Dear Dr. Roach: Our son passed away at 38 years old this past December with an end-stage alcohol-related liver disease. He had been sober for four years prior to this, but blood tests revealed that he had started drinking again. These same tests showed copper level readings in the 500s and liver deterioration in accordance with someone twice his age, which indicated the possibility of him having Wilson's disease (a rare genetic liver disease).
He was in need of an immediate liver transplant, but this surgery wasn't possible due to multiple varices, a large mass in his stomach, a failing kidney, and the fact that he would possibly bleed out from a surgery.
He had blood in his vomit and stools for at least two days (maybe more?) before going to the hospital. He hadn't been feeling well fo