The Boy Who Could Not Feel Pain

When Ben was a baby, his parents noticed something strange.

He never cried when he fell down, and he once touched a hot pan without pulling his hand away.

Doctors found that Ben was born with a very rare condition.

His body cannot feel pain, which sounds like a gift but is actually dangerous.

Without pain, people do not know when they are hurt.

Ben broke his arm twice before he was five, and he did not tell anyone.

Scientists are now studying families like Ben's to understand how pain works.

By learning which genes control it, they hope to help people who suffer from constant pain.

However, this research also raises difficult questions.

If we could switch off pain completely, should we?

Pain warns us about danger and teaches us to be careful.

Some doctors worry that removing it might do more harm than good.

Others believe that new pain treatments could save millions of lives.

For now, Ben wears special gloves and visits his doctor often.

His parents are grateful for the care he receives, but they still wonder what the future holds for him.