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Meet the Children - Alexandra Gilligan |
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Alexandra Gilligan
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Age 16
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 Alexandra (Alex) is a beautiful, artistic sixteen year old who has
always cared about someone else's needs before her own. Alex is
extremely talented and expresses her teen emotions with photography and
painting. As the oldest child, she has had the greatest understanding
of all the Gilligan kids as to the depth and seriousness of her
siblings health. Alex has one of the strongest personal connections
with her brother Jackson. As Jackson's Autism emerged, Alex has been
one of the few people that can "reach" Jackson no matter the situation
he is facing. Alexandra has always sheltered her brother, and there is
a unique bond that is unmistakable. Jackson has always referred to Alex
as, Sisto; pronounced sEs'tO. All of the Gilligan kids call her Sisto
still. Probably the most defining comments that Alex made concerning
her siblings took place during the EMHE application taping. The
observations were so stunning in their personal revelations, that most
adult friends of the family that day could not bear to watch, and ABC
requested that they do that portion of taping alone. When she was asked
what she was most afraid of concerning her sisters and brothers, she
revealed the depths of concern that are so often overlooked in a home
that has so many needs.
 As selfless a sister as she always has been, she said she was afraid
that something might happen to Dad & Amy. When asked why that
scares her, she opened up that she knew Jackson would always need to be
taken care of, and she knew he would need her. Alex went on further to
say that most kids with CF need a lung transplant, and most kidney
transplant survivors only get twenty to thirty years out of their
donated organs. "I know I have to be there for my brother and sisters
if they need me", was her response. That is a very heavy responsibility
that this teenager has had to face and she does it with joy and
elegance. She shows her siblings no fear; instead, she shows them the
way to live their lives; with exuberance. Alex currently shares a room
with Jackson. While she does not live in the home every day, she has
never asked for her own space. She knows how important it is that
Jackson has his room just so, and for him, she does not ask for
anything to be changed.
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