his wife and daughter, and rejoin the community that loves him so deeply.

Every gift, large or small, brings that day closer.