Book Reviews Please, God, Not Two; This Killer Called Alcoholism

Reader’s Choice Book Reviews “RCBR”

This review is from: Please, God, Not Two (Paperback)

Author Alberta H. Sequeira has seen her share of tragedy caused by alcoholism. Twenty years after transforming her kind, loving husband into an angry, abusive drunk, the alcohol demon would return; this time claiming Sequeira’s youngest daughter, Lori Cahill.

The author’s heartfelt memoir Someone Stop this Merry-Go-Round: An Alcoholic Family in Crisis (June 2009) describes a marriage to an alcoholic–an existence filled with sadness and fear. Richard Lopes would ignore his addiction until death from cirrhosis of the liver in 1985. Now this emotional sequel Please God, Not Two: This Killer Called Alcoholism details the tortured life of a mother coming to terms with the fact her daughter is following in her father’s deadly footsteps.

Please God, Not Two begins with Alberta and her two daughters in the days after their father’s death. Alberta was juggling three jobs to make ends meet and her oldest daughter Debbie would marry her high school sweetheart. Lori’s struggles had her skipping school and drinking, and after graduation she moved in with her boyfriend. Terminating a pregnancy would add to Lori’s pain and to the distance between Lori and her mother.

Lori’s life would see a series of joyful highs and desperate lows over the next several years with marriage, the birth of her two children and successful careers at the Lopes family business. Her husband’s career change brought financial problems, straining a marriage that would soon end in divorce. Her husband did not maintain child support, leaving Lori barely able to provide basic food and clothing for her children. Her struggles with alcohol would become more apparent during her second marriage. Lori and her new husband enjoyed frequent parties with friends and family and Alberta couldn’t help noticing how drinking to excess was routine at these events. While another marriage crumbled, Lori, stressed with health issues, would make the first of three stays at an alcohol rehab clinic.

As a parent, I couldn’t imagine the distress of witnessing one of my children battle this addiction. Sequeira did so knowing full well what was waiting for her daughter if Lori’s rehab stints were unsuccessful. Any parent would feel guilt for not noticing the signs of alcoholism sooner and Sequeira fully admits her mistakes and regrets. Creating this memoir could not have been easy and I commend Sequeira’s courage for writing so soon after Lori’s death.

Please God, Not Two works as a stand-alone, however I recommend you read it and the prequel together to obtain full effect of this poignant story. This is a candid look into alcoholism. Sequeira makes no excuses for herself or for her daughter. She writes with the best of intentions–to help others struggling to save a family member caught in the relentless grip of this disease. The information is well presented and Sequeira’s experiences are described with a desperate honesty that will have you reaching for tissues in many scenes.

Highly recommended by William R. Potter for Reader’s Choice Book Reviews

Please, God, Not Two

Death by Alcoholism By Cheryl A. Heinrichs “Allbooks Review” (Canada) 

In a previous memoir, Someone Stop this Merry-go-Round, the author Alberta Sequeira bared her own tragic personal life. Married to Richie Lopes, with two daughters, Debbie and Lori, she thought they would have a good life. Expecting the ups and downs of family life, Alberta was not prepared to cope with her husband’s increasing use of alcohol. She could no longer recognize the man she had married and spent much time trying to shield her daughters of the impending doom.

He was not a `happy drunk’ as he continued the path to alcoholism. In his own denial he became abusive, his decisions erratic, lost his business and pride but more importantly, his family. The only important thing in his life was finding a drink. Alberta and Richie divorced, both moving on to a new life, but Richie did not stop drinking until he died. He was forty-five years of age.
Sixteen days after the memoir was published, their daughter, Lori Cahill died a horrific death. Diagnosis: Alcoholism. She was only thirty-nine years old.
Delving deep into her own well of pain and confusion, Alberta writes with point blank detail. Emotions, including her own doubts, guilt, regrets and hindsight are written from her heart.
Lori had been seven years old when her father passed away. It seemed as if she was getting on with life, school, job and aspirations of nursing. She had gone through the usual trials of a teen with peer pressure. At eighteen years old she moved in with a boyfriend, only to return home after a few months, pregnant. What seemed to be the best solution at the time would haunt both Alberta and Lori for the rest of their lives. Lori married, had two children but alcoholism is considered hereditary and had already taken hold of her. There were several upheavals in her life as the demon took control, her children moved in with sister, Debbie and her family.
Lori attempted rehab three times. Perhaps it was too late or she was not emotionally strong enough, she was unable to conquer the disease. Her physical and mental capabilities plummeted. Alberta vividly describes what the scene really looks like behind those hospital curtains. You are brought so far into this story you feel part of the family in the waiting room, hoping for a thread of good news.
Alberta’s Faith and family support especially from her husband, Al gives her the strength to not only write to educate readers but she has become a public speaker about this terrifying, deadly disease. Alberta, her immediate and extended family believe that communication, knowledge about the disease, persistency and love are essential in the fight against alcoholism. Many family photographs are included. Alberta and husband Al Sequeira live in Rochester, MA
I will not lead you astray; this is an enlightening but emotionally a difficult read, a reality for far too many people. Highly Recommended.

A Powerful Emotional Story-Highly Recommended!