Barry's Last Wish: A Proper Goodbye

My name is Yolanda Roberson. The man in the picture is my brother, Barry Hughey. How do I begin to describe my brother? I've been thinking about that a lot the last few weeks since I learned that I would most likely lose him soon. I want to write his obituary but I want it to be more than just the standard name, date of birth, parentage and a list of survivors.

I was thinking about it this morning and it came to me that Barry is a lot like Haley's Comet. He's a phenomenon that happens so rarely that you have to sit up and take notice. From a mental health stand point, he represents an often overlooked population. He uniquely has a triple diagnoses of autism, borderline bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. From a physical health perspective, he showcases the growing population of people with diabetes. His uniqueness comes solely from his personality. Barry embraces all that life has to offer with a taste for the eclectic. There is no rhyme or reason to his preferences which makes it difficult to place him in any one category of enthusiasts. I believe I could fill a book about him and still not be able to adequately describe him.

These last few weeks I've struggled to come to terms with what it will feel like when he's gone. I've also struggled with knowing that I cannot financially afford the cost of a funeral or even cremation. I was never the overseer of his Social Security check. Those who did oversee his check and how it was spent, neglected to secure a life insurance policy or do a prepaid funeral for him. Asking for help doesn't come easy for me but it is something I have to do for Barry. Please find it in your heart to assist me in giving my brother a proper farewell.