9/3/06
Two years have gone by since my baby brother came into this world. Over the past few months, Patrick had been, for lack of a better term, “lacking” certain key aspects of his age group. He hadn’t walked or even for that matter, crawl. My family and I started to worry, but the doctor kept reassuring us that he was a little behind, but fine. Today I regret listening to that pretentious “professional.” I sit down with my brother every morning and put on his “special” boots. Ask him questions, knowing full-well that I will here no answer. I hand him his formula mixed water in a sippy-cup. Turn on Super Why. Then, sit with him on the couch and we watch tv together. I’m not sure if he likes the tv just for the colors, or sounds, or what, but he loves it. Sometimes he will even laugh so hysterically at the most childish of things. It’s great though. He has laugh like no other, and if you are lucky enough to be apart of it, then you know how perfect it is. It a little hard to describe. It’s what can cause a horrible day into something good. It makes you feel good about yourself. It forces you to see the world in a new innocent and kind aspect.

10/28/13

Now it’s today. A long time since we found out about Patrick. I no longer live at the same house as him. Sometimes, I get to see him, well when I visit my moms house. He’s still the same little slightly chubby boy I know and love. He’s been doing a lot better physically and verbally. Now, he walks and climbs up on stuff, like a monkey. By the way, thats what I call him, “Monkey.” He still can’t talk, but he has made some progress. He now makes a lot of sounds and he also uses a little sign language that he learned at his school. When he’s hungry he taps his fingers together to tell us.

During sometime in the past few years we found out that he is allergic to some kinds of sustenance. He’s allergic to milk, eggs, nuts, and finally soy. It must be rough being only able to eat certain things. When we first learned about this, we needed to find the foods that we could make along with normal food for him. For instance, last year for his birthday “cake,” we made him jello in a baking pan and he loved it. We had his side and my side of the family both there in our little apartment in Haverhill, yet it is still a great memory.

Just to add on to all of this, my family found out some other news about Monkey. Totaly unrelated to the other stuff, we found out that he has kidney disease. The doc (a new one) says that his kidneys are going to fail after about a year and a half. It is awful that he would have all of these problems especially at such a young age. The worst part is that I have a poor family, which i’m fine with, but we would need a lot of help to pay for the treatments. We already just barely make it, this would make it almost impossible. What we need is a miracle, or something along that nature. Last sunday, I went to church. And I am not a religious person, but I still went for help. I asked if all of my brothers problems would be mine and not his. I know virtually speaking that impossible. I would give anything for my brother. Don’t get me wrong, I don't pity or look sadly on my brother. Nowadays when I see my brother. I see him as a living symbol of hope. When I’m with him i’m am flooded with joy and pride. Pride at home he still wakes up everyday with a smile on his face. I love you Monkey.