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MOM HAD CANCER

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2039

My mom had cancer too. She smoked most of her life, but she died of colon cancer. Cancer is cancer, though. That is part of my reason to quit. I promised her before she died that I would quit smoking. That was this January just past, and its taken me many tries, but I will NEVER give up. My sister and I were there when she died, and I never want to go through anything like that in my life again. Its a very sobering experience. Smoke free is the only way to be!!!!! Jan [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/16/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] -1 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 0 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $0 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 0 [B]Seconds:[/B] 0

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1127

[color=Red][/color][b]Thank you Patches for sharing this story,[/b] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/1/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 196 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,903 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �578.2 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 26 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 32 [B]Seconds:[/B] 12

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 34

My mother lost weight so quickly. She eventually had to use a walker to get around the house. The chemo and meds made her so sick she didn't have the strength to walk on her own. She was 50 years old and started to look way older than that. Most of the time my mother would be in her bed crying. Again, I buried any feelings and focused on myself. One time I went to visit her and we tried to talk but she kept getting up so my dad would walk her to her bathroom to throw up. Most days after that, she was knelt over the toilet. She was always throwing up. They said it was the chemo and meds.

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 34

I remember hearing my mom had cancer. I was 19 and didn't think nor know that much about it. I was pretty na�ve and I was also pretty selfish back then..... She had beautiful long black hair down to her butt. It was straight hair and black as night. I had my own place then and used to visit her and loved to brush her hair. She loved it too. She always wanted someone to play with her hair and brush it and stuff. After the chemo started I saw changes in her. One day I went to visit her and it had been months since I seen her last. She had a beanie on her head. I thought it looked strange to see her with a beanie. My little brother, 7 years old at the time, called her to help him with something in the kitchen. She bent over to read something to him. Her head was itchy so she lifted her beanie to scratch her head. It was a shocking sight. There were hairs of different sizes on her head, and only a few of them. The rest of her scalp was so shiny and smooth looking. I could tell it wasn't a shave job. I could tell it just all fell out. I couldn't ask her if she wanted me to brush her hair. I said nothing and just sat down in the living room........

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 34

During the beginning of my quit I began to write a story about what it was like to witness my mother die of cancer. I wrote this so that it could serve as a memory to me of why I quit smoking. I thought it might be a good idea to share it with you. Its actually quite long and I will paste small parts of the story that I think may help you remember why... I'm hoping that this will help some of you struggling out there.

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 34

I remember a red dot next to her name on the white board. I asked the doctor what the red dot meant. He said it means that if she stops breathing we have to let her go and cannot try to save her...... .....Unfortunately those days in the hospital I didn't enjoy my mom......Her breath smelled like death. I will never forget the smell of death on her as if she was rotting from the inside out. It was so strong. We kept her lips dry with ice. On the fifth day of the hospital my final sibling finally arrived.......

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 34

Unfortunately I smoked for many years after. It was when my child turned 5 that I realized she was old enough to remember me as a smoker and I didnt want her to watch me die of cancer. Also, I had to lead by example. My daughter agreed to and succeeded in quitting thumb sucking and me cig smoking and we counted the days together.:) Although the story is sad, I beleive that our past and our experiences can make us stronger and wiser people if used as a learning tool. This is my quit tool.

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 989

This is so powerful. Thank you. I detect some guilt about the way you were with her. Don't be. She knew you were only 19. Nineteen year olds are just separating, so it is a really hard time to lose your Mom. I am greatful that I won't lose my mom until I am older and there are no unresolved issues. How proud your Mom would be of you now. And also she would be honored, I bet, to know that her story might help someone else. Hugs. Carole [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/15/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 547 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 13,676 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1914.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 76 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 44 [B]Seconds:[/B] 26

Quit Meter

$802,777.50

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 6350 Hours: 20

Minutes: 37 Seconds: 17

Life Gained
Quit Meter

45873

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

1,146,825

Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1073

I remember this Patches...thank you for sharing it again! ~huggs~ [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/17/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 576 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 32,258 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $4032 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 56 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 42 [B]Seconds:[/B] 51

Quit Meter

$55,852.50

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 988 Hours: 6

Minutes: 17 Seconds: 4

Life Gained
Quit Meter

7447

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

186,175

Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 12049

Patches, Thank your for sharing. Was this your realization moment? Our thoughts are with you and by sharing we can all learn and perhaps push forward another day :) Keep Strong, Josie _____________________ The SSC Support Team.

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MOM HAD CANCER