Grief Blog
Welcome to our grief adult sibling stories blog. We welcome you to read our stories and share with others who may need this support.
All stories are the express view of the author of the story and not necessarily those of SIBS or its members. These stories are the expression and experiences of the authors. We hope that these stories will help you on your journey of grief and loss with your sibling with a disability that has passed.
*The stories provided here are not to be replaced by professional advice and counseling but to be considered as an additional source of support.
For further support you may be interested in joining the facebook group Loss of a Special Needs Sibling. We are a group of grieving siblings from all over the world that have come together to support one another. Many sibs lost their brother or sister during the COVID-19 pandemic.
My Sibling Loss Story
By Susan Neely-Barnes- Tennessee. I had just turned two years old when my brother, Will, was born. I do not have any memories of my life before he was around and some of my earliest life memories were of the many doctor’s visits he had as he was being diagnosed. These medical appointments resulted in a diagnosis of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), a rare genetic condition that impacts cell growth. For Will, TSC caused seizure disorder, autism, and profound intellectual disability. As a preschooler, I was aware of the seriousness of his condition and that ultimately, he would die
Curtain Closing
By Nicole Hampton- Texas Special Siblings Connect I don’t know when I realized my brother was going to die; there’s no distinct memory of my parents sitting me down with fake smiles and teary eyes. But, it wasn’t something I was consciously aware of my whole life. Somewhere along the line, I understood without being told, largely due to three things: the crises, the gradual decline, and the extraneous information. The crises were sporadic and inconsistent, ranging in severity and time. It was his first seizure, and though the details are muddled, there is a clear image. My
I Miss You Briana
By: Bridget Ilene Delaney- Louisiana sibling Briana, I miss you. Nobody prepares you for how much it will hurt. Nobody prepares you to realize that you will even miss the challenges. Nobody prepares you that even now that you don't have the challenges you had; you wish you had them back because your sibling would be alive. My sister was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when she was 22. Before that, the things that came with knowing that and learning about Asperger's made it seem like she was only a spoiled rotten brat and caused a lot of conflict as
Identity Crisis
By: Mikaela Fox- Missouri sibling When I was 4 years old, my brother Patrick was born with a rare genetic condition. He had severe medical needs and required around the clock care. I don’t remember much of what life was like before Patrick was born. Everything in my family became centered around Patrick between the doctor appointments, medications, therapies, and hospital stays. My life revolved around Patrick, too, as I grew up – staying home to help take care of him rather than go out with friends and running the household when my mom had to stay with him
Everyone Needs a David
By: Noel King- Illinois sibling The teeter-totter goes up and then down. Up and down. The childhood memory of David and I on the teeter-totter flashes through my mind as I sit looking at my brother’s tombstone. David wasn’t a huge fan of the teeter-totter, but for just a couple of minutes – life was normal. My brother David was almost three years older than me. All of my life my David was a part of each daily routine, schedule and consideration. Born prematurely, David was gifted with several things that made him one-of-a-kind. Diagnosed with autism, cerebral
Too Many Losses
Too Many Losses by Nora Fox Handler-Illinois sibling. I was seventeen when my Dad passed away and he was forty-six. Seven of us siblings were still living at home including my three brothers on the Autism Spectrum. My Mom soldiered on for twenty-five years as a single parent until she passed away at sixty-eight. My brothers were all living with my Mom when she passed away. Mom had not included us in future planning and would not consider putting our brothers on a waiting list to live in group homes or any setting away from the family