My little brother is 45 years old. He was born with Down's Syndrome. He lives with us, as he's always lived with the family, then just my parents, and now Dad and me.
He began life, as all Down's Syndrome people start out; happy, musical, outgoing, a joy to be around. He graduated from a special school, had a job, and was living in a group home.
Something happened.
In the mid-80s he spent several months in the psychiatric ward, in a semi-comatose state.
My mother did a remarkable job investigating possible causes, seeking help and counseling, finding a medication mix that worked well for her youngest.
My mother died in 1998, and there have been some diagnoses made, some treatment given, some attention paid since then.
For the last five years, once I was involved full time, we've tried to figure out what may help my brother to have a better quality of life. It's difficult to find self-reported issues, as he is only a little communicative.
He's been doctored/medicated for depression. Maybe four different prescriptions so far. He's been diagnosed/medicated for schizophrenia. A couple prescriptions so far.
He's now being medicated - without diagnosis - for Alzheimer's Disease.
But he just came from the dentist today, who reported that he is wearing out his teeth grinding them. His knee is moving nonstop again. And he's biting his nails. He doesn't focus on anything in the room, and he is not interested in his favorite activities. Listening to music, watching Star Trek episodes (original series only, please!) or doing crossword puzzles.
I wonder if what was diagnosed as schizophrenia might have been severe obsessive/compulsive disorder. Maybe the voices in his head weren't other voices, but conversations he heard in another room repeated, sotto voce. A speech repetition tic.
We wonder a lot.
Even with all he's been through, he still smiles when I sing along with the radio in the car, and he can still beat his companion at bowling with his very own monogrammed bowling ball.
I love you, little bro.
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