What made me give up smoking after being diagnosed at the age of 45, with early stage emphysema, was remembering that my mother died at the age of 55, from the same illness. She started smoking more after her diagnosis at 47, and I remember that 2 weeks before she died, she started turning a green blue color, like meat that had gone off. Also she couldn't walk up the road without being breathless. Remembering these things made me give up immediately, sheer fear.

After smoking for forty years and smoking up to 2 to 2 1/2 packs a day, I quit. I had to use Chantix as nothing worked, my cravings were too strong. I"ve been cigarette free now for 7 great years but the effects of cigarettes will be with me forever. I have what was classified as "early stages" of emphysema but I think it"s worse than that. I can always finish a sentence without having to stop midsentence to catch my breath. I can"t walk up a hill without feeling like I can"t get enough air. I can"t seem to take a big enough breath! I was a long distance runner in school and looking back… what a waste of money and my health for a stupid habit!

I was told I had no choice, quit smoking or die. So I quit cold turkey, because I love life, and my family.

I quit smoking “cold turkey” one year ago to be baptized in my church.