My little brother is graduating next month. It is really mind-boggling that someone is going to give him a piece of paper that will allow him to go to college in a few short months.

I still remember the day that my dad snuck us into a German Air Force hospital to visit our newborn baby brother and how small and fragile he seemed at the time. When he was born, his lungs were full of fluid and they were not sure if he was going to make it or not. Of course, I didn't find out any of this until I was fifteen, but I do remember the seemingly endless numbers of tubes going in and out of him.

When he was a year old, he became known as the biggest drooler of all time and he was GINORMOUS...you know, for a one year old. He would gurgle and smile for just about anyone.

When he and I were 6th and first grade, respectively, I would walk him to and from school, where he would clue me in on the comings and goings and the happenings of his first grade class. When he learned to ride a bike, I was there.

After fourth grade, he was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, a disease that would bloat him with artificial weight and kept him shorter than all of his peers until 11th grade.

Two years ago, he had a serious infection that kept him hospitalized for two and a half months. It was horrible seeing him in a state where he was helpless--knowing that his body was rebelling against him when he hadn't done anything wrong.

Socially and physically, you would never know that he has been through any of this. He is a great man, a natural flirt, and one of the funniest people that I have ever met.

Is he ready for college? Or rather...is college ready for him...?