Mireyas's dad created a channel where they plan to share her journey to transitioning out of school and into whatever is next. He soon plans to share content at www.youtube.com/@collaboratingspecialneeds
I’m friends with that older brother. The comments here talking about what a treasure he is are 100% accurate. He is a kind genuine person and extremely wise for his age. My work is in philosophy and history for Christian ministry and he’s helped me with my work a lot. Tim LOVES Jesus and you can tell his love for Him informs the way he loves people.
@@Catlily5it means she is so loved that her family want to do their job as a parent and provide these sensors and a big brother who does not see her as disabled butas a normal person. Hope that he.ped.
@@Catlily5 A bug in a program is something that does not work as intended, but a feature is something built in to improve the program or provide a certain functionality.
I just assumed the head movements were because she thought the “sproinginess” was pleasant against the sides of her face. When I grow my curls out, I’ve been known to bounce it.
I think it's bc they kind of have to be. Because they have to learn things at a young age that most people come to learn as adults or never learn at all unfortunately. For example, children would naturally make fun of or be scared of someone different, whereas if it's your sibling or family member, you learn very young that some people are different and there's nothing to be afraid of or make fun of. You learn that they are no different and have feelings like anyone else. You learn compassion, empathy, etc. At least that was my experience in my family. And that's what I've observed with other people in a similar family setting. Just my 2 cents. If you don't have anyone close to you with disabilities you won't grow up being understanding.
@@JohnDoe-cd6ro Agreed, just small things like I'm not exactly solitary by nature but doing things by myself for myself is just how I had to grow up. Cooking is also a big thing I just taught myself, if I wanted a nice breakfast or to have lunch asking for it was not an option. Dinner was the only thing as everyone ate together. When I wanted to eat I had to make it, so going to university was a surprise when I saw no one knew how to do anything other than turn on an oven. I'm on holiday and heard one young adult say that that his mum had food frozen for him because she wouldn't be around when he got back???!
I have never met a 23 year old man this mature and wise. Wow! He talks with insights I feel like most people don't get until the mid life crisis years. So impressed w this whole family! Halleluyah!🙌
I love how they said "She doesn't want to be this way" with regards to her more difficult behaviour. It's very true: I've often thought "No child wakes up with the intent to ruin your day."
"She doesn't want to be this way." I don't agree with this statement, and here's why: She doesn't know any different. She's never had a choice. Being the way she is is all she knows. Saying she doesn't want to be this way is like saying she's experienced being "normal" but then reverted back to her disabilities. It's a non-statement.
Exactly! This story touched me so much! My son deals with this with the outside world! People constantly judging him, and making he feel like he doesn't belong. And it's like he is a regular little boy just like everyone else. I won't lie and say it's not hard sometimes; the most difficlt thing really is keeping him inside because he elopes. This prob brings us the most stress more than anything and many people do not understand this. But in no way we blame our non-verbal autistic son for this! I pray interviews like this open the eyes of others, so they may become more compassionate towards those who are different than them. 🙏🏽💞
@@sassykitty292 Actually ppl can feel like they want to be a different way. My son was born with some disabilities and he observes his peers around his age and sometimes thinks he doesn't want to be the kid with disabilities, to be different and struggle, he wants things to be easier for him like it is for his peers. And he was born that way, that's all he knows. So you really just assume you know what a person can or cannot feel, what they do or do not want to be when you dont know anything about them or spent anytime with that person. Kids and young adults with certain disabilities are not dumb, they can and do observe what's going on around them and see how others are and what they have the abilities to do.
What a delight to hear Mireya's laugh in this video and see that she still loves sneezes and coughs and a "high-1". Mireya was in my class 7 years... I can't believe she's almost 21! She knew everyone's car, she asked all of us "what's for diiiiiinnnnnner?" several times a day, and she had some of the best one-liners ever and would crack us all up every day! I don't think I ever heard her say, "I'm not having it" until watching this though! Love the sass! Her giggle is the same and hearing it again gave me a big smile! Hello to the whole Howard family! You are all extraordinary, lovely people! Marcia & Tim- you are amazing parents. Timmy- I'm blown away by your adoration and love for your sister! You are a remarkable big brother! I love how in tune you are with Mireya's needs- when the pressure starts to build, you give her just what she needs to "release" and help her stay regulated. It's amazing! Thank you for sharing your family's story!
Christie Britton how amazing you had the pleasure to have mireya in your class for a number of years..youre right..that laugh is absolutely endearing and i think one of the cutest sounds ive ever heard lol gotta ask has she always had that gorgeous hair? Those curls are incredible lol😊
Her personality shines to me as well! Even before she started verbalizing in the video, I could tell she had a lot she wanted to say. When she said “I’m not having it” and seemed eager to talk to Chris but not have her brother do so, I couldn’t stop chuckling. Such a character ❤ so sweet to have my thoughts confirmed by your first hand experience
I think they are unlike other families... I actually think these are THE most loving, selfless, self aware, gracious, kind, patient, smartest people I've seen in a long time. God bless all of you. 🙌💛
There are many families like this, that choose to stay off social media. Source: ME. I work with these families. If you genuinely care/want to take genuine action, there are resources to help special needs families. Every state is different - contact your local DCFS/DHS for resources.
I worked in the Special education field from 1981-1988 & Timmy would definitely be an assett in this field, if he chooses that route. With his personal experiences with his beautiful sister, he has the pure Love,compassion, sympathy & empathy for other's like her. Personally, I can see him working in a Special Education classroom as a teacher &/or as a Licensed Social worker in a Psychiatric Hospital working with children, teens & even adults with Special needs.
@@LilXancheX very true but it also shows what low standards we have for each other. Being a normal functioning human being shouldn’t be impressive, it should be the norm
@@rachel1729as this series shows so beautifully the expectations we have for people physically or psychologically is not always accurate. Emotional intelligence is something many people regardless of age don’t necessarily have. Everyone deserves recognition for their unique gifts in my opinion.
