Ben Terry, a Southwest Louisiana meteorologist who audiences trusted for a decade years for his kind nature and sincere sense of urgency when it mattered, passed away on Sunday in Lake Charles.
In addition to being a superb meteorologist, Ben Terry was also a wonderful person. His lovely soul had a profound impact on numerous people’s lives, and he was genuinely an inspiration to many.
Keep reading to know more about Ben Terry and his cause of death in detail.
Who was Ben Terry?
Ben Terry was raised in Kosciusko, Mississippi, and later attended Mississippi State University to obtain a degree in geosciences with a focus in broadcast meteorology.
Ben joined KPLC in April 2011 after forecasting the weather for a number of American areas while working as a meteorologist in Jackson. Long before his fight with cancer, Ben gained national attention for his candor.
One of the biggest tragedies to hit the Gulf Coast, Hurricane Laura, was made lighter by a terse social media response to a frustrated viewer as it approached the coast of Southwest Louisiana.
In response to criticism that his frantic warnings about the Category 5 hurricane were fomenting fear and terror, “Change the channel then” became a catchphrase.
Ben later explained that the phrase was intended to be a jest.
“It gave people something to laugh about when we needed it most.”
Ben was a voice of urgency both before and after the storm, but he also suffered as a result. One of the numerous homes damaged was his Lake Charles residence.
He received a Special Achievement Award from the National Weather Service for his coverage of Hurricane Laura. He also established himself as a mainstay at the annual Gridiron Show of the Ad and Press Club, hosted a radio show on KBYS-FM, and affiliated to the First Baptist Church of Lake Charles.
How did Ben Terry die?
Ben Terry passed away on Sunday, August 13, 2023, in Lake Charles, according to his family. He was 40.
Ben also enjoyed meeting people in the community by volunteering to emcee several humanitarian events in Southwest Louisiana in his spare time. He also enjoyed visiting neighborhood schools to pique the interest of young pupils in the sciences.
He has contributed to substantial improvements in weather technology at KPLC over the years, including the installation of the Skycam network and the most recent WSI weather system, keeping Southwest Louisiana abreast of the most cutting-edge forecasting and storm tracking technology.
Ben’s primary goal is to keep Southwest Louisianans safe from dangerous weather, and KPLC’s resources and technology enable that goal thanks to all of the social media platforms and smartphone apps that can be used to inform the public.
Ben is remembered by coworkers for his skill in converting difficult weather forecasts into signals that viewers could grasp, as well as for his never-ending optimism.
KPLC Anchor John Bridges said,
“He was afraid of disappointing us if he didn’t get well,”
“I kept telling him his fight was enough for me, no matter what happens.”
KPLC General Manager John Ware said,
“He is free of all pain, and worry,”
“He was a faith-filled man and he has gone home to his Heavenly Father. The way he lived his life will continue to be an inspiration to those he left behind. I have never witnessed someone face illness and pain with as much dignity as Ben did. The outpouring of support from people he had never met is a tribute to that. We may never meet another Ben Terry.”
Although Ben Terry is no longer gracing our televisions, his legacy will continue to be indelibly tied to Southwest Louisiana’s legacy for the foreseeable future.
Future generations will continue to be inspired by his legacy of fortitude, generosity, and unwavering dedication even as storms continue to sweep across the region’s horizons.
Ben Terry cause of death
About three years ago, Ben Terry received a Stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis. Since his diagnosis over three years ago, his colon cancer treatments have been well chronicled because he shared many of the specifics of them with the public.
Ben’s cancer was found to have returned a second time in April, which reopened the conflict. This time, the outlook appeared bleak.
Early in April 2022, he began receiving rigorous chemotherapy in the hopes that his unique type of colorectal cancer would get smaller. He also sought a second opinion and a different doctor.
Ben had previously been receiving care from Houston Methodist Hospital medical professionals who were likewise baffled by his particular unusual cancer type, so he sought a second opinion at M.D. Anderson.
In just six months since his prior surgery at Houston Methodist, which had essentially removed all the cancer in September 2021, not only had his cancer returned, it had done so aggressively and had spread worse than before.
Ben’s tumors are poorly differentiated with characteristics of both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, making them a unique “unicorn” to be found in that particular portion of the body. The majority of colorectal cancer tumors are made up of adenocarcinoma.
Since radiation therapy had already been administered during his first fight with cancer in the summer of 2021, it was not a possibility.
Due to the significant spread and very high danger of a third recurrence if surgery were to be performed, chemotherapy was the only choice available. The cancer was too advanced, too aggressive, and had not responded to any of the traditional chemotherapy treatments up until this point.
The medical oncologists advised him to be ready for this cancer to eventually be a “life-omitting” one if chemo treatments failed to decrease the tumors since they were unsure if anything else would work.
In August, after 8 rounds of the most potent chemotherapy for colon cancer had been finished, it was found that Terry’s tumors had continued to grow noticeably enough that this first-line therapy had to be stopped right away.
He returned to M.D. Anderson for the first CT scan to see if the cancer had shrunk after only 4 rounds of this new chemotherapy, which ran from early August to late October 2022.
On November 3, 2022, his scans revealed that the tumors had shrunk noticeably, some by as much as 50–75%. Blood levels of tumor indicators were also considerably lower than they had been during the summer. Carcinoembryonic antigen, also known as CEA, a tumor marker, had decreased from a peak of 80 in the summer to 8.3 on November 3rd.
His physicians were astounded, and it appeared that they had discovered the cure for his extremely uncommon form of cancer. Unfortunately, he succumbed to cancer and died.
Tributes to Ben Terry
Many people expressed their profound sympathies to his family and expressed how much they loved him. The news of this occurrence has upset his supporters and fans.
News Personality Nick Russo wrote: “So very sad at this news. He was just 40. But Ben is at peace now and no longer in pain 
The news business is very small. Ben and I would chat often earlier in my career. I actually went back and looked at our conversations this morning. He always had an encouraging word to share and gave great advice. Even as he battled stage 4 cancer, he found a way to stay positive. His positive spirit inspires me to always try to stay positive too.”
News Personality Erica Bivens wrote: “💔 My dear friend, and former coworker at KPLC 7 News in Lake Charles, Louisiana bravely won his battle with cancer. Ben Terry, you were not only an incredible meteorologist and human being — you were truly an inspiration for so many and your beautiful soul touched countless lives. There are truly no words… I am heartbroken, but also take comfort in knowing you can now rest and are in a better place. You will most certainly *never* be forgotten. Love you Ben Terry KPLC until we meet again, may we all celebrate the life of a true hero. 🌟🕊️”
Obituary
ne of the worst things anyone can go through in life is losing a loved one. Any journey must have a destination at the end. The person’s time on earth has regrettably come to an end now that they have died. We wish him eternal peace and send our thoughts and prayers to his loved ones, family, friends. May he rest in peace.
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Rohini (Editor) is a content writer with 3 years of experience in content writing. She joined Medico Topics on the Breaking News trainee scheme in 2022 and now works on MedicoTopics.com. She possesses a keen interest in political and entertainment matters, including the latest and most widely circulating celebrity rumors, and comprehensive resources on the wealth of renowned actors, athletes, players, and politicians around the globe.
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