What is something you wish you could tell your 20-year-old self?

There are so many things I wish I could tell my 20-year-old self. I’d warn myself about the abuser I was about to meet. I’d warn myself about the gynecologist who misdiagnosed me and who would later go on to lose his medical license because he showed up drunk to deliver a baby. I’d give myself advice about my health, education, and career. Twenty is when I made the most mistakes.

But if I could only tell my younger self one thing it would be that my brother Jon had an aneurysm in his frontal lobe that would rupture in fifteen years. I would do everything in my power to get him seen by a neurologist and treated before it could leave him permanently disabled.

It was on this day in 2011 that it happened. It’s been fifteen years since I watched Jon collapse in front of me. I frantically called 911 while Dad tried to ask him questions and Kelsey scrambled to find his wallet for when the squad got to the house. Sometimes it feels like it happened in a dream, and other times it feels like it happened yesterday.

Jon has recovered very well, though. He took his therapy and treatment seriously. But he’s different than he used to be and has issues with his memory, mobility, and cognition. It frustrates him sometimes. I remind him every day that he is a survivor and should be proud of how far he has come from that awful day.

I can’t imagine a world without Jon in it. His quick wit and sense of humor make all of us laugh. Our nephews love to build Lego sets with him, while the baby likes to grab handfuls of his beard. His kind heart and gentle spirit make him a great dad to his kitties and dog.

Modern medicine and medical science are miraculous things. My family is forever grateful for the amazing care he received.

Here’s to many more years with my little brother!