I’m crying! My gosh, what a beautiful, reflective family. Something that stood out was when Dad said they’re empty nesters now because from here on it’s adult care. Yes! Mireya is an adult! Let’s all stop infantilizing disabled people. If we all had a sibling like Timmy the world would be bursting with love. Ah 🥹 wishing them all the blessings
Having had a child with very intense and difficult special needs, I feel so grateful to Tim Sr for articulating the very real feelings of regret and loss parents can feel. It’s important to be able to acknowledge all the feelings we have going through this experience and to not be judged for it.
Timmy is amazing his ataxia, the way he knew all about his sister and how educated he is about her! I wish my family took time to educate themselves about my disabilities.
My take away from this interview is that this sweet family has so much more than most. There seems to be a high level of emotional intelligence, compassion, unity, and endless love. This was the best interview I’ve seen on his channel and it as great to see how they all interacted with each other. Great work to all four of them. ♥️
@LL Francis you said exactly what I came to say. It’s so evident that even though the dad has regrets about spending time away and continuing to seek higher levels within his profession, that he has now put his family time first. I do believe he was putting his family first by being a good provider, but the cost he paid was too high for him. They seem to have a wonderful balance and understanding of what each of them needs, and they seem to know how to help each other. It’s a beautiful thing to have seen.
The beautiful care they obviously take of her hare is such a wonderful expression of how deeply the care for her and respect her as a person which is something that unfortunately, so many disabled high support needs adults don't get.
Mireya is so cute, and her brother sounds like a very intelligent, uplifting and caring person to be around. I'm so glad she has a great support sustem!
I feel calmed by the rhythmic sand noise like waves. The brother is so great, he has a lot of potential to be a neuroscientist or psychiatrist who with his sensitivity and experience can develop therapies or something. Lovely family. And she has beautiful hair.
I am amazed at how beautiful they are. On the inside. It’s so awesome to see. I love it. Thank goodness for this girl that she was born w this wonderful family. Who didn’t want to give up on her. Even when they were told that she was going to have issues, when she was still in womb .
Brother sees the positive in everything. His emotional intelligence is well beyond his years. He’s incredibly thoughtful. As are mom and dad. What a lovely group of people.
Whole family is amazing. Timmy is so smart, articulate and understanding of her condition and how to interact with her and decipher what she needs. He should be a doctor or special needs therapist.
@@pattydobrowski7432 right!? He understands and has compassion. I’m sure families in this situation or similar, would love to have in a doctor or nurse or Health care professional of some sort, working w people w conditions like this. He is a great big brother for sure
Well it's different for different kids. I think he knows his sister very well, but doesn't mean he automatically knows how to interact with everyone. I've made that mistake before because I know my own sister who has special needs very well. But when you interact with other people, even with similar conditions it's not necessarily the same. But it's nice to have that special empathy and ability and willingness to understand those who are different so I see what you're saying in a way.
I was so not prepared for Mireya's adorable giggle! She is so blessed to be surrounded by such a wonderful family but it's also so heartwarming to hear that they realize how blessed they are to have her as well. 💕
He is like his dad in communicating. Very Articulate and well spoken people. So many kids that need special care are not born into such wonderful families. Not the case here.
The sounds of her playing in that rice is so calming! I was having a panic attack and came across this video. As soon as I heard that sound, it calmed me down!! ❤
I love how analytical dad is, in particular, but also mom and her brother too. They have deeply thought through each situation which bodes well for her future.
Shaking of the hair seems to be like her way of stimming and I think the rice is comforting because it sounds like white noise. White noise closely resembles what babies hear in the womb. It soothes her because she's blessed in more ways than I can put into words.
This young lady is so fortunate to have such a loving, caring, educated family! Not all handicapped individuals are so lucky! Best wishes to this family!
Tim Jr is worth his weight in GOLD. I am curious about his professional aspirations, & hopeful that he might consider medicine. His knowledge base of pediatrics & neuro is great, but it's his UNDERSTANDING & COMPASSION that really shines. Great interview Chris, as always. Thank you for teaching me today. 💖
Wow. This family! So articulate and intelligent, the dad is a pure joy listening to, his language is so elaborate. (I'm Swedish so it astonishes me a bit extra😅) And their respect toward each other, their love, it's so inspiring. I don't know, I just really adore this family and their way of being. Harmony is the word that comes to mind. Just harmony, love and respect. I hope for them all to continue to have an amazing and fulfilled life.
I agree. This is a lovely family. I don't know much about Sweden, but I've heard that nearby countries like Iceland, Norway, and Denmark have nearly halved or eliminated the birth of babies with down syndrome. I assume there would also be higher rates of killing babies with differences like this young lady. Does Sweden have a similar rate of aborting children with physical or mental differences? I'm really interested in learning more about these things because I wonder if our collective empathy is diminished by eliminating people with these types of different from our societies. Please do not be offended by these questions. I'm honestly interested about the impact of these trends on our humanity. What are your thoughts?
@@jop4112 That is a great question, actually. And I don't find it offensive at all, just interesting. We do have screenings for Down's syndrome, and there's an increase in people who choose not to carry the baby full term once they find out. We're not nearly as far gone as for example Denmark, but we have a fairly new law that makes it hard to get statistics on things like that, medical stuff etc. Using what statistic there is, there would be 300 children born each year with Down's Syndrome here, but in reality the number is about 100. I had to Google it, I had no idea! It's sad in one way, on the other hand, people like that shouldn't be parents of a special needs child. There's often the pro choice discussion but aside from that, without offending anyone I hope, I think that those who terminate the pregnancy because of special needs maybe should do just that. Instead of a child being born unwanted and unloved. It's a hard question, I'm not one to judge, it's not my body or life, but personally I don't feel like they could care for the child enough.
I’ve said it several times but I keep having to say it again. The fact that people with additional needs, like Mireya, are born into the most incredible families cannot be a coincidence. Her brother has to be THE best brother in the world and her parents seem to be as good as it gets. 💜
You must have never seen abused kids and abused disabled kids? They are plethora of them. Just check charities, foster care and testimonials on YT even. Honestly there is no justice sometimes they even get killed.
