Both my grandparents died from smoking related disease---Cancer and COPD. Both my parents died from smoking related disease—Cancer, Heart Disease and COPD. I watched both my parents die slow deaths because of tobacco. My Mom smoked cigarettes when she was pregnant with me back in 1971. I was force fed nicotine before I was born. I grew up in a house where smoked filled the house every morning when I woke up as a baby, as a child and as a teenager. I was force fed second hand smoke my whole life. I swore I would never smoke—I hated it! I do not blame my grandparents or my parents for their deaths/or the second hand smoke—they were great people and great human beings---I blame the lies of BIG tobacco. This industry has the power to get nicotine into the system of the unborn and to force-feed second hand smoke to children. This industry killed and deceived in the United States for centuries and now they are attempting to do this in the rest of the world—tobacco use remains at around 20% in the U.S. but is increasing around the world.
I did not directly use tobacco until I was almost 21 years old in college. This time I force fed it to myself—It was my POOR choice. Here I am at age 39---I smoked for over 16 years and dipped Copenhagen pouches for over 2 years. On April 28th of this year, I decided to rid myself of tobacco/nicotine for the first time since I was in my mother’s womb! I also decided that the cycle of big tobacco killing my family would stop with me! I will not pass down this evil tradition and addiction to my three sons. My kids will not use because they will not see me using and I will educate them on the dangers of tobacco/nicotine. I hope and pray this cycle STOPS with ME.
I know for 100% certainty that I will never use tobacco/nicotine AGAIN—PERIOD. My certainty is based on a simple premise—I will make my promise to not use tobacco/nicotine daily and I have added a second promise daily---to fight big tobacco by helping others to quit. It is time to pay big tobacco back—by quitting and convincing others to quit. I dedicate my Quit to the memory of my grandparents and my parents. I dedicate my fight with big tobacco to my three sons. Bring on the fight mother fuckers!!!!
I want to thank KTC and my quit brothers/sister in August. I found this site on day 42 and it has made ALL the difference—this site educated me and saved my quit. Also, I want to thank my wife who was my only support before I found KTC—she is strongest person I have ever known!
Lance
