So sorry to hear that, my condolences. By coincidence, I've had to go down to London very recently because the doctors thought we were likely to lose my brother. It was touch and go for a few days but he seems to be slowly recovering. Exactly the same thing. Touchwood he will continue to improve, but it's unlikely he'll ever live completely independently again, and I doubt we'll ever have the pleasure of seeing him perform again (he plays fretless bass, beautifully). Booze really does kill if it gets hold of you :-( Sorry to butt in on your thread, but I hope you'll forgive me, I don't want to see anyone else go through this, it's heartbreaking.
My sincere condolences to you and your family. I do have some understanding of this and if I may butt in on your thread too, I would reiterate what both you and julianthegypsy have said. I lost my wife to alcoholism four an a half years ago, she was only 36 (I was 17 years older than her). I learnt a lot over over that period but the biggest lesson was booze is no respecter of persons, it can affect young, old, strong or weak, unemployed, road sweepers, supermarket workers to doctors, judges, company directors or any one else you care to name. Many people I speak to say it won't happen to me but sadly it can!! I'm not here to preach against drinking as I enjoy a drink myself but I think it's important to do so in moderation.
Sorry to hear that Bacon; my dad died while I was in the south of France in '09. Nursy and I had ridden down on the bike, stopping at Oradour-sur-Glane (the memorial village) en route and I remember sitting by the Med with a beer, watching a Spanish theatre group performing The Blues Brothers and thinking the old man would be interested to hear about Oradour... got back to the mobile home to find a missed call from my bro to say dad had popped off. He was 68 and had his first heart attack at 51 after smoking for 37 years. He stopped in an instant but it was still a miracle he kept going for another 17 years.
I'm 50 and I've never smoked a ciggy in my life... something else will get me though, I'm sure of it