Live, love and heaven

Ben Breedlove's last words: Austin teen's Christmas Day death sends inspirationaround the world

A teenager died on Christmas Day in Austin. He suffered a heart attack, the fourth of his short life. He had cheated death three times, he said.

Generally a heart attack victim, even a teenager, would garner little media attention. It's sad, of course — tragic for his family and friends, especially since it happened on Christmas — but in this case, Ben Breedlove's death brought new attention to his significant and courageous life and to the idea that perhaps there is something more out there after we die.

No, Breedlove wasn't famous in any traditional way; he was a normal 18-year-old Westlake High School student who happened to have a life-threatening heart condition.

"I was proud of myself, of my entire life, everything I have done. It was the BEST feeling... I didn't want to leave that place. I wish I NEVER woke up."

The thing that brought attention to Breedlove's death — attention that now goes around the world from the Huffington Post to London's Daily Mail to Sydney's ninemsn.com — was the serious and honest two-part video he posted on YouTube just a week before he died.

He called the video "My Story." In it he uses flashcards to prepare his family and friends for his passing and describes why death no longer scares him. It's heart-breaking and inspiring.

Breedlove had technically died before. His third heart attack came Dec. 6 while he was at school. His heart stopped for three minutes before EMS managed to bring him back with CPR.

He describes in great detail what it's like to die.

"When people's bodies die, the brain still works for a short time," he says in the video. He describes how EMS worked to save his life. "I heard them say 'He's not breathing, his heart has stopped and he has no pulse.' I really thought to myself, 'This is it, I'm dying.'"

And then, Breedlove describes his "dream or vision" of a place he didn't want to leave.

"While I was still unconscious, I was in this white room... I was wearing a really nice suit and so was my fav [sic] rapper, Kid Cudi." And then Breedlove smiles the big smile of someone who you know is at peace with himself and his life.

"I couldn't stop smiling," he goes on, still smiling. "I was proud of myself, of my entire life, everything I have done. It was the BEST feeling... I didn't want to leave that place. I wish I NEVER woke up."

Breedlove ends his video with another inspiring message: "Do you believe in Angels or God?... I Do."

One week later, on Christmas Day, Breedlove went back to that peaceful place — and stayed. Now his video has become one of the highest trending stories online.

After hearing of Breedlove's post, ra pper Kid Cudi posted a blog of his own:

"Iam [sic] so sad about Ben Breedlove. I watched the video he left for the world to see, and him seeing me in detail, in his vision really warmed my heart. I broke down, Iam to tears because I hate how life is so unfair. This has really touched my heart in a way I cant describe, this is why I do what I do. Why I write my life, and why I love you all so much. Life is really fucked up sometimes, but I know Ben is at Peace, and I hope he gets a chance to sit and talk with my Dad. We love you Ben. Forever. Thank you for loving me. To Ben’s family, you raised a real hero, he’s definately [sic] mine. You have my love." — Scott Mescudi

Breedlove kept a pretty prolific YouTube channel called "OurAdvice4You," through which he documented his too-short life and offered advice for anyone who cared to watch. His last message, recorded Dec. 18, is an inspiring story of peace and hope and a vision of heaven many of us want to be true.

Comments on the video from friends and strangers alike hold a common theme:

I may not know you, nor do I necessarily believe in a god, but to you I have the deepest respect. I have believed for the longest time that when you die, you do indeed find eternal peace. Some may call it Heaven, but I believe it is simply you in your truest form. Your stories of previous deaths gave me hope Ben, to where now I have no reason to fear the reaper, but rather to embrace this pre-life state that I'm in now to prepare for the beginning. Rest in peace, and may all your loved ones realize that you are truly happy now."

"your story really touched my heart i hope you find peace in heaven. i don't know you but i cried when i read that article about you. You really are a strong person. Im on my pursuit of happiness in know you found yours. God Bless."

"Rest in peace. I don't believe in God myself, but in angels yes. And that when we die, we go into a happy place where everyone can be finally happy. I hope you're okay and happy in the place you are right now. R.I.P Ben, I wish I had known you, you're a true hero, and a fighter."

"Ben, you were the most BRAVEST [sic] guys out there. I believe that the angels have taken you away to a better place now, I bet your [sic] happy:) I'll NEVER forget you Ben Breedlove<3 R.I.P <3"

Breedlove was a normal kid who lived a normal life — if having a life-threatening heart condition can be considered normal — and left an extraordinary legacy for us on Christmas Day.

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fins and all

Towering downtown skyscraper and former headquarters for oil giant set for new high-rise apartment conversion

Photo by Getty Images

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An empty downtown skyscraper harking to Houston's energy capital brand may soon reignite the high-rise living trend in downtown.

The tower formerly known as the Humble Oil headquarters and now the Exxon building (800 Bell St.) has been sold to an out-of-state developer with plans to convert the structure to residential units. Ralph Bivins, a former CultureMap scribe, was first to break the news on Realty News Report.

Bivins reports that the 1.2 million-square-foot building was sold to a New York investment group affiliated with CMI Developers. Notably, the group boasts experience in historic redevelopment and apartment conversions. Bivins adds that the age of the Exxon building (it was completed in 1962) and its high local profile might yield available historic preservation tax credits for the developers.

As downtowners may recall, the former Exxon HQ at 800 Bell for around eight years when the company relocated to its modern new campus.

Culturally, the building has been significant as a towering symbol of Houston's energy powerhouse status. At the time of its opening, Bivins notes, the building was considered the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. Its famed Petroleum Club atop the building was the site of myriad power deals, and later, special events.

Looking forward, the building presents numerous opportunities for adaptive reuse. The first floors of the building, once open to neighbors who utilized the Exxon cafeteria, can be an ideal mixed-use locale for restaurants and even retail. One hopes the building's signature "fins," crafted to block the hot Houston sun, remain a design feature.

The large scale of the Exxon tower raises the opportunity for placing a significant amount of retail or restaurants in the lower levels of the building, located between Milam and Travis. The old Exxon parking garage, located nearby, comes with the deal, Bivins point out — always a boon for parking-scarce downtown areas.

Given the green-light status of the hotly contested I-45 expansion project and plans to redevelop Midtown and areas near the Pierce Elevated, the high-rise residential could be an epicenter of new downtown growth.