Uncle

"Mama? Uncle Andy's brain is different. Will he learn new words?"

Jonah is starting to notice that his uncle, his dad's brother, is not like everyone else. At five years old, the words "autistic" and "mentally retarded" and "seizures" are hard concepts to grasp. They're even difficult to explain to adults because of the wide spectrum of (dis)abilities that are manifested.

Yes, he's autistic. Yes he has a diagnosis of mental retardation. No, he will never live independently. Yes, he can read at a post-high school level. No, he can't hold a conversation. Yes, he can be prompted to answer questions. No, he cannot drive a car. Yes, he still goes to "school." Yes, he is older than Daddy. And yes, like everyone else, he will die. No, I don't know when.

Luckily, there is one question that has always been easy to answer. Yes, we love him.