My little brother, Matthew is 18 years old. He got diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome after receiving the MMR jabs when he was a child. He's like any regular teenage boy. He stays in his room, playing his X-box and loves all animals. He gets emotional easy and struggles with social circumstances like making eye contact or eating with people. He'll say himself he hasn't got friends but that I am his best friend and that makes me feel so blessed.
When he first started primary school, he was the only autistic child the school had so when Matthew used to go explore and never sit still, they just thought he was a bad child. Matthew had a hard time in high school and sadly it came to the point when after I left school, we had to remove him. He's now in a school dedicated to autism and he's doing amazingly.
When I was younger, I used to wish that my little brother wasnt so different as it was quite hard for me to deal with a younger brother who was getting bullied every day and having to watch. I was young and didn't understand. But now, I would never even imagine changing my brother for the world. I don't know what I'd do without our daily cuddles or phone calls while I'm at university.
Matthew is the most amazing young man. Caring, kind, funny, intelligent and talented. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of him and how proud I am of him. He's my best friend and I can't wait to see how he carries on to grow into the great man I know he'll be. He's my little twerp of a brother and I just want everyone to know how amazing he truly is and how proud I am of him. He's gone through a lot and continues to keep going. I love you, Matt.
Carlisle, United Kingdom
