Kim Richards reveals that she almost died from alcoholism

Kim Richards has openly struggled with getting treatment for alcoholism on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills after years of hidden alcohol abuse. That’s a tough battle for anyone to fight, and it’s put a strain on her relationship with sister Kyle Richards, who outed her sister as an alcoholic to the public in the finale of the first season. After several years of denials, Kim decided to check herself into rehab in 2011, and has been focused on her sobriety ever since. January 2012 she sat down for an interview with Andy Cohen to admit that she’s an alcoholic.

During the Season 3 Reunion Part 2, the frightening reality of Kim’s alcohol abuse came to light. After Brandi Glanville claimed she thought that maybe Kim Richards’ sister Kyle “would be happy if she failed” at sobriety, Kim seemed completely crushed at the very thought.

It was an extremely hurtful thing to say, and Kim pointed out that she didn’t think she would survive without everyone rooting for her, especially her sister Kyle. Earlier in the reunion Kim had said that she was fighting for her life, which can lead one to believe that she’s been dealing with the very real and scary health consequences of long-term drinking.

“I don’t have it in me to fail again. This is my last shot. I think it if relapsed again, I don’t think I would make it this time” she tearfully revealed. “It would be my last round. I don’t think my body can take it. This is my last shot because really I almost didn’t make it this last time, so the thought of failing this last time terrifies me.”

As she was baring some of her worst fears about relapsing, Kyle switched couches so she could sit near her sister and comfort her.

According to WebMD chronic heavy drinking can cause liver damage, pancreatitis, nerve damage, cardiovascular diseases, and it increase your chances of developing nearly every type of cancer, especially mouth, esophagus, liver, breast, and colorectal.

Kyle admitted that she is sometimes blind about the way some of the thing she says effects Kim, but it’s obvious that she only wants her sister Kim to be healthy and happy. Kim has been very strong throughout all of this, especially since she is living it so publicly, but she’s no doubt helping a great many people who can identify her as she fights to keep herself healthy.