While watching the show today I thought of my big sister. Alcoholism runs in my family, it's genetic. My father and several siblings were or are alcoholics. I understand it goes back to Aunts and Uncles on both my father and mother's side.
I worry a lot about mu big sister, but I am on the West Coast and she is in the East. Most of my siblings live there as well and have accepted her alcoholism and say there is nothing they can do, it's the way she wants to be and they can't talk to her about it. She has the typical alcoholic mentality I saw on your show today. She has been an alcoholic most of her life, she is now 62. She lives with one of our older sisters who puts up with her alcoholism. If it weren't for our older sister, she would be out on the street.
My big sister has 2 children. Her son turned out to be an alcoholic and drug abuser and has been to prison several times. Her daughter has raised her 5 children and is also raising her brothers son. She has tried to help her mother over the years, but has had her hands full caring for her own family and now caring for her nephew whom she got legal custody of. She still sees her mother on occassion and said her own children do not know their grandparents very well. My big sister doesn't even remember all her grandchildrens names.
My big sister was abused by her x-husband (who is also an alcoholic) over and over, which I saw first hand when I was young, about 15 yrs old, and babysat for them. My neice and I hid in the bedroom while the father was beating the living daylights out of her one night. I tried to call my Mom, but feared he'd catch me on the phone and beat me up too. I tried to get to my nephew who's bedroom was right next to my sisters and bother-in-laws, but again I feared detection. I recently found out that my older brother beat my big sisters x-husband up after he found out. I guess my Mom told him what happened that night. I even saw the son constantly being verbally abused by my brother-in-law. I know he beat the kids too, because my neice told me he did.
I am making the effort again to contact my big sister and see if she will go into rehab. I sent my older sister, that she lives with, the webpage of the La Hacienda in Texas. I'm going to start the ball rolling again in hopes of saving my big sister. I called my big sister on her birthday to wish her well. She called me back crying and told me I am the only one who ever calls her to wish her happy birthday other than my older sister she lives with. We cried together over this when she told me. Ofcourse she was at a bar and I could tell she was drunk already. I think we made a connection though and she might listen to me, finally. I will try.
I have lost 2 brothers and a sister and do not want to lose any more too soon. My oldest brother has had MS most of his life and is around 69. I recently found out one of my other brothers whom I was closer to growing up recently had open heart surgery and a month later had cancer surgery where they removed his right lung. He will be receiving chemo this month. He has a 39% chance to live another 5 years. If the chemo works it should raise it to about 80%. He just turned 60. I could potentially lose 3 more siblings within the next 5 years.
When I saw this lady on your show today I saw my big sister. I don't want to see her this way anymore. She use to be so vibrant, pretty and happy. Her x-husband and her became alcoholics together. She has had many opportunities in the past to stop drinking with the help of the family, but refused. I hope she accepts our help now before it's too late.
(Original Air Date: 02/18/08) Living with an alcoholic parent is one of the most difficult and heart-wrenching experiences a child can go through. Heather, 28, and Alexandra, 21, say their mother, Joey, is a pathetic drunk, and if she doesn’t get clean once and for all, they will walk away from her forever. Joey says she had her first drink at 7 and was drinking heavily every weekend by 15. She’s now 54 and about to lose everything she holds dear. Former guest and drug addict Joani began documenting Joey’s addiction a month ago. Faced with home video footage and testimonials from her family members, will Joey have the courage to take a step toward sobriety, or will she cave in to her addiction like she did after her previous stints in rehab? Share your thoughts, join the discussion.
