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The Distance Between Brothers

Connecticut Public Radio | By Tucker Ives

Published October 18, 2013 at 9:01 AM EDT

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Nick ran across the street with an oncoming car down the road, chasing a ball. "It's like I'm going for a death wish," he said.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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"When I made that picture I left the next day for Mississippi feeling like, well that's what I'm leaving him with - his hamsters," said Chris.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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"When the music kicks on he smiles and sings along in that monotone, one-key voice of his," wrote Chris in "The Distance Between Us."

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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"The time I spend with him, looking through my camera, has forced me to ask questions about suffering and faith and why anyone is born with disability," writes Chris.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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"At first, I was like ugh, another picture? Put the camera away," said Nick about his brother constantly taking photos of him.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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"Nick and I are so much alike but we're also very different and there's always an element of pity and I always had a really hard time dealing with that growing up," said Chris.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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"Often, when I stop by the house, I find Nick like this. Alone and in bed with a cramp, hardly able to move, or talk, or spend any time with me," Chris wrote in "The Distance Between Us."

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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"I really don't like seeing myself in the situations where I have the cramps," said Nick.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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Nick makes his way up the stairs leaving the NYC subway.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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"I always wondered if my presence in the womb might have somehow made me responsible for what happened to him," Chris wrote.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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“It feels like He doesn’t answer me, but I never get angry at God because if I didn’t have cerebral palsy I would be a different person," said Nick in "The Distance Between Us."";s:3:

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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"For a long time as I was working through these edits, early on...it was heavy on my grief," said Chris.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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Nick and Chris' night in Bethel ended early because of a cramp.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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"I can drive, it's just that I chose not to because in case I'm driving and I'm on the road and I have a cramp, I don't want to hurt anybody or at the worst, kill anybody," said Nick.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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"He sits in that room of his, alone everyday in the room we grew up in, in the room that seems, to me, at least, more like a prison than a bedroom – a place where he is being punished for something in which he had no choice," wrote Chris.";

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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Nick underwent brain surgery in hopes of decreasing the effects of his cramps. "This is cutting edge science, I think to myself. Except it looks like medieval torture," wrote Chris.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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"Even when he’s in the middle of a cramp, Nick never looks this powerless and afraid," Chris wrote.";

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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Nick at his home in Milford.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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Nick and Chris have spent a lot of time in hospitals.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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Even in the doctor's office, Nick gets cramps.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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Nick's neurostimulator sticks out from his chest.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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Nick's cramps look like seizures, but they're not. They are very painful though.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

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"You think I'm wonderful?" asked Nick. "Yeah, you're stellar man," responded Chris.

Christopher Capozziello / From "The Distance Between Us"

Chris and Nick Capozziello stopped by WNPR to talk about the book, "The Distance Between Us."

Photographer Christopher Capozziello has been photographing his twin brother Nick for as long as he's been a photographer. Despite being twins, there was something between them: Nick was born with cerebral palsy. Chris was not.

The photography of both brothers is featured in the book, The Distance Between Us, and it will be released on October 30.

Chris’ photos show the tough, painful scenes of seizure-like cramps taking hold of Nick. They also show the happier, pain-free times - including scenes from a cross-country road trip the brothers took.

Why did Chris embark on this project?

Sharing this story was not something I ever set out to do, but over the years, one picture has led to another and our story has emerged. The time I have spent with my brother, looking through my camera, has forced me to ask questions; about suffering and faith and why anyone is born with disability. Nick has cerebral palsy. The photographs have become a way for me to deal with the reality of having a twin brother who suffers in ways that I do not. The photographs and text aim at taking you on a journey through my laments and inquiries of my youth to the present, ending the book with a different sort of question: “what’s next for us?” Now, I wonder if my brother’s suffering has taught me how to live.

The Capozziello brothers stopped by WNPR to talk about this book and what they've learned about themselves and each other.

Tucker Ives

Tucker Ives is WNPR's morning news producer.

See stories by Tucker Ives

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

Protect Connecticut Public