I am one of the other 90 people in the world with Rhombencephalosynapsis, but I don't have Lopez-Gomez-Hernandez Syndrome. I've had a head shaking tick since I was born, and it was a consistent tick until I was around 14 years old. Now it is much less frequent and more easily controllable. With what the tick is, I'd say that as a baby I'd use it as a comfort mechanism, and it's something that comes up in stressful situations even now though it doesn't help with comfort any more. When I was little, my brain trained my eyes to move opposite to my head so that they always faced forwards and could keep focus so well that, even now, I sometimes can't tell when I'm shaking my head because I don't feel the movement and my vision is completely stable.
Along with the head nodding tick, later on I developed other ticks due to, what I believe to be, OCD. These ticks do include the punching of the palm that you can see at 0:14 but there are many others that have come and gone throughout the years. With the very small number of cases of Rhombencephalosynapsis, the amount of medical literature and other media available on it is so limited, it's brilliant to see that this channel is able to educate people on a topic that I've never really had the capacity to explain to anyone properly before .
Mireya couldn't have had a better family! Her parents are very loving and mature. It is evident that they love, accept and respect her. They also did a great job with Timmy so he still recognizes those things that others might see as tragedies or bugs as features. This is an essential step to live in harmony despite whatever it is when you have to take care of a beautiful person like Mireya. I am a special needs caregiver and caregiver trainer. My main area is with intellectual disabilities. I can say that it is not easy but when I have families like Mireya's everything flows in an incredible way, every day there is much to learn and much to thank God for. Thanks Chris for every interview 🙏🏽💗
I love at around 9:40 when there’s a non verbal agreement/response from Mireya to her brother & he is delighted by it❤ this was so wholesome and educational. I wish all humans were as open and understanding as this family. So inspirational
Her "I'm not having it". 😂 She's so precious! ❤ Tell them sweet girl! This family is phenomenal. How intellectual they are in mind and emotions makes that family and home perfect for her. Miraya is so smart and can tell she's very well taken care of and has been shown so much love. Her brother and his compassion and patience with her is a breath of fresh air. He'd be a great teacher for younger children or for special needs children. That's his calling, i swear. I hope they do their channel because I'd definitely tune in to them. Beautiful family ❤
I'm 20 months older than my sister who has Down's/Autism and Mireya and her brother's connection reminds me so much our ours. I was fiercely overprotective of her growing up, and have always planned to be her person when we're old. It's always nice to see adults who care as much as you do.
I don't know if I've ever seen a more beautiful family... Physically beautiful, internally beautiful, beautiful support, beautiful love, beautiful respect, beautiful strength, beautiful understanding, beautiful honesty, and beautiful kindness...just plain beautiful. 🥰 They are everything a family is supposed to be.
This family is not just like every other family. They are beautiful, loving and so incredibly special! I could only wish for such an incredible family!❤❤❤
Timmy is going to make a real impact on the world. That is a fact. What an amazing person and family. What an example you all are to others on compassion and love. What beautiful people.
I LOVE her interactions with her family. Do you want this? Yeah. She can communicate, she is human. And I do like how dad says they have seasons, in trying to keep her calm, etc. I think that is a perfect way to explain how she handles things. Mireya’s parents and brother are amazing people. And her laugh is SO awesome! Very infectious!
25:50 made me cry! That was such a special thing to say. When we were little we would always go to appointments with my sister to Children's Hospital. I didn't really think about it in that way. It brought back a lot of memories
Amen, All the love this young lady is getting. From her family is absolutely beautiful. Especially from the brother. Mom and Dad raised an awesome family. With empathy and not sympathy. Big difference .❤
18:26 this part really spoke to me. The way that the dad explains this is just beautiful and something that can be applied to everyone when we accept the cards that we were dealt in life
Timmy’s understanding of how Mireya views the world around her through her family and surroundings and time and seasons and change is such a beautiful thing to hear such a young man say, he so empathetic with an understanding of people that he will be able to navigate the world and make such an impact on other people throughout his life. Good job mom and dad raising two beautiful young adults ❤
I could listen to this family speak for hours. All the sounds they make come out with so much love, intelligence, and wisdom. You can tell this experience has tested them and they are coming through with growth bc of their choices whereas some people let their tests destroy them. Love them love Mireya and love this family❤
Her mother is absolutely amazing! I can only imagine the level of dedication and sacrifice it takes to do what she does. She is so humble and her love for her daughter shines through. What a lovely and amazing family.
What an amazing family, and Mireya’s brother Tim is just wonderful. When Chris asked him to explain the pride he has being Mireya’s brother, before he spoke the words, I thought, “immeasurable,” and that’s exactly what he said. It’s so clear, and so beautiful.
This brother is one in a million, I would do any and everything to have a son like him honestly..God bless this family. Nuff love from sweet sweet Jamaica.
I love that she is great at communicating what she wants :) Her family is so in-tuned to her and what she wants! Hearing her say “yeah” and confirming is awesome.
I didn’t know I needed to see this video. I almost didn’t click on it and I’m so happy I did. This video melted my heart. This family is something so special ❤❤❤
Mireya’s parents are amazing, but wow what a next level awesome big brother Tim is. I wish all people, and particularly people with disabilities could have someone in their life as understanding, smart, kind, helpful and all around wonderful as he is.
NO YOUR NOT !!! Your Family is NOT like other Families. YOUR FAMILY IS EXCEPTIONAL ! I am Privileged to have gotten to know of this family. WOW THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE EACH OF THEM ! Their Son is one of the kindest, intelligent, loving, verbally versed humans I have ever heard. Chris, this by Far in my opinion is one of the most functional, expressive, Loving Families I have ever seen on this or any other channel. KUDOS to THEM and may they remain BLESSED !!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING !!!
