New Fund Honors Boy Who Died In Tragic Freak Accident
CARROLL COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- After her 12-year-old son Justin died in a freak accident, Antoinette Benns had to learn to adjust to her new life without him. Now she's speaking out, hoping to help other families deal with a painful loss.
Linh Bui has her story.
On July 8, 2014, a fast-moving, powerful storm ripped through Carroll County, forcing cmapers at River Valley Ranch to run for cover. One of the biggest trees on the property fell, crushing 12-year-old Justin Diggs, who turned back to help a friend.
"He died helping someone else," said Justin's mother, Antoinette Benns. "We were very close. He was stuck to my side since the day he was born and he was so good so I didn't mind taking him everywhere. He went with me everywhere."
Now, Benns wants to share her emotional story through WJZ to help others going through similar tragedies. She treasures the final moments she had with her only child.
"The third week I'm bringing him back and I'm like, `I'm not going to embarrass myself this time. We go pick his little cabin and his bunk and make his bed, and I'm like, `All right, buddy, I'll see you Friday!' And he stopped in mid-tracks and he turned around and said, `Mom, I forgot to give you a hug.' He gave me a hug and said he loved me; I said I loved him back and kissed him. That was God's plan because he allowed me to say goodbye to him before he called him home," she said. "It was my last moment. I miss Justin every day. Every moment, every minute. He was all I had."
Since Justin's death, people all over the world have been reaching out to Antoinette, sending her cards and gifts.
"I think it would be harder for me to deal with this if I didn't have so much support. There was a family who sent a mug and it had pictures of him all over the mug, a very recent one, with him in his basketball uniform and then my favorite picture of all time, him with the thumbs up and the big smile that he had and on the front of the mug, it had, `In Jesus' Arms Now,' so it was a great gift," she said.
Now, as Benns heals, she's hoping to use her strength to help other families live after such a devastating loss.
"I think that my purpose in life has changed where maybe I can be an inspiration for people who are going through things to just trust and keep your faith strong, whatever your faith is. And I think now what I'm doing is pleasing to God and Justin. I hope I'm making him proud because I was proud of him," she said.
