Please don’t say you’re sorry when I tell you he is different. It’s like you’re apologizing for his brown hair, or his long legs. You’re saying sorry for who he is, and there’s no need for that. He is special in more ways than just his brain deformity.

My brother came into my life when I was 5 years old. It was 8 months later we learned he had a brain deformity that would most likely leave him in a vegetative state for his life. I didn’t understand what this meant, I only remember learning to ride a bike the weekend my parents took my brother to the hospital for seizures. My parents expected him to not be able to perform basic skills like sitting, talking, walking.

Do you know what he did learn to do? He learned to sit. He started to talk and you can bet he walked too. He runs, he swims, he reads books, and he talks to his friends. He is everything the doctors said he couldn’t be and then some more.

Although I’ve been able to help teach him different things in life such as helping him with homework or playing catch, he’s taught me the most important lessons of all. He’s taught me that being happy should be a priority. He has taught me that there are far more things you can do than you can’t do. Most importantly, he’s taught me that no matter who you are, or what you aren’t, the world will adjust.

So no, you don’t need to tell me you’re sorry I have a special needs brother. I’m sorry that you didn’t get to learn from him.

Love, the big sister who is still learning how to love the world like he does