There are so many ways we can help our loved ones - it would be interesting to see what other members are doing. I have been doing as much as I can to help my brother by doing a lot of legal research, providing as much financial support as I can, writing regularly and sending him legal books that he might need. Other members might be helping with their sibliings' families or visiting regularly - please tell us :)

I write my brother a couple letters a week and let him know what's going on with the family and I'm always sending him pictures of my grandbabies, (he loves children, but was so young when he went in, he doesn't have any). I also always subscribe to as many magazines as he would like to have and I send him books from Amazon.com. I live out of state so I don't get to visit that often, but my younger brother lives only about 45 min from him and he visit almost every week:) He gets out next Dec. after being in for 21 years, we simpy cannot wait!!! :D

Michelle Z.

Michelle- Great idea sending photos of your grandchildren and magazines and I am glad that you and your brother can visit him. Your family must be so excited that he will be home next December - have you started making any plans yet?

Hi DLM

My younger brother will be the one helping him get started on his new life since he is in the same state, which I'm only 2 hours away. I feel the excitement about him getting out, but I really can't get much out of him in his letters, don't know if he's scared of actually facing being free or what. I've tried to bring it up a few times and he really doesn't respond back but maybe it's still too soon for him to really come to terms with it seeing how it's still another year. Me and my younger brother have been saving money like crazy for him over the last 5 or 6 years and I've also got a car that I'm keeping for him ( all of this he doesn't know about) :D So hopefully over the next couple of months his letters will start being more of being excited about being released??? Sure hope so!:)

Michelle Z.

You and your brother sound like you are doing such a great job being so supportive :). Won't it be interesting seeing your brother discover all the advances in technology that have been made in the last couple of decades- computers/internet, cd and dvd players etc. I am sure when he does think of being released next year he goes through the whole range of emotions.

I write to him as often as i can, and my fiance goes to see him when she can and on her days off to bring our little girl so she gets to know her uncle and so that she is in his life. I also pay for his college courses and send him money from time to time.
Most importaintly, I am here for him.. Emotionally, spiritually, and for whatever he needs. I don't agree with his actions, and I may not like what he does but i support him.
My mother always told me that there are major differences in (love and like) You don't have to like someone but you have to love them, and then you may not have to love someone but you have to like em.

I have the great sense that i don't have to like him all the time but he will always be my brother.... and that will never change... from the womb to the tomb,

Peter

Peter- That is wonderful that your fiance visits your brother and your daughter is getting to know her uncle. I am so glad you are all providing so much support for him. Keep us posted and keep positive (as hard as that might be at times).

You and your brother sound like you are doing such a great job being so supportive :). Won't it be interesting seeing your brother discover all the advances in technology that have been made in the last couple of decades- computers/internet, cd and dvd players etc. I am sure when he does think of being released next year he goes through the whole range of emotions.Hi DLM

I hope all this new technology will be interesting and exciting to him:) I hope it all doesn't scare him to death!! I do send him magazine about the lates technology about wireless sevices and computers, figure if he could read about it maybe it all won't be such a shock to him. Sometimes I kinda think he may be starting to go through some of the emotions of thinking about being released, he's got to be scared, he's been in there 20 years as of today:( I think he may talk about alot of his struggles with my brother, he's always kinda candy coated everything with me, guess because I'm the only girl:)

Michelle Z.

I write to him as often as i can, and my fiance goes to see him when she can and on her days off to bring our little girl so she gets to know her uncle and so that she is in his life. I also pay for his college courses and send him money from time to time.
Most importaintly, I am here for him.. Emotionally, spiritually, and for whatever he needs. I don't agree with his actions, and I may not like what he does but i support him.
My mother always told me that there are major differences in (love and like) You don't have to like someone but you have to love them, and then you may not have to love someone but you have to like em.

I have the great sense that i don't have to like him all the time but he will always be my brother.... and that will never change... from the womb to the tomb,

Peter
Hi Peter

It's great that your fiance takes your daughter to visit her uncle. I always took my children to see my brother when they were little, they are grown now and he will finally be released next Dec. and I'm glad I did because now when he gets out they will already know him.:) I also sent alot of money and paid for classes for my brother over the years and I sure hope it helps him when he gets out. I know what you mean about sometimes not liking them, I've sure went through times like that with my brother, you just want to strangle them sometimes for their actions!!!;) But your like me as we both know they are our brothers and we love them unconditionally and always will:)

Michelle Z.

My family visited, supported him financially when finances allowed us, accepted his collect calls, wrote and constantly told him how much we loved him. I didn't find out until this week that magazines and mail subscriptions were allowed. I could have sent him some magazines.