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Community Corner

Remembering My Brother and His 'Invisible Disability'

My parents, Pat and Brigid Hughes, talk about my brother Brian, who battled mental illness and AIDS. They discuss raising Brian and how they knew from the beginning that he needed more support than their other seven children.

My parents Pat and Brigid Hughes sat down with me to discuss what it was like to raise a child with mental illness.  It has been five years since my brother Brian died and yesterday (April 24th) would have been his 43rd birthday.  I felt compelled to share his story with you.

I think about my brother all the time.  He is with me everyday in my business life and my personal life.  I am forever grateful to my parents for making Brian part of our lives, and for their extraordinary generosity in sharing his story with people we have yet to meet.

Please watch this video to meet my brother Brian and our parents.

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[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9BmP5Ex6So]

After I shot 40 minutes of video interviews with my parents, I struggled to tell this story.  I approached my cousin Terry Maday who is in the film business and asked for his help in telling a story that brings clarity to my brother's life.   Terry and Oscar Ayala both did an amazing job and I will be forever grateful for their support.

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