‘The missing fourth Laddu’: A doctor’s emotional post about alcohol-related tragedy goes viral

Team Udayavani, May 2, 2023, 5:39 PM IST

Credit: Twitter / @theliverdr

A poignant post by a doctor on social media about the tragic consequences of alcohol use disorder has gone viral, sparking widespread discussion about the impact of addiction on individuals and families.

In the post, which has been shared widely on Twitter, the doctor, who goes by the username @theliverdr, describes the case of a patient named Paul who suffered from alcohol use disorder for more than 15 years. Despite receiving treatment and support, Paul ultimately succumbed to the disease and passed away, leaving behind a devastated wife and two young children.

The doctor, who specializes in liver disease, describes the toll that alcohol-related illnesses take on individuals and their loved ones, and speaks candidly about the emotional toll that working with such cases can have on healthcare professionals.

Alcohol use disorder is a serious public health issue, affecting millions of people worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, alcohol consumption is a leading risk factor for disease, injury, and premature death, and is responsible for more than 3 million deaths annually.

In the post, the doctor expresses his sadness over never receiving the fourth Laddu, a traditional Indian sweet, from Paul. The sweet was given to him by the wife and daughters of the patient on his birthday, a few months after his death. The doctor reflects on the pain of losing a loved one to addiction and the toll it takes on families.

“But all I could think about, was that fourth Laddu. The one I never received from Paul, because he died. A woman lost her husband, two bright young children lost their father. All three lives broken and a void that can never be filled,” the doctor writes.

“I never advise anyone to even consume alcohol occasionally even if they are in the pink of their health. I don’t advise alcohol in moderation. I don’t, because I have post-traumatic stress disorder from seeing families get shattered into a million little pieces due to alcohol,” the doctor writes.

The post has resonated with many social media users, with some sharing their own stories of loss and heartbreak due to alcohol addiction. Others have praised the doctor for his compassionate and empathetic approach to treating patients and their families.

Read TheLiverDoc’s post here:

The 4th Laddu.

These 3 laddus were given to me by the wife of my patient on his birthday, a few weeks before.

She was now happy and the family was doing good for themselves.

My patient Paul, suffered from alcohol use disorder. He had been drinking for more than 15y. Three… pic.twitter.com/wLjMyuXhNZ

— TheLiverDoc (@theliverdr) May 1, 2023