Important SSH Grad Story -- Schick Happens

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Date Posted: 13:16:49 12/05/06 Tue
Author: Grad
Subject: Important SSH Grad Story

I feel the need to relay another Grads story because it is an important one, and he has told it several times at the meetings. So, hopefully I will get all the info. straight and he will not mind my telling it. (For purposes of privacy I will call him G for grad.)

G has had a liver transplant. He needed one because of excessive alcohol abuse. G was put on a liver transplant list which he says is not easy to get onto, especially if ones liver has been destroyed because of alcohol abuse. G made the important decision of wanting to live and so, went into the SSH program hoping this would help him regain, at least, that part of his life. The unfortunate part of this story is that he was actually behind someone from HI on the list. That person, upon getting the call for the transplant, hopped a plane over here to get a new liver. On the way over, on the plane, that person decided to do the 'one last hurrah!' and drank to excess. When that person reached the hospital drunk, they refused that person the liver transplant, sent that person home on a plane, and he died.
Fortunately, G. was ready and able to recieve the new liver. G says when he went home from SSH, unlike most who graduate, he was actually more ill than going in because his liver was still 'sick'.
G has had the implant now for appx. 1-1/2 yrs. He says he is on copious amounts of medication to help maintain the new liver, but, has no desire to drink alcohol. He maintains that his 'higher power' is the person that died in order that he can have that persons healthy liver. And knowing that, he is actually taking care of that liver and he never wants to mistreat it.
His knowledge of this is invaluable, and he warns that if one is having liver or pancreatic problems that someone is too close for comfort to being in the position he found himself in where pre-mature death was a real possibility.
Eventually our bodies just can't fend off the poison we ingest. If avoiding this is preventable then stopping any and all drug and/or alcohol abuse needs to happen.
G's story just makes the imminent more real and apparent.

I would like to add that the few grads who have told us about experiences with relapses said that it didn't take years, or even months (one person says it only took one week!) to arrive back at where they were, when they were using previous to entering the SSH program. The important thing for those who have relapsed is that they came right back to SSH for help, and with new insight into how to stay sober. One of my friends so wisely said to me, "I'm never going to be ashamed to ask for help if I need it." Fortunately, SSH provides that kind of atmosphere. No shame in relapsing, just go back for help.

Hopefully we will not need that, and can learn from those who have relapsed but had the courage to come back again. Another wise grad, who had relapsed, advises to not become complacent, even after years of not drinking, or not having cravings. It's never ok to drink again. No first drink and no relapse.

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