#QuitStories Laurie's Story
I had been smoking for over 30 years. I got up one morning and went to work thinking I was going to be coming home that day, but I collapsed at work. The paramedics, the emergency medical services (EMS), and the fire department responded, and I was defibrillated 8 times that day. After being in hospital for a month in rehabilitation I went home having recovered from a brain injury.
It was so stressful that after a couple of days, I thought, I'll just have a cigarette to take the edge off, which started me smoking again. Ten days later I had another cardiac arrest and my oldest son had to give me CPR. Knowing that he fought to keep me here, there was no way that I could smoke anymore.
I am thankful that I was given a second chance but my health and quality of life are affected by the cardiac arrests. Now I'm on 10 pills a day, have panic attacks, anxiety attacks, and mild post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). I have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, so if my heart rate gets too high it shocks me. I never know when it's going to happen, making me nervous to go out. I pretty much go to work and home.
I'm still learning to adjust to this kind of life. You know smoking almost took my life. My sons almost lost their mom because of smoking, and it's not right.
"I would go to bed and I would wake up to my 9-year-old son with his hand on my belly making sure I was still breathing."
#QuitStories: Laurie (transcript) |
Words on screenHow could I keep smoking, knowing how hard he fought to keep me alive?Voice off-cameraHow could I keep smoking, knowing how hard he fought to keep me alive?Video descriptionBlack and white. Woman with dark hair and dark glasses, sitting in front of a fabric backgroundWords on screenLaurie, 48. Casino worker, KingstonLaurieI have a fifteen-year-old and a nine-year-old that almost lost their mom because of smoking. It’s not right. So, the day that I decided that I was not going to smoke again, I was released from KGH for the second time and I went home and I just said I can’t. I’m not going to do it. I can’t. My son fought to keep me here, he gave me CPR, I can not go outside and smoke. He fought to keep me here and I’m going to do that to him? I can’t.Voice off-cameraWhat would you tell someone else who’s trying to quit smoking?LaurieOh, don’t give up. Keep trying. If it takes you twelve tries, whatever. Just do what you have to do. Quit smoking. You don’t want to be in the position that I’m in right now. Keep trying. You can do it. Use whatever aids, smoke aids that you need. Just keep trying. If you want it, you can do it, you will quit.Words on screenTo quit smoking, talk to a health care provider. |
Laurie's tip to quit smoking:
"Don't give up, keep trying. If it takes you twelve tries, whatever, just do what you have to do to quit smoking. Use whatever aids, smoke aids that you need."
Resources:
- Tobacco - Getting Help - KFL&A Public Health
- Become Tobacco Free - KFL&A Public Health