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Family loss...I'm sad!
This is a sad post...sorry to bring everyone down but I needed to "vent" my feelings...I apologize for the length and content...I just need to get this all off of my chest.
My youngest brother, Ryan, passed away yesterday morning in his sleep...he was 33 years old.
While no one posting here ever got a chance to know him, he was a very special person to me. In this particular instance I mean special in many different ways.
Ryan suffered from schizophrenia and had suffered since he was in his early teens...additionally he was otherwise mentally quite challenged. While he had very high level verbal communication skills, overall his cognitive abilities were judged to be at about year 3-4 primary school.
In the early stages of his illness, my family struggled greatly as he could easily become quite violent...and did...it was not unusual for the voices in his head to convince him to do (at least try to do) things that no sane person would consider.
After many visits to specialists and other doctors, we were so very fortunate to finally find a medication that helped him...while he was still a bit "obsessive" at times, he was no longer violent. Fortunately, this allowed him to have a reasonable quality of life in his young adult years until his unexpected passing.
I am proud to share with you a few of his accomplishments...he was on state title winning softball, basketball and 10 pin bowling teams.
We are thankful that near my parents the Speciall Olympic organization was very active and this got Ryan the opportunity to taste some success. I was fortunate to be in attendance at a few of his victories in softball and basketball. He sure was proud of his team, as we would all be.
With the help of medication and much family support Ryan was able to have a bit of independance and have his own apartment not far from my parent's farm. With lots of practice and determination he was able to pass the motor vehicle driver test and obtain a car operator license...and by mowing yards and saving his money he was able to finally get a car of his own. Again, you can't imagine how proud he was of this accomplishment.
He often dreamed about coming to visit me here in Australia but because of some of the troubles of his youth he was unable to get a visa...a fact that is still a very sore point with me but that is a different story.
I will be heading back to the US next week for his funeral...
While Ryan was exceptionally limited from his illness, he never let it stop him from accomplishing in his own way great things. He was/is an inspiration to me...whenever I am feeling a bit sorry for myself and the cards that "cruel" fate deals me, I just think about all of the things my "little" brother did without complaint and remember that I don't have it so bad after all.
Mental illness is an often time silent issue suffered by families too scared or ashamed to talk about it...this is too bad as there is help out there (sometimes hard to find) but available...
I miss him...he had a good soul...
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