It was a little over three years ago that my step-daughter Breanna was engaged to young man named Mikey. Breanna was 20 years old and Mikey was 22 at the time. Mikey, an insulin dependent diabetic since childhood, had a very young and goofy side to him. That boy had a heart of gold and just loved to laugh. Excellent qualities in my book. He also had a very forgetful side to him. I can't tell you how many times they would be over visiting when he realized he needed to take his insulin, but forgot to bring it with him. We would have to rush him to his home about 30 miles away to pick it up. I remember the night he came to ask my husband for our daugthers hand in marriage quite well. After a very tense dinner, the two of them stepped outside for "a talk". My husband, Breanna's father, looked Mikey in the eyes and said "Son, that girl is my everything. I think you are too young to get married, but I can't change your heart. My greatest concern is that you barely remember to take care of yourself, how can I trust you will take care of her too?" After a lengthy discussion and a few tears, they came back in and Mikey had that "YES!!!" kind of smile on his face.
After a couple months went by, Breanna felt in her heart that even though she loved him dearly, she wasn't ready to get married at the age of twenty and called off their engagement. A few weeks later, my husband and I had gone out to dinner one night when we got a call from our youngest daughter Amanda that we needed to come home right away because Breanna had just found out that Mikey had died. Our first thought was that she was referring to Mikey, Breanna's cousin. There was just so much confusion at that moment it was hard to put all the pieces together. When we got to our house we found Breanna surrounded by her mom and aunt, who were teary-eyed but calm, which didn't make sense to me since Mikey was her aunts son. Breanna fell into her dad's arms and fell apart. Then her mom started filling us in on everything.
Mikey, heartbroken and depressed, went out binge drinking with a group of friends. After some serious drinking, his friends dropped him off at a house he was keeping an eye on for some other friends. Left alone, no one to make sure he took his insulin to counter all the alcohol in his system, Mikey slipped in to a diabetic coma. His body was found a couple days later. Another young life ended way too soon because of alcohol. Just as my life changed forever the day my best friend died in another alcohol related incident, Breanna and all of the people in Mikey's life will never be the same.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month. If you or someone you know is drinking too much or occasionally binge drinks, be brave. Speak up. Let them know you care and you are there for them.
Warning Signs of Alcohol Abuse
If you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, you may have a problem with alcohol:
- Do you drink alone when you feel angry or sad?
- Does your drinking ever make you late for work?
- Does your drinking worry your family?
- Do you ever drink after telling yourself you won't?
- Do you ever forget what you did while drinking?
- Do you get headaches or have a hangover after drinking? Source: How to Cut Down on Your Drinking
(http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/handout.htm)
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to health problems, including alcohol poisoning, hangovers, and an increased risk of heart disease. This April, during Alcohol Awareness Month, Kaiser Permanente encourages you to take this time to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of alcohol abuse.
My biggest issue is that you hardly remember to deal with yourself, how can I believe in you will manage her too?" After a long conversation and a few tears
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