Growing up, I was around relatively healthy people. I was not in direct contact with people that were mentally handicapped. It was not until I was in Middle School that I became friends with someone who had a sister who was born mentally ill. I remember her sister being a couple years older than I was and that she had been confined to a wheel chair all her life. I remember her not being able to speak. She did not have control over basic motor functions and I feel like she had the mentality of a 2 year old in a 20 year old body. It was difficult to watch and I just remember being so thankful over something that can so easily be overlooked. Our health can easily be taken for granted and I just remember being so appreciative of a healthy lifestyle.
I learned that mental illnesses are very hard to deal with. I could just imagine her parents right now. They will never be able to see their child go to college, get married, get an education, or even have children. Its a very difficult lifestyle and I commend parents who have mentally ill children. They are one of the strongest people that I will ever come to know.
