In "The Scarlet Ibis," what would Doodle's life have been like without Brother in it?

One can argue that Doodle’s life would have been very different without Brother. Brother narrates the short memoir entitled, “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst.

Brother is Doodle’s greatest champion, and his greatest undoing. Doodle is born with severe physical birth defects, and is not expected to live. The family is unsure of his mental capacities until he smiles at Brother from the bed he where spent the early part of his life. After that, Brother is convinced that Doodle has more ability than the family gives him credit for. If not for Brother, Doodle may have stayed in the house with no expectations for improving his health. Although Brother admits he is being selfish for wanting Doodle to be a “normal” brother, he devotes many hours to exposing Doodle to the beautiful environs of their property, and teaching him to walk, swim, and play. From the story, there does not seem to be another character who believes that Doodle has these capabilities, or who would devote the time to teaching Doodle.

It seemed so hopeless from the beginning that it's a miracle I didn't give up. But all of us must have something or someone to be proud of, and Doodle had become mine. I did not know then that pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death.

Occasionally, Brother traumatizes Doodle. Because Doodle is not expected to live, Father has a small casket built for him. Once Doodle makes progress, the casket is hidden in the barn attic, but Brother insists that Doodle look at it and touch it. If not for Brother, Doodle would not have endured such cruelty.

In essence, Brother gives Doodle life by pushing him past his limitations, but he also contributes to Doodle losing his life by overextending those limits during the storm in which Doodle died.

As I waited, I peered through the downpour, but no one came. Finally I went back and found him huddled beneath a red nightshade bush beside the road. He was sitting on the ground, his face buried in his arms, which were resting on his drawn-up knees.

Therefore, Brother helped Doodle tap into potential others did not believe he had, but he also treated Doodle with tremendous cruelty. Would Doodle have lived a longer life if Brother was not so self-centered?