Ben Carter is 14 and has severe autism. He takes his medicine in liquid, served in the only cup he will drink from -a blue Tommee Tippee sippy cup with two handles. That particular model is the only cup he will use, and his parents have gone through several of them over the years. Still, Ben has been to the hospital twice for dehydration because of his issues with drinking liquids. Since the manufacturer discontinued that model cup 12 years ago, it's been difficult to find replacements. So Ben's father Marc appealed through social media. His Tweet vent viral, and people responded.
However, not only did the family receive several dozen old cups of the same model but the interest prompted the manufacturers to search factories across the world. Eventually they tracked down an original production mold in China which had not been disposed of as should normally have happened. After confirming it still works and is in a food-safe condition, they have told the family they will produce a lifetime supply of cups for Ben.
BIG NEWS: We’re going to manufacture a batch of little blue cups for Ben! #CupForBen https://t.co/NrnFjFc4bn
— tommee tippee UK (@tommeetippee_UK) November 24, 2016
Marc Carter (@GrumpyCarer) was overwhelmed by the response and plans to make a documentary about the cups. Read the entire story, with a news video, at Geeks Are Sexy.