Betsy Jiron is the Sr. Director of Special Events for SOMD.  During her tenure, she has helped raise millions of dollars for SOMD through her oversight of the Law Enforcement Torch Run and events like the MSP Polar Bear Plunge.  But what she is most proud of, is being Brian’s little sister.  Betsy has shared below her very personal reflections on what her brother Brian means to her.

Brian, aka “B,” has changed more lives and has left a bigger impression on people than he will ever know.  Brian is my older brother and was born November 9, 1970.  He was a completely healthy little boy until he got what everyone thought was a common cold.  This sudden illness caused high fevers and in turn caused brain damage to the left side of his brain and paralysis in the right side of his body..  My parents didn’t really know what this was going to mean, but they did know that they were not going to give up. 

Growing up, Brian and I were more like best friends. It was nice to have a big brother that actually wanted to play with his younger sister. Being three years apart, we had different friends at school, but in the neighborhood we had all the same friends.  My parents never treated Brian like he was different and in fact went out of their way so he could do anything the other children did.  In the 80s, my family bought two mopeds. Both were made for right-hand riders but my Dad switched the throttle around on one so Brian, who has a paralyzed right hand, could ride as well.

I always remember the fun side of Brian but old videos prove that there was a ‘torment your little sister side’ to him as well. As a little girl, I would spend hours on my big wheel; apparently Brian liked it as well.  He thought is was funny if he stole it away from me and would laugh as I would chase him in circles.

As we grew older, I became more aware of how we were different; how I seemed to mature differently than Brian. We moved from the neighborhood where we grew up, and my interests grew from big-wheeling and going to the creek to shopping and talking on the phone!  The older and older we grew, our roles had reversed somewhat, and it was as though I was the big sister. When we got to high school, he started to look up to me. I was very involved in sports and he came to all of my games and cheered excitedly from the sidelines. He was my biggest fan.


My brother’s disability does not define who he is. He is first and foremost a bright man who loves to downhill ski, won’t miss a single Caps game, and though is sometimes a bit shy, will not hesitate to tell you what he thinks when he feels strongly about something. He wakes up every morning at 5am and he can have a full up-to-the-minute weather report for you at any time of the day. He can also tell you the birthdates of our old next door neighbors and my kindergarten teacher. He will amaze you with his aptitude and memory, and with all of this, he is probably the most humble person I have ever met in my life.  For this, I realize I do have much to learn from my big brother.

Special Olympics Maryland is more than just a job for me. It is my turn to stand on the sidelines and cheer on my big brother. I share the same enthusiasm Brian had for me when I watch him and other athletes full of spirit compete in Special Olympics. I am beaming with pride when I watch him whisk down the slopes with the use of only one pole to help keep his balance.  I am, by far, his biggest fan!