Silent Love: Sibling Edition š
Today, I wanted to talk about my younger brother because the role of siblings goes unnoticed in families navigating rare conditions. Also, because the way our relationship is growing and shifting is something worth talking about.
I originally wanted a sister so when I had a brother, I was upset. I even wrote a letter to my mom on how she betrayed meš. I was that upset and I was only 6! But he loved me triple times more. In fact, I wouldnāt be surprised if he loved me right from the womb! And when someone one asked why, heād say, āMy mom said to love my sister no matter what.ā
When I was diagnosed with Friedreichās Ataxia, I was 10 but he was only 4 - too young to understand the weight of it, yet somehow old enough to help carry me through it. He was dealing with me while I was dealing with a lifeāaltering condition. (Technically, he still is and I still am) Every day, heād give me ample love, and he became my biggest cheerleader, even when I wasnāt the easiest person to love. Heād carry my backpack home when I got too tired of walking from school, offer his hands to steady my steps, and now he carries me when I canāt make it to point B. That right there is unconditional love and he taught that to me as a young boy. To be honest, he cares like an elder brother would and has a beard the size of Texas making him the elder one lol.
If we ever wanted to be mischievous then, we would do it together. Our mom gave us sprouts every morning (which we hated), and weād quietly toss them out before she noticed. If we wanted to eat out then, weād just place a secret order and hope no one caught on. We even did a bake sale during summer break. I baked brownies and he sold them in our community. Weāve always been foodies at heart, and I think half our sibling bond was built over snacks :)
All of us in our family love to travel, so we will continue to do so, for as long as our bodies allow. Whenever we travel, he has become my biggest pillar because heās one of those who make travel possible! He looks for accessible places, experiences and things that we can do together ā because he never wants me to miss out just because Iām in a wheelchair. If we travel in a group then, he always makes sure Iām never left behind. He encourages me to do more, see more, live more š
Over the years, he has become my partner in crime, my travel buddy and quite literally my best friend. He is my brother from the same mother and Iām his sister from the same mister :) My brother and I have a 6-year age gap. Even though it took my parents time to have him, Iām so thankful they did. He didnāt just grow up beside me ā he grew with me, step for step, heart for heart. š§æš§æ
My brother always says, āLove can change anyoneā and he is proof of that because his love changed me.