nash, I am so sorry to hear this. Please consider Al-Anon to learn ways to take care of yourself. What you learn there will help you through the months ahead. And I completely agree with the thoughts provided by Ygrec23 and ECHOES.

While end stage cirrhosis would qualify your brother for a liver transplant, if he won't stop drinking, he won't be put on the waiting list. 6 to 12 months of sobriety is a requirement. There are not enough donors to provide livers to all who need a new one, and therefore livers are given to those who are most likely to live a lifestyle that promotes success after transplant. If he is really at end stage cirrhosis, his liver will likely fail before he has enough sobriety to qualify. Hard and sad to say, but you need to accept and allow him to live out his final days in the way he chooses.

It is unfortunate, but we are going to start hearing more and more about people with Hep C and cirrhosis. Vets from Viet Nam era, needle drug abusers and people who had blood transfusions before universal screening in 1992 are most at risk. Hep C can be in your body for many, many years before you develop symptoms. By that time, liver cirrhosis may have already set in.

My hub has Hep C. He tried a variety of treatments, but his particular Hep C genotype didn't respond. His liver started to deteriorate and a liver transplant became his only option. He did quit drinking and is still sober today - but sat on the waiting list for 5 years before he finally got a liver transplant.

I will keep you in my thoughts and wish the best for you and your nephew.