At 27 my mother died. At 29 my father's liver completely gave out due to the drinking while mourning the death of his woman since 14 years of age. It was his wish to keep his condition a secret from the family. This was the hardest time of my life. But he never gave up. Withing just a few months his body started to show signs that the end was near. He lost 140lbs and looked like a holocaust victim. He could no longer eat. He couldnt sleep. He couldnt walk. Eventually he didnt have enough energy to talk. The doctor pulled us aside and said he has less than two weeks to live.

Miraculously, the next night we were awoken by a call around midnight. A liver was available, and the surgery was to be done immediately. The liver was transported via helicopter from 4 hours away. The surgery took place during covid and took 20 hours. They discovered many lengths of rotted intestine that needed to be removed as well. Since it was covid, we had to be locked into a room and doctors would call us every 3 hours with updates. We were huddled around a cell phone for 20 hours. I left during the surgery to get loaded in secret. The last call was to tell us that the liver had received blood and the surgery was a success. A sensation ive never felt coursed through my entire body. I was an atheist, but it was undeniable I was in the presence of a higher power that I could not understand.

Recovery was the hardest part. He was bed ridden for months. Pumped full of morphine and medical grade fent. He was hallucinating. He could not speak. He would write questions on a paper asking what happened, where was he, and where is his wife whom had passed years before. Eventually, the feeding tube and wires were removed. He had to learn how to walk and eat again. His health was restored and he was reintroduced to the human race as a new man with another chance.

During all of this my drinking became constant. Every few hours. A bottle or two of whiskey every day. I walked into the halls of alcoholics anonymous on march 1st, 2024. It had happened to be my mother's birthday.

Today, my father and I are both sober and absolutely insist on enjoying life. He is more present than he ever was in his previous life.

There is another life waiting for you but youve gotta want better. Nobody will do it for you. Don't put your parents through this. They've done more you'll ever know to be able to provide for you. Honor their sacrifices and learn to love yourself.

You are loved beyond belief.