Who I'm Paying Tribute To
First of all my mother who died from complications due to smoking for 53 years and could not quit. On Thanksgiving day, 2010 my sister-in-law died from lung/brain cancer. She had been smoke-free for over 15 years but had been a heavy smoker at one time. Just recently another sister-in-law has been diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. She too has been a smoker for many years.
His/Her Story
My mother died at the age of 68 years young after smoking for 53 years. She tried but just could not quit, ever. My older brother and I both had health issues at birth due to her smoking while pregnant but women were just ignorant to the dangers of it in the 1950's.
As she lay in the ICU unit after cardiac-related surgery, I, a smoker at that time, had to go out into a secluded area to have my cigarette. There I saw patients with holes in their throats STILL smoking. It terrified me, but not enough to make me quit. My step-father, diagnosed with emphysema and having had three heart attacks, quit years before my mother died and he outlived her for another 11 years.
I miss her today and always will. If only I could go back and help her and myself get off of these killers. Hindsight, I guess. Looks like I am going to lose two sister-in-laws to cancer and their illnesses are smoking-related. One is gone and the other has been recently diagnosed.
Advice
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE quit if you have not already done so and spread the word to everyone. I am making it my mission for the rest of my life to help at least one smoker become free of the nicodemon. God bless and take care.
