Introduction

I have wanted to share my brother's story for a long time. He is a trailblazer, or perhaps more accurately, my parents were trailblazers in the movement to keep special needs kids at home with their families after birth. John was born in 1960, a time when almost no middle class parents kept kids like him at home. Somehow, my mother knew that his potential could only be maximized by his living at home with his parents and three sisters. And so he did. I know it was really hard for many people, but it was never hard for me.
He was born about a month early and I've been told it was a very difficult birth for my mother. There were no sonograms in 1960, so no one knew in advance that he had a very large head, even for an achondroplasiac dwarf. Despite the best efforts of the doctors, his brain was damaged during birth, leaving him mentally retarded. Friends and family members recommended that John be institutionalized for the 'good' of my sisters and me, but my mother was resolute and home he stayed.
I cannot imagine what my life would have been like had John not been in it. I created this blog to share with others the joy and pain I have experienced as the sibling of a special needs person and to let others know of the tremendous success my hero has achieved.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

No Complaints

John loves running errands with us when he visits and it's a delight to have him along. On Friday, I had my car serviced and he came with me when I returned the loaner and picked up my car. As I've been going to the same shop since 2004, many of the people we encountered know me well and I introduced them to my brother. As is customary, each of them asked him how he was doing upon meeting him. His response, every time was, "I can't complain". He lights up a lot of lives every place he goes.
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