A Christmas to remember

It will be a Christmas to remember for Ben Stahl.

When Stahl, 21, of Tecumseh wakes up Christmas morning, he said it won't matter what is under the tree because he has already received the best present he could have this year, LASIK eye surgery.

On Nov. 21, Stahl received good news when he learned he would be one of three people receiving free LASIK eye surgery from Sutton, Linder and Sutton in Lincoln.

“I told my mom I didn't need anything else (this Christmas),” Stahl said.

Stahl had entered the contest for the free LASIK eye surgery to help him reach another goal and come closer to independence as it would enable him to see without the fuss of glasses or contacts. After an accident in 2003 left him a quadriplegic, Stahl began setting a number of goals for himself to help him become more independent.

With the eye surgery, Stahl said he can cross another goal off his list.

This January, Stahl will be working toward another goal as he begins classes at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying political science.

Since the surgery took place on Nov. 29, Stahl said it has taken him some time to adjust and get used to the idea of not having to put on his glasses or asking his mother for assistance putting in contacts.

“It feels great,” Stahl said. “I don't have to worry about the contacts at all.”

He was told by contest organizers that he received the majority of votes out of all 10 finalists in the contest. The contest allowed people to go online and read the essays submitted by the 10 finalists, including Stahl's, on why they wanted the eye surgery. People could then vote for their top three choices among the contestants.

The top three finalists receiving the most votes received the free LASIK eye surgery.

“The lady in charge of putting this whole thing on said I walked away with the contest,” said Stahl, who was featured in a Daily Sun newspaper story when the contest got under way.

It was somewhat of a surprise for Stahl to learn that he received a lot of votes, but he also said he knew a lot of people were voting for him.

“It seemed like people really went out of their way to let people know about the whole thing,” Stahl said.