I work in healthcare. There were 2 older ladies like 75+. The older sibling was taking care of the younger one, much like Timmy and Mireya. And I was doing my thing prepping up my station, and I swore the older one was ready to jump right in and throttle me (she is a lovely woman, I mean it). My goodness, she loved her sister and took such care of her, that any unnecessary pain is a no-go. Which honestly doesn't bother me at all, I was all for it, I'm glad she's getting care and love, all through life. This is the vibe these siblings give me. God bless them and keep them. I will take the fear of being throttled if it means I get to watch this wholesome act, it keeps me sane in this field haha
I have an autistic toddler and I feel like she’s changed my life in some drastic ways. But for the better. She makes me look at life differently. She’s taught me so much about the beauty in life that I can’t even begin to explain. I feel lucky having a child with a disability. Life is so much more broad and amazing!! There’s way more positivity in my life now. My 2 year old has truly made me a better version of myself. I’m very blessed and grateful that God chose me to be her mother.
This family is so great! The love, care, respect, and validation that Timmy has for his sister is so beautiful. You can really see how deep their love is. ❤️ Edit: Mireya's laugh is everything!!!
Watching Timmy talk about his sister brought me to tears. This is what true, unconditional love looks like. This is such an amazing family. I hope this video touches others like it did me. What an amazing family with an amazing story of love for each other.
Mireya is a blessing, you have a beautiful family. Her brother Tim has an incredible bond with her. His deep feelings of compassion and kindness is strengthened by her presence. Mireya is absolutely amazing❤️
Mireyas's dad created a channel where they plan to share her journey to transitioning out of school and into whatever is next. He soon plans to share content at www.youtube.com/@collaboratingspecialneeds
He would be great in the medical field also. He's an amazing guy and his wife will be lucky in the future.
❤❤yes ❤❤
I subbed
Maybe she would love to have Clay in her hands. I once broke my wrist therapy had the best clay to work with
😊😊😊😊
Her brother would be great in the education system. His empathy and compassion is like nothing I've ever seen before
I was thinking exactly the same thing.
💯
I think the education system would break him. Gentle and attentive people who cares are, sadly, often taken advantage of in today's systems.
@@hyeboi it’s not just being negative to be negative. They are articulating what so many of us see is CLEARLY wrong with our current paradigm
The education system destroys people like him, unfortunately
I’m friends with that older brother. The comments here talking about what a treasure he is are 100% accurate. He is a kind genuine person and extremely wise for his age. My work is in philosophy and history for Christian ministry and he’s helped me with my work a lot.
Tim LOVES Jesus and you can tell his love for Him informs the way he loves people.
Wow, thats so cool!
Genuinely seems like such a wonderful man. You’re lucky to know him.
You don’t have to be religious to be a good person..
@@LakenBrittany I never said that you did
Wellll ,be sure to tell him Nina said she want’s him (ps I’m Nina )
“I thought it was a feature, not a bug”
Such a simple sentence, and still a thought that could change the world. Bless him ❤
I see my younger brother in these words ❤
He must be a programmer 😆😆
What does that mean?
@@Catlily5it means she is so loved that her family want to do their job as a parent and provide these sensors and a big brother who does not see her as disabled butas a normal person. Hope that he.ped.
@@Catlily5 A bug in a program is something that does not work as intended, but a feature is something built in to improve the program or provide a certain functionality.
I’m struck by how beautiful and well-maintained Mireya’s hair is. This family cares so much for her,
I just assumed the head movements were because she thought the “sproinginess” was pleasant against the sides of her face. When I grow my curls out, I’ve been known to bounce it.
I thought the same! She has such GORGEOUS hair 😍
She has a beautiful hair
@@davidshaner9713 thats what i thought too. honestly it could be part of it!
Jealous AF for that beautiful hair!
The emotional intelligence within this family is wild - what an amazing unit
For every 100 poisonous families there's always one that keeps the hope alive.
Summed up very well
@@zatoichiMiyamotoindeed
She looks just like her dad. What a kind, compassionate, and informed family.
thought the same - same features.
He couldn't deny her if he wanted to! 😂 His genes were working overtime on her!! ❤️
Protect that brother at all costs, what a credit to humanity he is.
was going to write the exact same thing! He's a treasure.
My daughter has an oldest brother just like him!❤
I wish my brother was like that 😭😭😭
My twin and I have a brother like this. It is and will forever be something we are grateful for❤
Yes!!!
“There has to be reverence for who this person is, and I’m going to enforce it.” - wow, big brother protection and love
This was so profound.
I’m always astounded by how wise and mature the older sibling of a person with disabilities is
Everyone thinks that I'm the older sibling because of the way I care for my older brother 😅
I think it's bc they kind of have to be. Because they have to learn things at a young age that most people come to learn as adults or never learn at all unfortunately. For example, children would naturally make fun of or be scared of someone different, whereas if it's your sibling or family member, you learn very young that some people are different and there's nothing to be afraid of or make fun of. You learn that they are no different and have feelings like anyone else. You learn compassion, empathy, etc. At least that was my experience in my family. And that's what I've observed with other people in a similar family setting. Just my 2 cents. If you don't have anyone close to you with disabilities you won't grow up being understanding.
Reminds me of my daughter with our non-verbal autistic little boy!
Read about glass sibling phenomena, it explains somewhat the reasons...
@@JohnDoe-cd6ro Agreed, just small things like I'm not exactly solitary by nature but doing things by myself for myself is just how I had to grow up. Cooking is also a big thing I just taught myself, if I wanted a nice breakfast or to have lunch asking for it was not an option. Dinner was the only thing as everyone ate together. When I wanted to eat I had to make it, so going to university was a surprise when I saw no one knew how to do anything other than turn on an oven. I'm on holiday and heard one young adult say that that his mum had food frozen for him because she wouldn't be around when he got back???!
I have never met a 23 year old man this mature and wise. Wow! He talks with insights I feel like most people don't get until the mid life crisis years. So impressed w this whole family! Halleluyah!🙌
lol he's not a child, he's 23 so makes sense that he's wise
He has a black momma 😁
💯
@@sagittarius420cheefieso you have to have a black mom to be wise at 23?
