A Case Study of Surviving Severe Alcoholic Liver Disease
Mike's story shows us that there's hope even when alcoholic liver disease moves into end-stage cirrhosis.
Some of you may know that I lost my father to end-stage alcoholic liver disease (ALD) which moved into decompensating cirrhosis. His death was quick and heartbreaking, but it gave me a unique perspective on the world of alcoholism. From this experience, I developed a strong desire to educate others about ALD. This disease is a quiet killer that slowly sneaks up and takes people down before they know what’s happening.
However, there are opportunities for prevention and treatment and there are also success stories too. A few years ago, I met Mike through one of my articles on ALD and he shared his remarkable story with me. Mike, a 65-year-old retired construction worker, is one of the few people who survived ALD and end-stage cirrhosis through a successful liver transplant.
Below is Mike’s story which can teach us a lot
about the nature of alcohol and how it affects our health, particularly the liver. Most people who drink heavily have reservations about reaching out for help or asking their doctors for information. This is likely due to stigma as well as the denial inherent in addictions. Hopefully, articles like this can help others who may be curious about this condition either for themselves or someone they love.