ALCOHOLISM ROBBED US
Daughter hopes sharing her story will help others dealing with addicts
A DAUGHTER has described the heartbreaking final moments with her mum as she lay dying in a hospital bed after a decades-long battle with alcoholism.
Donna Murray’s mother, Ruby, 59, passed away two weeks ago at Forth Valley Royal Hospital. The pair, from Grangemouth, had not been on speaking terms for over a decade due to Ruby’s drinking.
However, with Ruby on her deathbed, Donna visited her in hospital to share a final agonising conversation just hours before her death.
Donna, a volunteer with charity the Kersiebank Community Project, has shared her experience with her mother’s alcoholism to help others and explained: “At the age of 12, I ended up very quickly having to become the mum and look after my sister Michelle, because our mum wasn’t able to. My life spiralled out of control.”
Despite the fact the pair hadn’t spoken for over 10 years, when Donna found out her mum was dying, she knew it was the last chance to speak to her.
“I went to say my goodbyes and it was heartbreaking. My mum was in tears and all she could do was say sorry. That’s all she kept saying.
“The impact alcoholism had on her became clear when I went to clear out her flat after her death.
“I could not believe what I walked in to. There was a sofa, a pillow, a bedsheet and a bottle of vodka. That’s all my mum had.
“There was no gas or electricity. The floorboards were all stained too where she had been being sick and coughing up blood.”
Donna said: “I’m speaking out to raise awareness of addiction.
“There’s always a reason why someone turns to drink and drugs and it’s important to get to the cause of that.”