@@Breyyya yes
I am kidding lol. Just seemed like a fun answer to a “controversial” question.
I love how they said "She doesn't want to be this way" with regards to her more difficult behaviour. It's very true: I've often thought "No child wakes up with the intent to ruin your day."
"She doesn't want to be this way." I don't agree with this statement, and here's why: She doesn't know any different. She's never had a choice. Being the way she is is all she knows. Saying she doesn't want to be this way is like saying she's experienced being "normal" but then reverted back to her disabilities. It's a non-statement.
@@sassykitty292 The point is she's not trying to upset anyone, she simply doesn't know any better. No need to complicate things.
Exactly! This story touched me so much! My son deals with this with the outside world! People constantly judging him, and making he feel like he doesn't belong. And it's like he is a regular little boy just like everyone else. I won't lie and say it's not hard sometimes; the most difficlt thing really is keeping him inside because he elopes. This prob brings us the most stress more than anything and many people do not understand this. But in no way we blame our non-verbal autistic son for this! I pray interviews like this open the eyes of others, so they may become more compassionate towards those who are different than them. 🙏🏽💞
@@sassykitty292 Actually ppl can feel like they want to be a different way. My son was born with some disabilities and he observes his peers around his age and sometimes thinks he doesn't want to be the kid with disabilities, to be different and struggle, he wants things to be easier for him like it is for his peers. And he was born that way, that's all he knows. So you really just assume you know what a person can or cannot feel, what they do or do not want to be when you dont know anything about them or spent anytime with that person. Kids and young adults with certain disabilities are not dumb, they can and do observe what's going on around them and see how others are and what they have the abilities to do.
except perhaps kids with ODD. But they can't help it, so I guess the saying still applies.
Her hair. Her sweet brother. Her families emotional intelligence. I can’t get enough of this family.
What a delight to hear Mireya's laugh in this video and see that she still loves sneezes and coughs and a "high-1". Mireya was in my class 7 years... I can't believe she's almost 21! She knew everyone's car, she asked all of us "what's for diiiiiinnnnnner?" several times a day, and she had some of the best one-liners ever and would crack us all up every day! I don't think I ever heard her say, "I'm not having it" until watching this though! Love the sass! Her giggle is the same and hearing it again gave me a big smile! Hello to the whole Howard family! You are all extraordinary, lovely people! Marcia & Tim- you are amazing parents. Timmy- I'm blown away by your adoration and love for your sister! You are a remarkable big brother! I love how in tune you are with Mireya's needs- when the pressure starts to build, you give her just what she needs to "release" and help her stay regulated. It's amazing! Thank you for sharing your family's story!
Christie Britton how amazing you had the pleasure to have mireya in your class for a number of years..youre right..that laugh is absolutely endearing and i think one of the cutest sounds ive ever heard lol gotta ask has she always had that gorgeous hair? Those curls are incredible lol😊
Takes a special person to do this work and Love it …. Thank you
Her personality shines to me as well! Even before she started verbalizing in the video, I could tell she had a lot she wanted to say. When she said “I’m not having it” and seemed eager to talk to Chris but not have her brother do so, I couldn’t stop chuckling. Such a character ❤ so sweet to have my thoughts confirmed by your first hand experience
She seems pretty cool.
You are sooooo lucky to have met her in person.
I think they are unlike other families... I actually think these are THE most loving, selfless, self aware, gracious, kind, patient, smartest people I've seen in a long time. God bless all of you. 🙌💛
There are many families like this, that choose to stay off social media. Source: ME. I work with these families. If you genuinely care/want to take genuine action, there are resources to help special needs families. Every state is different - contact your local DCFS/DHS for resources.
Timmy should definitely work in Special education without a doubt. His understanding of his sister is incredible. His parents are awesome, as well.
*if he wants to
I worked in the Special education field from 1981-1988 & Timmy would definitely be an assett in this field, if he chooses that route. With his personal experiences with his beautiful sister, he has the pure Love,compassion, sympathy & empathy for other's like her. Personally, I can see him working in a Special Education classroom as a teacher &/or as a Licensed Social worker in a Psychiatric Hospital working with children, teens & even adults with Special needs.
@@lindaalvarez8855*if he wants to
I know! So many of these siblings to special needs people are so down to earth, beautiful people. I wish other kids could learn from them.
13:08 Mireya’s laugh is pure joy. I love this family. Mom, dad and big brother are winning it for this beautiful girl.
There's so much wisdom in this family! Also, her brother is so well spoken and emotionally intelligent for just 23 years old
Agreed!!
23 is an adult, I would hope that he knows how to speak and is emotionally intelligent…
@@rachel1729nfortunately some adults in this generation still act like children. That’s why they have that mentality of being a “kid”. How sad
@@LilXancheX very true but it also shows what low standards we have for each other. Being a normal functioning human being shouldn’t be impressive, it should be the norm
@@rachel1729as this series shows so beautifully the expectations we have for people physically or psychologically is not always accurate. Emotional intelligence is something many people regardless of age don’t necessarily have. Everyone deserves recognition for their unique gifts in my opinion.
I’m crying! My gosh, what a beautiful, reflective family.
Something that stood out was when Dad said they’re empty nesters now because from here on it’s adult care. Yes! Mireya is an adult! Let’s all stop infantilizing disabled people.
If we all had a sibling like Timmy the world would be bursting with love. Ah 🥹 wishing them all the blessings
She’s got a solid papa bear for life with her brother. Good job mom & dad! That comes from a strong solid place. ❤
That brother, omg. What a saint. I am a grown man and i was getting choked up by the beauty of it and his genuine god given role. Just incredible.
@@Goodhello369 same! He is one in a million!
Having had a child with very intense and difficult special needs, I feel so grateful to Tim Sr for articulating the very real feelings of regret and loss parents can feel. It’s important to be able to acknowledge all the feelings we have going through this experience and to not be judged for it.
Okay, that big brother. WOW. What a genuine human being. Im moved by how mature this 24 year old man is. just wow.
