By Brandon Smith (Whetstone Staff Writer)

ben-and-chip-knao-from-his-instagram614x610Instagram Page

For the first time in two years since he went into cardiac arrest, 18-year-old Ben Knapp finally took his first steps.

“He’s making progress,” said assistant head football coach Chip Knapp, his father. “He’s more audible and getting better.”

Ben Knapp had a heart attack two years ago while traveling with the football team in Pennsylvania on the way to a game in Ohio. He was saved by Coach Steve Azzanesi, who performed CPR, and by emergency workers at a nearby hospital who stabilized him. Doctors discovered his brain had swollen from lack of oxygen.

Ben goes to A. I. DuPont Children’s Hospital four times a week.

“We call it ‘Ben’s executive suite,’” head coach Mike Drass said. “It takes a lifetime commitment from Ben and he has small battles every day.”

Knapp said Ben does several exercises while he’s there, including swimming and leg exercises. He also goes to physical, occupation, speech and massage therapy.

“He can’t see or walk,” Knapp said. “He can’t speak, but he makes sounds.”

Knapp said that Ben’s a freshman in college.

“He started taking his first class, political science, this September at Dover High School,” he said. “He does an hour of homework while he’s at A.I., in addition to the therapies. He has a great attitude.”

Shell Brothers Construction donated additions onto the Knapps’ house to make it more handicap-accessible for Ben. Some of the additions include changing his bedroom, bathroom, adding a therapy room and adding a sunroom.

“I’m thankful for all they have donated,” he said. “I’m a little overwhelmed by how much everyone has helped.”

You can follow Ben on his public Instagram page at Ben__Knapp (two underscores in between his first and last name). He has photos and videos posted, some of which show what he does at A. I. DuPont.