One was normal as could be and the other had cerebral palsy and was severely retarded.
Two drug addicted people gave birth to twin daughters in 1962. One was normal as could be and the other had cerebral palsy and was severely retarded. The grandmother decided the normal child would be raised by her sister and know her and the husband as mother and father. The handicapped child would be left to contend with contend with the craziness of the living a life in a house with severely drug addicted parents who were in and out of facilities and could barely fend for themselves. As they grew, the normal child was missing that other side of her, and looked for the child who shares her womb only to find she was locked away in some horribly abusive places that were eventually closed by the state of New York. What the normal child did then was remarkable and the sisters finally re-unite in this heart-warming, harrowing story of the goodness in the world.
She was extremely loving, kind, and childlike.
My Twin Sister
Her name was Alison Rae Schlesinger. She had cerebral palsy and was mentally challenged. She lived in an intermediate care facility (ICF) called Tanya Towers in New York City. She was extremely loving, kind, and childlike. She suffered heartbreak, loss, and faced many obstacles because of her disability, but her heart and soul were full of goodness. We were fraternal twins, but she was older than I by five minutes.
Reuniting with my twin sister let me move beyond the pain of our twenty-four year separation.
Our Reunion
Alison and I reunited on June 25, 1990 at United Cerebral Palsy in New York City. That day was one of the hardest I’ve ever faced—and the most rewarding. Reuniting with my twin sister let me move beyond the pain of our twenty-four year separation. Rekindling our relationship helped me become whole and overcome my guilt, shame, and insecurities; it also helped Alison to know that she had a sister who loved her and cherished our time together. Alison passed away on March 11, 2018, but her spirit lives on in my heart and soul, and in the hearts and souls of everyone who loved her.
Family Pictures
