I have now seen what it can result in...

[Rena705]

My next door neighbor has been an alcoholic since we lived next door, about 14 years.  Last fall things were getting incredibly out of hand where she had invited people in to live with her that she had met at the bar...she knew nothing about these guys and they took total advantage of her.  They stole her credit cards from her purse and charged thousands of dollars on them.  They stole everything from the house that was small enough to pawn for money.  She was in such rough shape she could no longer walk...her kidney's and liver had given out and her feet were swollen and red and she could no longer put shoes on.  She would give these people living in the house her debit card and pin number so that they would go buy her booze.  She had lost so much weight she was unrecognizable.  Most of her hair had fallen out.  One night, a "friend" was bringing her some beer at her request and he found her in a pool of vomit outside the bathroom door.  She was unable to get up so the "friend" called an ambulance.  When the ambulance arrived my husband went over to see what was going on.  She was on a stretcher and was fighting the ambulance attendants saying she didn't need to go to the hospital...a supervisor finally arrived and told the attendants to just wait a few minutes.  The supervisor was right...a few minutes later she told the attendants that she should probably go to the hospital because she wasn't feeling well.
After she went to the hospital we checked out the house before we locked it up and called her family.  The guys that had been living there had smashed liquor bottles into the drywall of the finished basement, stole everything including all of the food, vomited and defecated on the basement floor.
Upstairs there was dried vomit all over the floor where the neighbor couldn't make it to the bathroom or the bucket she had in front of her chair.  In the bedroom there were paper towels and towels over the vomit areas in a futile attempt to clean up after herself I suppose.
The neighbor is now in the hospital and has been there for 4 months.  She can no longer walk, she believes that she is 12 years old most of the time.  She is unaware why she is in the hospital and her family is waiting to find long term care for her because she can't use the bathroom herself and probably never will.  Her brain has been totally cooked by the alcohol and it is a really ugly sight.
I don't know why I am telling you this...maybe because like myself most people don't think alcohol can cause damage such as this. The neighbor's house is for sale, the neighbor's life as she knew it is now over...she had a great job and her own home and was a meticulous housekeeper and kept her yard spotless...then she started drinking and it's all gone...something to think about I suppose...

[ibizan]

so nice to hear from u again..but this story tragic.I see things like this daily...which is why i took a vacation day!u take care!

[green eyed lady]

I have another reason for people to stop drinking--my mother in law. She was once a very intelligent, beautiful, vibrant woman who also kept a meticulous house and yard. However, she also drank. Scotch--straight. When she drank she became the most miserable ***** you could imagine. She would cuss out her husband (her 3rd who was a saint!) and anyone else who pissed her off. Ironically, she was great to me and we had a very close relationship.

As time went on she got worse and we as a family tried to talk to her about how out of control she was. We offered her all the help she needed--money was no object. At this point she was literally drinking all day and all night and she slept maybe 3 hours throughout the day. Nothing we did helped.

One night as she was getting ready to go to the bowling league she got into a fight with her husband over some perceived insult. The next thing her husband hears a loud noise and he ran out of the bedroom and there was my mil crumpled at the bottom of the staircase. Ambulance called, taken to the hospital where they determined she had a bac of .42. Because of the alcohol they were unable to treat her the way she needed to be treated. Many months in the hospital and then a rehibilitation center later she was sent home.

What is left after the accident would break your heart. At the age of 60 my mil was confined to a wheelchair with brain damage in 4 places in her head. Her life consists of watching t.v., eating from a tube placed in her stomach, and soiling herself. And the man that she was so mean to--he sits next to her taking care of her (along with nurses her son hired) saying that he will never put her in a home. To me it is such a waste. Please stop while you have a chance---it's not worth it.

[ibizan]

I've been sober/clean 24 years..work in the alcohol/drug field and watch folks do to themselves what this guy is doing on a daily basis...so many trying to help and they will go on doing their alcoholic thing.We can hope he sees the light...but sounds like ur doing the best u can and thats ALL u can do!I know how u feel!

[hankins]

We tried to intervene last night but to no avail. he was still drinking and I dont think he is going to remember any of it. I'ts too bad, because he is a talented freelance writer, a loving father, loyal friend etc.....it just kills me to watch him go down like this. my wife says i should just let it go because he isnt going to listen to anyone. I just cant do that. If he dies, at least i can say I did all I could to help him.

[hankins]

my friend was taken by police to the hospital last saturday night. his bac was .44 he was shackled to the bed screaming his head off. i visited him the next day at his home and he was drinking again. I'm afraid he isn't going to be around much longer. I'm so very sad right now....

[Rena705]

It was and still is an incredibly sad story and the worst part was that the family did try to intervene and she would have nothing to do with them...look now who is looking after her anyway and she has NO choices!

I know that this will not happen to every alcoholic but if it can get just one thinking about what they are doing and where their life isn't going...it will be worth the telling.

Rena705

[working dog]

thanks for the story....when your liver goes everything goes...billy

[ibizan]

what a tragically sad story..i've seen things like this.....and so sad that she allowed others to literally **** on her and her home and life cuz of her disease.Must have been sickening to witness this!I feel for her family!they probly tried 2 intervene and she fought them as well!