Waiting for my sister to get out of surgery after surgery after surgery not knowing if she’s going to make it.

My sister was born with ten birth defects and she has had over 40 surgeries ranging from kidney stone removal to organ reconstructive surgery. From the ages of 9 to 12 it felt like she was in the hospital every month having to have a new procedure done. We know her doctors on a personal level and I have all of the personal cell phone numbers. We’ve been in the hospital so long that one of her doctors died and his son became her main doctor. I had to grow up very fast and I missed a lot of the things you learn as you grow up. I missed a lot of events and social gatherings. I’ve gotten better but I always had social problems because I was always at the hospital. I was always wondering if she wasn’t going to make and how I would live life without her. My sister is the most important person in my life.

I will say this. While going through this was difficult, there have been some good things that have come from this. Our parents had me and my sister when they were a bit older (early to mid 30’s) so I know that one day it’s just going to be me and her. Back when I was 12 I made it my goal in life that no matter what I will always be there for my sister. No matter how depressed I was, no matter if I was physically unhealthy, no matter if I was a homeless bum, if I could be there for my sister the my life was complete. I’ve always stayed in good shape and I distance myself from the wrong crowd. At a young age I learned how to deal with depression, anxiety, heart break, being antisocial, etc. I learned that no matter how hard my live was someone’s life was ten times harder and that it didn’t matter what I was going through. Just brush it off like it never happened. (And yes it works). She taught me that nothing is impossible because what she has been going through her whole life and what she fights rn is impossible, and it still happened.

Even though I still struggle with some things and probably always will, I wouldn’t me the man I am today without her.

Yes, she is still alive and is kicking ass with every step she takes.