Monday, August 16, 2010

Am I My Brother's Keeper - yes

My brother, who I have written about before, is not doing well. he is currently in the hospital and will be moved to a nursing home soon.

It is quite apparent that he can no longer take care of himself. The Hepitis C that is destroying his liver is not only effecting him physically but mentally. I am sad.

I talked with him tonight and he sounded like a drunk. He slurred his words and much of the time did not make mush sense. But he understood that I love him and have his best interests at heart.

The doctor says he may have a year to live. If he goes to a place where he will be taken care of, that is a possibility.

It's amazing the things we do to ourselves with no thought of the long term consequences. We drink too much, we smoke, we lie out in the sun to get tan, we drive too fast. In his case, add in drug use and you have the whole cocktail that made his liver fail. I don't know that it would have changed his decisions if he had known he would only live to be 69. Probably not. At 20 years old, that seems like a long way away.

As much as he has driven me crazy at times over the past few years, the thought of not having him around at all is difficult. You kind of expect your siblings to live a long time and keep you company in your old age. This is not going to happen with my brother. I cry.

I pray for him. I pray for me.

This is one of the hardest things I have ever had to deal with.

2 comments:

  1. My heart goes out to you and to your brother. It is definitely one of those things that if only he would've seen this all coming....

    I'm praying for you and that he finds peace where he is.

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  2. oh suz, i am so sorry. i understand your pain. my younger brother is 45 and a drunk. i cannot believe he is still alive. another 20 years and he might not be. i am the only one in the family who has anything to do with him. i just love him right where he's at.
    god bless you, i will lift you up....
    xo

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