Who is Steven Alper from After Ever After and what is their importance?

Steven Alper is Jeffery's older brother, who remains strong the entire time that Jeffery is undergoing cancer treatments but later leaves college and home behind to go to Africa. Steven needs that time away to find his own purpose in life but it is difficult for Jeffery to be apart from him. Jeffery overhears a conversation just as Steven is preparing to leave in which Steven says Jeffery's constant need for Steven's attention prompts his decision to move such a great distance to a place where he doesn't even have Internet or cell phone service.