this is a call to prayer. Today I had the privilege of attending a 12 step call in the intensive care unit of our city hospital. I was there at the request of the patient's sister who lives in another country. Her brother had a road accident just before Xmas, I don't know if he was driving or got run down. he is from another part of the country and has had no visitors for three months, he has no family or friends that the nurse knew of. He was a member of AA for a time but it seems he relapsed sometime before the accident and has been going down hill since.
The nurses tried to prepare me for what I would see, but nevertheless I was profoundly affected. The man I saw was lucid even though he has a brain injury, he had a tracheotomy so could not speak, he was paralysed from the neck down, and needed a ventilator to breath. It was very difficult to communicate but one thing that got through (I think) is that this man blames God for his condition.
The prognosis for him is that he will be able to breath on his own, talk and may get some mobility via a wheel chair. He is an alcoholic like me and even with his limited future he could still help other alcoholics where no one else can. God had stopped him drinking by taking away the use of his arms, but the programme could teach him to live sober and be happy about it
As I sat with him I did not think "I am so lucky this did not happen to me", I thought how desperately sad that this man does not have what we have, he has no faith, he is alone and isolated, his only company a seething resentment against God and the world.He is experiencing lonliness beyond belief, he may wish for the end, but has no means to do it. Death or insanity would be preferable. I was lost for words, I prayed for the right words but few came. He agreed to see me again tomorrow, and after I left praying again, an inspiration came to me that perhaps we can lend him our higher powers, if his one is no good. I went to our local group and we are all going to pray for him and we have made out a card to let him know he has lots of friends who care for him.
Great stuff Mike. You're truly an inspiration, so be proud of that...okay. I hope your friend finds his way back and achieves the same level of sobriety as do you. Keep up the good work...
I think there's an invisible principle of living...if we believe we're guided through every step of our lives, we are. Its a lovely sight, watching it work.
Thanks guys, your prayers are working. And Jerry, I agree he could be a very good teacher of humility.
I have had 4 or 5 brief visits now and there is a certain amount of communication between us. He seems to be getting better control of his arms and he appears a bit brighter to me. Not being able to speak is a problem, I manage to lip read some things, but not very much. I know he has all his mental faculties, so it must be enormously frustrating for him. Today messages were conflicting, he intends to go back to his AA meetings up north when able, but didn't want me to read from the Big Book, saying he knows it well. Perhaps not as well as he thinks? I try to be clear with him that I am there to carry AA's message of recovery and he seems to want that. It will be a relief when they get him off the ventilator so he can speak for himself.
I can't help thinking of my mother who found herself gravely ill in hospital due to alcohol though. She didn't want recovery and wasn't frightened of dying either. Even the day after coming out of the DTs she couldn't wait to get home and hit the bottle. Just shows you can't scare someone sober. They either want it and will go to any lengths, or they don't.
Sorry to chime in so late, has been a busy week. Will pray for the suffering... thanks for sharing the story all reminders are good and it's great that you are carrying the message.
IS THERE ANYTHING WORSE THAN INSANITY OR DEATH?
For me the answer is yes, not afraid of drinking and dying or insanity, but dreadfully afraid of drinking and having to live in alcoholic hell.....
__________________
Rob
"There ain't no Coupe DeVille hiding in the bottom of a Cracker Jack Box."
Roger's not doing so well at the moment, a persistent chest infection is keeping him stuck on the ventilator and he seems to have taken a turn for the worse over the last couple of days. When I told him to hang in there, me mouthed the words "I'll try". He needs every bit of help he can get at the moment.
