Mikey and Me (eBook)

An unflinching and insightful exploration of the relationship between two sisters, one who has autism spectrum disorder and is blind, unable to voice her own story, the other with the heart and understanding to express it exquisitely for her. Mikey and Me reveals the impact special needs children have on families, when even young siblings must become honorary adults and caregivers, grappling with the same emotions their parents feel: love, guilt, despair, and unexpected inspiration.

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When Mikey is young, the Sullivans are a closely knit unit, all of them devoted to caring for her. But as Mikey grows older, she also grows increasingly violent. By the time she's twelve, institutionalization is the only available optionand without the shared purpose of caring for Mikey, the family begins to unravel. As her family falls apart, Teresa searches for relief and connection during a time of sweeping cultural change. Lacking maturity or guidance, she makes choices that lead her down a sometimes-perilous path. But regardless of the circumstances at home and the tumult in their individual lives, the Sullivans are united in their love and concern for Mikey. In Mikey and Me, Teresa interweaves her exceptional sister's journey with her own, affirming the grace and brutality of Mikey's life, and its indelible effect on her family. Unflinching and insightful, this is a deep exploration of the relationship between two sistersone blind, with profound developmental disabilities, unable to voice her own story, and the other with the heart and understanding to express it exquisitely for her.