Hi All,

I am ashamed to admit that I am a smoker. At 13 it was the "cool" thing to do. I quit when I was pregnant with my daughter 23 years ago and picked up the habit again when she was about one. I think I quit again for about 5 months sometime between then and now, only to pick it up again. On Feb. 3 of 2006 I quit for 6 months only to once again pick up that cigarette during a stressful time. (kicking self) I've been smoking ever since. This Tuesday I will be having surgery on my spine to remove a herniated disc at the C-4, C-5 level. Once I'm released from the hospital I will be spending a week at my moms house where smoking is not allowed. My plan is to get over the "hump" while I'm at my moms and have all the cigarettes out of my house so when I return home they will not be available. I wont be allowed to drive so going around the corner to get a pack is not an option.

Cigarettes are by FAR the most addictive thing I have ever put in my body. I really want to kick this thing, especially with all that is going on with my Dad. He NEVER smoked a cigarette or took a drink in his entire life. Why he got this terrible disease is beyond me. I've many times thought that it should be me going through this and not him.

Chelle, you are right....how selfish it is to smoke around your children as they have no choice in breathing in the second hand smoke. I always smoked outside and never in the car with my daughter.

The last time I quit, it really wasnt that bad. After 72 hours the nicotine is out of your system, after that any withdrawls you have are purely psychological.

I'd like to challenge anyone out here who is a smoker to please kick the habit with me this Tuesday, August 14th. We could start a topic under the Friends section and help each other through it. If you dont want to do it for yourself, give it some thought and do it for the ones you love. I'm doing this one in honor of my Dad.

I'll be out of pocket from about Tuesday through Sunday, but I hope to see that others have accepted my challenge when I return.

Joy

CG to Father, 75 yo with SCC of the mouth; upper maxillectomy and neck diss. performed on 5/23/07. Father also suffered heart attack during surgery and now has CHF. RT complete on 8/28/07. Cancer back 11/27/07. RT and Chemo to start on 12/17. Cancer back 6/17/08. Finally at rest 08/08/08.