I hope he's encouraged to take care of his own needs, too. Chances are she'll ultimately need him to take care of her.
@@lulumoon6942......
i mean he's not a child, he's an adult
@@dorna2325 She said "how MATURE...this 24 year old man is. Maturity and legal adult age are not the same thing.
@@MyChannel-ct6gr most people are mature at that age though. he's not a teenager
Oh, she's plenty capable of speaking. She simply speaks from the heart, which is the most elegant and beautiful speech of all 😊
He is probably the BEST brother ever on the face of the earth. His love for his sister can truly be felt through the screen. This video made me smile.
Fr, you can see it on his face, he loves tf outta her
It also made mi tear fr joy abt da brother
@@wow-xu6kc Better typing is a good idea here.
The world needs more people like this brother... intelligent, compassionate, articulate, strong. What a wonderful family.
It's wonderful that Mireya has sensory outlets like the rice to help her regulate her system. Great parents and brother. Nice interview!
Her older brother made me cry. So sensitive and thoughtful. Their house seems like an oasis of kindness. What a beautiful video and beautiful family.
Timmy is amazing his ataxia, the way he knew all about his sister and how educated he is about her! I wish my family took time to educate themselves about my disabilities.
💕🙏 and hug
Maybe you can be a Timmy for someone else❤
My take away from this interview is that this sweet family has so much more than most. There seems to be a high level of emotional intelligence, compassion, unity, and endless love. This was the best interview I’ve seen on his channel and it as great to see how they all interacted with each other. Great work to all four of them. ♥️
Thank you for putting into words what I didn't think I could. I want to learn from them.
@LL Francis you said exactly what I came to say. It’s so evident that even though the dad has regrets about spending time away and continuing to seek higher levels within his profession, that he has now put his family time first. I do believe he was putting his family first by being a good provider, but the cost he paid was too high for him. They seem to have a wonderful balance and understanding of what each of them needs, and they seem to know how to help each other. It’s a beautiful thing to have seen.
I agree. Lovely family.
I agree and I kept thinking how patient they are with her!!!
100%
I love her hair
The beautiful care they obviously take of her hare is such a wonderful expression of how deeply the care for her and respect her as a person which is something that unfortunately, so many disabled high support needs adults don't get.
Timmy is such a patient and phenomenal soul. What a blessing it is for him to be her brother. The whole family is just lovely. 🫶🏽
I was incredibly moved by Timmy as well!!!!! ❤
100% agreed ... lovely brother and family ❤❤❤❤
What an intelligent, honest, caring family.
Mireya's hair is so pretty! I bet she has fun flipping it all around like she did in the beginning of the video
I was scrolling through looking for this comment. She's got some great hair, that's for sure.
Mireya is so cute, and her brother sounds like a very intelligent, uplifting and caring person to be around. I'm so glad she has a great support sustem!
I feel calmed by the rhythmic sand noise like waves. The brother is so great, he has a lot of potential to be a neuroscientist or psychiatrist who with his sensitivity and experience can develop therapies or something. Lovely family. And she has beautiful hair.
As someone who works in genetics & DNA, it’s always amazing to see the scientific and medical understanding that all these families have👏🏽👏🏽
What a beautiful family! The way they are able to convey information about Mireya and what she needs and wants is just pure love.
I am amazed at how beautiful they are. On the inside. It’s so awesome to see. I love it. Thank goodness for this girl that she was born w this wonderful family. Who didn’t want to give up on her. Even when they were told that she was going to have issues, when she was still in womb .
Tim Jr is a compassionate young man, God bless his soul...pray for all the strength and grace , wisdom for the parents.
Brother sees the positive in everything. His emotional intelligence is well beyond his years. He’s incredibly thoughtful. As are mom and dad. What a lovely group of people.
Hopefully her brother Tim will become a therapist of some kind… he has a huge capacity for empathy and being able to be the voice for someone.
Whole family is amazing. Timmy is so smart, articulate and understanding of her condition and how to interact with her and decipher what she needs. He should be a doctor or special needs therapist.
You posted what I was thinking.
@@pattydobrowski7432 right!? He understands and has compassion. I’m sure families in this situation or similar, would love to have in a doctor or nurse or Health care professional of some sort, working w people w conditions like this. He is a great big brother for sure
Well it's different for different kids. I think he knows his sister very well, but doesn't mean he automatically knows how to interact with everyone. I've made that mistake before because I know my own sister who has special needs very well. But when you interact with other people, even with similar conditions it's not necessarily the same. But it's nice to have that special empathy and ability and willingness to understand those who are different so I see what you're saying in a way.
I was so not prepared for Mireya's adorable giggle! She is so blessed to be surrounded by such a wonderful family but it's also so heartwarming to hear that they realize how blessed they are to have her as well. 💕
He is like his dad in communicating. Very Articulate and well spoken people. So many kids that need special care are not born into such wonderful families. Not the case here.
The sounds of her playing in that rice is so calming!
I was having a panic attack and came across this video.
As soon as I heard that sound, it calmed me down!! ❤
I love how analytical dad is, in particular, but also mom and her brother too. They have deeply thought through each situation which bodes well for her future.
Shaking of the hair seems to be like her way of stimming and I think the rice is comforting because it sounds like white noise. White noise closely resembles what babies hear in the womb. It soothes her because she's blessed in more ways than I can put into words.
I’ve never seen such a humble family full of love and compassion before. Mireya is truly amazing
This young lady is so fortunate to have such a loving, caring, educated family! Not all handicapped individuals are so lucky! Best wishes to this family!
Tim Jr is worth his weight in GOLD. I am curious about his professional aspirations, & hopeful that he might consider medicine. His knowledge base of pediatrics & neuro is great, but it's his UNDERSTANDING & COMPASSION that really shines.
Great interview Chris, as always. Thank you for teaching me today. 💖
This family did an amazing job at explaining Mireya's condition. Thank you for letting us meet her and learn.
