There were similar threads to this in the not so distant past so I hope the moderators will indulge me. Most of the people I know on this board are here.
I need any and all prayers and/or well wishes tonight for my brother. He's in the hospital, and it looks very much like the tide's turned against him.
To make a long story short, my brother's had drinking problems since before he was an adult. It only grew really bad in the last few years, and it cost him dearly. His (third) marriage is...not exactly supportive, he lost his job though finally found a new one. Other things. The last two years or so have probably been a fair representation of hell for him. His fault, most of it. Still, it's hard to watch someone flail even if it is their problem.
Now add in stomach problems. My readers know I'm prone to stomach issues and had a recent surgery. Well, it's hereditary and he's in on the 'fun.' Throw them together and you have a potentially lethal combination.
A few months ago his esophagus tore. They healed him, though perhaps not completely...IMHO he left the hospital before it was wise, though they released him fair and square. Now it's happened again, only worse. They are having trouble stopping the bleeding, and though they're giving him blood it's weakened him substantially. Low blood pressure. His liver's suffered damage so that's backing up, resulting in a high fever and probable infection. They have him on a respirator. The tide's turned.
I don't know why I'm feeling upset. We haven't been that close in a long time and a few years ago his 'problem' was so serious and damaging to the family I wished him very ill indeed. He's still my brother though, and like I said the last few years were so sad. His wife is...not there for him. There was a time I felt bad for her, but she's caused a lot of her own private mess as well and ... well, complicated.
My father died just before his 49th birthday - excessive drinking (not this bad), poisons in the blood stream, stomach failure, major organ failure. This brother is just over 47. This strikes me as significant. If it's time for him to go, maybe that's as well. Maybe it's a release from whatever private pain started him down this path. But then it'll be too late to try to fix it. If he wants to, which is ... also complicated.
So...any prayers you can offer. Thanks folks.
I need any and all prayers and/or well wishes tonight for my brother. He's in the hospital, and it looks very much like the tide's turned against him.
To make a long story short, my brother's had drinking problems since before he was an adult. It only grew really bad in the last few years, and it cost him dearly. His (third) marriage is...not exactly supportive, he lost his job though finally found a new one. Other things. The last two years or so have probably been a fair representation of hell for him. His fault, most of it. Still, it's hard to watch someone flail even if it is their problem.
Now add in stomach problems. My readers know I'm prone to stomach issues and had a recent surgery. Well, it's hereditary and he's in on the 'fun.' Throw them together and you have a potentially lethal combination.
A few months ago his esophagus tore. They healed him, though perhaps not completely...IMHO he left the hospital before it was wise, though they released him fair and square. Now it's happened again, only worse. They are having trouble stopping the bleeding, and though they're giving him blood it's weakened him substantially. Low blood pressure. His liver's suffered damage so that's backing up, resulting in a high fever and probable infection. They have him on a respirator. The tide's turned.
I don't know why I'm feeling upset. We haven't been that close in a long time and a few years ago his 'problem' was so serious and damaging to the family I wished him very ill indeed. He's still my brother though, and like I said the last few years were so sad. His wife is...not there for him. There was a time I felt bad for her, but she's caused a lot of her own private mess as well and ... well, complicated.
My father died just before his 49th birthday - excessive drinking (not this bad), poisons in the blood stream, stomach failure, major organ failure. This brother is just over 47. This strikes me as significant. If it's time for him to go, maybe that's as well. Maybe it's a release from whatever private pain started him down this path. But then it'll be too late to try to fix it. If he wants to, which is ... also complicated.
So...any prayers you can offer. Thanks folks.
). Whatever family support he can get will help, too, so he's lucky to have you concerned and supportive of him, no matter his faults.
