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Manheim brothers use special bond to inspire Baron community

Nothing can compare to a bond between brothers, and for Manheim's 14-year-old Jaxon and 10-year-old Cooper Brubaker, that bond is deeper than anyone could ever know.

MANHEIM, Pa. — While the high school football season is coming to a close for teams around Central Pennsylvania, the storylines just keep coming for Manheim Central's team.

Nothing can compare to a bond between brothers, and for Manheim's 14-year-old Jaxon and 10-year-old Cooper Brubaker, that bond is deeper than anyone could ever know.

"One time, they were doing one of those wrestling matches, and then Jaxon elbowed me in the head, and we go, 'Alright, stop, stop.' So, we stopped, we sat down for a little bit and then got at it," Cooper recalled.

"I remember one time we had to start a wrestling match, [and] I gave him a bloody nose," stated Jaxon. "He knows the big brother's always going to win."

The brothers' bond is made extra special, as both Jaxon and Cooper are diagnosed with Saul-Wilson Syndrome—a rare disorder with around 20 known cases in the world.

The Brubakers believe Jaxon and Cooper are the only brothers in the world with the diagnosis.

"I like it because I have someone to lean on because they are experiencing the same thing as me [and] live under the same roof," Jaxon shared. "It's nice to be able to have someone that understands what it feels like."

"My life and my brother [are both] amazing," Cooper expressed. "[Jaxon] shares my dwarfism with me. He hangs out with me when I ask him [and] we play games together. We always hang out with each other."

"I think it's neat, because imagine being Jaxon and his younger brother being bigger and stronger [than him] growing up. I think that would be hard," Nicole, the brothers' mother, said. "Plus, with today's world, people can be mean, so they have each other to lean on. They have a special relationship."

Everyone who meets the boys can agree that they are the true definition of brothers and let nothing hold them back.

"Every time I [went] to my classroom, he would walk me to [mine] and walk to his," said Cooper. "[It felt] amazing because I'm not the only one with dwarfism, and I can share [it] with my brother."

Jaxon and Cooper both share a love for sports and serve as managers for the Manheim Central football team, as well as other Baron teams.

"I saw Coach Hahn at a high school basketball game I was at, and he's like, 'Hey man, I've seen you around. I was wondering if you wanted to be around here for the team,'" recalled Jaxon. "I had this joy that I've never felt before. And then I immediately turned and asked my parents, 'Hey is this okay?' and they're like, 'Yes!'"

The brothers work together to pump up the crowd, inspire the team and race to get to the kicking blocks and tees.

"[It] feels amazing, honestly," said Cooper. "Every time I go to a game, I get a high five from a player, and when I get back I hand it off to the kicker."

When asked about managing the team, Jaxon told FOX43, "I've been here for a while, but for him to be able to share the experience with me is [something] I like a lot."

Their family shared that numerous people have spoken about how the brothers had changed their lives for the better.

"I have people tell me all the time, 'Your boys inspire me so much,' and I don't think that they realize that they do that," their mother expressed. "They just love life and don't realize the impact that they make on people. I'm lucky that they're mine. I'm glad that I was chosen to be their mom."

"I'm a normal person," Jaxon said. "I'm just smaller for my age. Like I'm unique in that way, but in every other way I'm as normal as every other human being."

It's an unbreakable bond, and that is what being a brother is all about.

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