Family Story

My Uncle Steve is the oldest child on my dad's side of the family. I can't remember much from my younger years, but I know who and how he is now, and it amazes me to hear stories of when he was younger. My uncle Steve is a manic depressant schizophrenic. Ever since I can remember he's lived by himself but always had a case worker with him. His case worker is there to make sure he takes his medicine, gets his groceries, has good hygiene, etc. Uncle Steve has been in and out of Wabash Hospital more times that I can count. Although he is considered crazy now, my dad always tells me of when they were younger, and what Steve had accomplished. When my uncle was younger, he was a good student, very smart. He eventually went on with his schooling and became a pilot, this being his first major accomplishment. Secondly, my Uncle Steve was a certified EMT, working on an ambulance. His third major talent was that he could play the guitar and was a great singer. Last but not least, Uncle Steve was once married and had a son. Today my Uncle has a hard time remembering if he ate during the day, and can hardly communicate with anyone. He is known around the towns he's lived in by the crazy man that walks around and sings. It simply amazes me to look at Steve and see who he is today, and think about where he could be in life if schizophrenia had never stepped in to ruin his life. I love to hear about stories of Uncle Steve's past, and live on the stories of today. They are polar opposite when they come to types of stories, but either time, my Uncle Steve is one interesting man.