SHE DRINKS

Sixty year old “John” suffers from brain cancer. He is confused and very forgetful. He was a systems analyst by trade and gets frustrated because he knows he can’t remember things. John lives with his wife, “Janet”. They both are admitted alcoholics. When we initially opened them to hospice two weeks ago, they both proudly proclaimed that they each had been sober for over one month.

Janet and John have a son who lives an hour away. He visits as often as he can. He is an accountant and can work from home, which makes his schedule flexible to be able to visit his parents when needed. Another son died four years ago from an accidental drug overdose while in jail. Janet easily tears up when talking about the loss of her son.

Six weeks ago, Janet fell, while drunk, and fractured her left shoulder. She has had several surgeries on her shoulder since then as she had not been keeping her arm immobile as directed by her physician. Due to the fracture, she is unable to care for John.

John has declined to where he is bed bound and not eating. He has stopped talking and it isn’t clear how much he understands. Likely he has just a short time to live. Fortunately, the couple have the funds to hire twenty-four hour attendant care. In addition, due to her own limitations, Janet has hired someone to help her with cooking, cleaning, household chores and transportation.

Yesterday, I went out to do a routine visit at 9:30 in the morning. I found Janet so drunk she could not even walk. She was stumbling and the caretaker was helping her to the kitchen table. Janet and I sat in the kitchen while she drank a half pint of tequila with a beer chaser. She said she started to drink again three days ago. She said she couldn’t be strong any longer. She admitted to drinking one pint of tequila and six beers daily. Her son called during the visit and she told him that she had started to drink again. Fortunately he is now aware.

I followed up with a call to her today and again found her drunk. She said she started to drink just today. She did not remember our visit yesterday and I reminded her that yesterday she said she had been drinking for three days. She then quickly said, “I will stop, I will stop.” I wanted to update her son, but she told me not to call him as he has enough stress.

I will follow this case closely to monitor safety for her and her husband. Fortunately hospice has a tremendous follow up bereavement program. She will need help for a long time to come and hopefully we can help her with the support she needs.



SHE DRINKS


She is crying.
She is laughing.
She is drinking.
He is dying.

She swallows her tequila
with a beer chaser
from the moment she awakens
until bedtime has come.

She slurs her words.
She stumbles and falls.
She can’t face his dying,
so she drinks.

She says she can’t remain strong.
She no longer has it in her.
Old habits die hard
so she takes another swig.

He’s in good hands
with the care she has hired.
They attend to her too
while she drinks.

She is crying.
She is laughing.
She is drinking.
He is dying.