george best?

[the>one]

great footballer.....but i'm bored to death with his health issues......its like we've heard it all before.....if he pulls through this time we'll be reading the same thing in another few months.....

[january_bug]

You could just put your fingers in your ears and shout "la la la" like some ABers do when other people try to make a valid point in a debate! LOL

Seriously though, I quite agree, having a reporter live outside the hospital and devoting over 5 minutes to it as the first story on the C4 7pm news last week, was just excessive. He was (so I'm told) an amazing footballer, but I'm sure the coverage is disproportionate.

Oh and it's not LIKE we're heard it all before, we HAVE heard it all before... again and again and again and again..... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

[boobesque]

if we feel like this, imagine how the family who lost a loved one feel, to see what he is doing to himself after being given a second chance and blowing it all over again, after promising he wouldt abuse the new liver

[forgetfultel]

I heard that when he was told he had only hours to live, his first question was - "Is one of them happy hour?"

[NiceCupOfTea]

How awful to be so addicted to something. My dad is exactly the same - he's in hospital too. He fell down the stairs drunk, couldn't get up, refused help and asked the people who had come over to help him to go to the off licence and buy him a bottle of wine! Good job he ended up in hospital as it turns out he's done his liver in (again and again and again.........)

[coyn]

I used to work in a detox department and was told by doctors who are specialists in treating people for alcoholism and drug addiction that it is easier to cure a heroin addict than an alcoholic.

Alcoholism is a vile disease that we should be sympathetic about, it is very easy to criticise if you have no understanding of the problem. It's a bit like criticising someone for being gay.

[Mortie]

interesting - on the radio this week one of his mates said that he'd never blamed anyone but himself for his problems. I think I agree with that - just media blowing it out on his behalf perhaps??? Totally agree with Coyn - and the problem is that the services do not help the family until and if the person admits that there is a problem - so - and I'm talking non celeb - the family disintegrates whilst the 'patient' carries on. Totally wrong - I mean if a person has a broken leg - A & E see to it; if someone had an overdose theyd pump you out, but an alcoholic who destroys all around him - tough!

[shaneystar]

I think it's sad.He was a great footballer in his day.Fame and fortune went to his head.The media are like vultures.
Alcoholism is a disease and all I can say is there but for the grace of God go you or I.

[coyn]

Mortie, very few people have any understanding of this problem, and let me stress straight away I'm no expert I was just a porter, but people talk to you when you are kind to them and I always was, and the story was ALWAYS the same.

Let me explain as briefly as I can, the system we have goes like this.

Person decides in a lucid moment to get help, he/she goes to their GP who refers them to the detox unit BY LETTER.

3/4 weeks later patient gets letter through post that says IF you want to go ahead with this, ring the above tel no.

Patient rings no. and is told you are now on the waiting list, and is told in no uncertain terms to KEEP DRINKING because to stop unsupervised is VERY dangerous.

Patient waits for usually 4/6 weeks (depending where you live) But IF is not there to receive phone call, his place is given to someone else. (You may have gone for a loaf of bread)

It is not unusual for people to have to wait 2 months or more to even get in the unit during which they are told to KEEP drinking.

The system isn't good to say the least.

[lynneuk74]

Am fed up with people saying that alcoholism is an illness.

It is true that a person can have an 'addictive' personality and that the urge is there to drink but it is a total cop out to just say that they can't help themselves.

It is just giving them carte blanche to carry on drinking.

They have to accept some responsibility - just like with any illness.

If I have cancer and refuse to follow treatment then I am stupid. The same with alcoholism.

Alcoholics need to realise that whilst they may have the urge to drink - NOBODY is forcing them to do so. It is about willpower and the desire to recover.

As with all addicts, until the person decides they WANT to stop drinking, they won't.

George Best has had every opportunity but continues to throw all he is given back in the faces of those who care for him.

[the>one]

while i have great sympathy with the plight of alcoholism.....in this case i'm trying to say i'm fed up of the constant diet of george bests health being covered in the media....

[january_bug]

boobesque - the family won't know anything about it as donation is entirely anonymous. It's a very good job too, as I'm sure they would be feeling as sad and disappointed as you suggested.

As for those who have criticised people who try to get help for alcoholism and don't immediately succeed, I say don't criticise a man til you've walked a mile in his shoes. You have no idea what it's like being Geroge Best. Disapprove, fine, but I personally find it unfair to be so scathing with little more information at your finger tips than that revealed in the tabloids.

[madein1978]

I find it ridculous all this about George Best, lets not beat about the bush, the guy is an alkie. When he was given a 'new' liver he should have canned the drink (no pun intended!), he should have gone to the priory and got himself straight, but he didn't, he continued to get inebriated and as a result has nearly killed himself, well hell mend him, someone else could have had that liver and survived. Other people have been alcoholics and have managed to come off and stay off, I know its hard, my dad is a recovering alcoholic (7 Months and counting!), but hes staying off it. George Best had a lot to lose by drinking again after his transplant, he knew it, but still he insisted on drinking, sorry, I got no sympathy for him.

[kempie]

"...the family won't know anything about it as donation is entirely anonymous."

The transplant recipient and the donor family only remain unknown to each other by mutual consent.
How much should be read into the allegation by Alex Best that George Best chose to remain anonymous by ticking that particular box on the acceptance form prior to transplantation?

[january_bug]

Thanks for quoting my post back to me - it was hardly difficult to remember what I'd said. Couldn't you just paraphrase instead please?

I suggest that one can read into it, that he wanted to be anonymous. He said the week before this latest health crisis that he would give up everything he's had (money, women, lifestyle etc etc) just to be anonymous, and I believe him. Perhaps he was worried that the family would try to make money from it. Perhaps he simply chose to exercise his right to anonymity. Kempie - would you prefer it that people were forced to give up their anonymity so that the family of the donor could check up on the receiver? Would you only allow your organs to be given to someone who promise to report monthly to your family? Would you be fussy about who's life you saved? What exactly were the donor's family going to do? Ask for it back!?!

[kempie]

Whoa!

january_bug - I have not quoted your post back to you. If that were my intent I would have used your ident to draw your attention to it.

I was merely attempting to raise for discussion, by any and all contributors of this thread, the notion that an alcoholic who truly is thankful for the chance at a 'new' life afforded by a donor organ might like to proffer those feelings of gratitude to the donor family in person.

I am unaware as to whether the donor family waived their anonimity or not, however Alex Best alleges that George Best did not waive his, making the point moot.

IMHO this smacks of "couldn't care less". Agree or disagree?

[maggie01]

If you go to page 2, a similar thread was posted there. I know because I posted it. Lets wait and see if he kicks the habbit this time. Perhaps this has given him the shock he needed to come clean.

[january_bug]

Kempie - who WERE you quoting then? Sorry I got conufsed.

[kempie]

january_bug - I was using a phrase from your post as a step off point for the argument I wished to expand and explore.

Nothing within my post was directed at you explicitly.

It was not an attempt at dissection of your statement, I was merely adding to it.

Nothing within the post was an expression of my opinion and yet you managed to project numerous opinions, with the implication that they were mine, in your response, all of which I refute. Perhaps a case of reading between the lines.

I prefer to quote rather than paraphrase because the first is attributable to you, the second is attributable to me and since I had no intentions of projecting my perception upon the statement but rather to use it as illustration, I copied it verbatim.

[the>one]

cor kempie.....you and jan actually think about what you write .......unlike me ;-)