Donna's Quit Smoking Story

Smoke Free since March 5, 2003

I smoked an occasional cigarette for a couple years before I became a nicotine addict. I was between 17 and 18 years old when this addiction got its hooks in me. I thought I was "cool" at the time. I had no idea I had begun what would turn into years of addiction enslavement.

I had several failed attempts at kicking cigarettes out of my life in the past. I could quit smoking but couldn't seem to stay quit. My longest quit lasted three weeks. Each time, I felt weak and disgusted with myself. Nic tricked me for years into thinking I couldn't quit.

Along with having chronic bronchitis and my daughters begging me to quit, there were two things that happened which scared me terribly. What happened to these special ladies in my life made me want to quit smoking more than ever. I didn't want to wait till it was too late. I was scared I couldn't quit. I was more scared to keep smoking!

First, my husband's lovely aunt, his mom's baby sister, who was full of energy, always on the go, and bursting with life, got lung cancer! She had one lung removed. She was turned from a vital, fun loving, active woman, to one who was out of breath, weaker, and carrying an oxygen tank everywhere she went.

Second, a long-time friend, who was two years younger than me, also got cancer. She kept having pain in her stomach and right side. Her doctor diagnosed and treated her for gastrointestinal problems. This went on for months, with him prescribing different medications until the pain got so bad, Terry went to the Urgent Care one evening. The doctor she saw thought she should have tests. After having numerous tests, they found out she had stomach, intestinal, breast and liver cancer. She had a mammogram three months before, without the cancer being found!

Within two months, we were attending my dear friend's funeral! I couldn't believe we would never see Terry again, never talk to her, never hear her laugh, share secrets and all the things we do and share with special friends.

I didn't want to put my daughters, husband, family, and friends through what I watched Terry's son, husband, family and friends, go through! I also knew I didn't want to die! I knew how bad it hurt to lose Terry! It wasn't the first time a smoking related illness took the life of someone I loved. I lost two uncles who smoked. It was the first time someone as young as Terry died because of smoking. It brought home to me what a huge chance I was taking of having a smoking related illness that could take me away from my children. I've often wondered why it took my friend's premature death to get it to sink in. It really could happen to me.

A good friend's husband had been quit over 2 years. I went to their home to ask Dan how he quit smoking. He told me he went by The Farmer's Almanac. I can't remember now what the sign was suppose to be in but it's the same sign for weaning a baby - animal or human. Some of you will know about the almanac, others probably have never heard of it. If you haven't, it's a guide people use for planting gardens, flowers, farming, etc.

It was the end of February. I asked him to check for the right sign in March. It was suppose to be the 17th, 18th, and 19th of March with more days later in the month. I came home and told Jerry I was going to quit smoking on the 17th of March. I also asked him if he wanted to quit with me. He told me several times after his aunt's operation, he wanted to quit.

I couldn't wait till the 17th of March. After we ate dinner on March 5th, I took my pack of cigarettes to Jerry. I told him I was quitting right now. He said he wasn't ready. I wanted him to quit with me, but I knew it had to be his decision or he wouldn't stick with it.