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Mark is normally very private about his health, and is uncomfortable sharing information about it, but he knows how important is to update family and friends of his serious diagnosis. I took Mark to the emergency room on Thursday Nov. 6, and he ended up being admitted to the Critical Care Unit at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND because his liver and kidneys were shutting down. After numerous tests and procedures over three days, we were given heartbreaking news. The condition of his liver was dire, and his kidneys were shutting down. If he didn’t have dialysis soon, he would only have three weeks to live. If he chose dialysis, this timeframe could be extended to three months, but there were risks involved and dialysis is hard on the liver. Mark chose to fight and try CCRT, a 24 hour dialysis given in the ICU, and it is much gentler on the body. I know Mark is uncomfortable sharing why this happened, but it’s so important that we do. Mark is a loving father and husband. His family and friends all enjoy his company and fun sense of humor. He is loved by so many people. He was just a normal person like everyone, but he suffered from a disease that affects far to many, and that is addiction to alcohol. I’m only going to briefly mention this because this did not define him. It’s a disease just like diabetes, heart disease, and multiple sclerosis. If you don’t treat these diseases, it can lead to worsening health problems or even death. What makes alcoholism different is that a major symptom is denial, or not seeking treatment. It is a type of mental illness because it affects the brain, and my son and I also have suffered from depression and anxiety. I’m saying all this because like any other mental illness, there is a stigma that should not exist making people ashamed, and this can prevent addressing it. If this can help any one person suffering from addiction, I feel the need to address it. I’ve never known anyone personally that died from alcoholism, and at his age, it’s so alarming how damaged his body became. This diagnosis was a shock and devastating. I knew his liver would probably be affected but not this severe and never guessed other organs could be failing including his sight. He has suffered from darkened vision where he can’t see at all at night, and this is due to his failing liver which led Mark to seeking help. I just want people to know that there is no shame in this because it is a disease backed by scientific evidence , and it happens to so many good people. Addiction not only harms the people affected, but also everyone that loves that person, and I believe we need to make researching effective treatments for this a priority. I was told by an ICU doctor and a palliative care nurse that they see this all the time, and that means so many people are dying from this insidious disease. Ok now that I’ve had my rant, we need to focus on what is happening with Mark as we try to make the most of these precious last days.
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