Different experiences not less

I think it is pretty obvious that people who have a sibling with special needs live a very different lifestyle than those who have typical siblings. I know for certain that my younger sister with special needs has played a big role in my life, and is part of the reason I am who I am. Because of her, I have grown up in the special needs community. Some people may think that's a bad thing because I missed out on opportunities but, I completely disagree. I feel the exact opposite. I didn't miss out on opportunities, I had different ones. Some of them were better then anything I could have had in my opinion. I have had the opportunity to meet kids who have overcome crazy things. I have witnessed the purest form of friendship between my sister and some of her friends. In her friendships, there are no lies or rumors, they are just friends, no hidden details. Just friends. I have been able to see my sister and other kids like her, reach a milestone, a goal, and improve in some way or another and experience so much happiness from that. By being a special sib, I have learned how to include, accept, and see people for who they are and what they can be better than most people my age probably can. I have been able to develop amazing friendships with people who have disabilities. I have also gotten to see my sister's therapists connect with her over time. I have also seen how much my sister's therapists care about her and want her to succeed as they do with all their other clients just by how they interact with her.  I've gotten to see how happy parents are when at the hospital the doctor comes out and says that everything went well during surgery. Or when at the hospital and there is a sibling that is younger than thirteen so they can't go into the surgery prep rooms or post op rooms, and a parent comes out and tells that everything went well or that the surgery is done and they will get to see their sibling soon. The way that the siblings face lights up is just absolutely amazing, it shows true love. I totally get that feeling, when my parents would come find me in the waiting room because I was too young, I felt so so happy. It is a different experience than what other people have experienced but to me it was a wonderful experience. Maybe my friends took a family trip to Washington, DC and took a tour of the White house and did a lot of other things, my family will probably never get that opportunity because of all the security things which my sister is petrified of, but that is ok. I got a different experience that they may think is weird, but to me it is just as good as going to DC. Or maybe my friends took a family vacation to Italy and visited family there, My family won't probably ever do that. The Italian festival in Lakewood is probably as close to Italy as we will ever get (even that was a little too much for her, too many people)! Instead, my family might have taken a trip to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, a different experience not less or more, just different. Maybe a kid in my class got to watch their younger sibling come in first place in the spelling bee. I won't have the experience of watching my sister win the spelling bee. At home though, watching her use her talker (she is non-verbal) to talk more would be just as amazing as winning the spelling bee. I may have a different or harder life than my peers, but I wouldn't trade my situation for anything in the world, and I think most other Special Sibz would completely agree with me.
Some Pics of my little sister