Wild Spirits

The love I have for my sister is hard to explain. She's the only sister that I have, and we are 17 years apart. I'm very grateful for all the love she has for me as well. She has always gone far beyond extra miles for me. I never forget the time she stood up for me. I told her that a girl at school was mean to me, so we went to the girl's house to talk to her mom. After that day, the girl never bothered me again. I've always looked up to my sister, and she has been like a second mother to me. Sometimes she annoys me when she treats me like I'm one of her daughters. I don't blame her for doing it because it consoles her. That's why I don't mind and I choose not to take it personal either. My sister inspires me so much, she pushes herself a lot. And you wonder where she gets her strength from. It bothers me when she does it, because it makes her sick. She is very stubborn, and doesn't like being told what to do. I get upset with her too, when she wants to lecture me on something. I am stubborn as well, I don't like being told how to live my life. I want to do my own thing, and I have respect for others. I know my limits, and I can take care of myself.

Our parents worked hard and they had to travel a lot for business reasons. My older siblings always took good care of me when they were gone. My sister and I had a lot of fun times together, going places and doing different things. My sister has type 1 diabetes, and she has a lot of health problems. Understanding her is not easy sometimes because she has mood swings. I was scared one time when I was little. All of a sudden, her glucose level dropped. I had no idea what it was all about. I was just there to help her and keep her company. Over the years, I have always made sure that my sister has candy in her purse. I check to make sure there's juice and candy wherever we are, especially plain sugar. Her glucose levels are constantly unpredictable.

Today, my sister struggles with her life. Her kidneys don't work and she has so many other complications with her health. My sister has two beautiful daughters. They have brought so much joy to her life, and It has been a privilege to help her take care of them. My nieces remind me of the amazing relationship I have with my sister.

My sister and I have had our differences like all siblings do, and we still do til this day. One time she called me a "loser." That same year she called me "angel."My love is the same for her. Nobody else understands her, She has a hard time communicating with others, and nobody has patience for her. I didn't take it personal because I know that when she's not feeling well, she sounds mean. Learning about diabetes has made my life much easier. I was put through a hard test one time when we separated for the first time. I moved to Florida with my mom and brother. I really missed her a lot, so I called her. I apologized to her for all the times I had been bad with her. After 13 years of living in Florida, we moved back so I could be close to my sister and I could help her, and she could help me with my mom.

Today, my sister and I live 10 minutes away from each other, but the last 5 years have been really hard for her. Because of her health problems, she has become a different person. One time, I really got tired of her getting into my life, we had our first real fight. All we could do was forgive each other and respect each other. She has pushed my buttons so many times, and she still does. My sister has a heart of gold, and she has sacrificed herself for everyone she loves. I've learned to have patience for my sister because I really love her, it hurts me to see her struggling with her health. My mom and I go visit her, we spend time with her. She's always happy to see us, because she feels lonely. I help her as much as I can. It's hard for me to see her on dialysis. She's on the waiting list to have a kidney transplant one day. I pray a lot and hope that she gets a kidney soon. I wanted to donate my kidney to her, but I'm overweight. It's not easy for me to lose weight because I stress out a lot about my mom and my sister. I try my best to stay strong for them.

Sometimes I feel like I'm a mother to my sister, telling her what to do. I don't push her too much, because she tries her best. Even when she's very weak, she doesn't want to stop doing things. Sometimes she listens to me and she gets some rest. Til this day, she still tells me, "I know my body, I can take care of myself." As a sister, I don't have any expectations of her. It has never crossed my mind to want a perfect sister. I love my sister just the way she is. The love I have for my sister will never change. Forever, she will be my sister.