Hollywood is best known as the place for making dreams come true! There is a continuous flow of eclectic people who flock to this dream mecca in hopes of becoming the next mega celebrity (or at least to see one of them sitting at a trendy place along the iconic Sunset Strip).

I travel to Hollywood twice every day, but not for the same reasons as most. My first visit each day is on my way to work at KTLA as a television news reporter. The second visit to Hollywood is much less glamorous, but is more impactful to me.

The reason for my second visit is to celebrate my own “star” – my 27-year-old brother, Christian. He is not an actor, director or writer. He may not have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but in my heart he is a star because of all he has overcome and how he continues to get up each morning. At birth Christian suffered severe brain damage due to medical malpractice. As a result, he cannot speak, read or write.

Over the last 20 years, I’ve learned that Christian and disabled persons like him still want to be seen, heard and experience life like we do. In that spirit, my family and I travel to Hollywood every night. My aging parents and I take turns caring for Christian on our nightly “Hollywood Cruisin’,” which means going back to our younger days of cruising up and down the Boulevard to watch others and be seen. This drive, which is Christian’s only escape, allows him to see the bright lights, commotion and his peers. I believe this drive gives him a chance to see himself in those shoes, like a normal young man his age who would drive to Hollywood on any given night to hang out with his friends. My brother knows he’s different; he knows that he will never be able to go to these Hollywood nightclubs.  Having said that, I believe he still finds happiness simply being near all the commotion, and that is priceless. For Christian Hollywood is more than a tourist attraction, it is the place where he feels most free.

These drives are not just for Christian, but also for me. Having the opportunity and ability to help my brother feel he is a part of society gives me comfort. Our “Hollywood Cruisin’” allows me to achieve a part of a dream for my brother, that he be happy. Of course, my biggest dream for him is that he could be "normal," that he could at least speak up for himself so he could tell me when he is hurt or sad. While there is no cure for his brain damage, Christian has taught me to find  joy in the little things in life.  My brother’s life reminds me to be grateful and thankful for having a voice, and being able to be a voice for others in need.

Elizabeth Espinosa is a two-time Emmy Award-winning journalist who works for KTLA in Los Angeles. She is dedicated to empowering all individuals, including those with disabilities or life struggles.