Even though Brooke Rafko lives with just her mother and sister, she has grown up in a big family. Her big troop of cousins are like her siblings - playing games, making mischief, and growing up together. The cousins live in Dearborn, and they meet up often. Rafko has two male siblings her age, and a bunch of younger girl cousins. For her, it’s been like having eight additional siblings.

When they were younger all the cousins would play make believe games together. They would make up universes and intricate storylines. Sometimes they would have special powers.

They usually ended up playing superhero family. It was the perfect compromise because the boys wanted to play superheroes, and the girls wanted to play family.

The cousins are the children of Rafko's mother’s sisters. Rafko has loved growing up with her aunts, and has loved being the child of her mother. Her mother is a special ed teacher at Community High School, the same high school that Rafko goes to. “She always cares about everybody, and tries to do her best,” Rafko said.

Soon it will just be Rafko and her mom. Her older sister, Bree, is going to college next year. Currently, this is Rafko’s biggest worry. She’s worried about her sister going into the world alone. Her sister has always had her big family surrounding her, supporting her, and bugging her.

“I wouldn’t say that [we’re close] but we are sisters,” Rafko said. “So I will still worry about her.”

Even with one of the cousins leaving the nest, Rafko knows that they will all stay close. She feels incredibly lucky to have these companions for the rest of her life.