"Stuff Happens"
By Bethany Light
I see more articles on Facebook or just on the internet bringing awareness to the world of disabilities every day. Most of the time, they’re positive, with people telling stories of how others have really stepped up, for example waiters or cashiers who have gone above and beyond or stories explaining the joys of having a sibling with disabilities and how those experiences can help a person become a more compassionate and caring individual.
While those situations are common, life doesn’t always feel positive or seem so happy-go-lucky. Sometimes, your bus breaks down, in front of Walmart, with the lift stuck halfway and the door wide open, and when your grown brother starts to have a meltdown, the whole world can, and does, stare. If we tell the truth, sometimes, a waiver case may fall through the cracks for a few months, between case managers switching offices, and your brother’s wheelchair is basically unusable for those long 51 days, with no one doing the paperwork to get it fixed.
As my brother says, “Stuff happens.” It’s true; those things come with the territory, but we persist. There is a George Strait song, with a line, “saw a flower growing in the middle of the sidewalk, pushing up through the concrete.” It always reminds me to try to be like the flower— to reach for the sunshine even through a bunch of hard stuff.
Siblings with a Mission is a non-profit, international organization established to serve and support siblings of individuals with complex health conditions and developmental disabilities. All images are found on Google images and are solely used for educational purposes. The stories and advice provided by Siblings with a Mission are not to be replaced by professional advice and counseling but to be considered as an additional source of support.
By Bethany Light
I see more articles on Facebook or just on the internet bringing awareness to the world of disabilities every day. Most of the time, they’re positive, with people telling stories of how others have really stepped up, for example waiters or cashiers who have gone above and beyond or stories explaining the joys of having a sibling with disabilities and how those experiences can help a person become a more compassionate and caring individual.
While those situations are common, life doesn’t always feel positive or seem so happy-go-lucky. Sometimes, your bus breaks down, in front of Walmart, with the lift stuck halfway and the door wide open, and when your grown brother starts to have a meltdown, the whole world can, and does, stare. If we tell the truth, sometimes, a waiver case may fall through the cracks for a few months, between case managers switching offices, and your brother’s wheelchair is basically unusable for those long 51 days, with no one doing the paperwork to get it fixed.
As my brother says, “Stuff happens.” It’s true; those things come with the territory, but we persist. There is a George Strait song, with a line, “saw a flower growing in the middle of the sidewalk, pushing up through the concrete.” It always reminds me to try to be like the flower— to reach for the sunshine even through a bunch of hard stuff.
Siblings with a Mission is a non-profit, international organization established to serve and support siblings of individuals with complex health conditions and developmental disabilities. All images are found on Google images and are solely used for educational purposes. The stories and advice provided by Siblings with a Mission are not to be replaced by professional advice and counseling but to be considered as an additional source of support.