Wow. This family! So articulate and intelligent, the dad is a pure joy listening to, his language is so elaborate. (I'm Swedish so it astonishes me a bit extra😅) And their respect toward each other, their love, it's so inspiring.
I don't know, I just really adore this family and their way of being. Harmony is the word that comes to mind. Just harmony, love and respect. I hope for them all to continue to have an amazing and fulfilled life.
I agree. This is a lovely family. I don't know much about Sweden, but I've heard that nearby countries like Iceland, Norway, and Denmark have nearly halved or eliminated the birth of babies with down syndrome. I assume there would also be higher rates of killing babies with differences like this young lady. Does Sweden have a similar rate of aborting children with physical or mental differences? I'm really interested in learning more about these things because I wonder if our collective empathy is diminished by eliminating people with these types of different from our societies. Please do not be offended by these questions. I'm honestly interested about the impact of these trends on our humanity. What are your thoughts?
@@jop4112 That is a great question, actually. And I don't find it offensive at all, just interesting. We do have screenings for Down's syndrome, and there's an increase in people who choose not to carry the baby full term once they find out. We're not nearly as far gone as for example Denmark, but we have a fairly new law that makes it hard to get statistics on things like that, medical stuff etc. Using what statistic there is, there would be 300 children born each year with Down's Syndrome here, but in reality the number is about 100. I had to Google it, I had no idea!
It's sad in one way, on the other hand, people like that shouldn't be parents of a special needs child. There's often the pro choice discussion but aside from that, without offending anyone I hope, I think that those who terminate the pregnancy because of special needs maybe should do just that. Instead of a child being born unwanted and unloved. It's a hard question, I'm not one to judge, it's not my body or life, but personally I don't feel like they could care for the child enough.
What an intelligent, articulate, amazing family! I just cannot express the admiration I have for these people!
I’ve said it several times but I keep having to say it again. The fact that people with additional needs, like Mireya, are born into the most incredible families cannot be a coincidence. Her brother has to be THE best brother in the world and her parents seem to be as good as it gets. 💜
Heavenly father doesn't make mistakes . And families are forever and are Eternal. They were chosen for each other before this mortal life began.
Well that's just being blind to the many kids that are abused, killed, or given up because of their disabilities.
yea the fact she was born already is unique most parents would just have aborted the moment they knew what was going on with the baby.
You must have never seen abused kids and abused disabled kids? They are plethora of them. Just check charities, foster care and testimonials on YT even.
Honestly there is no justice sometimes they even get killed.
@Shadow You don't have to be rude. By the way, I hope you realize that people with disabilities are at a higher risk of being abused in ALL nations.
I am one of the other 90 people in the world with Rhombencephalosynapsis, but I don't have Lopez-Gomez-Hernandez Syndrome. I've had a head shaking tick since I was born, and it was a consistent tick until I was around 14 years old. Now it is much less frequent and more easily controllable. With what the tick is, I'd say that as a baby I'd use it as a comfort mechanism, and it's something that comes up in stressful situations even now though it doesn't help with comfort any more. When I was little, my brain trained my eyes to move opposite to my head so that they always faced forwards and could keep focus so well that, even now, I sometimes can't tell when I'm shaking my head because I don't feel the movement and my vision is completely stable.
Along with the head nodding tick, later on I developed other ticks due to, what I believe to be, OCD. These ticks do include the punching of the palm that you can see at 0:14 but there are many others that have come and gone throughout the years.
With the very small number of cases of Rhombencephalosynapsis, the amount of medical literature and other media available on it is so limited, it's brilliant to see that this channel is able to educate people on a topic that I've never really had the capacity to explain to anyone properly before .
Mireya couldn't have had a better family! Her parents are very loving and mature. It is evident that they love, accept and respect her. They also did a great job with Timmy so he still recognizes those things that others might see as tragedies or bugs as features. This is an essential step to live in harmony despite whatever it is when you have to take care of a beautiful person like Mireya. I am a special needs caregiver and caregiver trainer. My main area is with intellectual disabilities. I can say that it is not easy but when I have families like Mireya's everything flows in an incredible way, every day there is much to learn and much to thank God for. Thanks Chris for every interview 🙏🏽💗
I love at around 9:40 when there’s a non verbal agreement/response from Mireya to her brother & he is delighted by it❤ this was so wholesome and educational. I wish all humans were as open and understanding as this family. So inspirational
She truly lucked out with this family. They’re so kind and patient and loving. Also Mireya’s hair is so beautiful like girl get that hair care
I bet hair treatment is too sensory and causes a melt down
@@toker6664 'get that hair care' is a compliment lol
@@toker6664 possibly. If that’s all natural then she’s even luckier 😂
Her "I'm not having it". 😂 She's so precious! ❤ Tell them sweet girl!
This family is phenomenal. How intellectual they are in mind and emotions makes that family and home perfect for her. Miraya is so smart and can tell she's very well taken care of and has been shown so much love. Her brother and his compassion and patience with her is a breath of fresh air. He'd be a great teacher for younger children or for special needs children. That's his calling, i swear. I hope they do their channel because I'd definitely tune in to them. Beautiful family ❤
I'm 20 months older than my sister who has Down's/Autism and Mireya and her brother's connection reminds me so much our ours. I was fiercely overprotective of her growing up, and have always planned to be her person when we're old. It's always nice to see adults who care as much as you do.
What a remarkable family; each and every one! God bless you all.
Timmy and Mireya have such a beautiful relationship! I'm glad they're there for each other. ❤
I don't know if I've ever seen a more beautiful family... Physically beautiful, internally beautiful, beautiful support, beautiful love, beautiful respect, beautiful strength, beautiful understanding, beautiful honesty, and beautiful kindness...just plain beautiful.
🥰 They are everything a family is supposed to be.
The amount of emotional maturity in this family is off the charts.
Mireya's brother is amazing. What a nice family😊
He is
Isn't he just so lovely.
Bro. is the most articulate, wise and empathetic person on planet Earth. My goodness, this world is so blessed to have this family in it!
