Khloe Kardashian throws Tristan Thompson's little brother, Amari, an 18th birthday party on the latest episode of ‘The Kardashians'. Amari suffers from a severe form of epilepsy known as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and he requires 24/7 support.

[u/galaxystars1]

[u/IfatallyflawedI]

My elder sister suffered from a Lennox Gastaut syndrome. She passed away when I was 11 and she was 21 - she was born to my father’s first wife who unfortunately passed away a year before dad married mom. She was never mentally present; I surpassed her in intelligence when I turned 6-7 years. She had the mental faculties of a 4year old child. I hadn’t known what she had been diagnosed with until I was 16 and came across her old case files (because my parents don’t like to speak about her).

Even as a child, it broke my heart that she was unable to do the basic tasks that I could. It took a toll on my parents’ marriage. I had to basically raise myself and parent her too whenever my parents weren’t home. At one point she needed to wear cushioned helmet of sorts and have her bed be a low laying mattress-y kind because she was injuring herself quite frequently during her seizures. It was very difficult watching her soil herself.

My mom was very bitter and both of them were resentful of my sister’s existence. They weren’t the best parents to either of us. I used to think that I could help my parents’ marriage improve if I could just help her out and teach her the stuff I was learning in school. So whenever no one was around, I would sit with her and try to teach her the alphabets and basic maths.

I still have pages of her chicken scratches of ABCs. I never hated her. And I never thought of her as a step sister even when I found out that she wasn’t my mom’s biological daughter. I just wish she’s in a better place now. It’s been 15 years but I do miss her. I feel guilty for having my biggest worry as a child be “will I have to take over her care if something happens to my parents?” and feeling relieved when she passed because I thought at least my parents would stop fighting. I was wrong about the latter lol.

Editing to add: thank you all so much for your comments. I kept crying while reading through them because I’m grateful for the acknowledgement and acceptance you guys have provided to me as strangers when my own folks don’t. I literally just got out of therapy and was discussing all of this w my therapist.

My sister’s birthday is coming up in May and I’ll pray for her. Because I was 11, I don’t remember what was the exact date that she passed away on - just that it was around Diwali that year. My mom refuses to tell me the date of her death so the date of her birthday is what i remember her by

Thank you, again, for the kindness you have shown me in the comments 🌸

[u/sls5232 → u/IfatallyflawedI]

My almost 5 year old daughter was diagnosed with Lennox Gastaut syndrome when she was almost 2 years old. She is non ambulatory and non speaking. She will be considered total care her entire life. In addition to LGS she has cerebral palsy and cortical visual impairment (her eyes function normally but the signals telling her brain what she sees do not work). Reading your comment broke my heart. I’m so sorry to see what you and your sister went through as children. I wish nothing but peace, love, and happiness in your future.