ML, it takes at least a year of sobriety before someone can "tell their story." He is really new to AA and to sobriety. He deserves a lot of praise for trying to stay sober now. If it turns out it's too late, then that's on him. But it's better not to berate him for not stopping sooner. Trust me, he's doing that to himself--that's why he's trying so hard now, to try to beat the odds. And it's entirely possible. I'm quite sure I wouldn't be sitting here today if I had continued drinking. It's fortunate that I had stopped drinking 7 years prior to my hep C diagnosis. Had I still been drinking, would I have stopped upon diagnosis? I don't know. I do know that I went to a meeting and shared my diagnosis. I found out that there were others there with a hep C diagnosis. I went through the grieving stage very quickly (denial, anger, bargaining with God, depression, and finally acceptance.) My involvement with meetings helped so much with that.
I was rather shy and reserved when I first came into AA. At some point during a discussion meeting, he is going to hear something that is going to hit home with him and he will want to comment, share, ask a question. That's the beginning of sharing at meetings. It doesn't just all come out in one fell swoop, but little by little. We are told to devote as much time to sobriety as we did to drinking. So if he feels he wants to go twice a day, good for him!
Does he have a sponsor yet? A sponsor is a guide and someone to discuss things with when he's not comfortable speaking about it in a meeting. Some things are better not discussed in meetings, such as loss of sex drive, family tensions, etc.
Does he (Andy, right?) have the Big Book yet? He also needs a meditation book. Nightlight for Men is a good one. They're all good.
Check his pressure again before giving him a salty snack. It seems to be coming up, though the diastolic (lower) number is still low.
Hugs,
Connie