Skip to content 
They believe that Alex understands more about the world around her than people might assume from her medical condition.
Her younger brother, SJ, has also spoken about his relationship with Alex. He says she is an important part of his identity and family life.
Rather than defining his sister only by her disability, he sees her as a person who has been present throughout his life.
The family’s observations are personal experiences and should not be confused with a medical conclusion about Alex’s level of consciousness. Nevertheless, they illustrate the strong emotional bond between Alex and the people who have cared for her throughout her life.
## “She’s a Fighter”
For Shawn and Lorena, raising Alex has required patience, strength and constant care.
But they say that the experience has also changed the way they understand life.
When asked why they believe Alex has survived so much longer than doctors predicted, her parents have pointed to **love and faith**.
Shawn has spoken about how frightened the family was 20 years ago. At the time, they had no idea whether they would have Alex for more than a few years.
Today, their perspective is very different.
Instead of counting the days they feared they would lose her, they celebrate the years they have been given with her.
Lorena describes Alex simply as a “fighter.”
That word captures the family’s view of her journey. Alex’s story is not about suddenly overcoming her condition or receiving a medical cure. There has been no miraculous treatment that restored the parts of her brain that did not develop.
Instead, her story is about surviving far beyond the expectations originally given to her family.
Every birthday has become a milestone.
Every year has become another reason for the Simpsons to be grateful.
## A Sister Who Is at the Center of the Family
Alex’s younger brother, SJ, has grown up alongside her.
For him, having a sister with a profound disability is simply part of his family experience. He has also taken an interest in learning about her condition so that he can better understand and support her.
SJ has said that when people ask him about his family, Alex is among the first people he talks about.
That perspective is important because Alex’s story can easily become reduced to a headline about a woman who was “born without a brain.”
The reality is more complicated.
Alex was born with a devastating and rare neurological condition, but she is also a daughter, sister and member of a family that has spent two decades caring for and loving her.
Her family does not view her life merely through medical statistics.
They see the person they have known for 20 years.
They see the daughter they were once terrified of losing.
They see the sister who has grown up alongside SJ.
And they see someone whose survival has profoundly shaped their lives.
## What Does “Miracle” Mean?
The word “miracle” has become closely associated with Alex’s story because of the extraordinary difference between the predictions made when she was young and the reality of her life today.
Her parents have described faith as an important source of strength for their family. For them, Alex’s survival is deeply connected to their beliefs and their love for their daughter.
Scientifically, however, it is important to distinguish between describing an outcome as miraculous in a personal or spiritual sense and making a medical claim.