My younger sister has Autism. She'll never go to college. Be a doctor. Fly an airplane. Drive a car. Remember my birthday, or tell me what she wants for dinner. She can never live alone, is kept on a semi-strick diet and kept away from certain soaps, chemicals and environments. I could say my life has been ruined by her. I can't take the class I have to take to be eligible for a drivers' license. I've only had a handful of friends ever stay the night at my house because of her, and even then we had to sleep in Kaci's room. [Me and Mak shared a room from the time I was four until this past October.]
And for a long time I thought that once I got out of college and gotten a job and moved out, then Makenzi wouldn't be the reason for the decisions I make.
I was wrong.
Now, let me rewind a bit to the fact that me and my mother watch House absolutely every time it's on. In this particular one that we watched the other afternoon, Foreman named Cameron his medical proxy. Me, dad and mom started to talk about being a proxy and yada yada. I asked for clarification on what being a medical proxy is. My dad jokingly said, "What you'll be in a few years, if anything happens to your momma." So, I'd make the medical decisions for my father.
[My dad has intestinal problems. Yeah...]
They explained that they're mine and Maks medical proxy until I turn eighteen next year, and then they're just Makenzi's. And then when Mak turns eighteen, they have to make certain they take the legal measures that they are still able to take care of her medically even after she's a legal adult.
And this then spurned a full on conversation about what'll happen upon my parents demise.
They'd already decided that next August-September time, they'll do the paperwork that will make me Makenzis automatic medical proxy if anything happens to them.
At sixteen, I'm being handed the possible responsibility of a teenage girl.
"Kori, will you become your sisters legal guardian if anything happens to your father and me?"
What is a sixteen year old, still dependent on her parents supposed to say to that?! "No, I want my own life, not ruled by decisions with my little sister in mind?" If I told my mom that I don't know that I could take care of her and it would be best for her physical health for her to go into a home, she may never speak to me again.
But my sister can't tell you her middle name, how would she ever be able to say if anyone was taking advantage of her? I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I knew I was putting her into a situation where it would be very easy for something to happen to her.
This is my baby. My Wonder Kid. The constant pain in my rear.
But it grates on my nerves when I told my mom I'd like to find a church near the beach to pastor. I might get an apartment on the beach, and have a short commute to work in a few years, and her first reactions is, "Oh, your sister hates sand. That wouldn't work."
Thank you ma. Gosh, when they sign those papers next August, I'm legally tying myself to a kid in the future.
It was supposed to go, Drew, Kaci, and then me. But I've shared a room with her for twelve years. I still live with her. Drew is in the Army and has never lived with her for longer than a month, and has never been with her alone for more than a few hours. My parents don't trust Kacis judgment enough. She's a party girl, and likes her liquor.
I told my mom and dad, neither of them are allowed to die until I'm twenty-seven. Maybe then I'll actually be able to take care of her.
ARTIST: EMINEM FEATURING RHIANNA
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