I have never smoked, never had the desire and can't stand to be around it. My mother started smoking when she went to nursing school. She developed a 3-4 pack a day habit for 30+ years. It was so bad that I used to get teased in elementary school because I smelled like smoke all the time. My mom was a fine nurse but she developed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and had to retire early. Later she developed emphysema and lung cancer. Five years ago she underwent surgery to remove part of one lung. The good news was that they got all of the cancer and most of the emphysema. Eventually she needed an oxygen tank and a Little Rascal (motorized cart) to get around. A month after the surgery she started smoking again. One of the saddest things I ever saw was her removing the cannula so that she could smoke. I always thought that she would set her self on fire because she never turned the machine off before she lit up. My mother died 8 months ago tomorrow after getting pneumonia. I was 9 months pregnant with her first grandchild. She didn't get the chance to see him in this life, but hopefully, she will in the next.
Please stop smoking if not for yourself but for those who love you.
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