My brother is 21, and he has bipolar disorder. He's been having a hard time dealing with this illness. After 4 years he's been fighting it, and still hasn't accepted that he has it. I talk to him often (I live relatively far away) and his voice sounds different every day. My dad says he's "fine," meaning, he's still there.

It's been a rough road, and it's not over yet. Every day is a challenge for both of them. I believe there is some hope, and that he will deal with this. All I can do is pray. My dad says there is nothing I can do for my brother – that he forgets about me five minutes after we get off the phone. He hears voices, is paranoid, constantly suicidal, and always scared. He's had 6 or 7 suicide attempts. A lot of times he can't even get himself out of bed to go to the bathroom.

Still, I believe that he will make it. He is going through therapy, that is hope. His entire family would drop anything at any time to help him, and he knows this. That is hope. Through all the pain, anger, tears, desperation and trauma, there is hope. I can't give up. If I give up, what message am I sending him? If you give up, you've already lost.