MY DAD DIED ALONE AT HOME.
Five years later, I still fucking hate that sentence.
Alcohol was part of his story. I believe he was showing early signs of alcohol-related cognitive decline before he died.
I didn’t understand it then.
Fuck, I wish I had.
Because nobody prepares you for loving someone whose drinking has changed them.
The worry. The anger. The guilt.
Missing someone who’s still alive.
Feeling like the world’s shittiest daughter because you couldn’t fix them.
And here’s the uncomfortable truth.
You can love someone with your entire fucking heart and STILL be exhausted by their choices.
You can be angry AND grieve them.
You can wish you’d done more while knowing you couldn’t control their life.
Trust me. It’s a crowded fucking room. 💀
Then life took a turn.
Fashion Art & Design graduate. Entrepreneur. Mother of two. Life spectacularly imploded.
I took a ten-week summer job in elderly care.
Over a year later, I’m a vårdbiträde — Healthcare Assistant.
And sometimes I care for people with alcohol-related cognitive difficulties.
Some are younger than you’d imagine.
And suddenly I’m not just the woman in green scrubs.
I’m somebody’s daughter again.
Wondering what I missed.
What I’d say if I had one more conversation.
I can’t go back. I can’t change how his story ended.
But I can stop pretending alcohol only hurts the person drinking.
FAMILIES CARRY IT TOO.
Sometimes long after that person is gone.
Maybe that’s why dignity matters so fucking much to me.
Because behind every struggle is a human being. And sometimes a family still trying to understand what happened.
If you’ve loved someone with an alcohol problem, you know how complicated that love can be.
And if you’re still carrying guilt, I hope you find some compassion for yourself too. ❤️
Extra RainbOH!w Sparkles ✨🦄🌈
Good Vibes OH!nly. 💖
#alcoholawareness #elderlycare #vårdbiträde #dementiacare #humanity
Original Publication & Authorship
Original author: Angelina Mi Lajki | milajki®
Originally published: 1:18 PM October 8 2026
Original Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/Angelinamilajki/posts/pfbid0YGrnykrwNLpiCDZ2TFY8Qyq75YXxp7gmzua26Lbnyq6pq7cNSVCMTmiNZq9N9srel
Original Instagram post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DeNg5CfoFEB/
This article preserves the original first-person writing by Angelina Mi Lajki, published under milajki®. The personal experiences, observations, and creative expression are the author's own.
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