Monica, pay close attention.
Mike quit drinking in 2003 when he had alcoholic cirrhosis (and Hep C too). He had one of those Hep C treatments wiht the shots and pills for 6 months that didn't work and made him really really ill (like a chemotherapy with craziness).
He stayed off the booze a year. Scared straight. His Hepatologist at the time told him that though he had some scaring, it was not that bad and he'd have another 30 years before anything happened. Well, he was still sober when she made that pronouncement.
A beer or two, a glass of wine at a wedding, and he was off the wagon and drinking as much if not more than ever.
In 2009 he started down hill big time and by 2010 he was near death.
He quit drinking again, got into AA, got evaluated for transplant and had his transplant in 5/2011. He is doing well now.
He certainly didn't get 30 years out of a partially scarred liver...he blew the rest of that liver in 6 years!
The trick would have been to STAY SOBER.
Sometimes I even worry now whether he will stay SOBER forever. GASP. He stopped his meetings and doesn't call his sponsor any more. That really worries me.
Though he knows I have a line in the sand. He goes back to drinking after all this we have been through and he is going to be looking for somewhere else to LIVE his shortened life.
Best,
Carol