Timmy is one of the most amazing human beings I've ever seen you interview. It doesn't hurt that he's easy on the eyes, either. 🔥🔥🔥
A true gentleman. ❤
I thought the same thing! Sweet and handsome ❤!!
This family is not just like every other family. They are beautiful, loving and so incredibly special! I could only wish for such an incredible family!❤❤❤
Timmy’s going to be a great dad, one day. He’a great big brother.
Timmy is going to make a real impact on the world. That is a fact. What an amazing person and family. What an example you all are to others on compassion and love. What beautiful people.
I LOVE her interactions with her family. Do you want this? Yeah. She can communicate, she is human. And I do like how dad says they have seasons, in trying to keep her calm, etc. I think that is a perfect way to explain how she handles things. Mireya’s parents and brother are amazing people. And her laugh is SO awesome! Very infectious!
I also love playing with rice and sand! I understand why its so soothing. Its so satisfying feeling the grains in my palms
The understanding of this girl’s behavior by the family is so very beautiful….
25:50 made me cry! That was such a special thing to say. When we were little we would always go to appointments with my sister to Children's Hospital. I didn't really think about it in that way. It brought back a lot of memories
Mireya is beautiful 👍👍😍❤😊 . Her parents and brother is so supportive and protective of her 😊.
Amen, All the love this young lady is getting. From her family is absolutely beautiful. Especially from the brother. Mom and Dad raised an awesome family. With empathy and not sympathy. Big difference .❤
18:26 this part really spoke to me. The way that the dad explains this is just beautiful and something that can be applied to everyone when we accept the cards that we were dealt in life
What a beautiful family. Full of love! Just the way the WHOLE WORLD SHOULD be!!
Blessings to this wonderful family!!
This whole family is just so sweet. I'm crying tears of how cute they all are 😭
I appreciate the honesty. Being a carer isn't easy. Especially when it's just one carer.
Timmy’s understanding of how Mireya views the world around her through her family and surroundings and time and seasons and change is such a beautiful thing to hear such a young man say, he so empathetic with an understanding of people that he will be able to navigate the world and make such an impact on other people throughout his life. Good job mom and dad raising two beautiful young adults ❤
I could listen to this family speak for hours. All the sounds they make come out with so much love, intelligence, and wisdom. You can tell this experience has tested them and they are coming through with growth bc of their choices whereas some people let their tests destroy them. Love them love Mireya and love this family❤
Her mother is absolutely amazing! I can only imagine the level of dedication and sacrifice it takes to do what she does. She is so humble and her love for her daughter shines through. What a lovely and amazing family.
What an incredible young man! He is nothing but impressive. In a situation of challenges, he is the blessing fate gave her to make it better.
So happy Mireya is surrounded by love.
What an amazing family, and Mireya’s brother Tim is just wonderful. When Chris asked him to explain the pride he has being Mireya’s brother, before he spoke the words, I thought, “immeasurable,” and that’s exactly what he said. It’s so clear, and so beautiful.
What an incredible family. I could feel the love just in their voices.
This brother is one in a million, I would do any and everything to have a son like him honestly..God bless this family. Nuff love from sweet sweet Jamaica.
I love that she is great at communicating what she wants :) Her family is so in-tuned to her and what she wants! Hearing her say “yeah” and confirming is awesome.
I didn’t know I needed to see this video. I almost didn’t click on it and I’m so happy I did. This video melted my heart. This family is something so special ❤❤❤
Mireya’s parents are amazing, but wow what a next level awesome big brother Tim is. I wish all people, and particularly people with disabilities could have someone in their life as understanding, smart, kind, helpful and all around wonderful as he is.
NO YOUR NOT !!!
Your Family is NOT like other Families.
YOUR FAMILY IS EXCEPTIONAL !
I am Privileged to have gotten to know of this family. WOW THEY ARE EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE EACH OF THEM ! Their Son is one of the kindest, intelligent, loving, verbally versed humans I have ever heard. Chris, this by Far in my opinion is one of the most functional, expressive, Loving Families I have ever seen on this or any other channel. KUDOS to THEM and may they remain BLESSED !!! THANK YOU FOR SHARING !!!
I work in healthcare. There were 2 older ladies like 75+. The older sibling was taking care of the younger one, much like Timmy and Mireya. And I was doing my thing prepping up my station, and I swore the older one was ready to jump right in and throttle me (she is a lovely woman, I mean it). My goodness, she loved her sister and took such care of her, that any unnecessary pain is a no-go. Which honestly doesn't bother me at all, I was all for it, I'm glad she's getting care and love, all through life. This is the vibe these siblings give me. God bless them and keep them. I will take the fear of being throttled if it means I get to watch this wholesome act, it keeps me sane in this field haha
I have an autistic toddler and I feel like she’s changed my life in some drastic ways. But for the better. She makes me look at life differently. She’s taught me so much about the beauty in life that I can’t even begin to explain. I feel lucky having a child with a disability. Life is so much more broad and amazing!! There’s way more positivity in my life now. My 2 year old has truly made me a better version of myself. I’m very blessed and grateful that God chose me to be her mother.
They do change your life, for the better. God bless you.
May God grant the highest rank in heaven for you.
This family is so great! The love, care, respect, and validation that Timmy has for his sister is so beautiful. You can really see how deep their love is. ❤️
Edit: Mireya's laugh is everything!!!
That brother is a saint!!!! I love watching this! Such beauty and unconditional love.
Watching Timmy talk about his sister brought me to tears. This is what true, unconditional love looks like. This is such an amazing family. I hope this video touches others like it did me. What an amazing family with an amazing story of love for each other.
One of the most heartwarming amazingly beautiful families I have ever seen. Timmy, you are incredible.
She has so much love in her family that I know she will be fine. Her brother has such an immense adoration for her, it’s beautiful
Mireya is a blessing, you have a beautiful family. Her brother Tim has an incredible bond with her. His deep feelings of compassion and kindness is strengthened by her presence.
Mireya is absolutely amazing❤️
Her brother is such a special young man! God bless him and the entire family.