Emotional Zombieness...... my brother is dying

[pRICE cUBE]

I volunteered at an orphanage in China a couple years back. Due to the one child policy, children are abandoned for a wide variety of reasons including being female, lack of ear lobe, wrong shapes forehead, etc. The children with developmental and physical disabilities were kept in a building across from the shiny castle-like facade were were in. Our building was somewhat modern and clean, had colors and decor. I was allowed on the 3rd floor with other volunteers because the overburdened staff was unaware I was an American. As we played with the children and changed diapers, I could see across to the unpainted concrete building for the " un-adoptable children". The windows had barbed wire and it radiated a prison feel. I later inquired about the children in that building and I was told the conditions in there were stark and the children basically waited to die. They received very little comfort or stimulation. They would be wards of the state and die without grieving families or even a real name.

This may be of little comfort to you now but I hope you can see the caliber of people you are for your love and caring for your brother. He was able to have love of a family that saw more than just the physical condition. Your brother may pass on, but he will do so having love. He is someone's son, someone's brother, he is someone that is loved. I think that love will bring him and your family peace someday.