My friend quit smoking 6 years ago

[Jonny5]

My friend quit smoking 6 years ago...

...because he died aged 48 of throat cancer

just before he died he told me that he didn't want to die, he was angry that the doctors didn't spot it soon enough, he was sad that he was leaving his wife and their only son.

he told me to enjoy my life and it turned out that those were his last words to me.

his widow and I eventually managed to quit, but not after embarrasingly smoking together at his funeral.

It's a true story, and I think about this often.

scare tactics don't work? this ain't no monster in the closet story, this is real life.

His name was Robert, and he was my friend, and I miss him, and his death was totally avoidable.

Enjoy your life....

....live it smart, stay smoke free my dear friends

[Soberjulie]

Oh :(

I have the same friend.

Same story.

Only she died last year and her name was Christie. And I miss her. :(

[Tink]

oh gosh jonny so sorry for your friend thats so sad, im glad you and his wife quit so no one else suffers in your families due to this awful addiction

 

at the time my dad died of lung cancer I was just sad, so incredibly sad but now I have quit I feel a little angry at him as as you have said it is avoidable :(

[Jonny5]

oh gosh jonny so sorry for your friend thats so sad, im glad you and his wife quit so no one else suffers in your families due to this awful addiction

 

at the time my dad died of lung cancer I was just sad, so incredibly sad but now I have quit I feel a little angry at him as as you have said it is avoidable :(

 

please don't stay angry at him, we have all been the trapped smoker, thinking we couldn't quit.

 

We were the lucky ones who learned where to find the right help and education.

 

every smoker that I help to free themselves makes me feel like I'm fighting back against what stole my friend.

 

here's a big hug coming your way Tracey :-) x

[Jonny5]

Oh :(

I have the same friend.

Same story.

Only she died last year and her name was Christie. And I miss her. :(

 

I'm sorry for your loss Julie :-(

 

I hate what smoking does to us :-(

[Tink]

please don't stay angry at him, we have all been the trapped smoker, thinking we couldn't quit.

 

We were the lucky ones who learned where to find the right help and education.

 

every smoker that I help to free themselves makes me feel like I'm fighting back against what stole my friend.

 

here's a big hug coming your way Tracey :-) x

very true thank you jonny x

[juanrmartino]

Im sorry for you loss Johnny

[Amy]

Sorry for your loss Johnny hard way to quit smoking.  My Aunt passed July 4 2012 that was her quit day lung cancer-

 

The hurt eventually does get less with time but you never forget or stop loving.

[Leanna]

So sorry to hear about your friend. :( Broke my heart that he expressed how he truly felt to you before dying. This is why I quit, in hopes that I won't put people through the same kind of suffering. I've seen people I love suffer and it's heartbreaking. 

 

So scary, but so real and unfortunate. This thing happens all the time, yet it doesn't usually phase smokers. They turn a blind eye, thinking, "Oh well, I'm fine." Not true.

[Rain Forest]

Jonny, very powerful post, and so true... I hate this addiction with a passion.  I am sorry for your friend and millions of others that have been down the same road, the road that comes to a quick, painful end :(

[Jenny]

I'm sorry you lost your friend.  It's amazing how we are able to justify the addiction.  We just stick our heads in the sand and think it won't be us.  Until it is.

[action]

That is truly sad Johnny. 48 is so (too) young.

[Aine]

The nature of an addiction is always the same--an addict is one who has lost the freedom of choice. The ability to truly choose comes only when the substance is out of your body. In order to get to that point, however, support is generally needed to supply those words that you cannot give or cannot believe yet. Words like "you can do this because I did" and " this really will be better if you just don't smoke today".

 

The hardest thing I have ever had to do is to learn how to forgive/let go of an addict.

 

Is it logical to continue to use a substance that is life threatening to you and those around you that you love?

 

No. Addicts do it anyway.