Ben Age 8 Portland, Maine Ben Wishes For His Own Field Of Dreams

The Red Sox may have been on their way to winning the World Series in October, but there was even more excitement on a mound in eight-year-old Ben's backyard in Portland.

Although Ben has a rare blood disease called Histiocytosis, he fights to not let his illness slow him down. He loves practicing for the day that he's a center fielder in the major leagues and he wished to have a baseball field in his own backyard.

Thanks to a collaboration with the front office staff and grounds crew of the Portland Sea Dogs and a team of volunteers, Ben's backyard was transformed into a mini-regulation park - complete with a replica Green Monster fence - while he was at school on October 25th.

Ben and his friends were picked up by a limousine after school and surprised with "opening day" festivities in Ben's backyard. With the first pitch from the Sea Dogs mascot, Slugger, Ben sent a homerun sailing over the Green Monster.

With two surprise tickets given by a family friend, Ben and his father then headed to Boston in the limousine to watch the Red Sox win a World Series game.

Wish Granters:  Chandra Leister, Elinor Jones

Wishmaker:   Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield/Portland Pirates

Special thanks to:   Portland Sea Dogs Organization, Olympia Sports, Fast Signs of South Portland, Michael's Limousine, Handyman Rentals, Mark Hensley, Bob Wakefield, Portland House of Pizza, The Dollar Store, Anthony's Italian Kitchen, Hannaford, Gina and Christopher Mosca

Photos courtesy of Mark Hensley Photography, www.mh2photo.com