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Ben Underwood – The boy who could see without eyes
Benjamin Underwood
(January 26th 1992 – January 19th 2009
After being diagnosed with retinal cancer Ben Underwood lost both his eyes at the age of 3. He taught himself to perceive and locate objects by making clicking sounds with his tongue and using the echoes as they bounced off his environment to create a visual image in his mind. He began to use this technique at age 3 and further improved it so that even the surface of the objects did not matter whether it is metal, wood or another human being. Ben was able to perceive the distance to objects in his environment by how loud and faint the echo was.
Due to wearing two prostheses his disability was not visible at first glance. Ben never used a guide dog or a white cane in his life. After his unique skill made the news he was featured in several magazines and TV shows.
The most important person who enabled him to develop his talent was his mother who always told him “Your name is Benjamin Underwood and you can do anything”. Ben had a special talent to read other people and immediately know if he was accepted or rejected by another person.
Ben’s cancer returned in 2007 and this time treatment was not able to save his life. Ben died one week before his 17th birthday.
