The other side of Smoken Hell

I guess my beginning is not any different, started at age 13, and was hooked for life. I did try about every way their is to quit, but never could get to that point. My Grandfather and Grandmother on my Dads side of the family died of cancer from smoking.  My Grandfather was just 42 years old and died before I was ever born.  My Father was in the Air Force and survived three wars, just to retire and die at age 51 from smoking. I promised him on his deathbed I would quit, but never did.  Mom died a year later of secondhand smoke, she had lung cancer, but sad thing is she never smoked.  I never could quit, my husband died of cancer at 37, do not know if it was related to smoking, but he did smoke also.  I raised my children myself,  still smoking.  The end of 1999 I was sick alot and my lungs collapsed three different times, after the first time I quit for about a month, and started again, after the second time I did quit, but by this time I am permently on oxygen.  The third time my lung collapsed I had to go into surgery, they fixed the lung so it cannot collapse.

I went on working for about three years after all this but I would get pneumonia every time I turned around.  I had to take off work too much, and it cost about $340.00 a week just for the oxygen to be able to work.  I got to the point I could no longer work.  My whole life is changed, I was always an active person, now I have trouble doing anything.  I have robed myself and family, and my Grandchildren out of the what should be the best years in my life.  Today the fifty year olds are like thirty and can do just about anything they want as long as you keep your health.  Smoking will rob you of your health, it is not "if" it is "when", you will be hating what you have done to yourself.  Smoking is hard to quit, but after a few days you will notice the change, you can do it!, You must, for yourself and your family.

I put the money I would of spent on smoking in savings, and in a couple of years I had enough money to buy an older Motor home.  Work towards something you want, that helps with the drive to quit. Good luck, you can do it!  Love yourself don't smoke, pass it forward, maybe your children won't start!