He’s not heavy

Thursday morning at ~2:AM my younger brother was shot on his way home from his job at Taco Bell, at a Circle K in our town. I imagine he stopped to buy a soda and was accosted by someone demanding his backpack. The thief then shot my brother and absconded with the bag. A bag, containing his personal art, and stories he’d written. virtually nothing of real value to anyone except him. I was able to visit him briefly in the ICU at the local hospital, Unfortunately, due to COVID I was only able to see him for 30 minutes at a time while he is in ICU on a vent, and will not be allowed at all once he is in a regular room. However, my brother has a unique set of circumstances, mainly learning disabilities that I informed the doctors and nurses of, and I may be granted an exception. As the only local family member, I’m being charged with keeping everyone up to date on his condition and contacting all of the proper channels to get additional information.

He was shot in the lower abdomen, he has injuries to his lower intestines and bladder and may have a catheter in for a couple of weeks while those injuries heal. He is in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery. However, it still looks like he has a long road to recovery in front of him.

I have several phone calls I still need to make, Police, hospital again, roommate/landlord, etc. I’m hoping my brother is able to make a speedy recovery, and though it’s only been a day and there’s a lot to do I find myself exhausted.

As my body tires and I look up the hill toward the goals of what I must do for my family, I’m reminded of that song.

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where
But I’m strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

So on we go
His welfare is of my concern
No burden is he to bear
We’ll get there

For I know
He would not encumber me
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother

If I’m laden at all
I’m laden with sadness
That everyone’s heart
Isn’t filled with the gladness
Of love for one another

It’s a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we’re on the way to there
Why not share

And the load
Doesn’t weigh me down at all
He ain’t heavy he’s my brother

He’s my brother
He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother, he ain’t heavy

My best to you and yours in any difficulty you may be experiencing in your lives. I hope we can all get along, and render positive energy to a universe that we may see as unfeeling, selfish, or uncaring. So as you go into what trials and tribulations await you, know that you have my love and that this is the only world we will ever know, so let us endeavor to make it a good one, for you, for me, for all humankind.