It was about 3:30 A.M. when the phone rang; half asleep, Gene answered it, and in my mental fog I heard him say, “Damn it, Doc, you’re the doctor ……”   He hung up and lay down again. I asked who and what was that? He said that was Doc and he called to ask what he should do, he’s vomiting blood.

This woke us both up and we decided Gene would drive to Houston about 38 miles from our home in Rosenberg, TX and take Doc to Ben Taub. Upon arrival he had lost so much blood that he had almost zero blood pressure.

Doc previously had been a resident of the ARC in Houston, had left the center and had been teaching nurses about addictions at a well known hospital. He had been a licensed physician and had lost his credentials and spent some time in the federal penitentiary because of prescription drug abuse.

Doc had come to the Salvation Army after a long drinking episode. He had been clean and sober for quite some time after leaving prison but had been in a very severe car crash, breaking many bones and some internal injuries. He got hooked on pills and alcohol again.

Gene, being the work therapy supervisor, had put Doc in charge of the center’s dishes. He actually was proud of that position and stated he was “the best Bubble dancer, the center had ever seen.”

While at the center, Doc stayed an active member of The Trudger’s A.A. group. His wisdom, knowledge and kindness were appreciated by all. After several months of sobriety, he had taken a teaching position and left the center. Doc, had an apartment in Houston and did well for some time. But now, he was in trouble and needed help.

After his stay at Ben Taub, he once again was admitted to the Houston ARC. This time he stayed only a short time. It was only a few weeks after he left; he was found dead in his bathroom.

Doc, while well educated, and a professional still could not save himself from the devastation of alcoholism and addiction. He was one of those wonderful Fallible Human Beings who came into my life and helped me to see that no one among us is perfect.

We all know an F.H. B., tell us about yours. How did they help shape you into who you are today? Please share with us on our blog.