Bassman

My goodness, a lot of you were young. I didn’t start till I was about 23. My chain smoking mom had already died from cancer when she was about 46 and I started about 2 years later….in 2011 I had an operation to remove cancer from my large and small intestines and I smoked on the way home from the operation….. But the big question of why did I start???????? To celebrate my divorce………..Bassman

Good thing is the shame part is in the past……the positive is in front of you right there for the taking…..Bassman

Thanks Gary and congrats on your upcoming 10 years…..a great achievement to be proud of….(keep on rocking)………Bassman

I see you just recently quit SD2026…that in itself is an amazing accomplishment….keep it going and stay active, I commend you. Just FYI, the money I saved by quitting smoking was the last check I needed to retire from working and I’ve been retired for 12 years…..Bassman

Thanks much Denaliblues….as it is I am a guitarist of 60 years and still rocking…….

Thanks Doreen, you’ve been a help and quitting helper through the years. Keep waving your smoke free flag.…….Bassman

‘‘Tis much QuittingGirl. 2.7 years is also a great accomplishment to be proud of. Keep it going and enjoy your smoke free life……Bassman

Thanks much Johnny5, I am doing well and proud to be 12 years without even a single puff of anything….. of course I have had 2 hip replacements, gallbladder removed, and a plate put on my big toe since I quit. The great thing is I’m still alive for my operations……the alternate of being dead from my cancer from smoking is not an option. You and others have been a big inspiration for me too. On to the next 12. Thanks again…….

Kudos Kdad…..keep up the great job you’re doing making your life better. Keep the updates coming in with those non smoking days building up!!!!!!!! Bassman

Congrats Jane on quitting, your life has changed for the better. You will have many positives changes now that will continue to enhance your life. You will now have new first changes going on all which are positive. I used Tic Tacks to edge off the cravings and they did great. Keep in mind that each day you don’t smoke is your victory against the addiction you have given up. Keep the days going into weeks, months, and in to your longer life you have given yourself. Bassman

I give up my 435,120 I smoked for 37 years and the 123,480 I haven’t smoked since quitting to Jillar. I will miss her as well as all others who have passed due to this deadly disease of smoking.

Thanks much Doreen, great to hear from you too. While yes it is sad family news, I hope it can help someone else to not get to this point…..Bassman

You got it Kris…..each have our own reason or reasons. Many give their own reason for not quitting is they don’t care about their own health but no one starts out smoking for the sole reason to destroy their health, it’s a common misconception for a reason to continue smoking……it’s due to the addiction.

Thanks jillar, my daughter is aware of the help available but says she needs to do this on her own. I will support her on that though this support community would be a good asset for her. I hope she’ll change her mind if needed…..Bassman

The end of last October my son in law’s dad had a seizure while my daughter and her husband Derek were visiting him and Derek’s mom. They called an ambulance and after several hours, Derek’s dad was diagnosed with stage 4 bone cancer. After a few days of test, it was determined he had quite a few bones with cracks and the doctor could not understand why he hadn’t complained let alone been able to walk around and go to work. Derek’s dad’s response was that he didn’t want to take any attention away from his mother who’s life was deteriorating. Derek’s dad was a compulsive chain smoker. I know every time I saw him he spent more time outside smoking than indoor not smoking. They set up the time frame to start his chemotherapy and radiation. It was during this time Derek’s grandmother was placed in hospice. It was no big surprise because she had been deteriorating for some time. Two days after his grandmother was in hospice, Derek’s dad’s had the seizure and was rushed to the hospital with his wife, Derek and my daughter following the ambulance. By the end of the day, the doctor said there was no hope for him and he was place in hospice two rooms down from his mother. Two days later Derek’s grand mother passed away. The next day my daughter called and said if I wanted to see Derek’s dad before he passes, I had better come now so my wife and I went to the hospice for a last visit. He was sleeping. Derek’s mother, his sister and older brother were there. We visited for an hour and left, three hours later Derek’s dad passed away, only two days after his grandmother. It was a terrible time for their family. The next day Derek’s 42 year old brother went to the hospital for stomach pains and by the next day he was diagnosed with stage 4 rectal cancer and they also found it in his liver, he too was a smoker. Needless to say it put the family in triple shock. Loosing a grandmother, Dad/ husband within two days and now a son/brother with cancer in his body. Just now my daughter texted me reminding me it was 10 years ago today I started my chemotherapy from my cancer, and Derek’s brother started his chemotherapy today………..which is his birthday. The day Derek’s dad passed away, my daughter quit her smoking, she had been smoking for 17 years, and her husband Derek quit his tobacco chewing. They have both been nicotine free about two months now. It hasn’t been easy for my daughter but she knows she can’t smoke again. To help with her quit smoking emotions, I got her a tee shirt for Christmas that says, “I’m only talking to my dog today”…She loved it. Last year my dad passed away at 88 years old, he too was a smoker too but quit when he was 40. My mother passed away at age 47 from cancer while she was a smoker….. Next week I will be 8 years smoke free after 37 years of smoking. It has been a blessing since I quit, though I didn’t quit till two years after my cancer operation. I have made a difference in my future as well as my wife’s and daughters future by quitting….. My daughter’s two girls are so happy their mom and Derek quit smoking/chewing, we can make a difference and change our own future as well as others…… Let 2022 be the year that made a difference in your and others lives………Bassman