Addiction

My mom's half-brother was taken off life support yesterday. Her brother is 38 years old and has struggled with alcohol addiction for probably over half his life. My grandparents have done all they could to help their youngest get sober. My uncle's love for the bottle has cost him his liver. He has been moved to hospice, so the waiting begins for the end.

I wish that one could go back in time to tell this young man that his life would be over before the age of 40 when he took that first drink. A young man with so much potential and good to offer, who wasted his life by drinking it away.

My grandparents shouldn't have to deal with burying any of their children, but this will be their second son (out of five) that have died way before their time. (Their other son did not die due to drug addiction. He had epilepsy.) Last year, they had to bury their grandson who died in Iraq.

2008 has not been good. I hope that 2009 proves to be a much better year for my loved ones. I pray that my uncle, 5 years my junior, will soon be at peace.

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I'm closing comments on this for now. Your thoughts and prayers are, of course, appreciated.