This was written by my Oldest Son last year...and its very special to me. As this event really did happen and I thought at the time it was important to let him express his feelings about what had happened.
A Unique Brother

Everyone has Family, some have brothers and some have sisters, and some people have them both or none at all. Sometimes brothers and sister fight and do not get along with each other. Sometimes when brothers fight it can get out of hand, and some brothers are treated like dirt. However, if your brother did something that made you so mad, that you said, something so mean and hateful that it hurt their feelings really bad, and the next day they were gone or worse dead. How would you feel? Like dirt? Sad? Some people say they would be glad if there brother was gone, for me I don’t know how people can say that. I mean I could not live with out my brother and he is unique, he is autistic and he cannot talk. He can say some words but not very many. If your brother couldn’t say all the words and you wanted to play with him, like a game of cards….could he do it? Not all autistic brothers can play cards. I ‘m very lucky and let me tell you why.

One day I was playing video games just before bedtime, when mom told us to go to bed, so I brushed my teeth and went to bed. Well that night something awful happened, my brother had a grand mal seizure. I didn’t even know what that word meant and I didn’t even know that he could have one, but he had one and it changed my life forever. Ever since that day I have worried, but I’m getting a little bit ahead of myself, I was in bed, when I heard my mom call my dads name, then I didn’t think nothing of it and I closed my eyes and then I heard my dad say. Call 911, Call 911! Then I knew something was wrong and I was not sure what it was it could have been anything but I thought a man or someone broke into the house or a big car accident outside. Then I heard my dad say…Come on Richie, breathe…breathe. Then I knew there was something wrong with Richie. I tried to go downstairs, but I stopped and all of sudden tears came out of my eyes and I said Richie NO! I did not see him, but I didn’t want too…I guess it was fear that stopped me. Then dad ran out the door with Richie in his arms and went to the neighbors house where they helped richie breathe, and he threw up after and then went into an ambulance with my dad. Ya I will admit I cried for a while, but then my mom had us get into the car and we all went to the hospital. When we got to the hospital, I could see that mom and dad were worried and so was I. I know that Richie is special, he gives my family hard times and he give us funny and good times too. If something really bad happened to him, "something worse than a seizure" I don’t know what I would ever do….When I look at Richie, I am reminded to be thankful for what I have. So if you have a brother that gets on your nerves, remember he might not be there tomorrow.

Written by Christian Morrell

1/3/2007