a sad day

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

A week ago yesterday my boyfriend Layne died. He was diagnosed with

advanced hep C only this past August. He had been ill and in pain

for a long time, but the VA, which he relied upon for his health

care, never tested him until then.

Two weeks ago today, after a long weekend of calls to the local VA

hospital in which his mom was told not to bring him in, she finally

had the ambulance carry him there. That same evening they sent him

home with antibiotics. He was swollen, had a terrible headache, and

had had about 102 temp for days. The next day back at his mom's he

felt no better. Through a series of blessings, that seem to have

come nonstop for the past week or so, he got an ambulance to take him

to a private hospital near where we live. They admitted him that

night. Over the next five days he rapidly detriorated and passed

away Monday, Nov 21.

During those days I was able to be at his side, hold his hand, wipe

his brow and tell him how much I love him. His mom and plenty of

friends were also able to come to his side. Layne had been in pain

for a long time. Pain we didn't really understand until we finally

saw him at peace. As one friend said at the visitation " That look of

worry was gone from his face. "

I met Layne in the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous a little over

three years ago. We got sober together, became " best buds " and then

came to love each other deeply. I am incredibly grateful that he

died sober and in these past three years we both made friends who

love us dearly. I don't know what I'd be doing right now if it

weren't for this incrdeible fellowship and the love we both found

there.

Layne was a Viet Nam vet.

I thank this group for being here over the last couple of months. I

can't say I have come to understand this disease. I still have

plenty of friends with it who all have been given conflicting advice

about how to or weather to pursue treatment. None of that has been

cleared up by this group but I have enjoyed the lively discussion and

supportive words, especially from and Irish. God bless you

all.

birdie