Too Late

[Mike.n.Atlanta]

I know she didn’t want it to happen, her body consuming itself to advance those conquering cells. She like all of us thought that we had all the time in the world. My 45 year old sister June was diagnosed with cancer in August 2009. She was dead the following April. I spent some time with her as did my other 7 brothers & sisters. We all pushed her around in the wheelchair while she smoked. A couple still smoke but I had a six year quit going so I didn’t feel threatened by her smoking. I did feel that it didn’t matter when she got to a point that the suffering could surely not worsen. Her breathing was already labored & joints aching so bad she could hardly get in the chair to go outside. But she perservered & smoked till the end. I’m sure if we had denied her smokes she would have been angry at us. She was already bitter at her station in life. She was next to youngest & there were 7 older that should have gone before. I couldn’t argue with that cause I may have felt the same way.

Our Dad nicknamed her “Gabby” because June had always been a talker but she would only listen now. There were no smiles no sparkle in her eyes. I think she lost them both the day she got the news. They did all the standard treatments trying to slow it down but to no avail. It really was too late. We watched as the weight fell away & the skin tightened over her small frame.  A skeleton with gray parchment skin. I could have laid her beside all those that I have seen suffer from this affliction & unless I had personally placed them there I would not have been able to tell them apart. In the end we’re all the same.

We all end up the same unless we take control. Until we realize that we do have the strength to quit. Until we realize that urges aren’t painful & that they are not a command. Until we realize that we don’t HAVE to smoke. Until we realize there’s nothing to fear. Until we resolve to make a sincere commitment that will change our lives & promise ourselves that we will protect it at any cost. It takes all of these things & more.

 I wasn’t there the day she quit smoking but I know it was a sweet release. I miss June…her children miss her too.

M n @

[SarahP]

Thank you Mike. Compelling words. I hope everyone who is on the fence about quitting has a chance to read this. 

[JonesCarpeDiem]

its a heartwrenching tale that happens too often.

[froguelady]

Thank you for a blog that brought tears.  I agree with Sarah and hope everyone reads this blog if they are just considering quitting, maybe then they will make the right choice.

[Ex_Nancy]

I am one of 7 children, and my sister Barb was next to the youngest and also died of cancer from smoking at the ripe old age of 45. That was a few years ago when we thought only "OLD" people died from smoking and that we had all the time in the world. Oh WOE. I miss her too.

[luliper]

I had to sit with my thoughts after reading this and feel overcome with a sense of sadness at how cancer wrecks the human body and often the spirit as well. And also devastates those left behind. I have to think of my friend Angel who really is an angel. She had been sick for a long time before the cancer and never complained always had a smile for you and was kind and compassionalte to her friends family and the people she served in her work.

It occurrs to me that the tobacco companies are atill alive and going strong....how can they get away with this...there should be more outrage than there is about this problem.

All we can do is CHOOSE not to smoke, that is probably the best way to tackle this problem from every angle. I am so grateful to be 26 days smoke free. NOPE for me!

So sorry about those of you who have suffered these tragic losses....     

[Breakinchains]

Proof positive we all quit in the end, one way or another. 

If you are new to the site and you think someone is being too hard on you,

THIS IS WHY. 

We are trying to help you save your life before it is too late.

My sympathies Mike

[Thomas3.20.2010]

God Bless June! Through you, even today, she is still saving lives! As long as you keep her story alive, some good can come out of her experience and yours! Only by making those statistics flesh and blood can we hope to make a difference! May we Never Ever Forget! N.O.P.E.!

[barbara42]

brought tears to my eyes, i am so sorry for the loss of your sister and what she suffered, i am glad for her that she was released from her pain, you will always miss her, that is her legacy, she left behind so much love !

[pir8fan]

Herein lies the honest evaluation of what we all did for so long! But the story for us can, and should have a different ending! We will all face a final day! And, in many different ways, we have all done more than one thing to hastened the arrival of that day! However we here at EX have choosen to slam the brakes on one of the speeding vehicles to the end! We have chosen to live Free and set an EXample for all who care to look! As we ride the Freedom Train, let us always reach out a hand for those who do not yet understand, and those who do not believe they can live Free!

My deepest sympathy for your loses Mike. Tommy

[kris54]

So hard to read Mike.  It had to have been very hard losing your baby Sister.  I know how hard it was losing my Mom.  For a cigarette.

[goddesslucy]

Thank you for sharing your story. It just confirms to me that I've made the right choice in quitting. I too have had a family member die of cancer and maybe one of these days I will share her story.

[JoAnne5-14-2008]

Thank you Mike for sharing this touching story with us. I do hope someone reading will be persuaded to give up smoking.  The cravings don't last that long and once you get through a craving, you can live another day to say I CAN DO IT.  

[Strudel]

Mike - Oh what a powerful blog! Thank you for opeing your heart and telling that - and I love what Thomas said about June having a part in  touching someone today who needs the strength to quit or stay quit! You have done that for sure!

[Mothergoose9]

This is no joke....cancer kills!!!!  We are in a fight for our lives here!!!!! That could have been any one of us.  Thankfully, so far, it isn't.......so don't waste the opportunity here to get free and STAY free!!!! 

No excuses!!!!  

[Mothergoose9]

And Mike....my deepest condolances and thank you for sharing!!