What can happen in eight minutes?
It doesn’t seem like a long period of time but eight minutes is what separates twin siblings Ahmad and Ayesha Miller. Ayesha, who was born first, has always taken the lead in caring for her brother, Ahmad, who was born with Cerebral Palsy. The bond between them is demonstrated in their daily interactions.
Their parents, married for more than 50 years, instilled a strong sense of family in all of their children. Ayesha encourages her brother to make his own choices and to guide his own care. She said, “It’s important to give people with disabilities a chance to make decisions, to be active participants in their daily lives”. She feels all too often that people look at her brother and make assumptions about his capabilities. As his strongest advocate, she said the “stigma has to go. People need to understand that people with disabilities CAN think for themselves”.
Each day, Ayesha, and Ahmad’s caregiver, Larry, greet her brother with a smile and a conversation about meals, what to watch on TV, and what music he wants to hear (R. Kelly is a favorite). She is grateful for her brother’s caregiver, who she said always goes above and beyond, to make sure Ahmad is happy and is living his life to the fullest. She said meeting him at his level is the key to success.
“Ahmad is the strongest person I know. I do not take for granted one day that I have been blessed to have him as my brother. He has taught me to keep the faith, to keep praying, and to keep moving forward. His courage and humor are an inspiration.”
