I went to visit my (ex) husband this past Sunday at the nursing home he is staying at. I don't know how many of you have experienced seeing someone dying with liver failure (Cirrhosis of the Liver) but it is heartbreaking. He is disoriented, cripple up with his hands and arms, can barely walk with his walker, can not go to the restroom alone, can not hardly eat so he has to be fed, his face is basically froze to where he can not smile or frown. When he looks at you it is though he's looking through you. He can not hug you. He would drift in an out mentally and could hardly talk. He was convinced that he was being taken to Iraq and a different time that he was in Kuwait. He has dreams his hands and feet are being eaten by something. He thinks the doctors are killing him slowly. He wants out of the nursing home so he's very depressed. He still knows who I and his son is when we speak to him. The nursing home finds him in the hall asleep at night as he gets up when he isn't suppose to be. It was so terrible to see such a strong man in this condition at age 45. If alcoholics could just see this maybe they would try a little harder not to get to this point, who knows.
My son broke down during the visit and cried. It hurt him to see his father this way.
Please keep us all in your prayers (along with his family as they are the ones that lives close and visits him daily).
"Computer games don't affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we'd all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music." -- Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989"
Hi Lady. Every time I see a post such as yours, my heart gets very heavy.
I saw many in this condition, when I drank--war veterans, my Father, relatives,--it never even clicked. The compulsion was too overwhelming. My pride would not let me reach out for help. I knew I was an alcoholic, but wouldnt accept the first step in any form. I would handle it on my own. I tried. I couldnt.
I was a good person inside. I loved my family, but the addiction was number one. There was no choice.
I had to almost die, before reaching out, and at that point it was nothing more than a slow suicide. I wanted to die.
Cunning, Baffling, and Powerful. Insanity.
My heart goes out to you and your family. This disease is a mass of destruction.
Some of us make it into AA and get sober. A lot of us dont.
My prayers are with you also. Please let us know how everythings going on a daily basis with you, and share with all of us. We truly care. With love-----Phil.
-- Edited by Phil at 15:28, 2004-12-23
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Easy Does it..Keep It Simple..Let Go and Let God..
Lady, thank you for sharing that... I worked in a hospital for many years and saw much. Wet brain, DT's, cirrhosis,,, it is very sad... my grandfather died on the streets of alcoholism. That is one reason I am here on this board,,, some for myself,,, but I can't keep it unless I give it away.
How old is your son? Do you have hospice care in your area? They help the family through this time too, with support and understanding for the family members who are so affected.
You will be in our prayers as we have a moment of silence for the still sick and suffering.
love in recovery,
amanda
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do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time
I'm so sorry you are having to go through this with your ex- husband. It is always painful to watch someone we love die to this disease. You and your children are in my prayers as is your ex. I as an alcoholic have a special place in my heart for his pain, there but by the grace of God...
Please take care of yourself, do you go to al-anon?
My thoughts are with you your ex, and his son. I pray that your ex finds peace in his heart. I pray that you are consoled and comforted with his son by anyone availble. I pray that God holds all of you in his heart, and that Jesus, and his Mother Mary give you all their warmth, compassion and love today and in the days ahead. Rose
