Siblings of special needs children are rare gems that are often forgotten about when there is a disabled child absorbing the attention from family members. These children a marathon runners though, they cope with the extra responsibility and pressures that their lives bring them with no end in sight, no end date to work towards. That takes a certain ability to maintain grace under pressure that adults are so often lacking.

So, whenever people comment to me that Dominic is so brave, I obviously have to agree, he really is, but I am at great pains to also point out that Lilia and Elliot have shown a bravery of their own that is possibly even more remarkable. They are the ones who have had to make sacrifices and grow up too fast at the same time as being constantly reminded how lucky they are by well meaning adults. They are the quietly heroic strength bonding our little family unit and probably deserve a lot more acknowledgement than they get.

A post for the Post Pals charity on the same subject