BROTHER STORY OF AUTISUM

Bridget and Carlton are as close as any sister and brother. But their relationship is particularly special. Carlton has autism and is almost completely nonverbal. He's smart, funny, creative, and loving. When Carlton was five years old, he uttered his first words: 'I love you, Mom!' Bridget was elated. That sentence meant that he could hear her, that he could speak, and that she had a chance to reach her ultimate goal of bonding with her brother. Bridget's fierce loyalty to and compassion for her brother led to an unbreakable bond that has helped the siblings cope with divorce and homelessness. Carlton's devotion to his family is loud and clear, even in his silence. Bridget was his protector, but Carlton became Bridget's savior."(W) Carlton Hudgens (A) Nam Kim