Actually it was my friend who was abusive and toxic. Although very successful he drank, took drugs and found women with whom to play besides his wife. He was inconsiderate and wouldn't tell his wife when he would be home late, or not at all. He was my friend, not his wife, but I told him he was wrong and that he should put aside money for his daughter's education because I expected that (1) he would kill himself with alcohol and drugs; or (2) he would lose all his money. He did both. First he lost a very successful architectural firm. then, as he continued to drink and do drugs, he became increasing abusive to his wife and daughter. Soon his money was running out and he begged his "friends" to buy his interests in various buildings that he had taken a piece of as part of his fee. All except one, bought his interests out for a dime on the dollar. Only one friend refused, saying that it would be the only income he would have for the rest of his life. Soon he left town. then we heard that he had, somehow, gotten a liver transplant in spite of his alcoholism and drug use. I was not totally surprised, as I knew that he was a great con man, and that he would con some hospital, or some doctor into giving him a liver in spite of the fact, that as an alcoholic/drug addict he was proscribed from getting a transplant. After the transplant he continued his drugs and alcohol use and he died soon after. He did put aside a little money and amazingly his daughter is now a OBGYN! That in spite of coming out of a very disturbed,, disfunctional family household.

I didn't do much personally, but my parents took in a friend of mine who's mother was extremely abusive and who's father was just plain neglectful and let the abuse happen. My parents never asked for anything in return, just that she graduate high school and to stay out of trouble, which she did. We had known her since she was 5 or 6 years old, so she basically became my sister and we still consider her part of the family to this day.

I was her friend, I listened, I hugged and when she made the decision to leave I helped her move.