My brother began drinking as a young teen-ager. He is now 43.

After a number of failed attempts at rehab, two years ago this month, he nearly died. 22 days in the ICU with a number of rounds of dialysis, and three additional weeks in hospital, he was told: A) only about 10% of patients who are admitted in his original condition make it out of hospital alive; and B) he can never drink alcohol again as it WILL kill him.

He has chronic pancreatitis now, and has been in and out of hospital multiple times. He is in foreclosure, hasn't worked since June of this year, and is now in hospital again, although swears (like usual) that he hasn't been drinking, and has been sober about sixty days.

I guess I just had to unload....my parents are a mess over it, and I really have no where else to turn where this story and its effect on those around my brother can really be understood.

Thanks, Kim